Ana Takes Manhattan is Lissette Decos debut novel. The story follows Ana, a young reality television producer, stuck in a rut. Despite her type A personality and ever growing checklists, Ana is unable to find her dream man. In an effort to change her future, Ana attempts to step out of her comfort zone. Will secretly dating four different men be the answers Ana needs, or will it lead to heartbreak?

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It was a solid four stars, which is high for a first time author. Decos managed to take me on a journey I was not expecting. The unpredictable plot had me so hooked, I read it in a single day.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review!

I thought this book was so cute! It made me nostalgic for NYC.

Ana was a fun character to root for as well. Her dating adventures were hilarious to follow, even if I did lose track of who was who a few times.

I'd definitely recommend this one, and read Lissette Decos's future books.

Entertaining and resonant as a New Yorker in her thirties. I almost thought the outcome would be one of so much growth and epiphany that the MC realized she was happy alone — but a sweet and satisfying ending nonetheless.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get into this one. I made it to around 30% and it just wasn't doing it. I wanted to like it as a born and raised New Yorker, but it was missing the mark. Maybe I'll try it again but for now, I let it go.

This was a fun, lighthearted read. Ana loves her job as a reality TV producer, but hasn't been lucky in love herself. After creating a list of must haves, and starts dating according to that list. I enjoyed her witty inner dialogue, and thought the story moved well.

Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

Ana Takes Manhattan
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 2/28/23
Author: Lissette Decos
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 368
GR: 3.26

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Ana Karina loves her job—though she isn't quite where she thought she'd be by now. As reality tv producer, she orchestrates extravagant marriage proposals that always (read: mostly) go as planned. If they don't, she’s not afraid to cut and paste scenes to perfection afterward. Even if her arrogant film editor isn't a fan. But what does he know about romance anyway? If only Ana's love life was as simple as fixing botched engagements. She's sick and tired of guys who give her the ick. Ana's got a mile‑long list of all the cringey things to steer clear of. And Ana loves lists. Her to‑dos for her best friend's wedding, show ideas to pitch, and even her list of what she does want in Mr. Right. With only four requirements, why is it taking so long to find him? She’ll just date four men who each embody one quality. Never mind them lacking in other departments. Yet as she finds the Prince Charming in every frog, she also gets closer to facing who she’s avoided for years. Herself.

My Thoughts: I think I might of enjoyed this story more if I had the audio vs the book. The main character, Ana, has growth throughout the story, I would loved to have seen more growth. She was witty and a bit sarcastic. Gia, her best friend, I did not care for as much and I struggled with their relationship. This did have a romance element to it but felt more like women’s literature than a romance. The author did a great job with details of New York and behind the scenes at a reality TV show. There were some laugh out loud moments in the story. The ending of the story was abrupt and left me for wanting more. This was not a terrible read, I did enjoy it, I think I would have enjoyed it more on audio. I would recommend picking up the audiobook on this one.

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for an advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a sucker for behind the scene books on reality shows. This one caught my eye because the author used to work on Say Yes to the Dress, which I've caught a ton of marathons of. With a protagonist set in reality TV I thought it was good to have an author who knows the background.

Ana works to make happy ever after proposals come true, but when one goes horribly wrong it makes her question her career choices. To make matters worse, she looses the her friend and best editor in the process and is left with a documentary editor who knows nothing about reality shows in the process. As Ana reassess her career and life in general, it not makes her see that sometimes what you think is wrong for you is completely right.

I partially listed and read this book and I enjoyed it. I thought the audiobook narrator did a good job of bringing about the characters from the novel especially Ana. I didn't care much for her friend Gia. Gia felt very stuck up and self-centered. She didn't feel like much of a friend to Ana although they've been friends for years. I didn't feel like Ana connected much with the three men she was trying to go out with. It was good concept, but I wish she had more of a connection with the men. I would definitely read something from Lissette in the future although this wasn't a complete hit for me.

Ana Takes Manhattan is a women's fiction story about finding true love, list qualities or not.

Ana wants to find love already. A producer for a reality television proposal story, she knows that her suitor is just around the corner. Pushing her list of qualities a man needs away, she decides to just find a man that meets one qualtiy. But what she doesn't expect is meeting several men that are just like what she needs, one characteristic at a time.

I enjoyed listening to Ana Takes Manhattan by debut author Lissette Decos. While coined a romance novel, I saw this more as women's fiction. I wanted Ana to let go of her list and found someone who sees her for her, no matter what. I enjoyed the reality television aspects that were featured however; I thought the pacing of this nove could've been better with more focus on the relationship between Ana and the other show editor. I look forward however; to reading what author Lissette puts out next.

Thank you Forever Publishing and Netgalley for my earc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I wish I had better or more specific feedback for this one, but it was a little disappointing (or maybe not disappointing, just...neutral?) for me. The story is fine, but I wasn't particularly drawn to any part of it. If you enjoy an easy novel with some romance in it, it's a quick read. Kind of the definition of fine, not great.

Overall this was a fun book and I liked it...but I didn't love it. Essentially the MC, Ana, a reality TV producer of a show that films perfect proposals, is looking for her own special romance. She can't find anyone that meets all the criteria on her "list" of qualities in perfect partners so she ends up dating four different men each with one of the qualities.
The audiobook was hilarious so I highly recommend listening to this one to get the full benefit of the fun sound effects! But I found the romance took too long to get to, the best friend, Gia, was not my favourite, and I found the friendship between them toxic.

Many others loved this book and gave it a 5 star rating so it sounds like I just didn't connect with it. I'm grateful to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was such a refreshing read for me. Very light hearted romance. Something I really needed! Ana was super relatable and a breath of fresh air. I literally love the list she makes. Very likeable protagonist . I love the Latina representation in this book and it’s even better that it’s written by a Latina. I’ve come across so many authors that are not of Latina background trying to write about characters they have no ties to, annd it never works. Ana’s inner dialogue was hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud several times. It took a minute to get into, BUT please be patient, it’s so worth it! I had seen some said the characters were bleh, but I think that opinion is easy to form in the beginning, the start is slow, just hang on!

I will say that I could not stand Gia at all. Worst friend and person ever. Just selfish and dishonest imo. But she didn’t ruin the book for me!

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.

This book lured me in with the promise of “fans of Abby Jimenez… will love this novel.” I am a HUGE fan of that author, so I was expecting this book to be similar. Unfortunately, it was not. It took me a LONG time to finish it because I just did not LIKE the main character, Ana. Some books with a main character who is a hot mess are actually enjoyable and funny, because we see character growth and development along the way. Sadly, Ana never seemed to grow or mature throughout the book. Her approaches to dating (hello, juggling 4 men at once!) and her friendship with Gia just left me feeling disgusted at her personality and choices instead of laughing with hilarity. Even though it had a romantic ending, it just seemed very sudden. This book is solidly “women’s fiction” but not enjoyable women’s fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

|| 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖

𝗔𝗡𝗔 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗦 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗛𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗔𝗡
𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

|| 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒
Ana is a career woman, and her career is finding those happily ever afters and making dream proposals happen on TV. When one doesn’t go as planned it leaves Ana is some trouble at work, and also with a new video editor that really gets under her skin. Will Ana find that her idea of a perfect man is really that perfect?

|| 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄
🎥 Reality TV
💃 Women’s Fiction
👫 Dating Mishaps

|| 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
While I feel this was marketed as a romance, it read more like a women’s fiction to me. It is about romance, but I think the better parts of the story were about Ana and her growth as a person. Honestly this one was just okay to me. It wasn’t bad, but I didn’t connect well to Ana and her dating life. I read reviews about funny dates and honestly all the boys felt rather blah to me. The very ending was nice, but honestly it felt a little off still with the little we found out about Richard. And the best friend Gia seemed like a toxic relationship and maybe that part of the story is what stopped me from enjoying it.

While this book was just mid-level enjoyment for me, others may like it! So thank you to @readforeverpub always for the opportunity to give an honest review!

This was a fun read about romance in NYC and taking your chance on love. When Ana decides to date different guys at the same time in hopes of finding her person, we all know it's going to end in disaster. Working on a proposal show for 8 years with the mix of being the maid of honor for her best friend's wedding and attending her step-sister's wedding all at around the same time, drove her to decide it was time to put herself out there regardless of whether she really liked the guy or not. It was a learning experience for Ana and was interesting read.

Cute story with a fun premise, I read it in one night!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

What an absolute delight! I loved this book! First of all, it's hilarious. I lost track of the number of times I laughed out loud. The situations Ana finds herself in - or puts herself in - are ones to which many of us will be able to relate. I found myself thinking back to my younger (dating and work) years, nodding my head, and having many "oh, yeah" moments while tagging along on her journey.

While this book is filled with humorous moments it's not all laughter, no substance. Decos does an admirable job of layering the story with sub-plots, such as Ana's complicated relationship with her Cuban American family, that bring a poignant depth of emotion to the process. Then there's her work life which affords many opportunities for personal growth as she navigates the shark-infested corporate waters of reality television. As a fan of reality TV, I loved the authenticity of the behind-the-curtain perspective of producer (Ana) and crew as told by an actual reality TV producer (Decos). And, finally, there's romance. Again, I found myself catapulted back to my dating years and the guys who checked one - or two - of my HEA boxes but not the whole bouquet. Maybe Ana has the right idea. Opening herself up to saying yes to all of them has her experiencing some amazing dates while at the same time learning what it is she actually wants. And doesn't want. No spoilers but let me say I was 100% on board with the final outcome.

If you're in the mood for a hilarious romcom with poignant undertones, complicated family dynamics, long-lasting female friendships, reality TV shenanigans, discovering love in unexpected places, and finding yourself in the process, this is the book for you. It has my very enthusiastic recommendation!

4.5 stars
ARC received for fair and unbiased review

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!

Ana Takes Manhattan is a fun, lighthearted rom-com that will make you laugh out loud and think about your life choices.
Ana is a reality TV producer who loves, loves her job but is worried to lose it since something went wrong in one of the episodes of her reality show.
She decides to find a man since she is tired of being single. She makes lists for everything she wants to do or accomplish and one of these lists is a set of four requirements. She finds herself stringing along four men who each posses one of his requirements. Don't want to spoil it but you will laugh with some of Ana's occurrences.
I truly enjoyed it!.

This is a quick beach read and based on other reviews I've seen it sounds like the audiobook is not to be missed. Cute with some laugh-out-loud moments and a few cringe-worthy ones too.

I thought I'd love this book because it was set in Manahattan and focused around the televsion industry. I WAS SO WRONG! So wrong that I couldn't even finish the book. I just didn't like the main female character. I kept reading until about half way and I had to stop. This book wasn't for me. Thanks NEtGalley for the advanced copy. #NetGalley #AnaTakesManhattan

2.5⭐️

I think the cover of this book is really fun and when I read the description I was really excited to read it but ultimately, it was a let down. I thought the majority of the characters were a bit too immature for their age (30s I think), especially Ana and I didn't feel particularly invested in which of the guys she chose and how the story ended. I did appreciate how accurate it felt that the reality tv show was portrayed which I think is from the author's own background, but unfortunately that was the highlight of the book for me rather than any of the actual plot/characters.