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Former Hills star Lauren Conrad knows a thing or two about selling books. Her first novel, L.A. Candy, became an international bestseller overnight, and now the 24-year-old's hoping for a repeat with her just-released follow-up, Sweet Little Lies. So what's her secret to success? Stylish prose, a killer attitude, and the good sense to write about what she knows.

"I got to have fun with it," Lauren told NBC bloggers yesterday at a book signing in Miami. "[A]nd, in a way, tell a similar story as far as things you go through ... without spilling [all my] secrets."

Of course, that doesn't mean she's keeping Candy fans completely in the dark.

Recently, LC shocked readers by telling Seventeen magazine that Jane Roberts (the series' sweet, glass-is-half-full protagonist) isn't the only character with Conrad-like tendencies.

"Jane is the main character [of Sweet Little Lies] and most like me," Lauren clarified. "But also when I was more sarcastic and against [being on] the The Hills, I was able to illustrate that through [Jane's smart and sassy roommate] Scarlett [Harp]."

+ Think Lauren's a people-pleaser like Jane? Or did you see her personality come through in the loyal (but tough-talkin') Scarlet? Sound off in the comments, plus let us know whether you'll be picking up a copy of Conrad's Candy sequel, Sweet Little Lies.

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Tags Jane Roberts, L.A. Candy, Lauren Conrad, LC, Scarlett Harp, Sweet Little Lies

What did Audrina Patridge really think about Lauren Conrad's L.A. Candy? Truth is, she wouldn't know -- she's never made it past the book jacket.

"I haven’t even read the book," Audrina confessed in a new interview with AskMen.com. "[Despite what you might have read], I am not going to star in [the movie version], and I’m not even going to be in it. I haven’t read the book at all." So what's stopped 'Drina from gettin' her Candy on? Well, according to the Hillzie, she's not exactly comfortable with her portrayal in the reality-based tome.

"I heard how she portrayed my character," Audrina continued, "and it isn’t like me at all. She kind of made me sound really ditzy and stupid. So yeah, I [think] I’ll pass."

Meanwhile, Audrina also spoke to AskMen.com about her dating life (recently, she's been linked with spiky-haired rocker Ryan Cabrera), and sounded off about the pressures of juggling reality TV and romance.

"It’s really hard to have a relationship and be on [a show like The Hills]," she said. "There is always drama and there are always people in your ear. You start questioning each other and whether things are true or if they’re false. If you’re not together all the time then you really don’t know."

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Tags Audrina Patridge, L.A. Candy, Lauren Conrad, LC, Ryan Cabrera

Lauren Conrad didn't set out to become a role model when she signed up for Laguna Beach in 2004. 'Course, back then, she had no idea she would be living out the next five years of her life in the national spotlight. Now, having walked away from her reality TV perch (LC left The Hills halfway through its fifth season), Lauren's still trying to find that balance between living her life -- and living up to all her young fans' expectations. So far, she's done a pretty good job at both.

In addition to finding love off-screen with My Boys actor Kyle Howard, Lauren's spent the past year or so writing the first two books of her L.A. Candy series (Book One is already being optioned for a movie). The semi-autobiographical novels, which are aimed primarily at young adults, are loosely -- and, at times, not so loosely -- based on her own experiences under the Hollywood microscope. And while Lauren occasionally addresses the darker underbelly of fame in her books, she says she made a conscientious effort not to glamorize any destructive behavior.

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Tags Good Morning America, JuJu Chang, L.A. Candy, Lauren Conrad, LC, Sweet Little Lies

Still remember your favorite book as a kid? Lauren Conrad does.

The Hillzie-turned-author caught up with EW.com's Shelf Life to fill them in on a few of her childhood (and grown-up!) guilty pleasures. So what was one of the first stories in little LC's collection? Good Night Moon. "It’s the book that I most remember reading as a child," Lauren admitted. "I used to read it over and over."

Other books LC adores included The Great Gatsby ("I’m obsessed with the 1920s,") Chicken Soup for the Soul ("short stories [for my] short attention span") and The Notebook ("I liked the book just as much [as the movie]"). And while LC's got a lotta love for comedienne/writer Chelsea Handler ("She lacks a filter, which I really admire,"), she said the books she relates to most are ... her own! Particularly the character of Jane Roberts, her protagonist from L.A. Candy (and, some say, a stand-in for LC herself). After the jump, hear LC explain what it was like writing parts of her own personality -- like, uh, her flaws -- into her young adult series.

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Tags Chelsea Handler, L.A. Candy, Lauren Conrad, LC

Lauren Conrad's still reeling from the success of her first novel, L.A. Candy, but that hasn't stopped her from penning the second installment of her thinly veiled tell all three-part fictional masterpiece. Sadly, you won't be able to get your hands on Sweet Little Lies for another week or so (the book hits stores Feb 2nd), but die-hard fans can -- and should! -- peep an exclusive online preview at Seventeen.com. Check out these hot shots of LC showin' off her future bestseller (in Vegas, baby, Vegas!) then read on for a droolworthy excerpt after the jump.

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Tags L.A. Candy, Lauren Conrad, LC, Sweet Little Lies

So, either Brody Jenner's the most humble man alive or else dude's in desperate need of a working mirror. How else to explain why the sexy/scruffy Hills heartthrob was totally downplaying his hotness in a recent interview with MTV News?

Yep, when asked who he'd want to play him in the movie vershe of LC's L.A. Candy, the Brodester came back with Emile Hirsch, calling the Milk star an "incredible actor," saying it'd be an honor to be portrayed by the "way better looking" Hirsch.

Alright, listen here, Brodes. We're not sure whether you're actually trying to make us more in love with you than we -- and the After Show's Jessi Cruickshank -- already are, but here's a hot tip: that whole "aw, shucks" modesty bit you've got going on? It's TOTALLY WORKING.

Hey, confidence can be hot, but sometimes there's nothing sexier than a dude who doesn't even know he's got it! And for the record, we'd take The Hills' resident plaid boy over Speed Racer any day...

+ Think Brody needs to get his eyes checked?! Sound off in the comments and tell us whether you think the dreamy Hills star is second banana (to Emile Hirsch) -- or leading man material!

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Tags Brody Jenner, Emile Hirsch, L.A. Candy, Lauren Conrad, LC, The After Show's Jessi

The first step to penning a bestseller? Write what you know. That's what Lauren Conrad did with her first book, L.A. Candy, and the novel -- a teen tome based on her life as a reality TV star -- is already getting the Hollywood treatment. Now, Lauren's looking to recreate that success by penning a nonfiction book based on her other area of expertise: fashion.

"I think fashion should be fun and reflective of who you are," LC told People.com of her upcoming style guide (appropriately titled Lauren Conrad: Style). "When you wear clothes you feel good in, it shows in everything you do. I know this guide will offer simple, practical tips to help anyone look fabulous."

+ Think LC's fashion forward? Check out some of her best looks (above and below), then tell us whether you'll be pre-ordering her style bible!

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Tags L.A. Candy, Lauren Conrad, Photo

Back in July, when we first heard rumors of L.A. Candy getting the Hollywood treatment, we asked you guys whether Lauren Conrad should play herself (er, star as the novel's protagonist, Jane Roberts) in the big-screen edition. And while an overwhelming 67% of you thought LC should cast herself in the leading role, the Hillzie claims she's not even in the running.

"I think my acting is offensive!" Lauren told People.com late last week, after it was announced her bestselling book was being turned into a full feature film. "I'm an awful actor, I'm not super comfortable with it. In fact I was just trying to do lines ... and they'll tell you, I cannot memorize lines."

So who does that leave? We rounded up three actresses we think would be perfect for the part. Starting with...

BLAKE LIVELY:
Cute, blonde and uber experienced at playing Miss Popular, Lively (best known as Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl) fully understands what it's like to be the TV "It" girl. The only problem? We've mostly seen Lively in roles where she luuuurves being the center of attention (like Bridget in Traveling Pants). For Candy, she'll need to be more of a reluctant hero -- but if she can deliver Jane's wide-eyed vulnerability (and "Who, me?" humility), we're thinking she'll make LC proud.

AMANDA SEYFRIED:
Although often cast as the second banana (think: Regina George's lackey in Mean Girls and Megan Fox's sidekick in Jennifer's Body), Seyfried's got the kind of quiet confidence and unassuming beauty that's hard to ignore. A wispy, doe-eyed blonde, the Mamma MiaI actress is the perfect stand-in for small-town Jane, and we can totally see her shy, good girl act stealing the show from the ditzy Gaby and paparazzi-addicted Madison.

TAYLOR SWIFT:
Okay, fine. So she doesn't have the same acting cred as the first two, but Taylor HAS dabbled in TV (CSI, anyone?), plus she's sweet, adorable and totally believable as the girl-next-door. Despite blowing up big in the country music scene, Swift's still way more deer-in-the-headlights than diva, and she's got the "Imma let you finish" moment to prove it. The closest thing to a real-life Jane (besides Conrad herself, obvs), Swift's as innocent as they come. And if you don't believe us, just ask her ex-boyfriend: self-proclaimed virgin, Joe Jonas.

+ Got any better ideas? Tell us who you think should play Jane Roberts in the movie vershe of L.A. Candy, plus feel free to start casting the roles of Gaby, Madison, Scarlett and Braden!

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Tags Amanda Seyfried, Blake Lively, Joe Jonas, L.A. Candy, Lauren Conrad, LC, Taylor Swift

Lauren Conrad may have handed over the Hills torch over to Kristin Cavallari, but that hasn't stopped her former costar (slash nemesis) Spencer Pratt from calling her out in the press. Earlier this week, Spencer told the NY Post that LC left the show "because Speidi was getting more famous than her," and predicted she'll come crawling back "when she realizes her move didn't work."

So when will that be? Well, judging by LC's recent wave of success, not anytime soon.

Last night, the ex-Hillzie celebrated the release of her new Kohl's line, and on Tuesday, Variety reported that her debut novel, L.A. Candy, is being adapted to the big-screen by the producers of Twilight! (Conrad will co-exec produce.)

Still, you could easily argue that most (if not all) of LC's post-Hills prosperity can be traced right back to her reality roots.

L.A. Candy, though not strictly autobiographical, was clearly inspired by Lauren's own experiences in front of the camera. The three-book series (the second installment, Sweet Little Lies, is due out in early 2010), follows protagonist Jane Roberts, a wide-eyed 19-year-old who becomes an overnight celeb after agreeing to star in a reality series. Yep, no similarities there.

But does that mean LC can't succeed without the show that made her famous? Since Spencer called Lauren's popularity into question, we thought we'd settle this grudge match once and for all. Is Lauren really intimidated by Speidi's fame? Or was the Hillzie just tired of living her life in reruns? Take the poll and let us know which breakout MTV star has the biggest fan club.

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Tags K-Cav, Kristin Cavallari, L.A. Candy, Lauren Cornad, LC, Spencer Pratt

We first caught Whitney Port reading Lauren Conrad's L.A. Candy late last month, and now she's gone ahead and published her official book review! Turns out, Whit thinks LC's a "wonderful writer," even if she does kinda/sorta/TOTALLY remind Whitney of Jane Roberts, (i.e. the book's narrator slash girl-next-door).

"I just finished reading [L.A. Candy] and I absolutely loved it!!!" Whitney wrote on her website yesterday. "[I]t was so fun to see how our lives were re-imagined on paper." Natch, Whit identified most with LC's wide-eyed protagonist ("Jane was the truest to real life," wrote Whit. "She was very Lauren!") but said the whole thing hit super-duper close to home. So just how strong WAS the feeling of deja vu?

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Tags L.A. Candy, Lauren Conrad, LC, Whitney Port