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A Literary Guide to LA by Morgan Matson


Morgan Matson, total boss lady author, gives us the lowdown on all the bookish ins and outs of Los Angeles. And it’ll give you some serious wanderlust. 

wanderlust

Although it is seen as primarily a movie town, LA has a huge literary scene and a major literary pedigree. And due to the lovely weather, we Angelenos can spend much more of the year reading outside!

outside dog

It’s a great town to get lost in a book in – reading at the beach, at one of the many parks, or at a year-round outside cafĂ© or bookshop.  So grab your sunglasses, check the traffic on the 405, and let’s explore literary Los Angeles.

Books set in LA

44353‘Weetzie Bat’ – Francesca Lia Block

This charming urban fairy tale is the version of LA that you long to be real, and to be able to live in Weetzie’s world along with her.

 

 

‘Audrey, Wait!’ – Robin Benwayaudrey wait

A hysterically funny tale of the girl who accidentally inspires her now-ex boyfriend’s hit song about her, and has to deal with the fallout.  Funny and charming and romantic, this is one of my all-time favorites.

 

 

moonglass‘Moonglass’ – Jessi Kirby

This un-put-downable book is about a girl who moves beachside with her father.  She begins to discover the truth about her mother, and her death years earlier.  Warning – will make you want to go to a beach immediately, if not sooner.

 

18662936‘Landline’ – Rainbow Rowell

This is a charming story about a TV writer who discovers that the old landline in her mother’s house lets her call the past
and all the trouble that comes with that.

 

 

 

Authors that live in Los Angeles

authors in la

Robin Benway– Author of ‘Audrey, Wait!’, ‘Emmy & Oliver’, and many others

Jessi Kirby – Author of ‘Moonglass’, ‘In Honor’, ‘Golden’, and ‘Things We Know By Heart’

Marie Lu – Author of the ‘Legend’ and ‘Young Elites’ series

Best Bookstores in Los Angeles

Vroman’s Bookstore

https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/vromans-bookstore
https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/vromans-bookstore

Set just outside of LA, in Pasadena, this is Southern California’s oldest independent bookstore. With a huge layout and wonderful staff, it’s the kind of place you can spend all day in.

Skylight Books

http://www.skylightbooks.com/
http://www.skylightbooks.com/

In the charming Los Feliz area is Skylight – with a tree growing in the middle of the store! It’s a fantastic spot to go for author events.  And always a bonus – there’s a bookstore cat.

Book Soup

zzz-book-soup-118-5

West Hollywood’s Book Soup is a fantastic store and occasionally quite celeb-filled! Grab a book and head to a nearby cafĂ© to read the day away.

Best Places to read in Los Angeles

The beach

Head down PCH to Malibu, set up a blanket at El Matador beach, and crack open a great book.

IMG_5058-Large-912x700
http://www.californiabeaches.com/beach/el-matador-state-beach/

The Getty

It’s an amazing museum – but the grounds are also perfect for setting up a picnic and stretching out on the grounds on a blanket with a great book.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Paul_Getty_Museum
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Paul_Getty_Museum

 

Intelligentsia Coffee, Silverlake/ Bourgeois Pig, Los Feliz/ Bricks and Scones, Larchmont

Yes, these coffeeshops will be filled with screenwriters typing away on laptops – but that also meant they’re very quiet and perfect for settling in with a great latte and a book.

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Ready to pack your bags? We are. Let’s go!

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