Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for this ARC!

Let me start off by saying, I’ve only read one book by Joan (The Year of Magical Thinking) and none by Eve Babitz. But reading this book has made me want to change that. I was a huge fan of Joan’s memoir and I have had Play It As It Lays on my TBR for far too long.

Lili has written a beautiful, funny and well thought out book about two incredible women. Although both women were polar opposites in their personality’s, they were writers at their cores.

I can’t recommend this book enough to fans of Joan or Eve!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of the book for review.

My main flaw with the book is that it just needed a better thesis and structure, since telling the book in chronological order really affected the pacing. There were definitely some sections that were only there because of the author's love for the topic, not necessarily because they enhanced the story. Speaking of things that were influenced by the author's bias is the very clear emphasis of Eve on the book; something that was said to explicitly not happen. The book feels like a retelling of Eve Babitz that occasionally lets you get a glimpse into Didion's live to contrast the live Eve was living. Something that wasn't very masterfully executed until the final few pages. And lastly, my only petty complaint is that he book is constantly introducing new people into the fold, and expects you to memorize their names immediately; something I did not do. This leads to some areas of the book not really being that comprehensible. So, some more exposition would have definitely the book as a whole.

this was a soapy, gossipy, guilty-pleasure good time. i love didion and i love babitz and i never imagined i'd stumble into such a wonderful treasure trove of information about them.

More Babitz than Didion. I enjoyed the information provided but not the author's voice. Would still recommend.

Thought this book was well written and overall very informative on both the lives of Eve Babitz and Joan Didion. Though there was a lot more speculation about the life of Joan and the people close to her. Felt sort of gross to read about

Didion and. Babitz is a lively story of two major writers from and their complicated relationship--friends with. complications that ultimately destroyed their friendship.

Didion is, of course, Joan Didion, author of famous essay collections hailed as definitive representations of their times--The White Album and Slouching Towards Bethlehem being the best known, praised, and loved. Didion also wrote the best selling and critically acclaimed grief memoirs, The Year of Magical Thinking (written after her husband died suddenly of a heart attack) and of her daughter's illness and death, Blue Nights. These in addition to her novels. And I am definitely a "Team Didion"--which matters in regards to this book.

Because Lili Anolik is clearly from the beginning, long before she declares it outright "Team Babitz." Eve Babitz--like Didion a California girl, specifically from Los Angeles, was a . . . phenomenon of her time. Anolik describes her as an artist whose primary art form was her life. She was the epitome of "sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll." Fascinating, exuberant, Babitz created album covers and wrote books that were spotty in execution but which have recently surged in popularity. The best, according to Anolik, being Slow Horses. Her narrative is disguised autobiography, and (in the excerpts I've read vivid and alive with a passion for living).

As irritating as I sometimes found Anolik's adoration of Babitz, I couldn't put the book down. The writing, the anecdotes. Anolik believed her obsession with Babitz had faded following the completion of her biography. ("obsession" is a mild word--years of writing, reading, rereading which lead to yeras of phone calls and visits) And then, out of nowhere, Eve's sister contacts her--she's discovered a box of correspondence between Eve and Joan. Anolik meets up with the sister and her passion is reignited.

The result is this book: a tale of two seemingly opposite in personality writers, friends--until they weren't. Didion championed Babitz's work, edited her writing--until Babitz "fired" her ("fired" is the word used by Babitz). Anolik present a convincing argument that in many ways the two women were two halves of one whole, each living out the other's shadow side.

Babitz's burnout and decline was, for me, the inevitable result of endless quantities of drugs and sex and excess. A drug addict who created some beautiful work and lived out fantasies of many of us living ordinary, careful lives. And Didion living out a different fantasy--the beyond-famous, iconic writer who through severe discipline and care curation of image achieved the highest levels of literary fame.

Although the book should, I somehow feel, be depressing, it's not. Anolik brings Babitz's wild energy, talent, and passion to life and the result is exciting, fun, a roller-coaster ride. I just think she could have been a little less hard on Didion--but maybe sometimes there's no room for compromise. Following in the footsteps of Eve Babitz could certainly lead to equal excesses in feelings and judgments.

Anolik is a gushing fan--and proud of it. And her enthusiasm is contagious. She never converted me to Team Babitz (although sadly for me she significantly damaged my image of and feelings for Didion). The narrative ride through Los Angeles from the late 1950s through the 1970s, Babitz's iconic photo playing chess with Marcel Duchamps, her relationships--intense, doomed--with many men (including Jim Morrison), her excess in everything makes for an exciting read. Her final years are not fun and her covered by Anolik much more quickly than her early years. And her final picture of the two women, the two artists whether or not I agree is powerful and somewhat heart-breaking.

In the story of these women, we get to experience Los Angeles as it came into the spotlight of the 1960s, it's rivalry with New York, and the opposite pictures presented by Didion (the nightmare side) and Babitz (a joyous celebration of sun and water and parties). And if you enjoy gossip and good storytelling, this book is a pleasure. Strongly recommend.

I'm grateful to NetGalley, Scribner, and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

This was my most anticipated book of the year and it’s an easy favorite for me. I’ve read the author’s book on Eve Babitz, "Hollywoods Eve", all of Babitz’s published work and about 70% of Didion’s published work, so this was extremely in my wheelhouse. It’s a sort of biography of both women throughout their lives, but also their relationship to one another and to their work. I do think it’s pretty obvious that the author, having spent so much time, both working and not, with Eve and Eve’s history, that the book feels pretty skewed towards her perspective. She was also much more knowable than Joan Didion. It was interesting to read about Didion without the cool, magisterial veil that so often surrounds who she was as a person and a writer. I also just love the way Lili Anolik writes - it feels like reading an Eve Babitz essay - dishy and fun, razor-sharp but not unkind, sort of like drinking a glass of champagne in good social company. Will be buying many copies of this for friends and enemies.

Lili Anolik’s Didion and Babitz is an exploration of two iconic writers, Joan Didion and Eve Babitz, whose work defined the spirit of California across in the late twentieth century. Anolik is a magnificent writer whose words I was entranced by. I personally enjoy her conversational style. The first several chapters are all-consuming and drip with anticipation of what was to come. In a strange way, I felt almost scared to death with excitement because I knew from then on, I would continue to read anything Anolik writes. I already knew she is a genius from her masterpiece podcast on Bennington College so I was really excited for this book. I was enjoying the beginning, but I slowly lost interest as time went on because there was so much excessive detail on Babitz. Some moments were brilliant, some felt too long. Anolik has written extensively about Eve Babitz and knows her intimately. She clearly has an affinity for Babitz, and a respect for Didion’s brilliance and aura, however I wish there was a more balanced portrayal of the two women because it felt so much more focused on Babitz. For fans of Babitz, it’s a good piece on her life and her work. I do recommend this for anyone who is interested in the two writers, but I would suggest to adjust your expectations going into it.

I have avoided writing this review because this book was beyond disappointing. It was bad.

Though a brilliant premise, Anolik is not interested in writing about Didion. She is obsessed w/ Babitz. This is just another book for her to talk about Babitz. Anolik barely spends anytime actually talking about Didion and when she does talk about Didion, she just spends her time badmouthing her with a kind of visceral hate that makes no sense.

I was most disappointed by the writing style of this book. Anolik writes in such a casual, chatty manner that I found the book a pain to get through. Both Didion and Babitz were such great stylists and it's a shame that Anolik's book is associated with them.

A very fun, witty, and charming history of two special women. Anolik is obviously on the side of Babitz here, but I think she pays Didion her dues. a fun read.

Baddies. That's all that needs to be said. These iconic women, fixtures in a world controlled by men but the power they held. wild. Seeing Didion in a different light in a new subtext. Please don't even get me started on the Didion/Dunne aspect. If you are fascinated with the subculture of the 60's and 70's and feeling like you are reading a little sister's diary, then please read this.

I thought it was okay. The book definitely focused more on Babitz than Didion. I was hoping for more but still an okay read.

I listened to the audiobook of "Hollywood's Eve: Eve Babitz and the Secret History of L.A." from this author last year because I was intrigued by the Hollywood/Art/Music scene in California during the sixties and seventies. I never actually read a book from either Eve Babitz or Joan Didion until just recently- and disliked both. However, I am more interested in reading about these cultural icons as people rather than sampling their work product. Apparently, Eve Babitz and Joan Didion had an intense love/hate relationship over the decades. It was evident from Lili Anolik's last book about Eve Babitz that she is totally infatuated with her. That same obsession fuels this book in a big way, and it kind of sucked the life out of me the more I read this book of almost 400 pages. There are constant references to both Eve and Joan's books auditing secret clues about who they were really writing about, as well as rating the quality of their published works. Anolik's access to recently revealed unsent letters of Eve's in addition to other documents stored in a library were analyzed with a fine tooth comb to add another dimension to this author's un-ending obsession with her. If I could surgically excise the parts about the music and hollywood set that these literary mavens were in bed with- such as Jim Morrison and The Doors, Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas, Harrison Ford, Steve Martin, Carrie Fisher, Griffin Dunne....etc., etc.,...I would have enjoyed the book more. There was just too much of a deep dive into into their heads that exhausted me, just like their actual writings do. I read for pleasure, not for it to be a forensic exercise.

Thank you to the publisher Scribner for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

Didion and Babitz by Lili Anolik was a bit of a letdown for me. While the premise of comparing and contrasting the lives and works of Joan Didion and Eve Babitz was interesting, the execution fell flat. Anolik's writing style felt overly gossipy and superficial, focusing more on the authors' personal lives and social circles than on their actual literary contributions.

I found myself skimming through pages of unnecessary details and anecdotes, hoping to find some insightful analysis of their writing. Unfortunately, the book lacked depth and substance, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. If you're looking for a serious literary critique, this isn't it. However, if you're interested in the LA social scene of the 60s and 70s, you might find some amusement in the celebrity gossip.

i had such high hopes for this and i’m elated to report that they were (mostly) met.

i went into this knowing minimal knowledge on either writer. i’ve only read from didion twice (Play It As It Lays and The White Album) and babitz once (Black Swans) but from what i’ve experienced thus far i definitely jive more with babitz in terms of style. i knew the two were contemporaries, frenemies, and hollywood literary legends.

anolik’s admiration and attachment to babitz is palpable. i found the segments on babitz to be the most intriguing, in-depth, and charming. the sections more focused on didion felt a bit last minute and lackluster. like, “oh shoot. this is about joan too. i guess i’ll briefly mention what she was doing around this time.” i definitely want to learn more about didion elsewhere as i felt i was fed teeny tiny crumbs in this.

tl;dr: this one is for the babitz girlies. however, the didion girlies might wanna sit out on this one.

(thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!)

A really fun read, though ultimately a lot of your enjoyment is going to hinge on whether or not you can stomach Anolik's super-conversational style.

Ultimately 3 stars for me, though, because this didn't do what it said on the tin. Less "Didion & Babitz," more "Why I Think Babitz Is More Authentic Than Didion." Not surprising from the woman who basically put Eve back in the modern literary conversation, of course.

The Eve worship also does go too far, especially as the book gets toward the end. Anolik's personal climax is Eve offhandedly and lucidly thanking her for the renaissance when they were alone and they never get to have a conversation about it. That feels like fan fiction because, just a few pages before, she handwaves away Eve's burgeoning hardcore conservatism - Facebook posts and all - as a consequence of her Huntington's disease.

Still worth a read, especially if you like these two authors and want to transport yourself to their Los Angeles for a bit.

Didion and Babitz by Lili Anolik is a captivating exploration of the intertwined lives of two of Los Angeles' most iconic literary figures, Joan Didion and Eve Babitz. Anolik, known for her previous work on Babitz, delves into the complicated relationship between these two writers, revealing a dynamic filled with admiration, tension, and a shared influence over the cultural landscape of 1960s and 1970s LA
The book is structured around the discoveries made after Babitz died in 2021 when her sister unearthed a trove of letters and other personal documents that had remained untouched for decades. These documents provide the foundation for Anolik's investigation into the unique bond between Didion and Babitz. Through these letters, particularly one biting missive from Babitz to Didion that was never sent, Anolik constructs a narrative that is as much about the personal as it is about the professional.

Anolik's portrayal of Babitz is steeped in admiration. She highlights her as a free-spirited artist who burned brightly in the LA scene, mingling with rock stars, artists, and writers. On the other hand, Babitz's relationship with Didion is depicted as fraught with complexity. Didion, often seen as the more reserved and enigmatic of the two, is presented through Babitz’s critical lens, which Anolik uses to shed light on Didion's carefully cultivated public persona.
One of the book's strengths is its vivid portrayal of the LA literary and artistic scene during this era. The narrative is peppered with references to the cultural giants of the time, offering readers a glimpse into the world where these two women lived and created. However, some readers might find Anolik's bias toward Babitz could be more manageable, as it sometimes comes at the expense of a more balanced exploration of Didion.

While Didion and Babitz provide a fascinating look at these two influential women, it is not without its flaws. While lending authenticity to her portrayal, Anolik’s deep connection to Babitz also introduces a certain level of subjectivity that may not sit well with all readers. The focus on Babitz sometimes overshadows Didion, leaving the reader with a sense that the book is more of a tribute to Babitz than a balanced comparison.
For fans of Babitz, this book offers a treasure trove of new insights and personal anecdotes that deepen the understanding of her life and work. However, for those more inclined towards Didion, the book may feel one-sided, with Anolik's admiration for Babitz sometimes coloring her interpretation of Didion’s actions and motivations.

Didion and Babitz is a compelling read for those interested in the cultural history of Los Angeles and the complex dynamics between two of its most iconic writers. Anolik's writing is engaging, and her deep dive into Babitz's archives offers a fresh perspective on a well-trodden era. However, readers should approach the book with an understanding of its inherent biases, particularly in its treatment of Didion. Despite its imperfections, the book is a valuable addition to the ongoing conversation about these two literary titans and their lasting impact on American culture.

it turns out that the people who make these enigmatic, smart creatives their whole life tend to write the most annoying and lackluster books about that (i don't know, at this point i'm 2 for 2 with this one and an elaine may book from earlier this year). to be fair, they're meticulously researched and the source material included is fascinating on its own, but i think instead of reading this self-conscious and obsessive stuff i'd rather just read/watch elaine may, joan didion, or eve babitz directly and without this type of commentary.

many thanks to scribner and netgalley for the advance reader copy.

This book was nearly perfect—my biggest complaint was how little it focused on Joan Didion. The author seemed to project on to the two women often, guessing motives and feelings. Lili Anolik's close connection to (and obsession with) Eve Babitz is detriment to the trustworthiness of this book. Nonetheless, Didion and Babitz was riveting and incredibly well-researched

This was a great deep dive from such a personal aspect. The author gave a great perspective of the dynamic between the duo, having been so close to the family.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for sharing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.