I’m glad I stuck with this book. It did not start with a bang. No! The first few chapters started off boring and monotonous. It took a while to settle into.

After the lethargic start, it picks up pace and suddenly the page turning becomes easier and faster as I am eager to find out more about Ana’s shenanigans.

Told from Ana’s point of view, the book takes us on a journey into her life, work and relationships.

It is about a woman growing into herself, appreciating who she is and finding love.

I love the accurate description of New York and the subtle Manhattan vs Other Boroughs war. I also enjoy how the author has portrayed Anna- it was very canny to read about her struggles and vulnerability.

I love all of the characters from TJ to Philip and even Bianca and Edith. All of them brought their A-game.

There were a few laugh out loud moments which contributed to the richness of the book.

I will recommend this book to lovers of fiction and women’s fiction.

As a big romance reader, I have seen promo for Ana Takes Mahattan everywhere! I was quite excited to get an ARC from #netgalley and Forever Publishing.

While there was a lot I enjoyed here, it fell a little flat to me. I was really drawn to Ana - I love a list! I struggle with dating! I have a really hard time saying no to anyone and as a result, have planned so many bachelorettes/weddings/etc.

I think it is because I enjoyed her so much that I wanted more for her. I liked the idea of her dating a number of guys, each of whom ticked one, but not all of her boxes. What I didn't like though is how most of those relationships (and her crush on the best man in her bestie's wedding!) included some type of infidelity, and ultimately very few consequences and resolution.

I LOVED the relationship between Ana and her editor and honestly wanted more and that to be explored even more.

Ana is searching for Mr right, but he needs to tick all the boxes on her list. Will she be so focussed on her list that she misses the person right in front of her? A great read, looking forward to more books from this author.

Read if you like:
💕 Romances
🗽 Books set in NYC
😂 Laugh out Loud Narrative

The area that a I struggled the most with this one is with her best friend Gia, she seemed really problematic and I guess that was nice to see because we have all had those friends in our lives but they aren’t often written into the books we read.

This one also had a really abrupt ending so if you are one that likes a longer lasting ending and wrap up that is something to be aware of going into this one.

Other than these two issues I really enjoyed the dating and romance in this story and enjoyed the growth of the MC during the book.

Thank you to the Forever Pub for my ARC of this one in exchange for my review!

Ana Takes Manhattan by Lissette Decos is a lighthearted women's fiction/romance story about a reality tv producer.

Story Recap:
Ana Karina is a reality TV producer and she loves her job. She produces a show that arranges elaborate and over-the-top marriage proposals. She’s been doing the show for years and the proposals always go as planned. Until one doesn’t and Ana finds herself worried about her job.

Ana decides it’s time to find the right guy. She’s tired of the single life and tired of men who don’t meet her four requirements. Since she can’t find a man who meets them all, she goes on a series of dates with a man who each meets one of her requirements. Between the four men, she should be able to find someone compatible.

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this cute story very much. Although there is a romance, this is more of a women’s fiction story and the romance takes a back seat. I loved the behind-the-scenes look at a fictional reality TV show. The setting in New York City was fun too. I love books set there, and the author made me feel like I was in the city.

I liked Ana very much but didn’t like her friend Gia very much and I didn’t think it was a supportive friendship. Although Ana has some growth in the story, it’s not as much as I thought she needed.

There are some very funny moments in this story, and I enjoyed the humor.

Recommendation:


I recommend Ana Takes Manhattan to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

First, I adore this bright cover!
Second, this book will sweep you away to NYC for a few hours.
Ana is very intense and listy. I thought I was a list person, but she has me beat. I thought Ana needed to loosen her grip a lot. She dates four guys simultaneously, but I knew instantly which one was for her.
There are a couple of scenes that made me roar with laughter and plenty that made me cringe.
I disliked Gia. I thought she was self absorbed and then had the audacity to treat Ana, who had basically put together her entire wedding like dirt and didn’t bother to apologize.
Ana finds that there is a lot to discover outside of Manhattan.

I wanted more romance! The lead character was a bit to juvenile considering her age and profession. And the lists, they were a distraction as they were constantly repeated.

Ana Take Manhattan has a gorgeous cover, but the story lacks depth. I only wished I enjoyed this read more when it was over. Thank you Forever for the complimentary copy.

Ana Takes Manhattan is a refreshing breath of fresh air that provides a much-needed escape. With its witty dialogue, accurate depiction of Manhattan's unique atmosphere, and a protagonist that you can't help but cheer for, Lisette Decoss' debut novel is a must-read for any time of the year.

This is a fun book. I liked the reality TV aspect and her dating 4 different people. Overall this was a fun and entertaining read.

3.5 (rounded up to 4)

Ana Takes Manhattan shares the story of Ana, a reality TV producer, who creates elaborate marriage proposals for viewing drama and maximum swooning. She, however, is unlucky in romance as evidenced by the lists she creates for what she is looking for in a romantic partner as well as dealbreakers that she wants to avoid. Her step-sister and also her best friend, Gia, have weddings coming up and at both, she is a reluctant participant (why didn't she create episodes of their proposals??) as she is jealous of the relationships they are creating, feeling like she is left behind and stuck. She decides to become open to whatever the world has to offer, beginning to date 4 men, who all have some of the characteristics on her "Perfect Man" list since she cannot find all of those wrapped up into one man. Hilarity, humility and realizations occur as she dates these men and discovers what she is actually looking for in life and just maybe, is it someone she is over looking (who also has qualities from her "Dealbreaker' list)?
Ana's friend Gia was a horribly selfish, deceptive and disloyal best friend and fiancee and really, Ana needed to confront their relationship issues just as much as she needed to confront her own romantic ones. More details about why Gia was texting and leading on men when she was getting married would have been helpful too. Richard seemed like the perfect counterpart to Ana, but besides a few work sessions and the coffeeshop, there wasn't much development of their working relationship, friendship or flirtation. I would have loved knowing more about Richard (why all of the scarves? and then why did he stop?) and more in-depth interaction between Richard and Ana. The conclusion felt rather quick and abrupt because of this. Also Ana's family life played a part of why she couldn't connect romantically, as in the end she did begin to bond with her father, but what about her step-sister and step-mom? Would have loved more context and resolution with those relationships also. If the characters and their relationships had more depth and experiences for the readers to get to know them, I most likely would have rated this a 4.5-5 star. I really loved the humor, Ana's lists, her observations and her determination. I also found it fun that it was about a reality show and written by someone who has worked in the industry. I'm looking forward to reading the next book from this author.

4.5 stars. Ooh this was so good! Her being obsessed with a guy she had never met, dating four different guys because each one checked off a different point on her “perfect guy” list, it was hilariously messy and so much fun. I loved the reluctant coworkers to lovers (once they were no longer working together) which I haven’t read all that often. It was like The Hating Game but better.

I didn’t, however, understand why we heard so much about her doorman, just for it to lead up to nothing…

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Ana Takes Manhattan by Lissette Dicos
Rating: 3.5 stars
Steam: Clean Romance
Pub Date: 2/28


Ana Karina is a producer for a hit tv show which creates stunning and jealousy-inducing marriage proposals. Even though she can create dramatic and swoon-worthy romantic moments for television, her love life isn’t much to write home about. With her best friend and step-sister getting married soon, she feels pressured to put herself out there to find Mr. Right. When she was younger, she made a list of four qualities that her ideal man should have. Since she can’t seem to find anyone with all those qualities, she decides to date four men who each possess one of those qualities. And if that’s not enough to juggle, she also has a new editor at work who drives her crazy, and her job might be in jeopardy.

This book had some cute moments, and there were a lot of things I liked about it. I have always loved reading books about reality tv, which made this one stand out to me. I loved the behind-the-scenes look of making a television show and learning how much time and energy actually goes into editing all of those shots together. I also liked Ana as the main character. She’s smart, witty, and incredibly loyal, albeit a little immature at times. And as a fellow list maker, I could relate to her need to get everything she was thinking down on paper.

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t what I expected it to be, and not necessarily in a good way. I didn’t rate this book higher because it’s marketed as a rom-com, but it’s more women’s fiction. Even though Ana is dating four different men throughout the story, most of the dates and romantic parts happened off-page and were recapped for the reader while Ana was doing something else. And while I love stories of self-discovery, that’s not what I expected when I picked this one up. The list-making became repetitive, and as the story progressed, it became harder and harder to relate to Ana. I was also confused by her relationship with her best friend, Gia, and Gia’s actions throughout the story. There was no resolution, which was disappointing because I love books where best friends lift each other up, but this friendship felt one-sided.

Overall, this was a lighthearted read that made me laugh. It has a lot of potential, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a story about self-discovery and knowing your worth. Thank you to Forever Publishing for my gifted eARC. Ana Takes Manhattan comes out on 2/28.

Ana is a producer for a reality tv show about elaborate proposals, she however is single. She makes lists for pretty much everything in her life. One day Ana finds a list she had written the four qualities a guy must have to be her ideal guy. Instead of waiting for the perfect guy Ana decides to date four guys, who each posses one of the qualities from her list.
I enjoyed reading about Ana's job and the behind the scenes of reality tv. It was also nice to go along with her as she opens up and decides to take chances in her life instead of just living through lists. All in all it's an entertaining book but found it more to be a women's fiction novel then a romance.
Thank you to Net Galley, Lissette Decos, and Forever for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book started out on an interesting note. Ana is in charge of a show where a man is about to be filmed as he proposes to his girlfriend. Ana does a run through with a handsome light supplier and everything seems to run smoothly. Once the cameras start rolling, chaos ensues. The fountain runs blood red, there are weird noises from the birds, and the potential bride runs away.

That was also where the book derails for me. Ana ends up back in the office trying to salvage her career and show ideas. I lost interest trying to understand what was going on with some guy named Landon and a few others early on. I ended up skipping to the end and felt that it was very anticlimactic and just sort of ended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for this ARC! All thought and opinions are my own.

𝑨𝒏𝒂 𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒏 was a refreshing and fun approach to the age-old problem of many women - being stuck and not knowing how to get life back on track. While the characters were a little immature for the thirty-somethings I assumed they were, I saw parallels with many struggling young adults. There were hysterical laugh-out-loud moments and I enjoyed Ana's "coming to grips with reality" story. Her character showed so much growth and self-discovery. As a list-maker, this one spoke to my list-making heart. While I don't go as overboard as Ana, I found this relatable. Sometimes, lists can get in the way! If you are looking for a cute, light read, grab this one!

Thank you, @readforeverpub and @NetGalley for an eARC in return for an honest review.

While I loved the idea of this one, the further I got into the book, the more I realized it just wasn’t for me. I felt like all of the characters were surface level. I could not stand Gia. I wish there had been more depth to Ana.

Ana Take Manhattan was a quick read and had me engaged from the beginning. I enjoyed reading about Ana's adventures in producing over the top wedding proposals for her television show. There were many points when I was laughing out loud at parts and got teary-eyed at one point. I gave this 4-stars because as much as I was engaged, I did not want more. I would recommend this to any lover of romance books.

Thank you to Lissette Decos, Forever and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I have mixed feeling about this book. It wasn't my favorite, but also not the worst. I think I had higher expectations going in.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5

This was pretty refreshing and truly hilarious, it had me actually laughing out loud at times so it definitely was a lot of fun. The audio production was phenomenal with excellent narration by Ines del Castillo and added sound effects that made it an immersive experience. I loved Ana’s growth and she was so witty and snarky. I struggled with her relationship with her best friend though, Gia really rubbed me the wrong way and the ending was pretty abrupt. I needed more from that conclusion but overall this was a cute listen.

2.5 starts . Thanks to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the E-ARC. Even though it took me less than 24 hours to read this book it just did not sit with me. It was a good story it was writting good it just didnt have that umph to keep me interested in what was happening to Ana.