L.A. Women

by Ella Berman

An electrifying novel about the complicated friendship between two ambitious and talented female writers in 1960s Los Angeles and the ultimate artistic one writes a book based on the other's life… from the author of Reese's Book Club Pick Before We Were Innocent.

After a steady descent from literary stardom, Lane Warren is back. She’s secured a new book deal based off the life of her sometimes friend and more often rival, notorious free spirit and muse, Gala Margolis. Lane’s only problem is that Gala has been missing for months…nobody can find her.

Ten years earlier, Gala was a charming socialite and Lane was a Hollywood outsider amidst the glittering 1960’s LA party scene. Though never best friends, Lane found Gala sharp and compelling. Gala liked that Lane took her seriously. They were both writers. They were drawn to each other.

That is until Gala’s star began to rise, and Lane grew more envious. Then Lane decided to do something that she wouldn’t ever be able to take back…changing the trajectory of both their lives.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Literary Fiction, Contemporary, Adult, Audiobook

384 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2025

About the author

Ella Berman grew up in both Los Angeles and London, where she studied psychology before working at Sony Music. Her debut novel, The Comeback, was selected as a Read with Jenna book club pick, and her follow-up, Before We Were Innocent, was a Reese’s Book Club pick. Raised by two former hippies on the music and art of the 1960s and 70s, she lives in London with her husband, their senior dog, and their daughter.

Reviews

[emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

is this a sequel to the eve babitz book?

(this is such a dumb joke.)

(update: it's clear to me now from 12% in that this is eve babitz and joan didion fanfiction, so i'd like to edit my claim. this is a smart joke.)

(update to the update: ultimately that would be its downfall.)

this is roughly as soapy and overwritten and obsessive as the self-insert justin bieber love stories i used to read on wattpad when i was 13, not to mention about as morally sound.

in fact, it's a less forgivable didion and babitz, yes-anding the very worst tabloid rumors that haunted each of these women without even the great research to distract from it.

it's just fictional enough to be boring while being so close to the source material it can't be ignored. the characters are based on stereotypical views of their real life counterparts just enough that the eventual denouements make no sense. the story is well-tread to the extent of being predictable without feeling real. in every way a lose/lose. 

not to mention it does that bizarre thing Heavily Inspired books sometimes do, when they realize halfway through that they're too similar to what they're drawing from and throw a name in to try to throw you off the scent. it didn't work for me when rainbow rowell mentioned the original in between chapters of her version of harry potter and it won't work when this author compares her fictional jim morrison to the real deal.

insult to injury.

anyway.

bottom line: eve and joan would hate this book.

(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)

[Rachel Hanes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book that grew on me. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it (or the characters), until I continued reading. I had to know how each of the women’s stories ended regardless of how I felt about them. I also really liked the character of Charlie, who was a best friend to Lane.

This story takes place in Los Angeles (hence the title), and revolves around the lives of two women. Lane Warren is a well reserved, classy, up and coming writer. Gala Margolis is sloppy, parties hard, and doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. Gala looks out for number one- and that is herself.

We get dual timelines in this story and that is, Then 1965/66, and Now 1975/76. So this story took place when women weren’t yet totally liberated or had the freedom to choose to live so freely. During these timelines we get a lot of Lane’s backstory, and in that I really resonated with her character. Lane was a woman who never felt worthy of love, admiration, or even friendship. Gala on the other hand, well let’s just say I couldn’t stand her character. In fact, I’m left confused as to why Lane wanted to be friends with her in the first place. For me, Gala was a very unlikable character, and I was super glad that she went missing in this book.

All in all, I did enjoy this book as I very much enjoy Ella Berman’s writing. She can write about complex, complicated friendships and relationships better than any other author out there. However, this book was very slow moving and did take a while to get into- but in the end it was worth it.
(3.5 stars- rounded up)

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and the author for a DRC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading.
Publication date: August 5, 2005
Genre~ Women’s Fiction, General Fiction (adult)

[Ella Berman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never reviewed one of my own books before but it’s nearly time for me to stop obsessively checking early reviews and I want to honour what a pleasure it was to write this book and to share it with you. It holds such a special place in my heart and it’s been wild (in the best way) to hear all your thoughts about characters that were, until now, only mine.

Thank you for reading!

Ella xo

[emilybookedup · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really liked this!! it’s for fans of TAYLOR JENKINS REID as it has similar vibes—its technically historical fiction as it’s set in the 60s/70s in Hollywood but it is really a litfic drama with friendship, romance and coming of age themes. also lots of themes of women finding their place in a male dominated world + industry (again with the TJR similarity there!)

and a moment for this cover!!!! it might be my fave of the year 👏🏼🤩🐅

i found myself equally enjoying the plot and characters. it’s certainly a very character driven plot but it also has a TON of action. and it’s juicy!!! it follows two ladies trying to make it in Hollywood as writers and it gets competitive and intense… iykyk 👀 the characters are very real and flawed and you’ll either like or hate them (Lane kinda drove me nuts) but the author brought them to life very well and they felt so real. *note that they are allegedly based on Eve Babitz & Joan Didion but i’m not familiar with them!

i will warn that its a slow burn and takes about 60-70% in to get really juicy and interesting. there’s lots of world / character building first which was interesting, but i found myself really itching for *something* to happen. and the part i’m talking about is indeed shocking and then i flewwww through the last ~30%.

i listened to this on audio and tbh it was ok from a narration standpoint. i think i would reco the physical more.

this is for fans of: Hollywood, drama, character driven books, female friendships, friend drama, TJR books (think Daisy or Evelyn Hugo but more friend based…)

TLDR; this was not on my 2025 radar at all (haven’t read the author’s other book which is more popular) but liked it a lot!

[Kerrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the glitz and grit of 1960s and ’70s Los Angeles, L.A. Women follows two very different women. Lane is a successful writer, haunted by a childhood marked by emotional neglect and unfit parents. No matter how far she climbs professionally, she remains tethered to a deep sense of pain and longing. Gala, in contrast, is a free-spirited party girl chasing pleasure and distraction at every turn. What begins as a chance connection between them slowly evolves into a complicated and intense friendship, built on raw honesty and mutual understanding.

Ella Berman does a strong job of capturing the atmosphere of the era and the complex emotional struggles of her characters. But for me, neither Lane nor Gala was especially likable or compelling, which made it hard to fully connect with the story. I appreciated the themes of loneliness and female friendship, but I found the novel difficult to enjoy overall.

Three stars.

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4⭐️ Two ambitious writers go head-to-head in 1960s Los Angeles. Nearing the end of her career, Lana Warren gets the book deal of a lifetime— writing the life story of her friend and rival Gala Margolis. But when Gala goes missing, Lane will be forced to reckon with a decision that changed the course of both of their lives.

I have really come to appreciate the way Ella Berman approaches character-centric stories and the way in which she writes about the complexities of the female friendship, especially as juxtaposed to the romantic entanglements her characters often find themselves in. That theme was present in her previous novel, Before We Were Innocent, and very much continues into her newest release, L.A. Women.

While the history of Hollywood’s elite doesn’t always fascinate me, I found the story, overall, to be appealing with interesting, very flawed characters who were easy to relate to, regardless of social class or economic status. My heart broke for Gala and her torturous love story, just as it did for Lane and the unhappy situation she too found herself in. Ultimately, this story felt very, very sad, as Berman tackles very heavy issues including addiction, grief, and parental neglect, in a time where women were still viewed as lesser than.

🎧 Let me start by saying, the audio narrated by Grace Lynn Kung is fantastic; however, it did enhance the slower burn nature, which can be both good or bad. It allows the reader to slow focus and really engage with each of these characters on a more introspective level; however, it also brings attention to a slower-moving plot line.

Read if you like:
▪️1960s-70s Hollywood
▪️dueling writers
▪️books about books
▪️complex female friendships
▪️toxic relationships
▪️interesting characters


Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥

Thank you Berkley Pub and PRH Audio for the advanced and gifted copies.

[Dona's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished Reading

Pre-Read notes

I really wanted to read this arc about two writers, Lane and Gala, professional rivals, who developed this absolutely bizarre relationship--author and subject of a tell-all, respectively– due to the actions of one of them. I'll let you guess which!

This is actually the first time I've been approved to read for Berkeley, who publishes so of my favorite authors, like Simone St. James, who writes creepy ghost stories (my review!). I'm pretty excited to be reading L.A. Women. Its already a story filled with irreverent humor and powerful statement about story-making and the ownership of content like "life stories".

Final Review to come

Lane felt the crushing weight of their fury as if she were still just a child, and she knew what they were asking her. Why did you write those things about us? And, alone in her hotel room at night, soaked with sweat and unable to sleep, Lane found she couldn’t remember.p101

Review summary and recommendations

I like several things about this book (covered in reading notes below), but the reason I will remember it instead of one of the other books I read this year is because it contains probably the best execution of meta fiction I've read in years. If meta is your bag, don't miss this one!

I otherwise recommend L.A. Women to fans of literary women's fiction and stories about women friends and professional rivals. For more stories that explore non-romantic relationships between women, try Things Left Unsaid by Sara Jafari (my review!).

“Coping is a scale, not a binary[.]” p199

Reading Notes

Five things I loved:

1. His tone is soaked in disgust, and Lane remembers that Charlie dislikes anything that either depresses him or reminds him of his own mortality, but particularly when he thinks these things could have been avoided with either better planning or self-control. p47 I know people like this. I think we all do. I really love how Berman connects the text to the audience with little hooks like this.

2.“Not all famous people are wealthy,” Lane said. “Yeah, but the ones who are famous for doing nothing are,” Gala said. “And if they’re poor and well known, they’re usually infamous. Which is a very different thing.” p64 I love this snide logic, it speaks to my inner cynic!

3. From chest hair in eyelashes to bad moms, this book offers so many different shades of authentic.

4. I love the subplot of these women's friendship with each other. Sometimes, we all need to hear something like this from someone who knows us: “It’s okay , Lane,” Gala said. “I don’t think you’re a monster.” p199

5.“I’m not crazy,” Lane says, her voice louder than she intended. “I don’t need to be managed. And you’re not trying to protect me, you’re trying to control me. Why were you even together without me?” p207 Excellent mental illness representation, this is so authentic to that experience.

One thing I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. Stories in which everyone has a six pack are not exactly my can of coke. I find this so unrealistic and inauthentic. And do people with six packs really sit around and joke with each other about their six packs?

Rating: 👠👠👠👠.5 /5 glam women
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Apr 18 '25
Format: accessible digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🪶 literary fiction
💄 women's fiction
👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏻 women's friendships
💼 professional rivalry
🪞 metafiction

Thank you to the author Ella Berman, publishers Berkeley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of L.A  Women. All views are mine.
--------------

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars Thanks to BookBrowse and Berkley for providing this ARC. Publishes August 5, 2025

I liked the premise of this book when I first read it. However I felt that it never really lived up to the hype.

Two very different female authors become friends - or do they? One is quiet and self loathing while the other is loud boisterous and unapologetic. Over time they have a falling out and the loud author goes missing.

This is a long book that, for me, never really hit the mark. There was enough to the story that you kept turning pages, hoping for a twist or a turn somewhere along the line, but that never really came. I believe that I would have been happier had the book only been around 250 pages. Waiting 400 pages for something to happen, that never does, takes a lot away from a book.

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lane and Gala are frenemies. They are both making a name for themselves in the L.A. literary scene. Gala is Laurel Canyon’s resident party girl and self-proclaimed muse. Lane is a journalist whose debut novel was a bestseller that was followed by a sophomore flop. Gala has essentially fallen into writing, but for Lane writing is what defines her.

The story is told using two timelines, 1965 to 1976 follows the arc of their toxic friendship and the toxicity of other relationships and the people around them. The 1975-76 timeline focuses on Gala missing and its impact on Lane.

I thought this was going to be a brain candy, guilty read kind of book, but it turned out to be heavier than anticipated in a good way with topics ranging from heavy topics addiction to infidelity. There is also a lot of insight into the complex nature of female friendships and women that don’t live according to the expectations placed on them by society (aka “The Difficult Woman” or “The Hysterical Woman”). The story ends in the perfectly imperfect, hopeful way that I love. Highly recommend this one. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. Deception, betrayal and tragedy all play a role in this twisty tale set in 60/70s LA that follows the complicated relationship + emotional struggles of two completely opposite female writers. Berman has most certainly created an interesting dynamic between the two women, and all plays out within the culture of that era including an added pinch of mystery.
I enjoy character-driven novels and this had that in spades. And I just loved the nostalgic vibes it gave. It is slower paced with not very likable characters and I’m ok with that.
Inspired by the writers Joan Didion and Eve Babitz relationship. Pub. 8/5/25

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 20%. There is nothing interesting about this book. All about shock value. A wannabe Eve Babbitz novel. Disappointing because I've enjoyed other books by this author.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks so much to Goodreads for the free copy. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

This was really hard for me to review, because I really never connected with the book. I don't usually read books in this genre, but the blurb sounded good, so I entered the giveaway anyway. This isn't any reflection against the author or the book at all; it just wasn't for me. I actually didn't finish the book because it just didn't interest me. However, I am sure there are tons of people who will absolutely love the book.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you wrote a fan fiction of Eve Babitz and Joan Didion attempting to be friends, you’d have this book. I loved every second of this

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found This Book about two Women, Lana and Gala living in LA really pulled me in. It took a little time, but got compelling. There is a dual timeline that goes back and forth 10 Years which I’m not sure I love, but still lays out these women’s lives and the effects of choices that were made. There is intense competition between the two women, friendship, and toxic feeling. It’s a sad, but understandable dynamic. Each woman needs to find her true self first. It was an enjoyable listen on Audio. Glad I got a go into this 10 year period from the 1960’s-70’s and all that went into Lana and Gala’s lives. There are some very dark times. All is not as glamorous as it seems.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because what was the point in freaking out about the meaning of life all the time? Why not try to have as wild a ride as you could without wasting your time constantly ruminating over the why of everything?

Set in Los Angeles in the 1960s and 1970s, L.A. Women is a vibrant, transportive character study centered on two complex women. In the 1960s, Lane Warren is the darling of the literary world after her intensely personal break-out debut novel, and Gala Margolis is a free-spirited party girl who Lane is drawn to immediately. Gala and Lane, complete opposites in nearly every way, strike up what is not exactly a friendship, but more a mutual respect for and appreciation of each other. In the 1970s, their relationship has soured, and Lane is trying to salvage a failing career. When she starts writing again, it’s about Gala – but then her muse disappears without a trace, leaving Lane scrambling for answers and inspiration.

L.A. Women is an immersive novel rich with atmosphere, transporting the reader into the sights and sounds of Los Angeles with all its glitz, glamour, and grittiness. What I appreciated about this novel the most is Ella Berman’s willingness to craft unapologetically unlikable characters. Gala and Lane are not “easy,” agreeable women; they are complicated and incredibly flawed, each of them somewhat toxic in their own way – and that toxicity affects their most meaningful relationships in a variety of damaging ways. Berman uses these women to explore the complexities of womanhood and motherhood, friendship, addiction, romantic relationships, and self-awareness and -improvement, all set against the backdrop of a captivating historical setting.

This truly is a character study that delves deeply into the psyches of its characters; it’s more about getting to know who these women are, and why they are the way they are, than any major plot events. And I found it incredibly compelling in the way that it peeled back the layers of Gala and Lane so the reader could truly understand what motivated them and why they interacted the way they did. Berman totally sucked me in with her complex characterizations, and that kept me engaged just as much as, if not more than, the secondary mystery of Gala’s disappearance. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the early reading opportunity.

[Alyssa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I hate to say it, but this was so boring to me.

I loved “Before We Were Innocent,” so I had super high hopes for this book! Sadly it fell completely flat.

There was no point to this book. It was about these two women and their friendship, but there was no other substance there. There wasn’t even that much drama. If there was drama, it was only really at the end of the novel.

I didn’t even have an interest in finding out what was going on with Gala. It was very character based, but I didn’t care about the characters to want to read about their life. There were some things that evoked emotions like anger and sadness, but it wasn’t that profound to the point where I cared or wanted to keep reading.

I thought it was cool they were both writers. I don’t read that very often in books, so I thought that was a good twist to their characters.

I really liked Charlie. I know it’s supposed to be about the women, but I wish we got more of him. Even though he did some things that weren’t so great. I felt for him and his struggles.

I know it was about a toxic friendship, but Gala made me very angry. She wasn’t a good person. I felt for Lane a lot. I preferred Lane over Gala, but that is not saying much because I didn’t care about her all that much.

Without saying too much for spoilers, Gala and Gabriel were just vaguely interesting. It was a very sad concept and sad story, so that is partly where it brought out emotion for me, but the majority of the novel I didn’t feel one way or another. I felt sad because of basic human empathy, but not because I loved them as characters.

If you want to read a book by this author, stick with “Before We Were Innocent!” That is an amazing read! This book unfortunately did not work for me.

[Tasha]

Looking forward to reading this

[Megan Reads-a-lot · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was hard for me to connect with. I do not feel as if the book description was accurate and found that to be very disappointing. I had been influenced to read it because I had read and enjoyed Before We Were Innocent. In the story, the female protagonist and antagonist were unlikable. I had hoped through the climax (of the story) there would be a resolution to some of their less than redeeming qualities, but in the end it fell flat. Gabriel and Gala’s story was my favorite part of the story and kept me from DNFing the book. Overall, I gave the book 2 stars.

[T. Greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY BRILLIANT FRIEND meets DAISY JONES AND THE SIX in this immersive story of the friendship (and rivalry) between two female writers in ‘60s/‘70s Los Angeles. Berman is at her finest in this novel; these characters will live on in my imagination for years to come.

[Jeanette]

No rating. I only got about 50 pages in and made it a DNF. The language of continual swears and human nasty was not the only factor. There isn't anyone in the prime or non-prime character category that I'd even want to follow. For interests or for associations or for "success" biography. UGH! The place sounds like my personal version of actual earthly type hell. Facades and reek.

Furthermore, I actually liked her two former books. Much, much better subject matter but still this was super disappointing beyond the placements.

[Cindy (leavemetomybooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

* thanks to Berkley for the NetGalley review copy! (pub date: August 5, 2025)

Despite absolutely LOVING this book, I was a knucklehead and somehow never wrote a review.

So, now that it's almost five months later, am I extremely hazy on the details? Unfortunately, yes. HOWEVER, anyone who enjoyed Berman's last book (Before We Were Innocent) is in for a real treat because she's done an even more masterful job of capturing the highs and lows and drama of complicated female friendships, with an added bonus of glittery, gritty 60's Los Angeles. The parties! The backstabbing! The betrayals! The drugs!

Aaaaaand now I've convinced myself to pick this for one of my bookclubs the next time it's my turn because I want to read it again and think everyone will love it. Highly recommended for fans of the Taylor Jenkins Reid Cinematic Universe and anyone who likes stories about smart women making impossible choices.

[Rebecca Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

L.A. Women by Ella Berman publishes August 5, 2025

The title alone will probably interest many readers, as it did for me. I was immediately interested in the story because of the famous - sometimes called infamous- Laurel Canyon setting, home to numerous celebrities, musicians, and rumored access to plenty of recreational drugs. There are plenty of back-in-the-day references to cool places such as Sunset Boulevard, Doheny Boulevard, the Chateau, the Troubadour, etc.

Published-female-author Lane is one of two lead female characters in this book who keeps her home the place to hang out in the mid 1970's by supplying plenty of champagne and lines of cocaine. It is clear from the very beginning that this party crowd mostly has the shallow interest of fame, rarely earned and mostly by association. The other important female is six-foot-tall Gala, a hot babe graduate of Hollywood High; the animosity between these two female characters and their willingness to use and discard other people as needed to promote themselves is non-stop. Attempting to keep the peace is Lane's gay male friend Charlie McCloud, the wizard of spin who keeps people relevant and in the news, covering up others' bad behavior as best as possible while also limiting himself to one-night hookups to avoid officially broadcasting his sexual preferences since this could be detrimental to his Hollywood studio career path .

As the chapters vacillate between "Now" (opening in 1975) to "Then" (September 1965), some scenes seemed to lack transition. However, the main drawback was how overwhelmingly unlikable Lane and Gala were to me. Gala uses the F-word so often that it loses its impact. Likewise, Lane's musings about how perfect her wealthy life is with husband Scotty and two daughters becomes tiresome, particularly since she doesn't seem to care for her daughters who mean Lane has 10 minutes without a child pulling on her hand and demanding something. On top of this, both Gala and Lane want to either write the next sensational book or prevent the other from doing so. The backstabbing of professional and personal lives simply ...never ... stops. This is why I it took me so long to finish this book; I often set it down because I wanted the plot to move on. To be fair, I picked it back up time after time because I did want to see where this would end.

I am glad that I stuck with it because in chapter 40 (page 233 in my edition) the story gets more interesting. (I wrote "yay" about this in my notes.) I was not certain what my rating was going to be. I have rounded this up to a 4.

[Dianne · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Although I did not find this to be my particular glass of wine, those interested in the late 1960s to the mid-1970s may find this an interesting take on the history of the times.

I lived through these years, although I was very young at the time this book takes place (10-17), so my memories are sketchy at best.

What I did not like about this book at all was that it 'tried too hard' to be a literary novel, and the author tried too hard to emulate Truman Capote or other authors of his ilk. It did not work with Ms. Bermans' voice.

There was a lot of upheaval at the time, and Ms. Berman managed to pack all of the history and issues of this era into this one book.

I cared nothing for the main characters, and no matter how tried, I could not find myself caring enough about Gala, Lane, Charles, etc. to keep going.

*ARC supplied by the publisher, Berkley, the author, and NetGalley.

[Sherry Chiger · Rating 2 out of 5]

"L.A. Women" comes across as fake from the get-go. The characters reminded me of Colorforms: shiny but two-dimensional. I didn't believe the trajectory of Lane's career, her relationships with the other characters, or anything else about her. Factual errors—"Vanity Fair" didn't publish in the '60s or '70s; AA does not discourage celebrating sobriety "birthdays"—underscored the lack of verisimilitude.

Then there was the insistence that "L.A. Women" is a Serious Book, addressing Serious Issues regarding attitudes toward women, homosexuality, abortion, and motherhood. All these elements were relevant to the story, but the author seemed to feel she was breaking new ground when she was doing little more than tramping over the footsteps of many others who preceded her.

And don't get me started on the "surprise" of the penultimate set piece and the absurd coincidences of the finale.

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book about celebrity writers in Laurel Canyon in the 70s should be an instant favorite for me, but this just missed the mark. I kept waiting for it to get exciting (or even just make me feel invested in literally any of the characters), but it just dragged on. Once in a while there were some lines with potential, but they were never expanded on in a very interesting way. Ultimately a pretty pessimistic outlook on womanhood, marriage, and motherhood.

Shoutout to Goodreads for the ARC, though! Very exciting to finally win a giveaway.

[amy :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Gala puts it: “It was infinitely more satisfying to be somebody rather than somebody’s plus-one.”

It’s about ambition, envy, and a competitive friendship between two writers. One goes missing and the other writes a book about her. It’s morally grey for sure. Takes place during the 1960s and ‘70s Los Angeles in Laurel Canyon. Love the time period. The setting and themes held more weight with me than the plot. Yeah, it’s good! Solid 4 ⭐️

[Sarah Pollok · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book felt like it’s settings (LA, 60s/70s); glamorous, destructive, confusing, devastating, proud.
As a book about two women writing books about their lives it does get a touch meta at times but forgivably so.
Lovely beachy summer read.

[Martin Maenza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Berkley Publishing Group provided an early galley for review.

I was not familiar with the author's prior work, but the cover here was vibrant and eye-catching. With the characters being writers, I was also intrigued.

The story itself bounces between then (the 60's, past tense) and now (the 70's, present), often switching between Gala's and Lane's viewpoints within the same chapter. Normally this kind of narrative and style can be hit or miss for me. Berman does give both characters have very distinct voices, so I thought I would be okay. Turns out, I wasn't. I found Gala to be the more interesting of the two characters; Lane came across as needy and whiny. Also, the present day scenes took the wind out of the sails of the past scenes at several points. That is a big problem I have with this bouncing time period narrative structure that has become very popular in recent years' I find very few writers can pull it off successfully.

With the right readers, this story will work and resonate. I wasn't one of them.

[Amy Sunshine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to #BerkleyPublishingGroup and #NetGalley for the DRC of #LAWomen. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

The marketing blurb for this book made it sound really interesting - the story of two friends/rivals, both writers, in 1960-70s LA. While the writing was good and the characters were believable, I just didn't connect with the main characters, Lane & Gala. I found some of the insights on addiction, privilege and motherhood interesting, but it wasn't the right book for me.

[sydney · Rating 1 out of 5]

ugh for some reason, I could not get into this book. There is a lot of complaining and confusion between the two female MCs. I had such high hopes for this book, because I really enjoyed “Before We Were Innocent.”

DNF at 23%

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the digital copy.