I really enjoyed reading "Ana Takes Manhattan," which releases yesterday. Her writing feels like a breath of fresh air and I can't wait to read more from her! 4.5⭐

Ana is a producer for a wedding reality show, even though her own love life is a mess. She has a good idea of what she does and doesn't want in a partner. Since finding all of those things in one person hasn't worked so far, she dates 4 different men who each tick one of the main boxes. Who will she go for in the end?

It was really subtle how Ana decided what she wanted and was able to figure out who she should be with - I loved the ending! This book had a great pace and Lisette's writing is witty and irreverent.

I really enjoyed the strong secondary relationships in the book, particularly with her father. I also thought her friendship with Gia was multi-faceted and how it developed was unexpected.

#AnaTakesManhattan:

Thank you @forever for my gifted copy!

Reading this book gave me a lot of self-reflection. Because 1. I make lists like they’re going out of style 2. I’m also a 30 something woman who swims in chaotic energy and 3. Grapes and running around the block on Nee Years is also a tradition of mine.

But alas, I am not her and she is not me because Ana girl, you made my head hurt. I felt like a lot of the conversations happening were superficial and immature. I also wanted to cut Gia out forever on page 4, but you know, we gotta have a bestie.

I did like Ana’s job and y’all know I’m a sucker for reality tv anything. I loved her job (ahem can we make that a real show plz) and her passion for it. She did have some growth in the end but I was looking for a bit more. There were lots of funny and laugh out loud moments, but overall this was a bit of a miss for me.

I am excited to see what Lissette Decos comes up with next because this book did have me thinking of Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next”

Thanks to @readforeverpub and @netgalley for the free eARC copy—all opinions are my own.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Steam: 🔥🔥 (0-5) kissing only but a little nudity

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 You had me at the title, the cover, the word Manhattan, & the ridiculously romcom book blurb!!
🤩 Richard! I want him and his homemade snacks! He kept me reading. I loved him from the moment I met him.
🤩 Romcom coming-of-age/finding herself.
🤩 Cuban-American author and female MC.
🤩 Proposal reality TV show.
🤩 The careers as a TV show director, producer, and editor are so interesting and intriguing.
🤩 Many characters but distinct and easy to keep track of.
🤩 Quirky and unique characters.
🤩 NYC—the adventures in and around Manhattan.

What I’m Wishing/ Dizzy About:
💫 I wish we got mored Richard and less of the other dudes, more workplace romance.
💫 My feels just weren’t there—longing and lusting were missing for me.
💫 The actual way Ana maneuvers seeing all the different guys at once felt weird—honesty would have been better.
💫 Maybe this was purposeful, but I didn’t enjoy Ana’s friendship with Gigi. Ana really got taken advantage of by her and her fiancé.

If you are looking for an easy and light read- I would definitely recommend this book. I loved the premise and of course NYC as the setting- always a perfect choice. The author (Lissette Decos) was also a producer for years on reality shows- so that makes the fun details that much more exciting!

Ana Takes Manhattan is all about discovering one’s self, making peace with flaws and mistakes, and figuring out what brings joy. Ana is convinced she knows what she wants in life and feels sorry for herself because she doesn’t have it. She puts herself outside of relationships, never opening up and getting close. She wears armor to protect her heart, and then is sad when her relationships with her family, her best friend, with men… let her down.

In a moment of self-pity, Ana discovers the list she made in college outlining the four traits of her perfect man. While she dreams that best man Landon is her ideal match, Ana doesn’t have the courage to go after him, so instead she dates four different men, each embodying one of her must have traits. I love that Ana recognizes the flaws in each, yet edits the dates in her mind to eliminate any issues. She knows it’s not really working but convinces herself that she’s trying.

Meanwhile Ana’s relationship with Gia is strained as she hides things from her. Ana also resents Gia because Gia has the perfect man (and perfect life) yet carelessly flirts with dozens of others. Personally, I did not like Gia nor her fiancé, who is using Ana to court a famous artist to his gallery. Ana loves Gia, but I don’t see it. Gia is self-absorbed and controlling. Ana knows this and still sees a best friend. Apparently Gia loves Ana too, but her actions don’t back that up. I disliked every scene where Gia and Ana interact.

As Ana moves through life dating four different men, she’s also trying to figure out her career. She’s been stagnant, working as a producer for a marriage proposal reality TV show, which is entering its final season. She’s been paired with a new editor, Richard, who doesn’t tick off any of the traits on her list. Their connection is the most real thing in Ana’s life, because Ana is herself around Richard. Their conversations are natural, whether teasing, productive, or serious. These scenes are the best in the book.

Ana is a mess; we witness Ana making mistakes and throwing pity parties. But we also see Ana growing and learning to love herself. Ana Takes Manhattan is an engaging journey of self-discovery.

My Rating: B/B-

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, cute and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and will look for more books by this author.

I was looking forward to this one - such a fascinating blurb!

I didn’t love it as much as I thought I was going to… it was cute, but you could definitely tell it was a debut novel. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. It definitely lacks a lot of the depth and complexity of seasoned authors, or quite a few other debut authors I’ve recently read. Still sweet and absolutely worth the read, but don’t go in expecting a life altering or deeply emotional book.

Ana has a job as a producer on a reality tv show about the perfect proposal. She gets teamed up with a new editor after her recent episode goes awry, and the two don’t have the best relationship, but have great chemistry putting the show together. In the meantime, Ana is trying to come up with new show ideas to pitch a new series - something to save her job. Richard, the new editor, leaves the studio to start his own new company, leaving Ana totally on her own… yet again everyone in her life moving on, new jobs, weddings, everything, while Ana seems stuck.

I recommend this for those looking for an easy and light read without much substance, thrilling and gripping storyline or any sort of drama or the typical details expected in a romance.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever, and this is my honest feedback.

Thank you to Forever for the signed physical ARC of Ana Takes Manhattan that I won in a giveaway - as well as my NetGalley eARC. When I was in NYC earlier in the month, I made sure to bring this book along to grab a picture 😍 I’m a sucker for romance books set in NYC - are you??🏙️
Ana works as a reality TV producer, and her planning skills are A+, especially in terms of her list making. The book follows her journey to improve both her work life and her personal life. Work-wise, Ana’s plans for a surprise engagement on a series premiere hit a major snafu, so work isn’t going as well as it should be. And on the personal side, after her stepsister’s wedding but prior to her best friend’s wedding, Ana decides to invest more time and effort in her own love life, which hasn’t been a priority since being left heartbroken by a prior relationship.
As a list maker, I identified with Ana in the beginning of the book. I also enjoyed reading about Gia’s Brazilian family, as I recently returned from Rio. If I didn’t have this connection to Gia, I would have been more annoyed by her actions as Ana’s supposed best friend.Those frustrations aside, I laughed a lot while reading this one and I definitely recommend it if you like reading romcoms which have women’s fiction-style MC growth. This is the author’s debut, and I look forward to reading more! Thanks again to Forever for putting this book on my radar 😎 it’s available everywhere today

As a reality TV producer, Ana Karina loves her job arranging over the top marriage proposals. However, after one proposal goes awry, she can’t help but to think she’s missing something in her own life….love. In turn, she goes on a series of dates with men who check at least one of her boxes. Is there a fish in the sea that is NYC compatible for her?

I loved the setting of this book. NYC is such a magical place and books set here are catnip to me. I thought the main character, Ana, could’ve used more growth throughout the book and some of the characters felt younger than their age with their actions. Especially Gia - I thought she was undeserving of Ana’s friendship. Overall, this was a cute read with some fun laugh out loud moments and I would recommend for fans of women’s fiction with a romance brewing throughout.

I went into this expecting it to be perfectly satisfactory and that's exactly what it was. A solid three stars, this would be a great palate cleanser. The main character was a bit grating at first, and I was hoping to see some character growth but unfortunately that didn't happen. This one was entertaining enough, but not one that will stick with me.

Umm, so I struggled with this book. Quiet a bit. 3/5 stars overall.

I found the blurb of the story really intriguing, especially because of the Reality TV theme. The first 30 percent of the story progressed in a really charming manner ~ until Ana started acting really immature for her age. I need to connect with the main characters to properly enjoy a book, but sadly with Ana Takes Manhattan, that didn't happen. Both Ana and the supporting characters did unlikable stuffs that made me feel so... sad. I lost interest multiple times throughout the story, but I kept reading just because I wanted to see how the author wrapped things up + who Ana ended up with. The main friendship in the book felt really toxic to me as well. Women need to lift each other up... but Ana and Gia didn't, even though their story had so much potential!

The romance could have been developed and outlined better, but it was good nevertheless. The main love interest (the one who Ana ended up with) was thankfully a likable (enough) character, so that's a win!

Ana is great at what she does - producing reality shows about love. But in real life, she's married to her job with no prospective suitors in sight. While Ana is planning her best friend's wedding, she decides to change her own life too and start dating, rather than waiting for the one who would check all the boxes on her list.

I am in love with this book!! It's sweet, heartwarming, just with the right amount of 🌶️. This read is laugh-out-loud hilarious! I laughed so much, I never wanted the story to end. Ana is a lister! Anyone else is obsessed with lists? 🙋🏻‍♀️ Ana's lists are fun and she runs her life on them - loved it!! New York setting was absolutely charming. This is a great book that would make you fall in love with New York if you aren't a fan yet. The premise was fresh and exciting: Ana has a list of top four features she's looking for in a man, and she ends up dating four different guys (simultaneously 😂), each guy checking off one box on her list. Reality TV production scene was also fun to get a glimpse into. And if you're wondering how that dating plan worked out for Ana, you just must read this book!

I hope you fall in love with this fresh read the way I did! I would say it's a perfect spring romcom. I would definitely want to see more from this author.

This was so cute and funny! It had me laughing during most parts. I also really loved Ana’s character and how she grew throughout the book. Loved how this was a book version of The Bachelor! Can’t wait for her next book.

RATING: ⭐⭐

This book was not quite what I had expected.

TV producer Ana Karina is a master of romance-for-TV. She is a genius when it comes to the super-extra and super-romantic marriage proposals for the TV show she works for.

Unfortunately, the only romance in her life is the one she crafts for TV. And with everyone else around her walking down the aisle, time is definitely ticking for Ana and her love life. She takes her list of qualities for the perfect man and decides to enter the dating scene with said list. No, she's not picky. Not at all, as she is willing to compromise on her list, leaving her with more frogs than princes.

The premise is great; I would read these kinds of plots and tropes all day any day. Unfortunately, the execution did not quite hit the mark. The characters, including Ana, were hard to relate to, and even some of the supporting characters were not likable.

For me, it was hard to keep pushing through because of the characters, but if you want to give this standalone book a shot, it is a quick light read with decent pacing.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Lissette Decos, Forever Publishing, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **

Super cute romance. At times I was annoyed with Gia, and wished there was more about the friend conflict. I think the twist with Richard editing her treatment was nice. I was hoping for a little bit more at the end, maybe a prologue for what happened with the mc.

The reality TV producer main character is feeling stuck in her life. With family and friends getting married, and her coworkers getting promoted, the main character decides to live with no regrets. Thus, the main character pitches her ideas at work and begins to date all kinds of guys. Along the way, the main character learns more about herself and how the right guy may not be too far away.

This is the debut book by Lissette Decos. It has romance but feels more like women's fiction to me. I did enjoy the work setting aspects of the story, and the Cuban American culture was interesting to read about. I enjoyed reading the journey that the main character went through, but there were times that it did get tedious. There were certain secondary characters that were likable and dislikable, especially when the relationships between the main character and them needed more work to get a better resolution at the end of the story. I really liked the main character's love interest and feel that the progression of that particular relationship needed more details for better transition within the book. Overall, this is a nice debut story by Lissette Decos.


** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own. **

Thank you to Netgalley and to Forever publishing for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Ana Takes Manhattan was a fun read with multiple laugh out loud moments. The book is about Ana, a reality TV show producer who, despite producing a TV about love and marriage, cannot seem to find success in her own love life. The situations that Ana found herself in while trying to create this perfect love life felt like staged moments in a reality TV show, but that worked for me!

I liked Ana a lot as our main character. She made some VERY questionable decisions throughout the book, including a lot of deceit, but I understood her motives and still enjoyed her perspective. Despite Ana taking some turns that I didn't agree with, I was still rooting for her to find her happy ending. I liked the role that each love interest played and pretty much liked every character except for her best friend, who I also thought made questionable decisions.

The story is considered a rom-com, but it honestly felt more women's fiction. The story centered more around Ana's struggles than it did romance, but once I understood that, I stopped looking for romance cues and enjoyed the plot more. If you are looking for spice, this is not the book for you.

Overall, I would rate this 3.5/5 stars. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fun, fast-paced women's comedy. I found myself audibly laughing throughout the entirety of this book. This is a debut book by Lissette Decos and I'm excited to see what she comes out with next!

The premise of this sounded so fun, but I found the characters to be a little annoying, and some of the plot points a bit far fetched. Ana is a producer on a reality TV show where she helps couples with their dream proposal, even though she's far from an engagement of her own. She finally decides to take her dating life seriously, and starts dating four separate men. They each embody a specific trait from the list of qualities she wants her dream man to have. Despite thinking she's closer than ever to having what she truly wants, Ana is left feeling unfulfilled.

I thought this book had so much potential! I loved the dating show angle and thought the idea of dating the four men to find her one true love was sweet. Ana was very likeable from the start, but halfway through the book, I began to find her insufferable. Some of the actions of her friends (and the men) were frankly bizarre. I liked the message behind this book, and the ending romance was cute, albeit a little rushed and underdeveloped. A sweet story that I read quickly, but not my fave. I think more focus should have been put on developing the real love interest, instead of giving us the odd hijinks that made up 75% of the book.

While Ana's job focuses on people in love taking the next step, her love life is anything but reflective of that path forward. After an event goes awry at work, she takes a chance on trying to see if dating a few guys, at the same time, will get her any closer to her soul mate checklist.

What follows is all over - cringe, chaos, some romance and fun - and sets Ana up to make a choice about her path forward. This was a quick fun read with some "I cannot believe (s)he..." moments. I would have liked to have seen some more build in certain points. This equates to me a bit like a spin on Sex and the City.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Forever publishing for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I love to discover new authors! Ana Takes Manhattan was a great read. While it took just a bit to get into the story, once I got going it was smooth sailing to the end. I fell in love with Ana. Her love of lists and lack of luck in the relationship game resonated with me. There were times when I didn't like her bestie Gia (hypocrite much?) As a lover of lists, Ana had many of them, even the requisite characteristics you want in a partner. Instead of checking all of them off with one guy, she was juggling four. While I felt that was a bit much to handle, Ana had the right attitude looking for right now. And then finding the right one in the most unlikely of people? He was right in front of her the entire time.

I really enjoyed this story. It was interesting to get a glimpse into Ana's head via her lists and her internal dialogue. I hope to see more books from Lissette Decos.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley at my request and voluntarily left this review.