Ella Berman

'My Brilliant Friend meets Daisy Jones and the Six in this immersive story of friendship and rivalry... Berman is at her finest' T. Greenwood, author of Keeping Lucy *** An electrifying novel about the complicated friendship between two ambitious writers and the ultimate artistic betrayal: one writes a book based upon the other's life, revealing everything…from the author of Reese's Book Club Pick Before We Were Innocent. 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? *** 'A truly exceptional novel... L.A. Women is nothing short of iconic' Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters

"A breezy retro novel with bite."--L.A. Times "A 1970s-Laurel Canyon version of My Brilliant Friend."--The Atlantic An electrifying novel about the complicated friendship between two ambitious writers and the ultimate artistic betrayal: one writes a book based upon the other's life, revealing everything...from the author of Reese's Book Club Pick Before We Were Innocent. After a steady descent from literary stardom, Lane Warren is back. She's secured a new book deal based on 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 amid 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 Brilliant Friend meets Daisy Jones and the Six in this immersive story of friendship and rivalry... Berman is at her finest' T. Greenwood, author of Keeping Lucy***An electrifying novel about the complicated friendship between two ambitious writers and the ultimate artistic betrayal: one writes a book based upon the other's life, revealing everything…from the author of Reese's Book Club Pick Before We Were Innocent.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?***'A truly exceptional novel... L.A. Women is nothing short of iconic' Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters

'My Brilliant Friend meets Daisy Jones and the Six in this immersive story of friendship and rivalry... Berman is at her finest' T. Greenwood, author of Keeping Lucy***An electrifying novel about the complicated friendship between two ambitious writers and the ultimate artistic betrayal: one writes a book based upon the other's life, revealing everything…from the author of Reese's Book Club Pick Before We Were Innocent.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?***'A truly exceptional novel... L.A. Women is nothing short of iconic' Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters

An electrifying novel about the complicated friendship between two ambitious writers and the ultimate artistic betrayal: one writes a book based upon the other's life, revealing everything...from the author of Reese's Book Club Pick Before We Were Innocent. 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?

They say she owes him everything. Now she wants to burn it all to the ground. Grace Turner was one movie away from Hollywood’s A-List. So no one understood why, at the height of her career and on the eve of her first Golden Globe nomination, she disappeared.Now, one year later, Grace is back in Los Angeles and ready to reclaim her life on her own terms.When Grace is asked to present a lifetime achievement award to director Able Yorke – the man who controlled her every move for eight years – she knows there’s only one way she’ll be free of the secret that’s already taken so much from her.The Comeback is a moving and provocative story of justice – a true page-turner about a young woman finding the strength and power of her voice, from the author of Reese's Book Club pick Before We Were Innocent.***'Beautifully written and compulsively readable…At its core, this book is about redemption, grace, and pain.' – Jenna Bush Hager'A novel so full-blooded, so humane, that the pages feel almost warm to the touch. A clarifying, purifying chronicle of a promising young woman gone astray and the story of her comeback. Grace Turner can do it. You can do it, too.' – A.J. Finn***Readers LOVE Ella Berman:'...it had me in tears, laugh out loud and gripped with pure horror in all equal measures. To me it’s a must read and I honestly couldn’t put it down once I started.' - Amazon reviewer, 5*'This was fantastic. Really hope to see more from this author. Couldn’t put it down.' - Amazon reviewer, 5*'I think my heart did all the things a heart is capable of doing over the course of this book: pounding, breaking, soaring, the works.' - Amazon reviewer, 5*'Best novel I've read in a long time.' - Amazon reviewer, 5*'A brilliantly written compelling story of a young woman coming to terms with the abusive controlling relationship that defined her formative years; and getting even.' - Amazon reviewer, 5*

'This compulsive thriller reads like true crime and had me guessing until the very end.' Reese Witherspoon***Three friends went on holiday.Only two came back.Ten years ago, after a sun-soaked summer in Greece, best friends Bess and Joni were cleared of any involvement in their friend Evangeline’s death. Although they were found innocent, the case made them infamous and they’ve not seen each other since.Except now Joni wants a favour, and when she turns up at her old friend’s doorstep in need of an alibi, Bess has no choice but to say yes. After all, she still owes her.But can you ever leave the past behind, when the whole world believes you’re guilty?'Beautifully written, suspenseful coming-of-age story... I loved it.' — Daily Mail'Two BFFs are accused of murder in this novel that feels like true crime.' — Cosmopolitan‘A haunting and dazzling page-turner.’ – Laura Hankin'It’s a compulsive thriller, and you won’t want to put down Berman’s second book.' — Shondaland'Slices to the core of a fraught friendship on the brink of disaster.' — PopSugar

REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK A summer in Greece for three best friends ends in the unthinkable when only two return home. . . . Ten years ago, after a sun-soaked summer spent in Greece, best friends Bess and Joni were cleared of having any involvement in their friend Evangeline's death. But that didn't stop the media from ripping apart their teenage lives like vultures. While the girls were never convicted, Joni, ever the opportunist, capitalized on her newfound infamy to become a motivational speaker. Bess, on the other hand, resolved to make her life as small and controlled as possible so she wouldn't risk losing everything all over again. And it almost worked. . . . Except now Joni needs a favor, and when she turns up at her old friend's doorstep asking for an alibi, Bess has no choice but to say yes. She still owes her. But as the two friends try desperately to shake off their past, they have to face reality. Can you ever be an innocent woman when everyone wants you to be guilty?

A summer in Greece for three best friends ends in the unthinkable when only two return home. . . .from the author of the Read With Jenna pick The Comeback. Ten years ago, after a sun-soaked summer spent in Greece, best friends Bess and Joni were cleared of having any involvement in their friend Evangeline's death. But that didn't stop the media from ripping apart their teenage lives like vultures. While the girls were never convicted, Joni, ever the opportunist, capitalized on her newfound infamy to become a motivational speaker. Bess, on the other hand, resolved to make her life as small and controlled as possible so she wouldn't risk losing everything all over again. And it almost worked. . . . Except now Joni needs a favor, and when she turns up at her old friend's doorstep asking for an alibi, Bess has no choice but to say yes. She still owes her. But as the two friends try desperately to shake off their past, they have to face reality. Can you ever be an innocent woman when everyone wants you to be guilty?

A TODAY SHOW #ReadWithJenna BOOK CLUB PICK! An empowering, behind-the-scenes novel of a young Hollywood actress and the dark secret she's ready to confront. One of Summer 2020's Most Anticipated NovelsMarie Claire, Entertainment Weekly, Oprah magazine, Bustle, E! Online, Popsugar, Goodreads, Today Show online, New York Post, Betches, Better Homes & Gardens, HelloGiggles, Bad on Paper podcast, The Stripe, Shondaland, HuffPost, CNN.com, Mashable"This of-the-moment story follows Grace Turner, a young Hollywood actress who disappeared at the height of her fame for an entire year, and her return to life in LA...Full of dark secrets and suspense, this darkly funny tale is full of empowerment, courage and vengeance.?-CNN"Beautifully written and compulsively readable...At its core, this book is about redemption, grace, and pain."-Jenna Bush HagerGrace Turner was one movie away from Hollywood's A-List. So no one understood why, at the height of her career and on the eve of her first Golden Globe nomination, she disappeared. Now, one year later, Grace is back in Los Angeles and determined to reclaim her life on her own terms. So when Grace is asked to present a lifetime achievement award to director Able Yorke-the man who controlled her every move for eight years-she knows there's only one way she'll be free of the secret that's already taken so much from her.The Comeback is a moving and provocative story of justice in the #MeToo era-a true page-turner about a young woman finding the strength and power of her voice.

A deep dive into the psyche of a young actress raised in the spotlight under the influence of a charming, manipulative film director and the moment when she decides his time for winning is over. At the height of her career and on the eve of her first Golden Globe nomination, teen star Grace Turner disappeared. Now, tentatively sober and surprisingly numb, Grace is back in Los Angeles after her year of self-imposed exile. She knows the new private life she wants isn't going to be easy as she tries to be a better person and reconnect with the people she left behind. But when Grace is asked to present a lifetime achievement award to director Able Yorke--the man who controlled her every move for eight years--she realizes that she can't run from the secret behind her spectacular crash and burn for much longer. And she's the only one with nothing left to lose. Alternating between past and present, The Comeback tackles power dynamics and the uncertainty of young adulthood, the types of secrets that become part of our sense of self, and the moments when we learn that though there are many ways to get hurt, we can still choose to fight back.