So L.A. by Bridget Hoida
Publisher: Lettered Press
Pages: 384
Format: book
Buy the Book: Amazon
Goodreads: Magdalena de la Cruz breezed through Berkeley and built an empire selling designer water. She’d never felt awkward or unattractive… until she moved to Los Angeles. In L.A., where “everything smells like acetone and Errol Flynn,” Magdalena attempts to reinvent herself as a geographically appropriate bombshell—with rhinestones, silicone and gin—as she seeks an escape from her unraveling marriage and the traumatic death of her younger brother, Junah. Magdalena’s Los Angeles is glitzy and glamorous but also a landscape of the absurd. Her languidly lyrical voice provides a travel guide for a city of make-believe, where even Hollywood insiders feel left out.
Kritters Thoughts: What a book, definitely a different take on life on Los Angeles and maybe not the prettiest look at it. The reader is taken on a loopy journey through life in LA with Magdalena as the tour guide. Magdalena is trying to cope with the loss of her sibling, a marriage that is falling apart and a loss of interest in her job.
For some reason, this book just didn't strike a cord with me, I found the main character to be whiny and unrelatable, I couldn't connect with her at all. I wanted to see her get through the problems she had, but I just felt like she wallowed and muddled through it all.
Maybe it was the satirical style, maybe it was just me, but I didn't love this one. I would say people who are fans of the more cynical books, should pick this one up.
Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Other Tour Stops:
Thursday, July 5th: CBS Los Angeles – LA’s Summer Reading Guide
Monday, August 13th: The 3R’s Blog
Wednesday, August 15th: Peppermint Ph.D.
Thursday, August 16th: Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile
Monday, August 20th: Kritter’s Ramblings
Wednesday, August 22nd: Sweet Southern Home
Thursday, August 23rd: Book Chatter
Monday, August 27th: Reviews by Molly
Tuesday, August 28th: Travel Spot
Wednesday, August 29th: Book Club Classics!
Thursday, August 30th: A Chick Who Reads
Tuesday, September 4th: A Bookish Affair
Thursday, September 6th: Bookish Whimsy
Friday, September 7th: In the Next Room
Monday, September 10th: Colloquium
Tuesday, September 11th: Oh! Paper Pages
Wednesday, September 12th: Conceptual Reception
Thursday, September 13th: Seaside Book Nook
Sorry that this one wasn't exactly your cup of tea, but thanks for sharing your thoughts on it for the tour.
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