Ana’s Way by Manuela Draganova

Ana thinks she has her life figured until a curveball is thrown her way. She deals with that and comes out on top. Then another curveball has her losing a beloved property. She deals with that yet again settles quite nicely in the aftermath. Life is not done with her though. A visit to Carli changes the course of her life yet again. Forty days in the land away from home has her finding love and a little surprise. Ana is a woman who triumphs. She is a woman who takes the lemons life throws at her and makes whatever suits her needs at the time. 

The author’s narration of Ana’s story is powerful. She is looking to assure the reader that regardless of what one faces in life, they only need the drive to improve a situation. That should be more than enough to set things right. Ana’s character is one to aspire to. Her tenacity and go-getter attitude towards life poses quite the challenge for the reader. Challenged is what the reader will feel as they walk through Ana’s life. They will feel a desire to take things in stride. To ride with the wave. To take control of their own destiny. Not to let life bully them. 

This book is engrossing right from the beginning. The author is a literary artisan. The craft is almost unrivaled. At first, you will shrug at Ana but then you get to know her better and all that changes. Not only do you admire her, you desire to be her. This is credited to the author’s uncanny ability to weave a tale. The ability to develop such well rounded characters that the reader can do nothing but love them. The prose flows effortlessly. Like a tranquil stream on a quiet day. The twists and turns are welcome. They do not leave the reader annoyed and unsettled. 

My favorite part is when Lily was being difficult. The struggle to raise a little girl without letting her slip through the cracks during the difficult age can be back breaking. Ana thinks that the problem is lack of a father figure. This right here reminds the reader that even though it may seem like it, Ana is not actually super human. That she worries about things. It is her aggressive commitment to finding solutions that sets her apart from us mere mortals. There is a lot to learn from Ana’s reactions to bad news. Her actions when she is at her worst. 

The plot is engrossing and captivating. The writing is exemplary and beautiful. The characters will jump right off the pages and befriend you. Ana’s journey might change your view of life events in the future. This book is highly recommended. Simply sit back and enjoy the ride. Five stars out of five for this one.