It’s the first day of fall, which means pumpkin is back on the menu, spooky movie season is in full effect and bookworms everywhere are getting under their blankets and scouting for their next — perhaps local — read. So we turned to local Margo’s Got Money Troubles author Rufi Thorpe to get her recommendations for books that take place in Southern California.

Joan Didion’s 'Play It as It Lays' (1970)

Joan Didion’s novel takes place in 1960s Los Angeles and follows an unemployed Hollywood actress in her 30s as she battles through a failing marriage, an abortion and institutionalization.

The book is featured on Time’s top 100 English-language novels list from 1923-2005 and was a seminal book in Thorpe’s career.

“When I think about Southern California writers, I think about Joan Did

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