Books
By now, you've probably heard the buzz surrounding La La Land. How could you miss it? The beautiful music and electric chemistry between leads Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling make this movie an instant classic and a tribute to dreamers that you need to see before the Oscars.
It dominated at the Golden Globes, and there are rumors that the movie could end up on Broadway. Needless to say, if you haven’t seen it yet, you will want to spend an evening falling into this film — and you’ll be humming along to the soundtrack long after watching.
Of course, the only issue with such a lovely film is that it will give you a total movie hangover. You won’t want to watch anything else, because you’ll be so swept away by the story of two dreamers in Los Angeles. When there’s no sequel or next episode to watch, what’s a movie musical lover to do? This is where books come in.
If you loved La La Land, but you’ve already seen it countless times and have the soundtrack on repeat, there are scores of books out there to help cure your movie hangover. Keep the magical, dream-like feeling alive with the following novels perfect for fans of La La Land.
1
'Radiance' by Catherynne M. Valente
Described as a "decopunk pulp SF alt-history space opera mystery," Radiance tells the story of Severin, a documentary filmmaker who travels through space making films. It combines the glamour of Old Hollywood with the thrill of space and sci-fi, with a dreamy aesthetic perfect for La La Land fans.
2
'A Touch Of Stardust' by Kate Alcott
Julie Crawford is an aspiring screenwriter in 1930s Hollywood, and she ends up as the assistant to Carole Lombard in this historical fiction novel. If you loved seeing the ins and outs of working in Hollywood when watching La La Land, this is the book for you.
3
'Secrets Of My Hollywood Life' by Jen Calonita
This YA series is a fun, light read, for those who loved actress Mia's storyline in La La Land. Teenager Kaitlin Burke is a TV star who wants a taste of living a normal life, and her solution is to disguise herself as a regular high school student named Rachel Rogers.
4
'What You See In The Dark' by Manuel Muñoz
This Hitchcock-era thriller is for La La Land fans who love Old Hollywood, but can't resist a bit of mystery. In the vein of Psycho, this story follows the love story of Dan and Teresa, a musician and aspiring singer whose romance seems doomed from the start.
5
'Miles: The Autobiography' by Miles Davis With Quincy Troupe
If what you loved about La La Land was the tribute to jazz, you can't go wrong with this Miles Davis autobiography.
6
'Atonement' by Ian McEwan
At its core, La La Land centers around Mia and Sebastian's relationship. Atonement is a portrait of a romance that will appeal to fans of the sweeping look at how two people's lives intertwine.
7
'A Visit From The Goon Squad' by Jennifer Egan
Following a collection of characters who work in the music industry, A Visit from the Goon Squad will enchant fans of La La Land's musical focus and industry setting. Its bittersweet tone and fast pace might give you a book hangover.
8
'Eleanor & Park' by Rainbow Rowell
Eleanor & Park is a sweet YA story about first love that will appeal to La La Land fans who will always root for Mia and Sebastian.
9
'Station Eleven' by Emily St. John Mandel
This post-apocalyptic dystopian novel follows the lives of members of the Traveling Symphony, and how they are connected through a famous actor named Arthur Leander. What would La La Land look like if it met The Walking Dead? This is it.
10
'The Shadow Of The Wind' by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Pianos, star-crossed lovers, and magical realism — La La Land has it all, and so does The Shadow of the Wind.
