What Ana Does

As in the last few years, I'm always aiming for 100 books (including audiobooks) read each year. I like having a goal to strive for while doing something I enjoy (reading!). And, as my latest post details, I read most nights before bed, and listen to audiobooks during mindless tasks at work or when I'm driving, so the number is achievable with my daily routine.   My 2024 TOTAL books read is ... 104 books and audiobooks! This was the year of cowboy rancher books, more historical romance (some rereads of longtime favorites) and some fun, very-light mysteries. It's hard to pick my favorite by  Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage book, Folk Around and Find Out by Penny Reid and The Riley Thorne Series were standouts with characters I still think about. Honorable mention to Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey and Bride by Ally Hazelwood for being the spiciest but also the most heartstrings-pulling of the group.  Also to note: Not listed in my annual total is my Kindle Reading To...

Here we go for reading in 2023. Look, I have a real THING for romance novels and I'm not ashamed of saying it. It's feminist as hell to think women's stories, full of emotions, self-improvement, and most of all HOPE are important and worth the read. There are certainly crap romance novels out there but they're also great ones that make me feel and think about my own life. Putting words to emotions or concepts I never could. Reading RULES.  FINAL COUNTS:   Books: 40  Audiobooks: 45  Minibooks on KU: 182   FINAL FOR 2023: 267  BOOKS: *books in yellow were my favorites! Too Hot to Handle by Tess Bailey -- this is a series about grown-up siblings driving across country after losing their mother. It was sweet and the sibling relationships were a mess. Might read the other three? The Stolen Heir by Holly Black -- this might be my favorite Elfhame book, and there's another one on the way. All the tension and court politics - mixed with mythology and...

It's July, the half-way point in the year and a good time to look over where I am in the "Books Read" list. I took a month off from reading around Leah and Alice's B'nai Mitzvah, as I was using all the brain space to plan and work through my introvert-planning-huge-party neurosis that I couldn't fathom digging into a book. Regardless, I'm still on track to hit 100 for the year.   Here's just a few of my favorites:  The Stolen Heir by Holly Black -- part of her Elfhame series that I'm all-in on. I was looking forward to more Oak.  Georgie All Along by Kate Clayborn -- gah, I loved Georgie sooo much. Her messy-and-not-changing-for-you thing was so relatable.  Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood -- so far, she can do no wrong and this one was extra steamy and so fun.  First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh -- I heard her interview on Fated Mates and decided to reread one of  her family series. This is the Huxtable family and it's been over a deca...

I have to say, that happened a lot quicker than I ever thought. When I made the goal in January, I was curious about how fast I could read, if given a goal. And I really wanted to read a lot more books than I did last year. So, I set the 100 books goal.  I divided out between audiobooks and books. And some books were on my Kindle and some I bought or rented from the library.  MY FAVORITES OF THE 100: The Flatshare  by Beth O'Leary Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman Nora Goes Off Script  by Annabel Monaghan  Book Lover  by Emily Henry Birds of California  by Katie Cotugno A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches  by Sangu Mandanna  The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood  The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abi Waxman My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey Maggie Moves On  by Lucy Score Finley Donovan is Killing It   by Elle Cosimano  Beauty and the Mustache  by Penny Reid (the whole series) Homecoming Kin...

 Gah! You know how people BINGE TV shows? No judgement, but they can sit through hours of the same show to see what comes next. We binged Schitt's Creek during quarantine, so I get it.  Anyway, I came across this series of books by Penny Reid about the Winston Brothers (and one sister) and I BINGED the entire audiobook series. I. Couldn't. Stop.  What did I love about them?  First off, the male narrator had a very sexy southern accent. And the women also had a very pleasing southern accent so it was just a delight to listen to. The stories were heart-felt and tender. They're nice boys with great manners and depend on each other, which is so sweet. Sure, each love story followed a similar plot line. And there was always something they were trying to be "manly" and protect their family/loves with. And there was always a scene or two where they reluctantly went to their brothers for obvious advice. And each family member and significant other had a well-drawn charact...

100 is A LOT of books to read in one year, but in my effort to reach this goal I've come across some new-to-me authors that I've enjoyed and started to look for at the library and book stores.  Beth O'Leary - The Flatshare is one of my favorites from the first half of the year. I listened to it on audiobook and the narration was fantastic but the story was also lovely and fun and emotional. I've since read her other book The Road Trip and liked that one almost as much. Last month, she released a new book called The No-Show and I can't wait to dig into it.  Abi Waxman - The Bookish Life of Nina Hill was such a highlight of the last month, too. She's funny and inciteful and warm. I bought one of her other books years ago and never read it. So that's going on my Read Next pile.  Tessa Bailey - Obliviously enjoying a lot of romance novels and this writer never fails to deliver a simple, funny, sexy story. I've read a It Happened One Summer and Fix He...

It's time for the annual book review and tally. Lots of good books enjoyed in 2021, especially during our big move. I certainly benefited from the break from reality each night during the most stressful of times. Here's the list, with my favorites up at the top! Lore by Alexandra Bracken (took a bit to get into this one, but so exciting and engrossing once I got it) Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo (finished the series, so amazing) Shipped by Angie Hockman Second First Impression by Sally Thorne Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor by Ally Carter A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren People you Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle (unfinished) The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (unfinished ... but will pick it up in '22) Bombshell: A Hell's Belles Novel by Sarah MacLean (my favorite romance writer!) The Wisteria Society o...

When I planned for this likely two months of transition time -- going from one house to the other and staying in a vacation spot that isn't ours -- I thought I might take up something like jogging or yoga. Especially given the stress of this housing market and being away from everything normal.  But ... the hills around this cabin are mountainous and I can't be left alone long enough for a good yoga class. I also didn't factor in that, yes, I'm working full-time and have a bunch of important work projects I'm committed to getting done. (Plus, happy news, I really love my job.)  So, to distract myself from waiting (I'm not all that patient) and help relieve a bit of stress, I've been picking up book after book.  Here's the cool thing about living in someone else's vacation house -- no house projects. Nothing to paint, no DIYs to accomplish, no landscaping to do, nothing. The girls don't need me to drive them anywhere. The dogs are pretty routine. ...

What can you say about 2020 that hasn't already been said? It was NOT a normal year. With mandates to "shelter in place" that cancelled all our travel and weekend plans, you'd think I would have gotten a bit more reading time. But, it was a pretty normal book year. I did break some of my rules about ordering more physical books than usual, thanks to the libraries being closed and wanting to help out a black-owned independent bookstore in Chicago.  I'm starting this year's list with my four favorites. Books I would HIGHLY recommend, if you're looking for something to read. Than, I'll bold other good picks, too, that are in no particular order.  To Note: As usual there's probably 30 or so Kindle romances that I read too quickly and didn't make much of an impression on me or didn't finish all the way, so they're not listed.  Fable: A Novel by Adrienne Young - my favorite book of the year, hands down. Such good world-building, incredible s...

 I have been devouring books like crazy this season.  The Body Reset Diet from Harley Pasternak - we listened to this guy on the Goop Men's podcast while driving through Wyoming and I liked his very sensible approach. I've never done a diet "reset" and I thought, "well, if I'm going to do one, give me one with lots of yogurt and smoothies." So we got the book and did the reset diet, as prescribed. And now I'm doing my best to follow the spirit of the diet, if not down to the letter.  Beach Read by Emily Henry - My favorite book of the summer, so far. I laughed, I cried my eyes out and I really enjoyed the dialog and pace of the book. The characters were well sketched and it was such a quick and sweet story. I very rarely read "mainstream" titles, but this book restored some of my faith in what "everyone else is reading."  Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerhall - First off, isn't it funny the main character's name ISN'T E...

This seems to be the time of year when I buy up all the books. Looking over past year's posts, it's pretty clear that awful February sends me to book stores and removes all my inhibitions about buying books. Other times of the year, I get the Kindle version, wait for the paperback or opt for the library book. But put me in the back-end of winter and I'm clamoring for all the new books.  Also, this is a pretty good season for new books.  And also, reading a book under a blanket while the weather is freezing and horrible is such a joy.  Here's my current NEW stack: The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black is set in a similar world to her Folk of the Air series that I just finished. I'm a few chapters short of finishing this one and it's so good.  Why We Can't Sleep by Ada Calhoun is a book I bought after listening to her interviewed on a GOOP podcast (after my sister raved about it). It's all about my generation and how we'...

I was talking to my brother-in-law over Christmas and I said "I've read so many books this year, maybe 80?!" And he was shocked. He couldn't imagine it. I was flattered by his amazement but then I kept thinking about the number. That's gotta be too high, right? So I went through my Kindle and Amazon account and tried to remember what I got out of the library. And, yeah, I overestimated by A LOT. Whoops. I blame my lower than average list on my eyes ... especially at night the words tend to jump when I'm reading. I finally got cheaters in August and was able to resume my usual reading rate. I read a lot more romance than usually. Most years it's a close 50-50 split, but there wasn't much new YA I got interested in. Also, I have no time for audiobooks like in past years, so that changes the list, as well. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn -- an old series that I'm now just picking up Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore -- cute!  Fix Her Up...