Life in the Hollywood Lane

By: Ann Crawford

Narrated by: Ann Crawford

Quirky, heart-opening, funny, poignant, up, down, and everywhere in between - that's life and that's Life in the Hollywood Lane.

Trish, an LA actor, is bereft with guilt after her best friend commits suicide. Glamorous yet tough-as-nails, Hollywood is Trish's backdrop and a reflection of her life as she stumbles on through an actor's life of casting calls and premieres, rejection, and acceptance.

Slowly, Trish realizes the idea of how her life should be and embraces the messy and flawed yet stunningly beautiful truth of how it is. Trish's humorous resilience and acceptance lead to transformation, surrender, and ultimately love.

Author Ann Crawford's trademark optimism for life and love shine through in this inspiring story that reminds us all that no matter what the question, love is always the answer. Life in The Hollywood Lane is chockablock full of LOL and aha moments.

Also, know any folks who've been chasing a long-held dream? Do them a favor and gift them this audiobook!

©2018 Ann Crawford (P)2019 Ann Crawford

Poignant Comedic Often Tragically Optimistic

"Sometimes we fade out the voice of the one who loves us the most and listen only to the voice that we've trained to pull us down."

Such is the insecure life of Trish, a committed character actress in Hollywood who still has to work various odd jobs with flexible hours to keep her dream of acting and stardom alive; a woman I think is inspired by the life of renaissance author Ann Crawford in her poignant comedic and at times surprisingly optimistic book Life in the Hollywood Lane.

Narrated by the author with truthful conviction, Trish tells us of her life from arriving in Hollywood from Wisconsin as a young freckled red headed dreamer and meeting her best friend and roommate Cyndi at an audition to 20 years later when Cyndi conversationally says, "Death has never scared me...Living scares me more." Then Cyndi is gone a victim of suicide.

I didn't see this death coming but do we ever and maybe that's the point. Trish goes through the full grief process from denial, sadness, guilt, anger, and eventually a respectful acceptance that her person is gone. It wasn't her fault but there's always pain, with time maybe it will dull a little bit.

Throughout the audiobook there are some very riotous moments on movie sets, Hollywood parties and Trish's dating life could be a separate book.

Listening felt like friends just talking about everything; as often happens. Trish would definitely be a friend so would Ann. She dedicates the book, "In loving memory of all those who died trying," Maybe one day it can be for "those who lived trying."

If you need help please call the Suicide & Crisis Hotline: 988

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Love it, Great, but predictable and linear story

It's a satirical and surprisingly insightful read; Crawford has breathed life into the DSM-5. Anyone interested in a blend of Hollywood escapism and a light-hearted examination of personal growth through adversity, this book is a therapy session in a dust jacket.