Chase the Fun: 100 Days to Discover Fun Right Where You Are

by Annie F. Downs

We all know that having fun enriches our lives and lifts our spirits, but so often life gets in the way. Fun seems like something we did when we were kids, and we just don't have time for it now. I mean, we barely have time for all the stuff we have to do, let alone the stuff we want to do. We can go days without actually having any fun at all. If you ask New York Times bestselling author Annie F. Downs, she'll tell you that's no way to live!

Annie knows that when you chase fun, joy follows. In this beautifully designed full-color devotional with a ribbon marker, she invites you to experience 100 delightful days of discovering fun right where you are. With her insightful writing and provocative questions, she helps you identify what you find fun and then go after it like it matters. Because it does.

Fun isn't frivolous or somehow extra. It's essential! So join Annie on this 100-day journey into prioritizing fun in your life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Self Help, Faith, Devotional, Audiobook, Spirituality

223 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 2, 2022

About the author

Annie F. Downs is an author, blogger, and speaker based in Nashville, Tennessee. Flawed but funny, she uses her writing to highlight the everyday goodness of a real and present God.

An author of three books-  Let's All Be Brave ,  Perfectly Unique , and  Speak Love , Annie also loves traveling around the country speaking to young women, college students, and adults.

Read more at anniefdowns.com  and follow her on Twitter @anniefdowns.

Reviews

[Kimberly Page Flood · Rating 2 out of 5]

The description did not make it obvious enough that this was a very religious book. Way too heavy on Jesus for my taste. I would not have picked it up had I known. I'm not sure how this wasn't clearly shelved as Christian/Spiritual. On a positive note, it reminded me of my love for jigsaw puzzles.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook all the way through. It is more of a "devotional" style over 100 days.

Downs encourages you to essentially be positive in life, try new things, realize you're an amateur at new things, embrace and accept failure, see the little things in life, find the joy in life and little thing, notice nature around you, slow down and see, culture and nurture relationships, etc.

Each day is started with a scripture or quote.

The larger than life voice of Downs comes through and makes listening to her an enjoyable treat.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

100 days to discover fun is what I want it to be. Reading is my favorite hobby and I am no longer embarrassed to say that.

[WhatRachelsReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

100 days. ❤️ 100 2 page devotions. ❤️ 100 great reminders to chase fun and watch joy follow! ☺️ I really loved being surprised every morning when I turned the page of this little book and was reminded of how fun life can be. Annie F Downs is one of my favorite podcasts to listen to and her happy, positive outlook on life is so inspiring!!! Loved this delightful book and would recommend it to everyone!!!

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your girl is getting passionate about hobbies. And it’s been fun

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know that I have loved a book more. Annie F Downs where have you been all my life . I think every challenge for the 100 days I would say “that is so me”
I loved this book so much it’s going to be my next small group I lead. Everyone needs more fun in their life. As an Enneagram 7 this book sounds just like my life and I love it.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book over a short period rather than daily. The title caught my attention so I gave it a try. The books a nice reminder to have fun and to get you thinking of the things you already do, the things that you could do and open up to the possibility of new things.

[Ami Loper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend toward seriousness and busyness but have an inner longing for FUN!!! So when I heard that one of my favorite podcasters, one of my favorite writers, one of my favorite people wrote a devotional about fun, you can bet I jumped in and read it! “Chase the Fun” by Annie F. Downs has been a bright spot in my last 100 days. It has been the daily reminder that this life isn’t all about how much I can accomplish, but it’s about celebrating life as the gift God gave me and choosing to weave fun throughout my days. Filled with ideas on how to have fun as well as the godly reasons to have fun, I’m sure this book will bless your life as it has mine.

[Maggie Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is intended to be read over the course of 100 days, but I listened to this as a straight audiobook and found it motivating to keep myself in check so that finding fun and enjoying fun is easier. I loved listening to Annie F. Downstairs podcast so letting her narrate her own book was just like a big ol' hug. I especially loved her parts about book club and reading being a source of enjoyment, learning, and community.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am more fun than I was 100 days ago!
Annie F. Downs' take on fun is really profound. This 100 day book is a great read after her book "That Sounds Fun." Definitely don't have to read the book first, but I think it makes the 100 days more meaningful.

[Arthur Cravan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3-3.5, but rounding up in good faith. There's some hilariously questionable stuff in here, but plenty of greatness & positivity in much higher doses. Plus I kinda got a crush on my odd, southern, Christian friend.

Proper review to come.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book, knowing that I would be going through a lot of transition and wanted to be intentional about seeking out / looking for the fun in each day!

[Kristin Koski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might need to reread this every other year or so. I'm such a robot that I needed reminders on how to have fun. Annie F Downs writes like you're chatting over coffee, and I enjoy the personal narratives and quips.

[Ashley Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t do this daily but I did enjoy the journey. The concepts were digestible and, well, fun.

[Christy Gould · Rating 2 out of 5]

Out of 100 devotional-length chapters, maybe 10 actually *say* anything. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting or hoping for, and I tried not to let that influence my opinion, but…

Half of it was stuff like, “eat your vegetables so you can be healthy and have more fun.” She frequently said, “fun can be whatever you think it is,” but the tone of the book was very, “I’m an extrovert who likes trying new things and I have fun, so you should be like me.” Despite sprinkling Bible verses throughout, most of it was spiritually empty—until the last ten chapters, which were just wrong. I definitely need to make more fun in my life, but this book wasn’t it!

[Laurla2 · Rating 1 out of 5]

-i have to give this one star because it is a very religious book and that completely ruined it for me. any and all mentions of god, jesus, the bible, and praying are *deeply* triggering for me. i could not get through this book with over 50 bible quotes and god quotes, and all the god this and god that.
- i felt tricked. nowhere on the cover, the blurb on the back of the book, or the inner sleeve, does it mention that this is a religious book. if i had been warned, i would have avoided this book. because there was no warning, and because i got triggered and upset, it gets 1 star.

[Amanda McGarvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read this in 100 days, but each essay was thoughtful and helped me to think about how to add more fun into my life!

[Sheelie Kittee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fall in love with your dreams. it's not a feeling; it's a commitment. it involves making choices and taking action. a level of grit and stick to itive-ness.

Fall in love with your story. Your life has a setting. Make a list of the setting, key characters and main conflicts in your story right now. Ask the author to lead, guide and bless you as He continues to write your story.

Fall in love with your life.

Make a list of things you have and things you want. Thank God for what you have and ask Him specifically for what you want.

When it's over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement.

there will always be things you want and there will always be things you have. With that truth as a baseline, we can still choose to love our lives.

[Shelbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Annie F. Downs! I did not super love this book, even though I desperately wanted to. I picked it up in a really low season because I felt like I desperately needed some fun in my life. Something fell flat for me. It reads like a devotional, but it’s not really a devotional. It’s also not a self-help feel-good book either. I don’t know what it is?? She’s had much more engaging books and devotional before. I know some people that LOVED this book, but I feel like I had to trudge through it. It took me far longer than 100 days. On the bright side, there were a handful of days where it was exactly what I needed to hear!

[Lorna R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to Annie read the book while I walked on my lunch hour each day. Turning up the speed of her reading really made the enthusiasm grow.
I enjoyed hearing all the ways to have fun, to embrace who we are, to seek new ways of having fun and how to show others gently how to do it, that don't know how to have fun.
I'm a fun loving, fun seeking person also and can relate to everything Annie said in this book.
It's a good read, something to reflect on and how to share our joy of FUN!
Thanks Annie, for adding spiritual reasons and quotes too.

[Savannah Cummins · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a lot more to Chasing the Fun than I ever would have thought. Annie takes her readers through some very emotionally deep questions on the journey to rediscovering joy and fun like when we were children. From this journey I have found myself asking everyone I meet, “what are you doing fun this week?” Many look at me curiously, but I have found that a lot of us put fun on the back burner, but life is way to short to not enjoy the life we are given.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie Downs really takes you on a journey with this little devotional. She asks the right questions to get you thinking about the fun or where fun is needed more in your life. I highly recommend this read for everyone looking for a friendly nudge to find their own adventure in life. I just finished Day 100 along with Annie and her crew on Facebook. I know I will return to this book again and again.

[Mycala · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do you want to have fun? Here let me shove some bible verses down your throat... isn't this fun? No? How about love the bible? You don't love the bible? But here is some more!

No, this was not fun at all. There could have been potential here, but it fell flat after being beaten over the head with jesus so many times and I don't feel like chasing anymore because there doesn't seem to be any fun at all in this book -- as another reader said, no warning that it was so biased...

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a light, positive read that may inspire you, but I preferred ‘That Sounds Fun’. This book had a lot of the same content, but I feel like I got a lot more out of the other one. Perhaps I don’t gel well with a short devotional. I do better with chapter books. This one may be your preference if you’re short on time. I did find this one repeated itself a little, & some of the suggestions just weren’t practical (eg- cook a new recipe today. Often that requires forethought & planning.)

[Amy Koons · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book after finishing this author’s book, “That Sounds Fun,” and feel like about half the stories from this book are also repeated in the other book. The author has a warm, relatable voice and I appreciate encouraging people to find the fun and the joy in life, but was surprised that there was so much repetition in the two books.

[Salinn Barth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book. Annie seemed to repeat herself a lot and day 40 is titled “Fall in love with the Bible” she says “spend ten minutes a day reading the Bible- maybe right after you read this book each day?”. God’s word should come first.... anyways. I was disappointed and wouldn’t recommend.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short book that highlights the necessity of fun in life with some suggestions on things to try and encouragement on why to do so. The most important thing to remember is that if it sounds fun to you, then it's fun. No need to apologize for or downplay it. Take a look and add some fun in your life.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from the library so I didn't read a page a day and do the activity. I thought I'd skim it but I am so enthralled with Annie's writing that I would read each page. I copied some of the quotes and questions. I think this is a book I'd like to buy and go back and do it day by day. I also am going to checkout her podcast. I think she's my kind of girl!❤

[Mandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate to give this rating because I normally love AFD’s stuff. But this one just fell flat. It was repetitive (especially if you’ve also already read her book this is a “tagalong” to), was surface level and cheesy (not in a fun way), lost the theme a little bit, and the writing overall was meh. I’m so bummed!

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! I also love this format as of reading a little bit everyday. Great reminders that we someone lost along the way as being an adult. Also, love the message, you like what you like. Easy to forget when we feel like we are being judged. Also, enjoyed how it was tied into faith and making that fun as well.