If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home By Now

by Sandra Tsing Loh

A couple of twentysomethings dreaming of the fame and fortune awaiting them in not-too-close Los Angeles shack up in a dreary tract house, until good luck finds them. A first novel. 15,000 first printing.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Contemporary, Novels

231 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Writer and performer Sandra Tsing Loh is a contributing editor to The Atlantic, host of the syndicated radio show The Loh Down on Science, and the author of five previous books. Her work has appeared in Best American Essays. In addition to having been a regular commentator on NPR’s Morning Edition and PRI’s This American Life, she has performed two solo shows off-Broadway. She lives in Pasadena, California.

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Life in LA sucks until your realize you love your boyfriend.

[Punk · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fiction. Middle-class white couple try to live beyond their means in Los Angeles. And get slapped down. I really enjoy Loh's non-fiction -- her book reviews in Atlantic Monthly are a joy to read -- and her writing here is nearly as witty and smart (I say "nearly" because it's ten years old after all), but I didn't like the novel's subject matter. For one thing, all the status-seeking and awkward attempts at schmoozing made me cringe with embarrassment. The other problem was the way the couple managed their money. I could see disaster sitting there about a block down the road, waiting for them, but they were totally oblivious. I wasn't too worried because the characters were barely fleshed out, so I didn't have anything invested in them, but I hate seeing people making bad decisions. But! If you really love Los Angeles, don't worry about money, and aren't struggling to sell something to Hollywood, you might find more to love in this than I did.

[Jen Schroeder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Timely read for me, even though I was really looking for "If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name," a book set in Alaska that mom recommended.... Ended up with this one instead about LA - totally different, but right for right now.

Good story about waking up as an adult and realizing you're not really ready to be an adult. :)

[Carla Remy]

I'm so hard to please, I know. It was alright. Relatable to, kind of depressing. I didn't love the writing. That's why I only read half.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read, not complex or epic in any way. I gave it four stars for its utter relate-ability. It's rare to read a book that's set in Los Angeles instead of New York or some unnamed suburb. This narration makes LA as much a character in this story as New York is in Sex and the City. It plays a clear role in the plot and development of the story. Set in the early 90s, brings it even closer to home for me.

The story of a young couple who moves to LA to "make it" is not a new one. There are endless biographies based on living the dream of making it big. But this version is real, imperfect, and embarrassingly on the nose. As a native Angelino, it's easy to forget that there are those who see this city through different eyes and have different expectations of it. For me, LA has just always "been", ever evolving and melding its nooks and crannies into new and redefined versions of its own past. The fact that everything always changes is what makes it stay the same.

A friend of mine once asked me to take her to "see" LA. She always hears about how great it is and wants to know what it has that's so great. The paradox being that it has so much that I couldn't think of a single thing to point to.

This book's ability to refer to the specifics of a culture is what makes it dimensional. Streets, universities, buildings, stores and freeways are the canvas for the quotidian adventures of two aspiring young adults. Defining and re-defining oneself never happens in an instant but, rather, we ease into it, sometimes so subtly that we don't notice our own growth. This is the story, primarily, of Bronwyn, who as she supports the efforts of her college boyfriend, learns how much of her is ready to adapt to Los Angeles and how much of her will forever resist or remain on the margins of a complex culture that's hard to pin down.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious commentary on a bohemian academic trying to come to terms with and transition to LA's materialistic culture.

There are no real lessons here. Just a great story that's easily relateable for anyone whose ever wanted to give up the high road of scholasticism in favor of shiny objects and a shallow existence.

[Charles Barragan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever read from the ever-versatile Sandra Tsing Loh. Written in 1997 while it has not aged well, it has nor aged poorly - it still has great value and wonderful insights within a snapshot of a Southern California couple seeking more than they can handle, from home and family to expectations and dreams.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this because I used to love hearing Sandra Tsing Lo on various npr programs. But this novel about a young-ish couple living in LA, didn’t work for me. I didn’t sympathize or care about most characters or their situations.
I don’t know where I got this or when, but it has a $4.99 sticker and a great big blue sticker, so $2.50, or less?

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this years ago because the author had read an excerpt on NPR. The whole thing was not that great. Still what I remember is the character's brother-in-law listened to Frankie Goes to Hollywood all the time. Yes... that's what I took away from this book.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young couple tries to make it in L.A. They struggle, then they succeed (sort of). Witty at times, but the characters weren't given much depth. I thought this was decent, but unexceptional. I prefer Ms. Loh's nonfiction writing.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

NPR contributor's novel. Drags on too long. Really showcases the LA types which she talks about in her commentaries. The main character goes through too many changes in her personality to be believable. No real sense of the characters in what should be a character-driven book.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

i had never heard of Loh before - and then learned that she started out as a monologist from LA who had a thing on NPR.
this book was chuckle-worthy but not HA HA HAAAAAA worthy. and now unfortunately it's becoming a little dated. i enjoyed it.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious!! What a tremendous author!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book I needed to get back on the horse. Quick, somewhat funny, and a nice, light portrait of the struggle with hollywood and social issues. I want to check out more of her work.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Self-absorbed story about a couple trying to make a living in LA. Got better as it went along.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book. Maybe it is because I saw my own failings as a rabid consumer. Or maybe I just don't get into the California lifestyle.

[Tuck]

author's review of "bad mother" in dec 2009 is great. maybe this novel isn't?

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200912...

[Cicely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life and her sarcastic humor.

[Hank Stuever · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandra Tsing Loh brings the stuff of her true-life LA essays into novel form.

[Drew · Rating 2 out of 5]

While there were some bright spots, I liked her most recent book much better, "The Madwoman in the Volvo."

[Tori · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story about trying to fit in in LA in the 90s. It felt accurate but still left me feeling like I was a little slimy. Maybe that was the intent. But I didn't like it.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

the writing was okay and i thought the portrait of the los angeles social climber was spot on, but there were really no stakes and very little growth of miss bronwyn…

[Logan Steenbergen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me when I marry someone just cause they have health insurance.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about a couple trying to make it in Los Angeles while the world seems to be doing everything against them. Built in the 90s world that is more appreciated if you lived it, I'm sure

[britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the writing! But it felt like this was written without much regard to privilege.