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There are currently 18 member reviews
for Lola
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Eileen G. (Plainview, NY)
Tough and Vunerable
This is an interesting story about a young woman growing up in south LA surrounded by gangs, violence and abuse. Lola is a smart, tough and ruthless leader and is in tight control of her emotions. She can also be caring and vunerable. The author allowed the reader to get into Lola's head and I was able to feel the powerful inner workings of her mind.
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Vicki C. (Franklin, TN)
Lola
As someone who enjoys mysteries, police procedurals and crime fiction, I found Lola very enjoyable. The main character is a Hispanic woman in LA who, in spite of a very difficult childhood, has grown into a caring realist. In spite of her involvement with a criminal gang she has developed a strong conscience which she uses in making the terrible decisions sometimes necessary. The author has used to great advantage her insight into poor immigrant communities with not much to offer the individual except a life facing low-pay, high labor jobs or a life in crime.
Even when in terrible circumstances, Lola holds herself to high, although atypical standards to do what for her and her community seems to be 'the right thing'.
I highly recommend this novel.
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Jean L. (Independence, KS)
A good fast read.
This is a fast read that gave me a glimpse into a life style that is completely alien to me. I enjoyed reading it as it has a good plot and very interesting characters.
Lola tries to help people but some do not want help. She sees herself in five-year-old Lucy and goes far out of her way to help save Lucy from life with Lucy's addicted mother.
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Anne G. (Austin, TX)
Lola by Melissa Scrivner Love
Early in this book I wasn't sure I wanted to continue reading about drugs, gangs and hard living in the banger neighborhoods of Los Angeles. However, something about Lola's character kept me going. And gradually I fell in love with Lola--the good, the bad, and the cold brutality of her. Once Lucy was introduced there was no going back. No 5-year-old should be exposed to the darkness and the horrors that were Lucy's life before Lola.
Not completely believable, this story was so compelling that I wanted to keep reading and wanted the best for Lola and Lucy--whatever that means. It feels like this could be the beginning of a series and I welcome more from these characters. Funny, but I somehow hold out hope for better things to come.
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Grace W. (Corona del Mar, CA)
Lovely Lola
I'll try to avoid any spoilers in this review. The story of Lola has lots of action and suspense, and will keep your interest to the end. Lola is definitely not your typical drug lord (or should I say lady). Author Melissa Scrivner Love describes vividly the scenes within Los Angeles County where the action occurs. She nails the cultural treatment of women in the Chicano society beginning with the initial scene, where the Chicanas of the neighborhood take over Lola's kitchen to prepare food for the BBQ. Food, relationship, cultural clashes, maternal love interweave with the world of drug dealing.
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Ashley B. (Raleigh, NC)
Lola: recommended for readers who enjoy strong female characters
Thank you to BookBrowse and the publisher for the ARC of Lola. Not knowing anything at all about LA street gangs, I have no idea if this story rings true at all, but I did appreciate Lola and the other strong female characters in Love's book, especially Lucy and Lorraine.
Also, having been very close to an addict in my family, I found Love's portrayal of her mother Maria to hold true, especially in the description: "They're addicts are just at the top or bottom of their respective lifelong roller-coaster ride, waiting to drop, or waiting to climb up from rock bottom."
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Sheila B. (Danvers, MA)
The Story Interesting, the Delivery Fell Short
Although there were lines of eloquence here and there, I felt the author was afraid her reader wasn't getting the point of Lola's place in life, so she kept repeating what I felt was the obvious. This book may appeal more to a younger generation than mine. That being said, I look forward to Love's future, maybe more mature works.
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