Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Harper (HarperCollins) (First Edition)
Pages
326
Description
Romance. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML: 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 Barbaraâ??free designer clothes, the choicest tables at the most exclusive clubs, invites to Hollywood premieresâ??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… (more)
Series
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2009-06-17
Physical description
326 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
9780061767593
Similar in this library
User reviews
LibraryThing member kerrbear
This book was just okay, I thought it was a little juvenile for my taste. The ending was a bit rushed and basically I thought "What?", it didn't seem like much of an end. But over all, I'd read another book by her if she ever writes one.
LibraryThing member roses7184
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.
LibraryThing member ShellyPYA
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
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their everyday lives. Thrust into stardom, Jane embraces it, but a jealous co-star is out to sabotage her. Show Less
LibraryThing member Amanda16948
Great girl fluff book!!! Ends weird, so be prepared for L A Candy #2...
LibraryThing member Hoca
Language in beginning of book was stilted, but character development kept me reading. Demonstrates how the media can make or ruin a starlet's reputation - all to get ratings.
LibraryThing member Bookfinds
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
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.
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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.
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LibraryThing member starlightmuse
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
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
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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. Show Less
LibraryThing member aziemer
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
After becoming addicted to the show
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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. Show Less
LibraryThing member Murrayje
When i picked out this book i thought it was going to be really good, Overall, this book was decent but wasnt as good as i expected. There were alot of details in it that i found unneccessary and it got really boring. I didnt really like this book at all.
LibraryThing member busygirllibrary
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
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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. Show Less
LibraryThing member Awesomeness1
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
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 b*tch, 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.
This novel, the first in a trilogy, is centered
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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 b*tch, 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.
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LibraryThing member melissamalave
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!
LibraryThing member Conner23456
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.
I think as a new author and this being her first book Lauren did very well.
LibraryThing member TruthBeToldBlog
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
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.
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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.
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LibraryThing member HaSh1114
I had been wanting to read this book since it came out, so when I finally go my hands on a copy at the library, I was excited. Being a fan of Lauren's show "The Hills", I was expecting it to be the book where she tells about her experiences, whether good or bad. The book did exactly that, and the
I highly recommend this book to anyone who was a fan of "The Hills" or a fan of Lauren Conrad in general. This is book was very well written.
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whole time I was reading I was trying to figure out who the fictional characters were based on in real life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who was a fan of "The Hills" or a fan of Lauren Conrad in general. This is book was very well written.
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LibraryThing member SMG-CVolaris
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.
LibraryThing member smg-gfegan
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!
LibraryThing member NicoleN
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
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.
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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.
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LibraryThing member sb631
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!
LibraryThing member booksniff
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.
LibraryThing member sublunarie
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,
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.
This book,
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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.
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LibraryThing member melissarochelle
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.
LibraryThing member Marlene-NL
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
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..
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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..
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LibraryThing member ennie
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
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"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. Show Less
LibraryThing member booksniff
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.
Call number
YA A Con