(This review will be published at the CCLaP website [cclapcenter.com] on April 12, 2017. For any questions concerning it, please contact Jason Pettus at cclapcenter@gmail.com.)

It's seeming more and more these days that a published genre novel is the new spec script in Hollywood, when it comes to those trying to get staff writing jobs on so-called "prestige TV" shows; and Melissa Scrivner Love's <i>Lola</i> is a perfect example of this, a book that feels for its entire running length like I'm reading a proposal for a new series to debut on FX this coming fall, which I was going to say is not necessarily either a good or bad thing, but might be better classified as <i>both</i> a good and bad thing. And indeed, Love is exactly in the kind of position in real life you would expect from someone who's written a book like this -- the holder of a Master's in English from NYU, and already a working screenwriter in Los Angeles for such mid-tier shows as <i>CSI: Miami</i> and <i>Person of Interest</i>, <i>Lola</i> is an attempt to branch out into edgier material with a more sweeping scope, the story of a low-level Hispanic gang in LA slowly making their way up the ladder of power, but with the twist being that the gang is secretly led by an intelligent, ruthless twentysomething woman, a fact hidden from public view since the male-dominated world of drug-dealing gangs would never accept her as a valid threat.

The book itself, then, reads exactly like you would expect a 13-episode season 1 of such a show to proceed: Lola is given an opportunity to move up a rung within her cartel's organization, but only through a convoluted caper that takes multiple chapters to plan and execute; along the way, she finds herself as a reluctant caregiver to an adorable five-year-old girl in the neighborhood, whose mother is a drug addict who has started pimping the girl out for heroin; this then calls into question the relationship Lola has with her current boyfriend, the one posing in public as the gang's leader but whose roles are reversed once their door is closed at night; and eventually Lola stumbles into an ever-growing conspiracy involving the LAPD, crooked staff members of the district attorneys office, terrorist-funded international drug trafficking, and a surprising kingpin straight out of <i>Breaking Bad</i> central casting. It's not bad at all, and those who are heavy daily readers of crime thrillers will readily acknowledge this as higher than the average supermarket pulp; but it's nonetheless a supermarket pulp, even if a particularly well-done one, making it of only limited interest to those who aren't heavy fans of this genre. A story that'd be great if you were half-watching it on cable for an hour while checking Facebook, that becomes a more daunting proposition when you have to sit and read it over a series of days with your full concentration, with my recommendation of it today existing on a sliding scale, depending on how much you're naturally into these kinds of stories or not.

Out of 10: <b>8.0</b>, or <b>8.5</b> for fans of plot-intensive stories, or <b>9.0</b> for fans of crime thrillers

From an outsiders perspective Lola is the girlfriend of the leader of the Crenshaw Six, but to the gang she is their leader.

At first I was skeptical that I would even like this book as it is so far removed from my daily life. Once I got to know the main character I realized she is much like any female in today's world just with a different life experience. She wants success, to protect her family and friends and to better her life and those she loves.

She does this by helping the cartel disrupt an enemy's drug drop, but nothing goes as planned and Lola spends the remainder of the book trying to save her life before the cartel takes it.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to review this book. I highly recommend it!
4⭐️’s

I liked the premise of this book - that the main character is a woman who is more ruthless than any man in the gangs she deals with - but some of the repetitious descriptions kept catching my attention and making the book a chore to read.

The author has certainly captured the dark, gritty world of gang life. This is not a feel-good book by any stretch of the imagination; nor is it intended to be. Sad to know there are people who live this way.

Crown Publishing and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Lola. This is my honest opinion of the book.

Lola lives with Garcia, the figurehead of the Crenshaw Six, in a house in Huntington Park. Drugs are a way to make a living, although even most gangs have rules governing who can become customers. When an opportunity is presented by a person poised to help the Crenshaw Six propel themselves into the big leagues, will the deal be too good to be true? Will Lola, with her secrets and her hidden power, be able to help her family - both gang and blood - and keep them safe?

Lola took a turn that I did not anticipate, making it far more compelling and interesting. The plot is intricately laid out with a strong main character in Lola. Lola is a woman with her own set of morals and, whether they are misguided or not, she does not waver. I was not sold by this book at the beginning, but it definitely redeemed itself in my eyes. I look forward to reading more by author Melissa Scrivner Love in the future.

I did not review this book as I was not able to complete it. Please see my opinions shared to the publisher.

3.5 stars

Triggers: graphic violence, molestation, rape, drug use

The vicious brutality present in Lola makes it, at times, an uncomfortable book to read. Lola is one woman’s tale about coming out from behind the shadows of men and exerting her power in order to survive in her violent, dark, unforgiving world dominated by heinous men, drugs and gangs.

On the outside, Lola appears to be the submissive girlfriend of Garcia, leader of the Crenshaw 6 gang. However, Lola is actually the cold-hearted leader of the small gang. When tasked by the Cartel to take out a rival, Lola knows she is facing an impossible situation and will die if she does not succeed. But, Lola is a survivor--she has survived abuse and her heroin addicted mother, and will do what it takes to survive the Cartel, even if it means stepping out from the shadows.

Lola is a fast-paced, entertaining read. Lola is a character with potential; I would like to see how her character develops and hope that this book is the start of a series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"All people everywhere, rich or poor, skinny or fat, are animals. Looking for a fight. Looking to turn everyone against the weakest.

Who is Lola? Dad was never in the picture and Mom was a drug addict who exchanged young Lola's body for her latest fix. Lola quickly grew a thick skin and acclimated to life in the underbelly of Los Angeles. Now she is the girlfriend of Garcia, the apparent leader of the drug running gang the Crenshaw Six. Trouble arises when cartel leaders task the gang with infiltrating a drop from a local competitor. Success will give the gang a higher status within the cartel. As further motivation, the cartel leader gives Garcia an ultimatum. Complete the interception or they will take away the one thing that matters most to Garcia. . . Lola's life.

Unbeknownst to the cartel, Garcia is not the one calling the shots. It is actually Lola, the woman they dismissed as mere collateral, who covertly oversees the Crenshaw Six. When Carlos, a former lover and the leader of the gang, began to selfishly keep money for himself instead of sharing with the other gang members, Lola murdered him and took the reigns of the group. Clearly, Lola is no traditional damsel in distress! Relying on her intellect and cold-blooded instincts, Lola goes head to head with some of the most ruthless men in the drug circle to advance the mission of the Crenshaw Six and save her own life.

As the main story of besting the cartel unfolds, Lola also finds herself in a situation that is even more personal than saving her life. Lola harbors five-year-old Lucy whose early life mirrors her own. Lucy's mother is an addict who pimps the young girl to her boyfriend. Her parents are good people who try to give their granddaughter some kind of reprieve, but their landlord happens to be the father of their daughter's boyfriend. Their fear of eviction renders them silent against the horrors young Lucy faces. Determined to save Lucy from the life that Lola was forced to live, she takes on the young girl as her own. Even as Lola's entire world seems to be crashing in around her, she refuses to allow Lucy to return to the mistreatment of her home.

In Lola, author Melissa Scrivner Love writes a thriller that contains the suspense, character development, and creativity of a seasoned veteran. The title says it all. This book is completely devoted to Lola and the people she surrounds herself with. Lola precariously balances on the edge of what is right and wrong. On the one hand, she conducts her business with a strict moral code. Lola cares deeply about her community and her gang members. At the same time, she is not afraid to get her hands dirty when the situation requires it, even if that means sacrificing personal loyalties. By having a woman be the leader of a gang in a predominately male industry, the author gives a unique perspective to what could easily have been a straight-forward drug thriller. Melissa Scrivner Love writes with an assured sense of place and voice that makes her a definite author to watch in the future. Lola is a solidly competent debut that I thoroughly enjoyed.

NOTE: do not judge by the title. An unusual case to say the least. South Central LA conjures images of gang bangers and drug pushers and that is exactly what this book is about. But in an unusual case the brains of this small-time bunch is Lola. More than just a pretty face, she is a tough cookie. Pimped out to support her mother’s drug addiction, a mother to her young brother as her druggie mom could not manage. Surviving by her wits and gumption to guide her small crew. Having been an abused child Lola has a softness for other abused children and takes young Lucy under her protective wing. Going against bigger fish with more money, muscles and connections and yet maintaining her Queen ship of her small enclave of a neighborhood and her small group of warriors. Though I don’t do drugs, have low esteem for anyone who does and despise criminals I do enjoy a good read and this was an exceptional book even with some of the unbelievable circumstances and unlikely heroics. The reader cannot but help have a degree of admiration for Lola and her sidekick Lucy. Two thumbs up or five stars, (only have two thumbs).

I've been in a weird state lately — at least, when it comes to reading. Nothing really thrills me anymore; I haven't felt moved by a new (new to me, anyway) novel or story in a while . . . at least a month or longer. As much as I read, that feels like quite a time. This isn't new. This happens to me, without fail, every spring. I don't know why; I just tend to get more enjoyable reading done in the fall and winter months than the spring and summer months.

I think of it as "reader's boredom," and unfortunately, I started <i>Lola</i> just as the boredom kicked in.

That isn't to say my reader's boredom isn't the entire reason my 3-star rating. It isn't. This book is not without its flaws: its lack of medical research, the unsatisfactory ending, et cetera . . . but it is highly readable. Once I hit the 40% mark or so, I really didn't want to put this novel down. But once I did put it down, I didn't want to pick it back up. Huh. Weird.

This tale of a gang leader and drug distribution (said leader/distributor being the titular Lola) trying to gain prominence on her streets is an arresting tale. I've seen this book compared to <i>Breaking Bad</i>, and yeah, I can dig on that. Fans of that series would do well to check this title out, though it doesn't come close to the heights of that television show. Still, it reminds the reader of that show's more intense, high-wire moments; the electric pace and crackle of danger and ordinary people doing the best they can under less-than-best circumstances.

I dunno. This was a weird experience for me. I just feel a little 'meh' toward this novel, but I am willing to reread it in the future.

<b>Thanks to Netgalley and Crown Publishing for the ARC, which was given in exchange for an honest review.</b>

Lola
Melissa Scrivner Love
Contemporary Fiction
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spoiler Alert

Lola is power, beauty, brains, and violence in cargo pants and a wife beater. She is always armed, hungry, and in charge…until she isn't…then she is usually in a trunk or getting the shit beat out of her. I read for enjoyment, to escape, to learn, to be entertained and Lola does that for sure. It is character driven, with Lola at the center. She is the matriarch of her family, her gang, and her community. She rules from the shadows until she is outed by her brother Hector, who is her Achilles heel. She is by all standards a ball buster, with a true sense of justice and delivers it without blinking. She befriends the weakest "Lucy and Valentine" and truly sees herself as Noah building the ark. She wants to make her community a better place free from cartel and possibly all men if she had her way. She is and wants to be the Alpha. A great story laced with violence and a heavy nod to gender and race equality.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read for a fair review.

Lola, an exhilarating and thrilling story. Another debut Novel I had the privilege to read with a very well-crafted writing style and a strong, unique leading female character. Lola reminds me of a TV character on a show I used to watch all the time, involved in very similar situations, with so many things going on in their world so the entire experience of reading the book was extra special, having a face, an image to refer to, even though they are not exactly the same characters but helped me understand Lola in a better way. Lola, a book which I enjoyed and liked a lot, from the story, to the characters to the cover, simply beautiful.

While the synopsis of Lola was interesting, this was a book I was unable to finish. After reading the first several chapters I could not connect to the characters or writing.

This story is supposedly about gangs in East LA (the smallest gang ever) and is about as compelling as a book about a tea party. Everything that happens seems to happen in a vacuum. People are killed, wrapped in a tarp, and dumped in a forest. No police come, no reporters, no crying families demanding justice. I never got a real feel of menace from any of the characters.

Lola is the gang leader, but no one knows that. With only 4 members and six corners(none of which appear to take any of their time), it isn't surprising. She walks around in a haze of confusion and unsupported self confidence. I felt sorry for her horrid upbringing, but that's a long way from the respect one should feel for someone with power. Lucy seemed to be included only to uphold the notion that Lola was a good person, yet that whole storyline was unbelievable and inconsistent with everything else.

I absolutely adored this debut novel about kick-ass gang-banger, Lola with the proverbial heart of gold! The neighborhood, including assorted thugs and drug lords all believe her boyfriend, Garcia is the Crenshaw Six's leader, but it is Lola who is the mastermind. When she finds her life suddenly in danger because of rival gangs, she must work to unravel the truth and figure out who is keeping secrets and to whom she can turn for help. many flawed characters and twists and turns make this impossible to put down. Exploring themes of racism, grief, betrayal, and the lengths we will go to to protect our loved ones, this novel is one that will resonate with me for a long time. Hopefully, we have not seen the last of Lola!

Sure this book was about drugs and gangs in Southern California. But really this book was about a young woman who was struggling against the idea that she, solely because she is female, can't be in a position of power. While put in the scene of the drug trade, the topic is very current and Lola does a great job or highlighting the inconsistencies in society. Lola is expected to continue to take care of her abusive mother because she is the daughter. Lola is expected to be seen and not heard in gang discussions. In fact, she uses this to her advantage several times. Adding more dept to the story, Lola herself struggled with what she thinks she wants to be/do and what she finds herself doing. This book is full of quality writing, well-rounded characters, and thoughtful development. I will look forward to more offerings from Ms. Love.

The author wrote a fascinating tale and I appreciated the twists and turns of the story. And oddly enough, I loved that it showed strong women-even if they were criminals. The writing was excellent and really dragged me in, but I can't give this anymore stars because I found it to be depressing and incredibly cynical. After finishing it, I need a serious pick me up!

First-class, fascinating protagonist, Lola, is the leader of a very small West LA gang, flying undercover as the girlfriend of one of the guys. The plot centers on a week when she must reveal her role and, through cunning and ferocity, save herself, those she loves and her gang. She doubts she will pull it off and prepares to face her death in the final scenes. This book has a slow start as it lays groundwork that pays off in the second half. It really moves, in action and complexity, about halfway through. A few scenes seemed light in factual elements but no more so than average TV shows. Taken as a whole, the plot and characters are so engaging that the book overcomes any modest shortcomings. It is an action-filled story but with heart. I must admit I would love to read a sequel; Lola is just that great a character. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Gangs in Los Angeles are constantly warring over turf and trade. The Crenshaw Six wants to carve out a piece of the action. They want the money, respect and reputation that goes with being badass. This means controlling the drugs and distribution set-ups. What makes this gang different is Lola. Her childhood was extremely rough (poverty, abuse, family dysfunction, etc.) – but she survived by making herself into the toughest and smartest street thug of all. But gangs are not fronted by women. So Lola hides herself within the Crenshaw Six but soon realizes she needs to take charge. She needs to be the one making decisions. Lola needs to keep one step ahead of the competition, the law and even her own gang members and family. Watching Lola make her mark reminded me of Perez-Reverte’s Queen of the South. She’s not as fully realized or compelling as Teresa but Lola still has lots of grit. Non-stop action and situations that go from bad to worse keeps the action going. Recommended especially to those seeking a hardcore read about streetlife survival.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin/Random for opportunity to review this book.

This was a GREAT read- what a debut. I loved it, and Lola is an nforgettable character. Tough, but feminine, fierce and fair. Beautifully plotted, and the author has a marvelous turn of phrase, and real talent for making the locations as important as the characters. It's modern noir for our times, and I can't wait to push it everywhere. What a movie it will make.....

Wow! I really liked this book! I'm working to be judicious about my one and five-star books, as I feel like they are pretty extreme ratings, but this absolutely deserves the five-star rating.

Perhaps I loved this book so much because I had zero expectations for it from the beginning; in fact, I delayed reading it for a long time because I honestly wasn't sure I wanted to read it after I requested it. Nevertheless, three months after requesting it on Netgalley, I finally picked Lola after slogging my way through another book that I was less than thrilled with, and ended up loving it.

If you've read some of my other reviews, you hopefully know by now that I am a sucker for complex characters. A character who make me angry with them while also making me adore them. Lola, the secret female leader of a gang called the Crenshaw Six, fills that role just perfectly. As we watch Lola try to fix the outcome of a botched drug exchange throughout the duration of the novel, her true character comes to light. Lola manages to lead her gang with force, outwit others, and be a ruthless killer while also caring for the daughter of an addict and battling her family issues, among many things. Watching Lola struggle with how to handle every decision that she makes, good or bad, truly drew me to this book. I find that this sort of character development is hard to find in such a well-done manner, but Melissa Scrivner Love pulls it off almost flawlessly.

Another thing that I adored about this novel was the portrayal of life in a gang and how it affects the neighborhood. I'll admit that I'll never truly understand that way of life as I have never lived it and likely never will, but I found the world to be extremely fascinating. The author really brought the characters to life and made me understand the culture of gangs that made me really consider why the members behave the way that they do. Again, there was no one-sidedness to this novel.

I cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review