L.A. Candy: Sweet Little Lies by Lauren Conrad
Published February 2, 2010
The summary
Best friends Jane and Scarlett have moved to LA together after graduating high school. After a heartbreaking split from her high school sweetheart, Jane feels as though she needs a change. She wants to be "uncomfortable," thus moving to LA. In LA, Jane gets a job with one of the top event planners in the country and Scarlett starts her freshman year at UCLA.
One night as Jane and Scarlett are checking out the club scene in LA, they are approached by a TV producer, Trevor Lord. Trevor is working on a reality show project that he calls a "PG Sex and the City." He feels that Jane and Scarlett are perfect for the show. Jane is the perfect girl-next-door. She's a pretty blonde, but not the overly-fake LA type blonde. Scarlett is gorgeous without even trying and brilliant to boot. The two girls agree to do the show -- Scarlett wants independence from her parents, so being on the show means she can pay for her education herself. Jane feels as though it's the perfect opportunity to put herself in "uncomfortable" situations.
At first the girls are thrilled with their reality show gig. Once in a dingy, sketchy apartment by the highway, now they're in a fancy condominium paid for by the show. Being on "LA Candy" means they get into the hottest clubs in town and get to wear the latest fashions.
However, it's not all glitz and glam. Compromising photos of Jane are leaked behind her back by one of her co-stars, Madison, and end up all over the tabloids. Being completely clueless of her true intentions, Jane turns to the manipulating Madison for help and away from her best friend, Scarlett.
In addition to the best friend's falling out and Jane's tabloid scandal, Scarlett is working on a little scandal of her own. Normally, Scarlett doesn't do relationships. However, she's fallen hard for one of "LA Candy's" cameramen, Liam. Of course any relations between the crew and talent is strictly prohibited, so Liam and Scarlett must keep their relationship a secret. Not easy when the cameras are around 24/7.
Will Jane ever realize Madison's true intentions? Can Scarlett and Liam keep up their relationship amid the cameras? Can they survive their show?
The verdict
Okay, so "LA Candy" isn't going to be winning any awards for immpeccable writing skills anytime soon. Conrad writes the way her characters would speak. For. The. Whole. Book. Pretty much. Which, I am all for adding in some dialects and such in dialogue. But, it's a bit much. I could just imagine our Fiction Workshop class ripping this book apart.
Regardless of writing skills, this book was entertaining. It certainly keeps you hooked, though a lot of the plot is pretty cliched (again, Fiction Workshop. Ripping this to shreds). But still, it is entertaining. This book would go under the category of "Mind Candy." They're quick, they're fun, they keep you hooked (I have to say that right after I finished the second book, I literally ran to Borders and bought the third).
I have a lot more to say about the second and third books, but those are for another post!
Bottom line: Though I was thoroughly annoyed by the cliches and the "sooooooo's" and "OMGs!" and "WTFs?!" I would reccommend it. Perfect book for the beach, or laying on a hammock, sitting on the porch, etc, etc.
Grade: B
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