I Sleep Around: The Humorous Memoir of a Nomadic Writer

by Sue Ann Jaffarian

"If you are looking for an engaging travelogue filled with travel suggestions, RV tips and dos and don'ts - then I Sleep Around is it. With a humorous undertone at times, Sue Ann honestly writes about her dream of traveling solo and the challenges, both mechanically with her RV, and psychologically it has been. It's a rewarding tale of living her dream and sharing so others can do the same." - Kelli Harms, Marketing and PR Manager, Winnebago Industries

With no camping or RV experience, author Sue Ann Jaffarian decided to chuck her life in Los Angeles for a life on the road in a van. Newly retired from her long-time career as a paralegal, she got rid of most of her belongings, packed up her laptop, and embraced a new adventure of traveling the country and writing full-time, adding travel writing to her career as a popular mystery novelist.

Not always sunshine and unicorns, her experiences gave her more self-reliance, a new appreciation of nature, and a love for the quirky, interesting, and thought-provoking. I Sleep Around chronicles her first two years on the road and the time leading up to taking this bold step. All while her friends and family thought she had lost her mind.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Travel, Humor

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2024

About the author

Sue Ann Jaffarian is the author of the popular Odelia Grey mystery series, the Ghost of Granny Apples mystery series and the Madison Rose vampire mysteries, as well as short stories.

Sue Ann also writes the Winnie Wilde romance novellas.

Like the character Odelia Grey, Sue Ann Jaffarian is a middle-aged, plus-sized paralegal. She lives in Los Angeles.

In addition to writing, Sue Ann is sought after as a motivational/ humorous speaker. You can visit her on the web at www.sueannjaffarian.com, www.sueannjaffarian.blogspot.com, and on Twitter and Facebook.

Reviews

[Valleri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Stars

"Not all those who wander are lost"
J.R.R. Tolkien

I was eager to read I Sleep Around, not only for the very clever name but also because my husband and I did the same thing for nine years.

I was utterly enchanted by the first half of I Sleep Around because I could SO relate to what the author was experiencing. I was shocked by all of the problems Ms. Jaffarian had with her Travato van, though! Especially with her propane tank. Yikes!

As the pages passed, I Sleep Around started feeling like a list of where the author parked (many times in parking lots), how she sat and wrote her book, which museum she had visited, and which friend or friends she met up with that day. (The names of her friends started running together for me...) I'm sure it's interesting to the author to go back and read all of those details but for me, the book became less interesting and more repetitious at that point.

All in all, I enjoyed reading about the museums the most and the parking lots the least!

Many thanks to both #HarborLaneBooks and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of #ISleepAround
The expected publication date is June 4, 2024

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following Sue Ann Jaffarian's RV adventure from the very beginning and I am fascinated by it all. I enjoy travel and she's made it to places I'd like to visit one day so it's nice to be able to travel along with her. But there's more to this than just a travel log. I found the information about expenses and how she decides where to stay easy to understand and insightful. This is a great resource for anyone who is considering life on the road; not only will you learn many important lessons but you will laugh along as she recounts the various people she meets and the scenarios she encounters.

I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.

[sweet orange books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this books made me so happy! I couldn't wait for the work day to end every day to cozy up, grab my tablet, and read it :)

This is the story of a 66 years old retired paralegal and writer who decides to RV full time. And wow, she loves this new lifestyle and it shines in each page :) Just writing this review makes me smile, thinking about how content she is with her life (of course, it's not all shine and candy, and she spends a great amount of time talking about all the 'cons' and difficulties of RVing). She keeps it honest!

So, why do I like this book so much?
- The first part of the book is about living in RV full time, and it is SO detailed and real, I was amazed. She goes over so many topics, like weather, cost, grey and black waste (dirty water and bathroom waste), being a solo woman nomad, writing while RVing, repairs... It's fascinating (by this point, you probably realized that the idea of being a digital nomad/slow traveler has popped up more than once in my head :))
- The second part is about the actual travels she took during her first year. At first, I found it quite mundane and repetitive (I went to this city, visited this museum, met my friends x and y, then moved to campground z...). But then, I realized this is RVing full time. No shine and glamour, just the simple truth. And I started enjoying this part more and more. And there are quite a few places I want to visit myself, especially the salt mine!!
- The third part is about her second year RVing in 2020... during COVID. She kept safe, used masks, social distancing, vaccines, and found ways to isolate herself and keeping safe. Very interesting new perspective on having to stay for longer periods of time in the same place, and what it felt like (the travel bug was itching her!). OMG and I forgot to talk about the dog and home-sitting she did in the previous year! Sooooo interesting!
- The final part is more about the perception of others on her lifestyle, from people lending a helpful hand to people forcefully handing her religious pamphlets to 'save her soul'. Nothing creepy was described, and she has a good instinct to avoid weird places.

So with everything said, how could I not give it a 5 stars? I loved it! Thank you Sue Ann for writing it :)

[Thebestdogmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has traveled quite a bit in a Class C Winnebago View this book was quite interesting. I really thought it was funny that we traveled to a lot of the same places and visited the same attractions. The book was well written, educational, entertaining and quite interesting.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great guide to a full time RV/van lifestyle!

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting tour with fascinating author

This book was recommended to me, and I am really glad it was. Ms. Jaffarian gives a very realistic idea of what life is like for a lady of a certain age who packs up everything she owns and starts living full-time and traveling the country in her small RV. As an author, she writes, speaks, and discovers our country, meanwhile learning a lot about herself and this great land. Excellent read for those interested in exploring but who lack the resources or time.

[Lori Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read! One of my favorite fiction author’s account of her nomadic life after retirement. A gem of a book filled with wonderful stories and information about living life on the road. Great recommendations and advice. So glad Sue Ann has such a beautiful life now and can enjoy all her adventures.

[Elizabeth]

I wish the author had mentioned tales of times in the great state of Ohio, but maybe she’s never even stopped here? A list of states she hasn’t been to/cities still on her bucket list would’ve been interesting to read. Nevertheless, as soon as I started reading this book, I knew it was for me.

[Kebie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sue Ann Jaffarian is my Shero! I am jealous of her nomadic lifestyle. I have been giving a lot of thought to trying "the van life;" i.e., living in the smallest RV possible that includes something of a kitchen, a bed and bathroom. But, six chapters in, I knew that this lifestyle isn't for me. There are several aspects that I just wouldn't be able to handle. So I continue to search. (Already tried retiring to a foreign country. That didn't work out. I documented that in "Retire Abroad? Think Real Hard!" which is both a Guidebook to overseas retirement and a memoir about the experience.)

Sue Ann's memoir was not, for me, a page-turner. Much of what Sue Ann wrote about the places she visited was boring to me as she rattled off one campsite after another and one friend after another.

I did, however, LOVE Love love the story about the #IOWAPORK t-shirt. She worked so hard, was so diligent to eat 10 pork sandwiches. (Yuck) For her efforts, she was rewarded with a t-shirt that says #IOWAPORK on its back. No, not many women would wear that; and definitely no plus-sized woman would wear it.

Savannah, GA is my USA bucket list city. I enjoyed what Sue Ann wrote about visiting Savannah; wish she had stayed longer and written more. I also enjoyed her visit to the Oklahoma bombing site.

If we knew each other, I think we would be friends. (We're about the same age; and I spent the best 18 years of my life in Southern California.) I too would visit the Raymond Pettus Bridge if I ever found myself in Selma. But, unlike, Sue Ann, I would not have been nice to the man who wanted to know why a white woman would walk across that bridge. He is what I don't like about so many Americans: Racist.

Years ago, I read and loved Jaffarian's Odelia Gray series. I kept watching for more books in the series. If you haven't read them and you enjoy murder mysteries, check them out. I will soon check out other books by Jaffarian; maybe I'll find another series that I'll enjoy.

In the meantime, thank you for your memoir, Sue Ann. I needed to know that life on the road is not for me so that I can quit lusting after something that wouldn't work. Now, I just need to figure out what will work for me.

Happy Trails and Safe Travels!

[Moondance · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I go from town to town, sleeping wherever I can park my van, telling people about journey and my books, I can't help but think I am becoming carny folk.

I have followed Sue Ann Jaffarian for years and was fascinated when she started talking about living in a RV after retirement. The adventure did not disappoint!

I know that Sue Ann does not want to think of herself as brave, but my goodness! I cannot imagine downsizing to the point of living in a small RV. (It would take a couple of C class to house my cats!) The amount of research that went into making this decision was daunting. I loved reading every word of it.

I enjoyed learning about this great country of ours through Sue Ann's eyes. It has certainly given me a list of places I should visit. I find maintaining my car is more than enough and would not want the task of keeping an RV on the road.

I was sad that sweet B only spent a month on the road and rejoiced when Moxie joined the family. Life is always better with a cat!. Her adventures make me smile.

I look forward to social media posts to see the great places the author parks. I will stop begging for her to come to North Carolina after reading the logistics of travel and set up. I will keep an eye out for any travels nearby where I can go to see her speak. I know it will be fabulous.

This is a must read for anyone thinking of living in a RV. You see all the pitfalls, the wild adventures, and the routine of daily life.

Congratulations on a great book and your ongoing adventures. Embrace being carny folk!

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this memoir, authors Sue Ann Jaffarian talks about her decision to buy a camper van when she retired and hit the road full time. She discusses what lead to her decision and the steps she took to get ready for her new adventure before detailing what life was like that first year on the road. She talks about the joys (visiting beautiful places, making new friends) and the pitfalls (dangerously bad weather, problems with her van). She also talks about how her new life changed in 2020 as we were all trying to shelter in place.

As a fan turned friend, I have followed her journey from the time she first made the decision, and I was thrilled to read this book and get a good look at how she is adapting to his new life. The book is filled with practical advice and a realistic look at what life can be like. As I said, she covers the good and the bad, and I appreciated the balanced approach. Still, overall, she loves her new life, and that comes through. If anything, I wish we’d heard more about places she’s visited along the way, although the discussions we do get make me want to hit the road and see them for myself. If you want an honest look at the life of a full-time nomad, you’ll love this book.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Sue Ann's first non-fiction book, so it's quite a change from her previous mysteries. Unlike her fiction, this book is pretty dry and details her first two years living in a van and traveling the country. I enjoyed it immensely. While I don't want to live full-time in a van, I would love to spend several months traveling the USA with my own bed and bathroom in tow. I haven't done this for several reasons: too many volunteer commitments that I really enjoy, the cost of gas and the poor gas mileage, and the cost of a van. I'll stick with my one-month of traveling in my hybrid RAV4 for now.

I really enjoyed finding out about the many campgrounds where Sue Ann stayed and the iconic, as well as the off-the-wall sights she visited. Anyone planning a camping road trip will find this useful. Her insights into what it takes to be a nomad will be valuable to anyone considering this way of life.

So far, Sue Ann has stayed within the continental US, but I hope she considers travel to Alaska. I have done this in a van through a community college class. It was the trip of a lifetime, though we had more flat tires on that trip than I've had in my entire life. Starting with the first day, when we discovered a slow leak that resulted in a flat tire the morning before we were to take the ferry from Anchorage to the Seward Peninsula.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was informative fun! I've been a fan of Sue Ann Jaffarian since first reading Ghost a la Mode: Granny Apples Mystery #1 several years ago. I've since read several of her books [she has five series out there] and I follow her on social media. That's where I found out about this book and I immediately ordered it...and pretty much immediately began reading it. And loving it.
It's about how to embrace life and the changeups that can occur, helpful tips of when living on the road, that it's not for everyone and try it with an open mind but don't be disappointed if it's not for you. At least you tried. And it's never too late to try something new.
Sue Ann has embraced it and has been traveling in her Travato since the beginning of 2019. I like the helpful tips such as sleeping in campgrounds, parking lots, rest stops, listening to your intuition on many things, being self-reliant and knowing that it's okay ask for help.
I especially like the list I made of the various sites she visited and recommended. I like that there's one in Kansas that was a particular favorite and is now on my list. I am formatively from Kansas and did not know this place existed.
It's never too late to try something new, do your research, give it a shot. Sue Ann did and she's digging the heck out of it.
I can happily recommend this book and author.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more than a travelogue. The author is a writer by trade and, after retiring from her day job, she bought a van and went on the road. As a retirement plan, it sounds fascinating, but hard. Jaffarian tells the story of how she made the decision to leave her stationary life, all the planning that went into it, how she made all her decisions and how her life as a nomad has gone. Before and after the pandemic. She talks about the amazing (and scary) sites she’s visited, about loneliness and freedom and the vastness of America. But there is also a more practical side to this book. She gives specific advice for people who might be considering this way of life. To be honest, it’s something I’d never thought of but, after reading this, I’ve added it to my list of options. Jaffarian doesn’t shy away from the less glamorous side of this lifestyle, but the life she’s accomplished is remarkable. Her writing style is colloquial and full of humor. For armchair travelers.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#BookBuzz.net.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
I love the idea of living life on the road while visiting the National Parks, so I was curious about RV life. The first third of the book was the best part. It is divided into chapters dedicated to good practical advice for those considering living in a mobile home. Even though I am unlikely to ever take the plunge myself, I found it interesting to learn of all the details that goes into making this major shift in lifestyle. The author covers everything from plumbing mishaps to money matters. The writing is matter of fact and light-hearted. The rest of the book is a chronological account of her experience from her first 2 years of RV life. This moves quickly but is a little boring. (There is a lot of ‘I met old friend so & so for lunch and then drove to town X’.). She must have a gazillion friends as she seemed to meet up with people in every small town in America. She also visits quirky sites, does some pet-sitting and book-signing gigs.
I was provided with an ARC (thanks to the author & publisher!) and I am voluntarily posting my honest review.

[Angelique · Rating 5 out of 5]

For seasoned travellers and wannabes

Enjoy a no holds barred journey with Sue Ann as she tackles career transition, weather, pandemic and has the time of her life while criss crossing the country and living full time in her camper van, Novela. She is living her best life rather than just dreaming about it and she takes us with her in this witty, entertaining and informative story. If you love adventure and learning about interesting places and people , you will enjoy "sleeping around" with this intrepid author.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have followed Sue Ann on Facebook for a while before she decided to make the move to full time rv'ing when she retired. This is a book about her years on the road and it is very enjoyable. She pulls no punches and is honest in her shares about the "bad" stuff that comes with living full time in an RV. She talks about all of the places that she has been and things she has seen. She offers tips for anyone else who is considering the life as well.

Definitely worth reading!

[Maggie Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read to experience life on the road and, the beautiful and ugly sides of it through her memoir. I had done a coast to coast road trip with my sister, and man this was hard. I did wonder how it would be if I had more time to stay at the national parks or visit small towns all over the U.S. . Glad I found this inspiring memoir, but I think I will keep my self rooted for now. I highly recommend anyone who is thinking about the nomad life, even temporarily

😎🐱🚐🏔️🗺️🪸🧘🏻‍♀️🛠️💩

[M. White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

I Sleep Around is a well-written and fascinating account of the author's experiences in becoming a full time RV resident and "road warrior" while still maintaining a full time writing career. The writing is excellent and her descriptions of places visited will leave you green with envy. This is an easy, enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.

[Marge Burglund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

I bought the book because Sue Ann wrote it. Then I decided I would just look at it to see how it was written. When I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. It is so well written and interesting. It makes me want to see some of the places she talks about. I highly recommend this book!

[Linda R. Atwater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to know what to see in America. Buy this book.

If you want to do any traveling , whether you are RVing or traveling by car, this is the book for you. If you have an RV, Sue Ann shares her camping spots with you. She tells it like it is and doesn't sugar coat what it is like living on the road.

[Patricia Damon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the first third of book

Then seemed like a list of where she stayed and museums she visited Most only a sentence or two
Enjoyed more when she provided details like in Oklahoma and the site of bombing


Did walk away thinking there are a lot of tourist sites in the US that I have never heard of

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was refreshing and fun. Sue Ann Jaffarian has a wit that keeps the writing about traveling light and wistful.

I have to admit that I often feel I would love to travel by RV and sleep wherever the road leads me. But the lack of money and courage keep me housebound.

With Text-to-Speech on Kindle, this was a fast read. And vicariously, we get to hit the road!

[Glenna (Faith) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and informative

I Sleep Around exposes a whole world living on the back roads of America. I’m happy the author wrote of her adventures, because through this book I got to come along for the ride. A fun and fascinating read. Highly recommend.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fellow nomadic traveler and aspiring writer, my connection to the author gives me a unique perspective to review her memoir. Her account of the nomadic lifestyle is inspirational and deeply resonates with my own experiences.

For anyone of any age who is considering the travel lifestyle, this novel covers the details and aspects of just about every human emotion, friendships, and the highs and lows of travel, along with alternate ways to take breaks from traveling, destinations, gatherings of like-minded nomadic travelers, being productive as a digital nomad, the awareness of weather, preparation, vehicle maintenance, and the author's definition of itchy-wheels.

This memoir is a great tool to educate the family and friends of anyone who travels, easing their fears and concerns with humorous moments of life.

I highlighted many of the author's quotes, which can be read on her Good Reads site.
For me, every one of her quotes was deeply inspirational, to resonate and define almost every aspect of our nomadic lifestyle I embraced wholeheartedly and will continue forever.

The novel is now available in Audible format and is very entertaining.

[Judy Kaucher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I really enjoyed this book. This book was interesting, informative, funny and just an all around good read. You should read it!

[Robin Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

[William Pollock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love to travel in a van

Very realistic look into the life of a full time RVer. Love that she highlighted so many favorite campgrounds and various interesting stops.

[Carol Burchfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating!

I really enjoyed the fast paced book. The author did a great job describing her most memorable stops and leads me to want to visit more museums in our travels.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting! At first I thought it would be a snoozer. Facts about camper travel but it was much more. Personally I think this person is a superstar to follow her dreams!