L.A. Women by Ella Berman tells a complex story of Lane and Gala, who have a complicated friendship in the 1960s and struggle through life.
L.A. Women had me sucked in from the first chapter. I needed to know what happened to Gala and why Lane and her friendship was so tense. There’s something I love about complicated female friendships. This one was full of complex characters who do questionable things to each other. I enjoyed this one but it’s not for everyone.
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L.A. Women Overview
Title: L.A. Women
Author: Ella Berman
Pages: 408 Pages
Publish Date: August 5th, 2025
Genre: Literary Fiction
My Star Rating: 4/5 stars! (I loved this book and would recommend it to most people.)
Grab your copy here: https://amzn.to/4eYnfWa
Synopsis from Amazon
After a steady descent from literary stardom, Lane Warren is back. She’s secured a new book deal based off the life of her sometime friend and, more often, rival Gala Margolis. Lane’s only problem is that notorious free spirit Gala has been missing for months.
Ten years earlier, Gala was a charming socialite and Lane was a Hollywood outsider amidst the glittering 1960s L.A. party scene. Though they were 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 was until Gala’s star began to rise, and Lane grew envious. Then Lane did something that she wouldn’t ever be able to take back…changing the trajectories of both their lives.
Bold, dazzling, and crackling with tension, L.A. Women plunges readers into the legendary parties and unparalleled creativity of iconic Laurel Canyon, while exploring the impossible choices women face when ambition collides with intimacy. At what cost does great art emerge? And who pays the price?
My Review of L.A. Women
First off, thank you to NetGalley, Ella Berman, and Berkley Publishing Group for this Advanced Reading Copy of L.A. Women. I loved reading this book.
L.A. Women focuses on the intertwining lives of Lane and Gala and how sometimes friendships between females can be more like rivals than true friends. Neither of these characters is extremely likable, and both do things that make it hard to root for them. But you’ll find yourself wanting to know what happened to Gala and why their friendship is so toxic.
The story starts off with how they first meet and how Lane is drawn to Gala. Ten years later, Gala goes missing while Lane is writing a book about her. Lane is struggling in your life and becomes obsessed with Gala and finding her.
This book features struggles with motherhood, addiction, dysfunctional families, finding your own identity, and complicated female friendships. It also features dual timelines and dual POVs switching between Land and Gala’s viewpoints in the 1960s and the 1970s.
I really liked the struggle Lane goes through with not having a great example for a mother and then worrying that she is a bad mother like hers was. Lane was so scared to repeat history with her daughters that she withheld her love for them.
I loved the complicated relationship between Lane and her husband Scotty. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like they enjoy each other and are both stuck in the past. Lane’s best friend Charlie is a unique character. Sometimes the point of view is Charlie’s which gives insight into being a gay man during the 1960s and the struggles he had to find love and be “open” and successful.
Overall, this book is great for anyone who loves reading a slow-burn literary fiction book with complicated female friendship between the main characters. Also, if you like a little bit of mystery in your books, you’ll enjoy L.A. Women.
Grab your copy here: https://amzn.to/4eYnfWa
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Final Thoughts
While L.A. Women might not be for everyone, I really enjoyed reading it. The characters are ones you love to hate but hate to love. I hope you enjoy this book if you choose to check it out. If you like this book review, please feel free to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from all of you.
Thanks for reading,
Kel
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