I'm a huge fan of Lauren Conrad and The Hills so I thought this book would be super interesting and give a little more "background" on her life.

I thought the story was pretty good, it definitely gave you a "behind the scenes" glimpse at reality television. However, it was slightly lacking creativity in some sections. Pretty much the same ol' stuff you saw on Laguna Beach/The Hills in a fictionalized format. And the ending....wasn't really an ending.

Definitely not the best book I've read. It's an extremely easy read (it only took me like 4 hours to finish it). If you are out of things to read or just really bored then go ahead and give it a go.

I'm only halfway through the book but I'm so drawn to it! I LOVE it so far! It's awesome to see how LC really put her own life into this book! It's a great beach read... and a great read overall!

I had absolutely no intention of reading this book, but as boredom can go during the summer, I found myself asking "Why not?"

I didn't think I'd make it through the hard copy, so I opted for the audiobook. I have listened to tons of books on audio-- most horrendously awful, finding only a few (like the Harry Potter Series's Jim Dale... whom I personally deem a minor god) tolerable. I have on occasion been unable to get past the first chapter on audiobook due to the lackluster vocal acting (that often made the male characters, who were supposed to be breathtakingly hot, sound like my 78 year old grandmother), but I took the chance anyway... as I had already dubbed this book useless beforehand, I figured it would be easy to cut my losses.

L.A. Candy was an absolute breezy delight. It was cute, fast-paced, and can consume the targeted audience with juicy exuberance. I think I spent the first few chapters debating who I conceived characters to be; but by mid-book, I found it didn't matter. As a teen light romance, it did the job just fine-- even without placing reality faces to the fictional (or-not-so) personalities. Lauren's reading of the book was better than tolerable; and by the first few chapters really captivating. She didn't make the male characters sound like old, angry, cane-toting southern biddies at least. A definite plus.

As a stand alone, minus any connection to the events on "The Hills", L.A. Candy was an enjoyable, resplendent romp into a world of delectable arrays of jealousy, gossip, friendship, and prospective romance. If anything at all, it is definitely entertaining.

I'm looking forward to more from Ms. Conrad.

Did she write it? Well, it's not very well written, in fact it's pedantic, so perhaps she did. It is the first of her three book deal. Yes, there are two more coming our way, hence the "to be continued" type ending. If you watched THE HILLS, this is a road map to how the casting was done, how the girls were thrown together, and how "unreal" reality TV is. Look, she's famous (for being famous) and has a huge following. She and her handlers are trying to make as much money off that fame while she's still hot. Next, she'll probably cut a record or get her own talk show. It's the way it is.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this cover to cover without stopping but actually felt like I was watching an episode of the hills at the end. There was no resolution! The next one better come out soon or I'll forget all about it.

I loved this book!! I am a fan of Lauren Conrad, but admittedly I wasn't sure how good this book would be or if it would be too young for me. But I was hooked from the first page. If you love The Hills, I am sure you will enjoy this book as well. It was a fast paced, engaging behind-the-scenes look at the lives of young reality stars on a fictitious show called LA Candy on the fictional channel Pop TV, especially the character of Jane. I finished the book this morning and can't wait for the next in the series. I would recommend this book as a great book to take to the beach or on an airplane flight.

This book is fantastic. Actually the first book in the series which I didn't previously know about but still great. If you like Laguna Beach and The Hills then this book is for you.

Pretty good for her first book. A little confusing if your not used to the Reality TV format of continually switching points of view. However, I felt it was very much like watching more episodes of the Hills.

A very easy read and can NOT wait for the next one to come out!

Please do not support authors who do no write their own material. Having a reality show does not make you an author. This being on the bestseller list sad, sad, sad.

Omg, I loved this book. I was glued into the story from the start. Can't wait till her second book comes out. I heard sometime in feb.

I'm an avid reader who likes fun stuff that I can relate to. I've never lived in LA or experienced stardom, but the wild nightlife, men, and partying were all just like reading about my girls. I thought the story and struggle the starlet goes through were also fun to read. Two thumbs up.

The book is a little bit confusing. Lauren Conrad moved to L.A. with Heidi Montag, but the description of Scarlett feels like her other friend whom she grew up with ;Jen Bunny.

It's a little bit hard to figure out the characters

Most people are familiar with Lauren Conrad from her hit reality TV show "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County" and its spinoff, "The Hills." Now, having left television, Conrad is trying her hand as a novelist with her teenage fan base in mind. In her semi-autobiographical first novel, L.A. CANDY, Conrad draws on her experiences as a reality TV star to tell the story of Jane Roberts and her best friend, Scarlett, as they discover the pleasures and pitfalls of instant, unexpected fame.

Jane and Scarlett have recently graduated from a posh California high school and decide to strike out on their own in glamorous Los Angeles. Sweet, girl-next-door Jane is interning for a top celebrity event planner, while Scarlett, a knockout as well as an intellectual, plans to attend U.S.C. Drawn to L.A. hoping to inject some excitement into their humdrum, privileged lives, in no time they're shopping, clubbing, making new friends, and starting exciting new relationships. After only a few weeks in town, the pair is suddenly "discovered" by one of the top producers in Hollywood to star in his new reality series, "L.A. Candy." Since they came to the city to shake things up, the girls are only too happy to sign on.

Before they know it, Jane and Scarlett are having every moment of their lives filmed. They are introduced to their co-stars, backstabbing Madison and benign Gaby, who are vying for top billing on the show. It's not long before they begin to feel that their lives are being scripted, their relationships invaded, and that their friends may not be who they thought they were. As Jane emerges as the star of the program, tensions among the girls rise, culminating in a scandal that will change everything.

L.A. CANDY is similar to eating cotton candy --- it lacks substance, but makes for a sinful indulgence. Some readers will wish for more meat from this story and more dimension from Jane, her friends and her enemies. The book has the feeling of just skimming the surface; it is too straightforward to be a truly engrossing read.

Nevertheless, die-hard fans who loved either of Conrad's reality shows will undoubtedly enjoy this novel and will certainly recognize elements of the series as they read. Readers are pulled into the world of reality TV so completely that they will have no trouble visualizing the clubs, fancy restaurants and designer clothes. Conrad's fans will find this a breezy read poolside this summer and will surely look forward to the impending sequel.

--- Reviewed by Meredyth Temple

The only reason I read Lauren's book is because I'm a fan of hers from the tv show the Hills. L.A. Candy is a decent read, but it was extremely difficult for me not to identify Ms. Conrad's characters with her real life castmates. Personalities and plot details resembled episodes of the Hills and it was hard for to get invested in L.A. Candy because it was too similar to the Hills... What makes this read interesting is some of the behind the scenes things you learn. It must be a very surreal experience to wonder whether people are nice to you to get screen time, whether they've signed their releases to be on camera and that's why they're asking you on a date, etc... I would recommend this book to anyone who is not an avid Hills fan. It would be a better read without the prior knowledge of the people and experiences from LC's life blurring the line between the show and Lauren's book.

I bought this book for my 14 year old grand daughter who always watched "The Hills" tv show.

I read the book first.

I am always fearful of giving her books that will give her the wrong ideas about "boys", school, friends etc. This is a well written book for young girls and women.

I think it helps girls make good decisions about their lives.

I didn't really have high expectations for this book but it was definately a good read! Very light but engaging. Can't wait for the second one to come out to see what Jane does next!

I wasn't expecting a lot, but I thought that I would give the book a shot since most of the reviews were not that bad. I was pleasantly surprise by the book. It is not the best written book but the story line was definitely entertaining and a nice break from my usual more serious books. I enjoyed the book enough to read the next one that she writes.

this book looked brand new, I am in the middle of reading it so far so good! shipped fast

I'm from SoCal and I've been a fan of the show way back when it was called 'Laguna Beach'. I feel the need to defend this book because so many people are freaking out about it's success.

Some people need to realize that these shows have A LOT of fans and these fans aren't necessarily reading this book for it's literary value. They are reading it to be entertained and to learn behind-the-scenes info about the reality show business. FYI, Lauren's book is pretty informative in this area and I'd recommend it to any young girl or boy who wants to move to LA and live the glam Hollywood lifestyle.

Anyway, according to [...], Lauren had a ghostwriter helping her with the book named Nancy Ohlins so it's really childish for people to make 1-star reviews ASSUMING that it will be a bad book just because someone from an MTV reality show wrote it when they haven't even bothered to READ the book. Being a grownup means you should actually read a book before reviewing it, or are you really any better than the person and the book you are attempting to criticize??

All that being said, if Lauren really did have a ghostwriter, Nancy Ohlins did a hell of a job making it look like some writing N00blet 1st timer wrote this book. The writing was choppy and stilted at times and didn't flow well but it found it's rhythm eventually. The characters weren't really elaborated on and it was just too easy to put cast members of the show into the roles. Jane is Lauren, Whitney is Hannah, Madison is Heidi, Jesse is Brody, Scarlett is a mixture of Audrina (looks) and Lo (obnoxiousness). anyway those are my theories, I'm sure other fans have their own :D

The book ended at a cliffhanger with nothing resolved, which was disappointing but on the other hand I know I will have 2 books to read in the future while lounging next to the pool or at the beach so I'm not too broken up about it.

Final note - I listened to this on Ipod w/ Lauren reading it. She's not the most awesome reader but it was okay. She gets better as the recording progresses...

Recommended for fans ofThe Truth About Diamonds: A Novel, The A-List: Hollywood Royalty #1, The Real Real.

This book is pure fun and entertainment. The story moves quickly and the characters remind me of people I know. I can't wait for the next book!

As soon as I got the book I started reading it and couldn't put it down. I love Lauren Conrad and "The Hills" show. Although now that she has left the show I do not watch it anymore. The the rest of the cast are just stupid and is plain to see that the show is made up. I mean come on Heidi and Spencer had all this drama and they still got married. It's all just for the money. I only watched it because Lauren was on it. Any hoot the book is Great. It is a Great summer read. Trust me if you like the show when Lauren was on it you will enjoy reading her book. I hope she writes other books in the near future. She did a Great job.

at first when i started reading this book i figured it was basically just a written version of the show "the hills. but i have to say it was really, really gooodddd!!! i didnt expect to really enjoy this book but i really wanted to read it because i am a big fan of lauren conrad. she really inspired me to want to write after i finsihed reading this book because she proves that you can accomplish as miuch as you put your mind too. towards the end is when the book got really goood and i cant believe it ended the way it did! it makes me want to read the next boook ssossosososososo badly and i cant wait till it comes out in february! love itttt!!!!

I read only the first few pages using the "look inside" pop up and I do believe Lauren Conrad actually wrote this herself. I teach writing to 4th graders and she's committed every writing sin I teach my students not to do. Overly-used adjectives? Check. Dream scene fake out? Check. Juvenile dialogue. Check. Come to think of it, my 4th graders are better writers.

I have followed LC since Laguna Beach, Im in my thirties and felt this book was written rather simply. I was suprised she actually had professional assistance while writing it. It was very :"jane and I had drinks, then I got a text". I expected more and wonder if the reason I was not enthrawled was due inpart to my age. Although I once was a teenager. Growing up in NY and having attended clubs as a teen, I found my own life more exciting than the tales in this book. An ok read, a small glimpse was given into the filming of The Hills and I will get the second part, but all in all not for readers over the age of 14

I had hoped to like this book. I grew up in LA and enjoy reading about the environs. However.....this book is not a complete book. It is the first in an installment and is not complete in itself. It leaves you hanging and dissatisfied without warning. To tolerate the amateurish writing and then be left hanging. I really do not care to read the second book in the series if it ever comes out

I love Lauren Conrad! I love the Hills, even Laguana Beach when it was on!

However, this book is garbage! It is very poorly written and very boring. I struggled to get through the first 8 chapters, but could not bare to read anymore after that.

This book is reads as if someone was descibing an episode of the Hills. The dialogue even sounds like the Hills. The fun part about the Hills is that you get to see the fashion, the arguments, the trendy places, and the drama. But on paper, all you get is drama that we already watched on the Hills. So we don't even get to see the trendy clubs and expensive bags/clothes!

If she writes another book (not in this series) I would try to read it, but my expectations are low.

Seriously?! WTF....why bother. If it wasn't most obvious before this disgrace...she now officially has zero talent. EPIC

(Review Data Last Updated: 2009-07-18 17:39:51 EST)

I was a little skeptical if this book would be good or not but I just finished it yesterday and I loved it! I had no idea Lauren Conrad could write so well. The book was really interesting and unlike anything that I have ever read before! Buy It!

I can't figure out why this thing earned a namesake of a book..I mean sure it might be adequate for someone who is just beggining to learn how to read, but content-wise i would like to know what kind of wisdom are readers of L.A Candy acquiring? It saddens me to see that now not only TV but also books (that generally make people more dignified and noble)have an inclination to turn this new generation into a mindless, superficall crowd...

The book "LA Candy" is a fun read for HILLS fans. The content of the book is clearly fictional in nature, but allows the HILLS viewer a "reality check" regarding the filming of the show. The only discouraging part of reading "LA Candy" is the cliff hanger at the end. The build up to the story line is great, but then just as the story gets going we are left waiting for the next book. A great marketing plow I'm sure, but maybe not so great when your consumers have no idea when the next book will be available.

This book was definately written by a ghost writer based on Lauren's actual life. The book has a completely different vibe than Lauren herself. Everyone's personalitycomes thru in their work and this is not her work by far.

Even on the show if anyone used a word that was not vernacular she would say," why aere you using that word" to her friend Lo.

She probably met with the writer and said- let's make the book about a reality tv star- here are some facts that happened-these are the things I had to deal with and did not like; etc.

She does not have the writing skills to write this book- it was written by an experienced writer-ghost writer.

i read the book la candy over my vacation andi just coudnt put it down. i highly recommend it for peoplewho loved the hills or who just love gossipy chic drama books if thats even a genre. lauren conrad surprised me and was actually a very good writer. its not too detailed or descriptive but it defiantly has a good story line to it.

I really liked L.A. Candy! Sure, Lauren writes about what she knows, but she does so with a light and charming touch. The result is a fun, entertaining novel that shows all the machinations going on behind reality shows. Unputdownable, I read it in a few hours! Well done, Lauren!

L.A. Candy is a great read, you won't want to put down the book. L.A. Candy does remind me a little of the t.v. shows Lauren Conrad has been on, but to me the book was written in a different way, then how The Hills happened. A great read. This is one of my favorite books. The book is about four girls doing daily life while being filmed for a t.v. show. Most of the girls like it except Scarlett. It's amazing how Lauren Conrad wrote this book herself, when she is only 23 years old. It's amazing when you think someone who was on a reality show could actually write there own book by themselves. I think teens will enjoy this book the most. Worth your $20. This book would also be a great present for someone in there upper teens early 20's. You will enjoy the book if you like the t.v. show The Hills. A must read if your a Hills fans, can't go without.

I was so excited about this book, LA Candy, I really wanted to see Lauren Conrad prove that she was more than the TV show had portrayed her to be, but I see now that it is quite an accurate description. I opened the book and read the front flap and instantly realized this was an eye-roller. It's written at about a 3rd grade reading level, and just as the reality TV show has no story arc, this book is more about watching the characters rather than experiencing a beginning, middle, and especially an end. Then I realized Conrad has a 3 book deal, however I don't think that is an excuse for not coming up with an ending to a novel.

Having said all that, this book is a true guilty pleasure. I couldn't put it down once I started reading, and finished it in just a few hours of reading time. It's easy and fun and very light summer reading. I found it interesting to see the Reality TV process from the other side, but don't try to look for The Hills characters in the book, it will be just more confusing since I don't remember ANY of these characters in the show, especially Scarlett, the "un-relatable dark-haired exotic beauty who is smarter than everyone at U.S.C."... who the heck was that?

Short Version: Lauren isn't doing anything to prove her intelligence as anything different from the portrayal on MTV, but LA Candy is just as fun as an episode of The Hills.

OMG! I absolutley loved this book! I literally read it within 2 days! I've never read a book that fast before! Lauren Conrad is an awesome author and has a unique way of writing and telling each point of view! I cannot wait until her next book comes out next year! I would recommend this book in a heart beat!

This book was a good read but I thought it was going to be more of an autobiography of Lauren Conrad. In other words almost like a behind the scenes of "The Hills." Some, if very little of this book was about that. The characters in this book are very flat. This is definitely a good book for teenagers! The main character, Jane is definitely someone a teenager can relate to.

I bought this book just to meet Lauren at her book signing, and was pleasantly surprised.

I don't know what I was expecting, but I do know this exceeded what I was hoping for. A very fun and entertaining summer read, and I can't wait for the rest of the books in this series.

I love Lauren Conrad and i love the Hills, but when i heard that she was writing a book i was like what have they got her into now. I didnt know how it would turn out, even though i love her that type of writing just really isnt the kind of reading material i like. I was hooked by the first few paragraphs and i read it all in a day and a half and i dont read fast. I think that lauren has found what she should have been doing all along and she should continue to do so even after the other two books are publised.

Its a great read for anyone that wants to be on a reality tv show or someone who is thinking about it. Personally i think it is a book that all different ages can appeal too, everyone whether they want to admit it or not want to know what goes on behind the scenes of a show like that. It always ends with a cliffhanger, what is going to happen next kind of feeling which is always good.

The book follows the lives of Jane and Scarlett as they moved to LA to pursue their dreams! What starts out as an innocent night at the club, turns into America's top rated TV show, LA Candy, where Jane is the star.
I recommend anyone 13-30 to read this novel! Amazing job Lauren Conrad.