L.A. Candy (by Lauren Conrad)
common sense media says
Not as bad as you might expect from a reality TV star.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this fiction book by a reality TV star from the MTV show The Hills includes pervasive, extensive drinking by underage young adults; repeated mentions of name brands with an emphasis on having the right expensive clothing; and features some sexual encounters, including one-night stands and two girls making out.
Positive role models:
Jane and Scarlett are negative role models with their drinking, but have positive traits as well. Scarlett is smart and eschews what she considers shallow, such as fashion. Her favorite mug features a Descartes saying, "Cogito, Ergo Sum." She is a loyal friend. However, she can be judgmental and feels superior because she thinks she is smarter than everyone else. Jane sticks with her job even when she keeps making mistakes. One of the other young women on the show gets jealous that Jane is the break-out star and takes revenge by leaking photos of Jane having sex.
Sex:
Scarlett gives young men false names before sleeping with them during one-night stands "so she wouldn't have to see them again." Jane wakes up with one of Scarlett's conquests sleeping next to her (he confused their rooms in the middle of the night). Two girls make out in a bathroom. A mention of Jane sleeping with her high-school boyfriend, "something she had held out on doing for exactly six months, one week, and three days from when they met." Jane sleeps with Braden (despite both of them sort of having other boy/girlfriends), and gets photographed through an open window. It describes kissing and taking off her shirt, but nothing more.
Language:
Some language, not excessive, including "bulls--t," "s--t," "mierda" (s--t in Spanish), "pissed-off," "hellhole," "f'ing," and "bitch."
Consumerism:
Many name-brand mentions of electronics, magazines, cars, bands, apparel, stores, bars, food, and alcohol. The book itself come with a QR code, which "allows a camera on a mobile device to scan and connect directly to
the mobile Internet and access content like videos and podcasts" from a phone.
the mobile Internet and access content like videos and podcasts" from a phone.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Pervasive, casual drinking of various types of alcohol by underage (19) young adults in restaurants, bars, clubs, and home. They drink Dirty Shirleys, apple martinis, vodka sodas, margaritas, tequila shots, and name-brand alcohol (Grey Goose, Bombay Sapphire). As far as the book portrays, no one cards minors in L.A. The four stars get drunk while partying with a group of young men. An adult producer sends a bottle of champagne as a gift. Jane says she likes to drink anything with vodka. The girls remember how they swiped a bottle of Ketel One from a liquor cabinet. Scarlett takes an unknown pill from another young woman. Jane's boyfriend has a drinking problem.
More on L.A. Candy
Review It
Most useful reviews by all members
silly_samsters
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
Great Book!
I love this book! I do love Lauren Conrad! This book has a lot to do with her past few years on the Hills and Laguna Beach! So cannot wait until the other one comes out!
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nicoleerockss
parent of 19 year old
parent of 19 year old
first page
i only read the first page in a bookstore and i loved it. i will definatly buy it and read the whole thing.
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BxAmazing123
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
I'm liking this book so far. It's not the BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD..but it pretty good.
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hulagal
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Entertaining
This is a very fun and entertaining book to read. It does have underage drinking, sex, and a little drugs, but it teaches you about what really happpens in a celeb's life. As a person above already said "If you think this book is inapropriate, than you aren't emotionaly and ready for it."
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katie12345
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
Great for Teen :)
I loved the book, its very well written. Showing how the media can cause problems. The negative things people have written about the book are false. If you think the book is inappropriate than your too young!
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cathdee
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
this is fun, not the bible!
Ok, so this book isn't perfect. There is some sex, language, and maybe the role models aren't the best. People over the age of 13 or 14 have begun to decide for themselves what they are going- they aren't going to sleep with men all the time just because Scarlett thinks its ok. I personally enjoyed the book, and I have not turned into a "bad seed". So really, all the fuss over something just to read for fun? It is enjoyable, quick and sweet.
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ezmx23
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
good
this book was very good not the best i have read!
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CommonSenseParent
parent
parent
Excellent, well-written read for 6th grade and up
L.A. Candy is a well-written guilty pleasure novel that is an enjoyable and entertaining read for 6th grade and up. I definitely allow my 11-year-old sixth-grader to read this. Kids will enjoy the fun details of the wealthy and privileged. Your children should be smart enough to realize that this is guilty pleasure fiction and should not be taken seriously. A+
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