I’m an avid reader, and while I enjoy reading widely across many genres, I find myself repeatedly drawn to stories of complex characters navigating chaotic situations. Enter: Ella Berman’s third novel, L.A. Women.

The author of Before We Were Innocent has penned a new book loosely inspired by the notorious Hollywood rivalry between Joan Didion and Eve Babitz. It’s a tale of female friendship, artistic ambition, betrayal, all set against the backdrop of 1960s Hollywood glamour. Lane Warren is attempting to recover from her fall from literary fame with a new book based on the life of her occasional friend and frequent rival, Gala Margolis, a renowned free spirit and muse.

The problem? Gala has been missing for months, and without Gala, there’s no book for Lane, reports the Mirror.

As the present-day plot unravels, we’re also given a front-row view of the beginnings of Lane and Gala’s volatile relationship, which started a decade earlier when Gala was a captivating socialite and Lane was an outsider in the sparkling 1960s L.A. party scene.

Both writers, they are attracted to each other over the years, sharing a cautious friendship. But as Gala’s star begins to ascend, and Lane becomes more envious, she does something one day that alters the course of both their lives.

I anticipated enjoying this book before I even opened it, but it surpassed all expectations.

The story was so immersive that I found myself practically unable to set it aside each evening, desperate to discover what transpired between the characters – and where Gala might be.

This is undoubtedly one I’ll revisit and read again in years to come.

Berman has crafted such a richly detailed world that I’m certain I’ll spot subtle elements I overlooked during my initial reading.

Tackling weighty subjects including mental health, addiction and love in its many manifestations, alongside characters who don’t always make the decisions you’re frantically hoping for, L.A. Women would serve brilliantly as a book club selection.

Don’t simply take my word for it, however.

Madwoman author Chelsea Bieker praised L.A. Women as: “Transportive, hypnotic, and addictive,” whilst The Other Side of Now author Paige Harbison remarked: “The characters are as dazzling as they are messy and as downright maddening as only the most fascinating, memorable women can be.”

L.A. Women is out now and you can order it from Waterstones now. Alternatively, you can also find it on Amazon.

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