Lights, Camera, Chaos- 7 Books Set in Hollywood

Glam, Grit, and a whole lot of drama

Hello Los Angeles!! I am here!! After years of dreaming of the glamorous Hollywood movie star life I am finally, at 4 months shy of 30, visiting LA for the very first time. I'm in town to visit my best friend who lived my dream of packing her life up, driving across the country, and moving to LA to work on movies. Swoon!

You can see more of my adventures in LA on my Instagram with lots of fun "behind the scenes" with Vanessa as she shows me the "back lot" of Hollywood :)

But back to the books...this trip has me reminiscing on the romanticized version of Hollywood that I think a lot of us grow up with. In honor of that I've put together a list of books across genre's that give off that romantic Hollywood vibe...the good the bad and the ugly! Enjoy!

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This and all lists were created using personal preference, online research, and suggestions from friends and readers, meaning I have not always personally read each book. If you believe there is an issue with a book or author listed on this page please reach out so that we can investigate further. The Albatross Society prides itself on being an inclusive and safe space for all <3

Books set in Hollywood

Teenage Kelly is so relatable with her desire to be part of the "in" crowd in Hollywood & ending up caught up in it.

What Remains of Me by Alison Gaylin

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Overview: 5 years after Kelly Lund is released from prison for murdering and Oscar-nominated director, Kelly once again finds herself as the main suspect in a high profile murder.

But did she do it? Is she innocent of both murders? Or neither?

You may recognize this one from my God Tier Books list, because this is one of my all time favorite books.

This story is told in a duel timeline between Kelly at 17 leading up to the murder she is eventually convicted for, and present day Kelly as she tries to prove her innocence in her father-in-law's death.

This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, I never saw where it was going. SO good.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Genre: Historical Fiction/Drama

Overview: "Summoned to Evelyn's luxurious apartment, Monique listens as the actress tells her story.

From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the '80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love."

Old Hollywood glitz meets modern-day reckoning. Iconic, queer, and unforgettable.

The Lost Girls by Sonia Hartl

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Revenge Thriller

Overview: "Holly Liddell has been stuck with crimped hair since 1987 when she agreed to let her boyfriend, Elton, turn her into a vampire...before ditching her a few decades into eternity.

It seems that Holly isn’t the only girl Elton seduced into this wretched existence. Now Rose and Ida want to kill him before he can trick another girl into eternal adolescence, and they’ll need Holly’s help to do it. And once Holly starts falling for Elton’s vulnerable new conquest, she’ll do anything to save her."

John Tucker must die but make it sapphic vampires.

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Overview: "Just when plus sized fashion bloger, Bea, has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: a reality dating show wants her to be its next star. Bea agrees, on one condition—under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She’s in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That’s it.

But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated."

A sharp and charming look at representation, online fame, and the weird pressures of dating on TV.

The Comeback by Ella Berman

Genre: Drama

Overview: "Grace Turner was one movie away from Hollywood’s A-List. So no one understood why, at the height of her career, she disappeared.

A year later, Grace is back in Los Angeles and ready to reclaim her life on her own terms.

When sked to present a lifetime achievement award to 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."

This is a powerful #MeToo-era novel that explores trauma, control, and the cost of silence in a ruthless industry.

Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita

Genre: YA

Overview: "16-year-old Kaitlin Burke, co-star of one of the hottest shows on TV, is exhausted from the pressures of her fame. So she decides to spend two months undercover as an ordinary high school student. But could it be that real life high school is just as harsh as cutthroat Hollywood??"

I absolutely devoured this six book series more than once as a teenager. I was OBSESSED with the idea of being a movie star and this was the perfect way to live the life vicariously.

Read it for your preteen self who definitely practiced her mickey ears and

"your watching Disney Channel" in the backyard with glow sticks.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Genre: Historical Fiction/ Music drama

Overview: "Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars. By the time she's twenty, her voice is getting noticed.

Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes that the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend."

Ever wanted to pretend you were Stevie Nicks for 368 pages? Look no further 😍

Honorable Mentions:

• Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett YA romance, former childhood friends turned enemies go stargazing—and maybe fall in love—in the LA hills

• Hollywood Dirt by Alessandra Torre steamy adult romance about a Southern girl and a Hollywood actor filming in her small town

• I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman YA, fandom and fame collide when a trans teen boy band member meets a fangirl who's more like him than he expected

Honorable Mentions are recommendations that come straight from our Instagram followers, want to recommend a book? Follow us here!

Whether you're craving red carpets, recording studios, or backstage betrayals, these books set in Hollywood all bring that romantic mix of ambition, image, and heartache. Perfect for your next Hollywood daydream...or for a dose of reality?

Looking for more romantic reads? Check out all the book lists here!