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L.A. Candy
L.A. Candy
L.A. Candy
Audiobook6 hours

L.A. Candy

Written by Lauren Conrad

Narrated by Lauren Conrad

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

3/5

()

About this audiobook

L.A. Candy is a deliciously entertaining novel about what it's like to come of age in Hollywood while starring in a reality TV show, written by a young woman who has experienced it all firsthand: Lauren Conrad.

Fashion designer and TV personality Lauren Conrad brings her insider knowledge of the highs and lows of life in the spotlight to this juicy New York Times bestselling series.

Los Angeles is all about the sweet life: hot clubs, cute guys, designer...everything. Nineteen-year-old Jane Roberts can't wait to start living it up. She may be in L.A. for an internship, but Jane plans to play as hard as she works, and has enlisted her BFF Scarlett to join in the fun.

When Jane and Scarlett are approached by a producer who wants them to be on his new series, a "reality version of Sex and the City," they can hardly believe their luck. Their own show? Yes, please!

Soon Jane is TV's hottest star. Fame brings more than she ever imagined possible for a girl from Santa Barbara—free designer clothes, the choicest tables at the most exclusive clubs, invites to Hollywood premieres—and she's lapping up the VIP treatment with her eclectic entourage of new pals. But those same friends who are always up for a wild night are also out for a piece of Jane's spotlight.

In a city filled with people chasing after their dreams, it's not long before Jane wakes up to the reality that everyone wants something from her, and nothing is what it seems to be.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
Release dateJun 16, 2009
ISBN9780061803598
L.A. Candy
Author

Lauren Conrad

Lauren Conrad is an accomplished designer and entrepreneur, a #1 New York Times bestselling author, and was the star of MTV’s hits Laguna Beach and The Hills. She has been featured on the covers of People StyleWatch, Elle, Glamour, Redbook, Lucky, Cosmopolitan, Allure, Rolling Stone, Us Weekly, and Entertainment Weekly, among many other publications. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

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Reviews for L.A. Candy

Rating: 3.2163265893877555 out of 5 stars
3/5

245 ratings29 reviews

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  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    not even sure why I grabbed this except that the library books i had ordered hadnt come in yet and I needed something.....it wasnt terribly bad but the plot never really got moving until the last 50 pages or so and there really wasnt any conclusion to the story. I know that there are supposed to be more books to the series but felt kinda cheated and pissed that it left off so abruptly.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    It's times like this that I really hate how popular book series have become. Why does no one just want to write a story anymore - one with a beginning, a middle, and an end? Why do even new authors have to come out with a series of books that promise absolutely no finality to a story?This book, were I reading it at a library or a coffee shop, would have taken me no more than 2 hours to read. AND THERE WAS NOT AN ENDING. Because it's a series. But it absolutely did not have to be. The next two or three or however many of this trash there is could have been put together so the reader doesn't turn the page expecting the next chapter and seeing the "Acknowledgements" page. It's not the first time it's happened to me, but it is just as crappy.It's not even a great story, I just like things to be wrapped up when I finish. The only joy I got out of this book was trying to figure out which character corresponded to which person in Conrad's real life. I probably could have read the wiki entry for that.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Exactly what I expected: easy to listen to while working. Simple plot, not too involved, nothing that really captivated me. I could tune out temporarily and not miss much. A good book to listen to while doing something else.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    The basic idea isn't so bad, but the execution is slow moving and the writing sub-par. Now Lauren doesn't have any formal training in English and writing isn't known as her thing so I'm not completely surprised. On that note for a debut novel it isn't awful, I just don't think it would have done quite as well as it did were it not for her name being on the cover.

    I'm hoping that as she continues to write the story will improve and I will feel more inclined to continue reading.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    When nineteen-year-old Jane Roberts is cast in a new reality show, she discovers that the fame and fortune of her new life come at a high price to herself and her friendships.

    I'm a huge Lauren Conrad fan, so this book is just right for me, I LOVE anything with her name on it!

    I felt as if Lauren wrote her own biography of sorts, but if you watched The Hills, you will be surprised to see that Jane is more like Heidi then Lauren, Baby face, wants to organize parties and events, and her BFF is so much hotter than Lo, more like Audrina.

    I heard Lauren say once that Jane was inspired by her, Scarlett by Lo, Madison by Heidi, Gaby by Audrina and Hannah by Whitney. But in all truth I don't see it this way at all.

    The book is very good, I was putting it off for other books but in two days of reading here and there I think I might finish it tonight. It's this good.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

    That is me, laughing at the idea that I would pick up a book by Lauren Conrad (LAUREN CONRAD! HAHAHAHAHA!) and give it anything more than one star.

    Except I did.

    I don't know if she had a ghostwriter or not (I would presume yes, but hey, maybe I've underestimated her all along?), but if she did, she found one who's better than most. This was a perfectly fun beachy read, and I actually found myself rather liking the main character (whom I suspect Lauren Conrad thinks is based on herself).

    The main character, Jane, is a NATURAL BLONDE (this is emphasized approximately 547x) who is NOTHING like those fake, silicone-enhanced bimbos who have overrun California, thankyouverymuch. Jane is "pretty" and "girl-next-door" rather than drop-dead stunning like her best friend (who obviously is also a brainiac, because brains and beauty go together just like like peanut butter and pickles). Despite all the superficiality, Jane comes off pretty likeable, if somewhat naive and maybe even a little boring. (Awww, she likes PUPPIES, you guys! But she never got to have one because her mom was allergic, so the guy she's crushing on buys her a STUFFED PUPPY until she can get a real one! Awww x2!)

    There's one reason this gets a third star instead of just barely eking out a second star by the skin of its teeth. Conrad, I think pretty smartly, relies on what is probably her one true claim to fame: her knowledge of what happens when a Nobody appears on a reality TV show that somehow becomes a hit despite not really being ABOUT anything. The plot, as you may have guessed, involves Jane agreeing to have her life filmed for a reality TV show, and the resulting kerfuffle in her life. I'm willing to believe that the plot itself is fairly realistic, because hey, Lauren Conrad would know, right? In fact, this book is a lot like reality TV itself: you know it's stupid, but it's also pretty entertaining, so against your better judgment you end up spending the evening secretly enjoying what you know is drivel.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    It's times like this that I really hate how popular book series have become. Why does no one just want to write a story anymore - one with a beginning, a middle, and an end? Why do even new authors have to come out with a series of books that promise absolutely no finality to a story?This book, were I reading it at a library or a coffee shop, would have taken me no more than 2 hours to read. AND THERE WAS NOT AN ENDING. Because it's a series. But it absolutely did not have to be. The next two or three or however many of this trash there is could have been put together so the reader doesn't turn the page expecting the next chapter and seeing the "Acknowledgements" page. It's not the first time it's happened to me, but it is just as crappy.It's not even a great story, I just like things to be wrapped up when I finish. The only joy I got out of this book was trying to figure out which character corresponded to which person in Conrad's real life. I probably could have read the wiki entry for that.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I loved The Hills, and I love reality TV in general, so I really liked getting a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I admit to watching more than a few episodes of The Hills (though not every season). I was not expecting great literature, and in this era of branding and packaging wonder if Lauren really wrote this. Not that it's so great that she couldn't possibly have written it, but c'mon. She does thank "collaborator" Nancy Ohlin. I don't know for sure who wrote what, so these remarks are "alleged," OK? Anyway, Lauren definitely knows about the subject matter, a young girl who finds her every move documented for a reality show. It's dishy, show-bizzy fluff. And I'll admit that it's not the only Lauren Conrad book I own.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I don't like books with incomplete endings. I need one story to END before another begins. I realize LC just wants me to keep reading her books...but seriously, let's finish the first book properly before you start writing another one.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Read it in a day and I can say "OMG what a waste of money! " This book is boring, has no depth at all, has no real storyline and is definitely not a book i appreciate. Must say I am so glad that i did not order book 2 cause I nearly did that, but then i decided to just order book 1 and see what it was about., pfft.
    One thing, maybe my daughter Rowena (20years old) might like it. She noticed the book on the table and looked intrigued. (poor thing, I do not think she will like it though)
    No more chick lit young Adult for me..
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book is based on the series The Hills broadcasted by MTV. The main characters within this book are Jane and Scarelett. Jane and Scarelett are best friends and decided to move to LA to live together and experience something that they have always dreamed off. Both of them get involved in gossip, drama, romance and problems through their work, school and private lives. Jane and Scarelett get an opportunity in a life time by getting casted for a reality series. Jane agrees with the reality series right away but Scarelett is still doubting if this is the right thing to do. After considering the offer Scarelett also accepts to participate in the reality serie. The whole book is based around Jane and Scarelett that go through extraordinary events in LA, caused by the reality series. Jane get offered an amazing internship at a well-known events company, and Scarelett goes to a well-known University. It all seems that both of the two girls live a perfect life but throughout the story you will find turns of events that are not fully expected. Reading this book was a pleasure because it was very easy to read. It was fun, romantic, gossip, the perfect book for females between 16-24 years old. When reading this book you should not have high standards. The book is not a high appreciated literature masterpiece but is there to entertain. In my opinion the writer did a good job in describing the story in detail, she made you feel part of the story. Although the writer managed to make you feel part of the story, it was to prosy. The story told could be more exciting if she would have included more events. The story got some interesting turns that were not fully expected but it could have been made more dramatic or interesting. Through watching the Hills on MTV you should not in my opinion read the book. The book maybe more detailed in the story but it doesn’t go beyond your expectations. If you really want to go deep you should tell every detail, in this case the author did not succeed in that. Overall a book to read when you want something light and entertaining.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Many people leave their homes once they graduate high school, whether it’s to continue on with their education in college or to pursue a career. Jane and Scarlett decide it’s time to leave behind their small hometown in Texas and have a fresh start in L.A. They find a small, cheap apartment and settle in. Scarlett begins attending courses at a college and Jane has already gotten an interview planned with L.A.’s most famous event planners, Fiona Chen. Everything is going along fine when one night Jane and Scarlett decide to go out and have some fun at one of L.A.’s many clubs. They’re hanging out and having a decent time when a man, significantly older, approaches. Then they are a little uneasy when he starts to talk to them, but when he explains that he wants them to star in his new reality TV show, L.A. Candy, with two other girls, they pay attention to what he’s saying. After much thought the girls agree to and be on the show. They came to L.A. for a change and a little adventure and what’s the worst that could happen?I would only recommend L.A. Candy for someone who’s either looking to read something very girly or is a big reality TV fan. Lauren Conrad gives us a behind the scenes tour of what reality TV is really like. I hate to spoil it for you folks that love reality TV, but it isn’t all that “real.”
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I thought this was a good and entertaining book. It was an easy read! I'm a fan of Lauren and I like that it shows how reality tv is and is filmed. She understands since she was on two reality shows! Cant wait to read the next two books!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    for her first book it was really good. if you want an easy read and a really girly book this would be what i think you should read!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    really good book
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I found the storyline of the book really intriguing. The book isn't written as well as other novel's I have read. This book for me was the perfect summer read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I have had this book on my To Be Read/Wish List for quite some time. I used to be a fan of the show, even though I knew a lot of it was staged or scripted. When this novel came out I didn’t really know what to expect. Sometimes books written by someone who isn’t normally a writer can either be good or bad. I was, however, pleasantly surprised.This story takes place in Los Angeles, California. Lauren Conrad, the author, was able to really capture the essence of the city, not only the high fashion, socialite aspect, but also the artsy, quaint villages. Jane, the main character is your typical girl next door. She is one of those girls who goes around trying to please everyone. While reading his I was really glad to see that even though Jane grew up in Southern California, she didn’t come off stuck up or rude much like her costars. Jane is one of those characters you could imagine being best friends with. It was really interesting watching the way all the LA Candy Stars where changing because of the fame. Every little change was noticeable in the book, it kind of gives you a peek into what reality shows are really like (even if it is fiction). The first few chapters of the book felt a little slow, they didn’t grab me as much as I had hoped. I don’t usually stop reading a book, so I continued reading it. I am very glad that I did, once I passed those first few chapters everything was pretty intriguing.I enjoy that Lauren wrote from a few different perspectives. I love when stories have well rounded characters, and adding different perspectives make it much more interesting. I'm interested in seeing how the second book will turn out. Overall, I give LA Candy 4 Lanterns. I plan on continuing this series, and I enjoyed the first of the series.I recommend this if you like The Gossip Girl Series, but want something shorter.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I enjoyed this book. I have not watched Lauren's show "The Hills." But, from what I have read online about this show. This book would remind me of that show. I think as a new author and this being her first book Lauren did very well.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I loved this book. I reminded me of her show "The Hills" it was like an inside peek into what happens behind the scenes. Can't wait to read the next one!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Let's get this straight. I did not read this for Lauren Conrad, I read this because of Lauren Conrad. I was intrigued. I despise reality TV, and I thought Lauren Conrad was a thoughtless bimbo, so I wanted to see how this all transferred to bookform. This novel, the first in a trilogy, is centered around Plain Jane, and her bestie, Scarlett, who move to LA to start their new lives. Soon afterward they meet a TV produer, who wants them to star in what he calls "a reality version of Sex and the City". They accept, and the rest of the book is how they handle the immediate fame, and all the drama that goes with it. Jane isn't written to have a vibrant personality, but is written to be "relatable", the same reason given to her being cast on the show. Jane is almost a little too naive in some parts. And while Jane may be the main character of the series, there are plenty of chapters that give us a reprieve from her, as they center on other characters. I like Jane's best friend Scarlett a whole lot more. Scarlett is a beauty with brains. If one looked at her sexual escapades alone, they might call her a slut, but somehow her intelligence makes it all okay. She also naturally clashes with the Hollywood lifestyle in general, and resists the show's demanding producers the most. Another girl cast in the show is the spoiled bitch, Madison, who is used to getting whatever she wants, even if she has to go through other people (mostly Jane) to get it. My favorite scene with her is when she intially decides not to immediately publish the incriminating photos of Jane. I thought this was a nice attempt at depth. The fourth and final girl is Gaby, who doesn't have much of role in the novel except to play the token airhead. This girl is at the intellectual level of Jane's goldfish. Throw in a manipluative producer, a playboy, a gay friend, a cute crush, a boss to rival Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada, and a hardcore editor, and that pretty much sums up the cast of L.A. Candy (the book, not the show). All of them are shallow and cliched, but ain't that reality TV? The plot was typical too. Despite myself, I enjoyed it, but this is the closest I ever want to get to Hollywood. This writing is nothing spectacular but better than I was expecting from Lauren Conrad, assuming she actually wrote it. Overall, not bad for a guilty, light beach read.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Although I knew that it was likely this wasn't really a book for me, I decided that I at least owed myself an attempt at it. So, I borrowed it from the library. I gave this book a try, I really did. After 50 pages I was annoyed and frustrated. This is probably a book I will never finish.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    19 year old Jane Roberts is living THE life. Hand-picked to star in a reality show, Jane is living in one of the best apartments in Los Angleles, has a major cute (but with a bad history of girlfriends)boyfriend, free designer clothes, VIP pass into clubs, AND is the star of reality television show, "L.A Candy", life is looking great. Or is it? Jane's close-friendship with her best friend Scarlette begins falling apart, the paparazzi begins to get to her, she's having boy troubles, and there's no-one she can trust anymore. Scarlette has been against the show from the start but Jane just doesn't want to listen. And that's what gets her into BIG trouble.I'm not a big fan of this novel because I think it is a bit cliche with all the 'prettiness' of the girls and their clothes but it was a good view of how celebrity life isn't all that fantastic and glamorous. It took half of the book just for the girls to start filming for the reality show which I think is a bit too long. Overall, I think I might give this 3/5 starts.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This debut novel is the first in Lauren Conrad's series. The book chronicles the lives of four Hollywood wannabe socialites as they begin their lives in the big city. Becoming reality TV stars overnight fosters drama, gossip, and backstabbing for the four girls. After becoming addicted to the show The Hills on MTV, curiosity caught me and I thought I'd read Lauren Conrad's book. The story told is fictional but has undertones of events that occurred on Conrad's MTV show. It was not hard to guess which character was mimicked after a fellow co-star. The book was written nicely with enough scandal to hold a reader's attention but lacked the essentials to appeal to a wide audience. At times, the book seemed somewhat juvenile in writing and grammar. Teens are the target market for this book and probably the only audience that will really enjoy this book to it's fullest. Though the writing wasn't 5 star, it was an easy and fun read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I have never seen the MTV reality series, but I was curious about this book and the phenom behind it.To my surprise, it was a very quick and engrossing read. The main characters, Jane and Scarlett, become overnight stars when they sign on to do a Sex and the City style reality TV show in LA. What happens behind the scenes, the difference between truth and "reality", and the struggles of who to trust are interesting. It's not the deepest book, but it's an entertaining look into the darker side of reality TV.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Inspired by William Boot’s column at The Daily Beast, I decided to start my own version of “Should I Read.” If you are unfamiliar with Boot’s column here is a quick explanation, each week Boot tackles a title from the New York Times Bestseller List. He weighs in on the book and let’s readers know if the book is worth the hype. Sometimes the book lives up to the hype and sometimes it doesn’t. I will be calling BookFinds version of Should I Read, “OFF THE LIST.” We will literally be pulling titles right “off the list” and letting you know if they are worth the read.This week I chose LA CANDY by Lauren Conrad. This book is currently number one on the New York Times list for Children’s Books. LA CANDY is a quick read and an interesting story. Anyone who has ever watched a reality show (especially The Hills, Laguna Beach or The City on MTV) will love reading an insider’s take on what it’s really like to be taped all day, every day. Obviously, it’s not as glamorous as it appears. I went into this book expecting the absolute worst and in a way I think that helped Lauren Conrad’s cause because it wasn’t as awful as I expected. Now I know that doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement, but honestly, the book is a light, fun read and sometimes that is the perfect choice. Sometimes you want to sit back and get lost in a “fluffy” book. It ends on a cliff hanger to ensure that we all run out and buy SWEET LITTLE LIES. I’m not sure I will be picking up the sequel because I think I got all I could from the first book. For example, I never knew that the producers interact with the “cast” via text message during the shooting. Now I will have to pay closer attention to these MTV reality shows and see how many times they check their Blackberry.So I would say, YES, read this book for the entertainment factor but don’t expect any great literary feat.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great girl fluff book!!! Ends weird, so be prepared for L A Candy #2...
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Jane and Scarlett are best friends. They move to LA where Scarlett's starting college and Jane's starting an internship with a famous party planner. Discovered by a reality show producer at a club, Jane is soon the star of LA Candy, a show that follows her, Scarlett, and two other girls around their everyday lives. Thrust into stardom, Jane embraces it, but a jealous co-star is out to sabotage her.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I picked up this book at the library mainly because I was interested to see if it provided more insight into Lauren's life behind the cameras. It was a quick read, but somewhat rushed with the plot. I also felt that I spent a lot of time analyzing the characters trying to figure out who was Whitney, who was Audrina, etc and that the book ended so abruptly that I felt slighted. I would read a second book if only to find out what ending remains for Jane, but overall, I didn't think that L.A. Candy held up to all the hype.