What do you think?
Rate this book
An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love
Inheriting a seaside cottage comes with strings attached in this touching romance where an introverted remote worker must leave her city apartment and learn to connect with others—and find love—in real life.
Mallory Rosen loves working from home—minimum contact with others suits her just fine. Nothing could make her leave her comfortable Seattle apartment. Until she inherits her late grandmother’s seaside cottage . . . with strings Take care of your grandfather.
Fine. She can quickly check on Gramps, rent out the cottage, and return to her life. Yet when she arrives at the independent living community, the WiFi keeps dropping, Gramps interrupts her meetings, and the cottage needs renovating—according to the handsome, extroverted property manager.
So much for grand plans. Soon Mal finds herself caught up in senior citizen aerobics, new friendships, nightly chats with Gramps—and in the sparks flying with her charming property manager. Then, just when her new life and chance at love feel worth leaving her safety net behind, she gets the worst notice All employees must return to the office.
Mallory Rosen loves working from home—minimum contact with others suits her just fine. Nothing could make her leave her comfortable Seattle apartment. Until she inherits her late grandmother’s seaside cottage . . . with strings Take care of your grandfather.
Fine. She can quickly check on Gramps, rent out the cottage, and return to her life. Yet when she arrives at the independent living community, the WiFi keeps dropping, Gramps interrupts her meetings, and the cottage needs renovating—according to the handsome, extroverted property manager.
So much for grand plans. Soon Mal finds herself caught up in senior citizen aerobics, new friendships, nightly chats with Gramps—and in the sparks flying with her charming property manager. Then, just when her new life and chance at love feel worth leaving her safety net behind, she gets the worst notice All employees must return to the office.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2025
27 people are currently reading
8233 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
September 13, 2025
As an introvert I was drawn to this title because it made me smile. A gentle story about personal growth sounded like a perfect fit for me. I liked most of the story but there were issues that kept me from loving it.
Mallory inherits a house following the passing of her grandmother with the caveat that she check in on her grandfather. She flies from Seattle to Florida to get her affairs taken care of. The character of Gramps was my absolute favorite. ✨✨ He was intelligent, caring, and introverted. Mallory and Gramps are both introverts so it made a lot of sense for her to check on him. Mallory hires a property manager who informs her that the house will require renovations to attract prospective tenants. She's stepping into new skills with the home improvements; the beach is right there making more activities seem worthwhile. Trading the rainy Seattle days for a sunnier laid-back existence seems impossible.
What about her job?
Not to mention her attraction to the property manager...
What if Gramps needs her?
The writing flows well. The novel felt too long though. The middle drags and has a meandering quality for a bit. I didn't warm up to Mallory and failed to understand what attracted the male lead to her beyond a few laughs. The romance isn't the focus and that's fine with me, but when a romantic thread is included it's nice to be able to understand the relationship. I liked the relaxed atmosphere of the story and the different settings. Several times being an introvert was presented as problematic. I understand that being so comfortable on our own makes it easy to miss out on connection, but introverted people are not a problem to be solved. Each person has to find the balance that works for them.
Overall, this was OK, but not a memorable read.
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Mallory inherits a house following the passing of her grandmother with the caveat that she check in on her grandfather. She flies from Seattle to Florida to get her affairs taken care of. The character of Gramps was my absolute favorite. ✨✨ He was intelligent, caring, and introverted. Mallory and Gramps are both introverts so it made a lot of sense for her to check on him. Mallory hires a property manager who informs her that the house will require renovations to attract prospective tenants. She's stepping into new skills with the home improvements; the beach is right there making more activities seem worthwhile. Trading the rainy Seattle days for a sunnier laid-back existence seems impossible.
What about her job?
Not to mention her attraction to the property manager...
What if Gramps needs her?
The writing flows well. The novel felt too long though. The middle drags and has a meandering quality for a bit. I didn't warm up to Mallory and failed to understand what attracted the male lead to her beyond a few laughs. The romance isn't the focus and that's fine with me, but when a romantic thread is included it's nice to be able to understand the relationship. I liked the relaxed atmosphere of the story and the different settings. Several times being an introvert was presented as problematic. I understand that being so comfortable on our own makes it easy to miss out on connection, but introverted people are not a problem to be solved. Each person has to find the balance that works for them.
Overall, this was OK, but not a memorable read.
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 4, 2025
I listened to the audiobook version and I think the narrator is responsible for most of my enjoyment of this book.
I never really connected with the characters. The love interest felt underdeveloped and the main character never inspired any real sympathy. She felt like she has absolutely no ability to act or analyse, she just react to situations, and it became annoying after some time.
I think this book would have been better if it had been shorter, or spent more time developing the second characters.
Thank you Hachette audio for this ARC.
I never really connected with the characters. The love interest felt underdeveloped and the main character never inspired any real sympathy. She felt like she has absolutely no ability to act or analyse, she just react to situations, and it became annoying after some time.
I think this book would have been better if it had been shorter, or spent more time developing the second characters.
Thank you Hachette audio for this ARC.
September 16, 2025
happy pub day! this was sooo charming and relatable. mallory’s introverted lifestyle, her love of routine & her frustration at being yanked out of her cozy seattle apartment all felt incredibly real. I felt her rage when her employer suddenly demanded five days a week back in the office 😭 but whyyy is it being released in september? it’s set in june, so it transported me straight back to sunny, beachy vibes! (perfect if you’re clinging to summer a little longer 🏖️)
I adored the dynamic between mallory and her fellow introvert, gramps! their growing bond was the emotional core of the story. the seaside setting, the close-knit community, and wally the dog (!!!) gave this such a cozy feel. the story can be a bit cliché and predictable at times, and some of the micro-trope moments felt a little forced. I also wasn’t fully sold on daniel… sometimes his kind gestures felt more like community culture rather than flirtation.
but ultimately mallory’s inner monologue was funny & relatable, and watching her step outside her comfort zone, build connections, and find her own strength was so nice. she made some reckless choices at times but overall, it’s a reminder that true happiness so often comes from our community rather than our accomplishments 💛 this was a sweet women’s fiction romance with beachy vibes and a big heart!
thank you to forever & netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
I adored the dynamic between mallory and her fellow introvert, gramps! their growing bond was the emotional core of the story. the seaside setting, the close-knit community, and wally the dog (!!!) gave this such a cozy feel. the story can be a bit cliché and predictable at times, and some of the micro-trope moments felt a little forced. I also wasn’t fully sold on daniel… sometimes his kind gestures felt more like community culture rather than flirtation.
but ultimately mallory’s inner monologue was funny & relatable, and watching her step outside her comfort zone, build connections, and find her own strength was so nice. she made some reckless choices at times but overall, it’s a reminder that true happiness so often comes from our community rather than our accomplishments 💛 this was a sweet women’s fiction romance with beachy vibes and a big heart!
thank you to forever & netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
September 1, 2025
Mallory Rosen loves her secluded life where she can work at home and buy as many packages as her heart desires. It’s predictable and safe. It’s routine. So when her grandmother dies and leaves her Pebble Cottage as her inheritance, Mallory is beyond shocked and afraid. She can’t even take care of a plant, let alone a house. But it was her grandmother’s hope that she would look after her grandfather, so Mallory reluctantly packs her bags and leaves her apartment in Seattle for sunny and tropical Florida.
However, upending your life for a week isn’t as easy as it looks. Juggling her job, taking care of her grandpa, and dealing with the renovations of her cottage, Mallory wants to run back home and never leave again. But as time moves on and she spends more time with her grandpa and handsome, extroverted property manager, Daniel, Mallory can’t help but fall in love with the friendly people and sunny skies, and she finds herself hesitant to leave. Is it possible to have a fun and fulfilling life in a place that throws routine out the window and pushes her out of her comfort zone?
One of the things I do before I read a book is set my expectations as low as they can go. Although I read what it’s about before I request an arc, when the time comes to read it, I forget what it’s about, so I go in not knowing what is happening and making predictions about what might happen. So I was genuinely surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. Perhaps it’s because of how often I related to the main character, Mallory, or the number of times I chuckled when she was with her sweet grandpa or outgoing Daniel.
Everything about this book was good. The writing was easy to read, simple, and fun. The plot was realistic, well-paced, and kept my interest at bay. The characters were relatable (too relatable at times, lol! 😂), consistent with who they were as the plot progressed, and pretty likable. I also learned some valuable lessons along the way, like letting go of expectations, being confident in who you are, and living a little means that sometimes it’s going to be uncomfortable or awkward, but that is how the best memories are made. 💖
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I definitely recommend it for fellow introverts and extroverts alike! 💜
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Loss of a loved one
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Closed-door
However, upending your life for a week isn’t as easy as it looks. Juggling her job, taking care of her grandpa, and dealing with the renovations of her cottage, Mallory wants to run back home and never leave again. But as time moves on and she spends more time with her grandpa and handsome, extroverted property manager, Daniel, Mallory can’t help but fall in love with the friendly people and sunny skies, and she finds herself hesitant to leave. Is it possible to have a fun and fulfilling life in a place that throws routine out the window and pushes her out of her comfort zone?
One of the things I do before I read a book is set my expectations as low as they can go. Although I read what it’s about before I request an arc, when the time comes to read it, I forget what it’s about, so I go in not knowing what is happening and making predictions about what might happen. So I was genuinely surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. Perhaps it’s because of how often I related to the main character, Mallory, or the number of times I chuckled when she was with her sweet grandpa or outgoing Daniel.
Everything about this book was good. The writing was easy to read, simple, and fun. The plot was realistic, well-paced, and kept my interest at bay. The characters were relatable (too relatable at times, lol! 😂), consistent with who they were as the plot progressed, and pretty likable. I also learned some valuable lessons along the way, like letting go of expectations, being confident in who you are, and living a little means that sometimes it’s going to be uncomfortable or awkward, but that is how the best memories are made. 💖
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I definitely recommend it for fellow introverts and extroverts alike! 💜
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Loss of a loved one
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Closed-door
September 14, 2025
Finally finished my first ARC read! I loved this book! it isn't overly spicy, more of a fade to black kind of thing. the tension is soooo good though! very slow burn but in the best way possible! I loved the main characters growth throughout as well! highly recommend! 😁
August 19, 2025
I really enjoyed this! The characters were likable and relatable, and the plot didn’t get too heavy. More outgoing people might not be able to relate as much to the story, but if you’re an introvert like myself, I would definitely give this one a chance for a quick read!
September 13, 2025
4.5/5 stars
This book is women’s fiction/ a slow burn rom-com.
The narrator is Mallory (28). She lives in Seattle and works remotely as a project manager at a big tech company.
The book starts with her grandmother’s funeral on a boat in Florida.
She finds out that her grandmother has left her a beach house in Florida. In exchange for the cottage Mallory is supposed to look out for Leonard (her grandfather).
Her grandfather already lives in a senior community. The friendship/relationship between Leonard and Mallory was my favorite part of the book.
The book focuses on mental health/grief (especially with Leonard losing his wife). I really thought that this aspect of the story was handled very well.
The beach house needs a lot of repairs. Fixing up the house was my other favorite thing about this book.
There is also Mallory being an introvert. And her remote tech job. I really enjoyed how the author portrayed Mallory. I found her introverted nature to be extremely relatable.
I really enjoyed Daniel the charming property manager. He was so kind and helpful. There is romance. And I really liked that aspect of the story. But it was not the main focus. And it was very slow burn.
The book features some Jewish rep (Mallory and her family are Jewish and there are casual mentions of Jewish things).
Overall, this is a beautiful story about growth, friendship and family. The intergenerational relationship between Mallory and her grandfather was heartwarming and emotional. And the romance was slow to develop, but absolutely perfect.
Thanks to netgalley and Forever Publishing for allowing me to read this book.
This book is women’s fiction/ a slow burn rom-com.
The narrator is Mallory (28). She lives in Seattle and works remotely as a project manager at a big tech company.
The book starts with her grandmother’s funeral on a boat in Florida.
She finds out that her grandmother has left her a beach house in Florida. In exchange for the cottage Mallory is supposed to look out for Leonard (her grandfather).
Her grandfather already lives in a senior community. The friendship/relationship between Leonard and Mallory was my favorite part of the book.
The book focuses on mental health/grief (especially with Leonard losing his wife). I really thought that this aspect of the story was handled very well.
The beach house needs a lot of repairs. Fixing up the house was my other favorite thing about this book.
There is also Mallory being an introvert. And her remote tech job. I really enjoyed how the author portrayed Mallory. I found her introverted nature to be extremely relatable.
I really enjoyed Daniel the charming property manager. He was so kind and helpful. There is romance. And I really liked that aspect of the story. But it was not the main focus. And it was very slow burn.
The book features some Jewish rep (Mallory and her family are Jewish and there are casual mentions of Jewish things).
Overall, this is a beautiful story about growth, friendship and family. The intergenerational relationship between Mallory and her grandfather was heartwarming and emotional. And the romance was slow to develop, but absolutely perfect.
Thanks to netgalley and Forever Publishing for allowing me to read this book.
September 8, 2025
So.... I wasn't sure I was going to like this one, and I was correct. I didn't like it.
I LOVED it!!!
Mallory Rosen works from home, via Zoom meetings and the internet. It's been like this since Covid, and she is just FINE with it. She's mostly a homebody, and only has one close friend, Carmen. And her love life, well, it's just a mess.
So, when Mallory learns that her dear grandmother has died, well, she's sad. But, when she finds that Grandma left her the beloved Florida cottage... well, she's shocked! But, there's a condition. She must keep up with her grandpa. The terms state that she must make sure that he's ok!
So, being as her life is in Seattle, she has no intentions of moving to Florida. She will book a quick weekend trip, check on Gramps, and probably put the cottage up for sale.
But, once she gets there and spends a few days... well, she changes her mind. She's coming to really care for Gramps, and thinks that maybe, just maybe, she can help him.
It also doesn't hurt that the guy she hired to get the cottage in shape to either sell or rent it is rather hot...
I'm going to STOP it right here!
BUT, I will say that Mallory becomes attached to all the inhabitants of the assisted living facility, as well as their activities, their quirky ways, and just them in general!
This was just such a sweet book about family, love, friendships and life. And although I cannot relate to being an introvert, it was so rewarding to watch Mallory grow, and evolve, as she tried to help her Gramps!!
4 1/2 stars for me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 , happily rounded up to 5!
#AnIntrovertsGuideToLifeAndLove by @LaurenAppelbaum and narrated nicely by @RenataFriedman.
*** THIS HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!!! LOOK 👀 FOR IT SOON. RELEASE DATE IS 9/16/25!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley #HachetteAudio and #ForeverBooks for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
I LOVED it!!!
Mallory Rosen works from home, via Zoom meetings and the internet. It's been like this since Covid, and she is just FINE with it. She's mostly a homebody, and only has one close friend, Carmen. And her love life, well, it's just a mess.
So, when Mallory learns that her dear grandmother has died, well, she's sad. But, when she finds that Grandma left her the beloved Florida cottage... well, she's shocked! But, there's a condition. She must keep up with her grandpa. The terms state that she must make sure that he's ok!
So, being as her life is in Seattle, she has no intentions of moving to Florida. She will book a quick weekend trip, check on Gramps, and probably put the cottage up for sale.
But, once she gets there and spends a few days... well, she changes her mind. She's coming to really care for Gramps, and thinks that maybe, just maybe, she can help him.
It also doesn't hurt that the guy she hired to get the cottage in shape to either sell or rent it is rather hot...
I'm going to STOP it right here!
BUT, I will say that Mallory becomes attached to all the inhabitants of the assisted living facility, as well as their activities, their quirky ways, and just them in general!
This was just such a sweet book about family, love, friendships and life. And although I cannot relate to being an introvert, it was so rewarding to watch Mallory grow, and evolve, as she tried to help her Gramps!!
4 1/2 stars for me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 , happily rounded up to 5!
#AnIntrovertsGuideToLifeAndLove by @LaurenAppelbaum and narrated nicely by @RenataFriedman.
*** THIS HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!!! LOOK 👀 FOR IT SOON. RELEASE DATE IS 9/16/25!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley #HachetteAudio and #ForeverBooks for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
September 17, 2025
An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love by Lauren Appelbaum
Contemporary Women’s fiction, romance. Chic lit.
Mallory Rosen likes her solitude and working from home in Seattle. She has everything delivered and rarely interacts with others. Until she inherits a small cottage home in Florida where she’s also asked to check up on Gramp’s in his new independent living community. The inheritance requires updating and the more time she spends with Gramps, the more she realizes they both need more socialization. Mal meets with a real estate property manager for help with her property and she works on getting herself and grandfather out of the house. While she’s not working her job via Zoom of course.
Mal needs to get back to Seattle and her job and apartment. Or does she?
🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and audiobook. The narration is performed by Renata Friedman who does wonderful voice variances for Mallery and her Grandfather and a few others. It’s all one POV so it’s mostly conversations between Mal and someone else but the pitch and change is clear. Mallory is brought to live in this audiobook. I got to know her and totally understood her feelings.
Amusing interactions between Mallory and the community and her Grandfather and also some heart touching moments. The senior aerobics class was funny. I totally understand the not wanting to go back to the office. And the shopping dopamine!
Lovely story. Reconnecting with family and discovering what’s important.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Hachette Audio.
Contemporary Women’s fiction, romance. Chic lit.
Mallory Rosen likes her solitude and working from home in Seattle. She has everything delivered and rarely interacts with others. Until she inherits a small cottage home in Florida where she’s also asked to check up on Gramp’s in his new independent living community. The inheritance requires updating and the more time she spends with Gramps, the more she realizes they both need more socialization. Mal meets with a real estate property manager for help with her property and she works on getting herself and grandfather out of the house. While she’s not working her job via Zoom of course.
Mal needs to get back to Seattle and her job and apartment. Or does she?
🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and audiobook. The narration is performed by Renata Friedman who does wonderful voice variances for Mallery and her Grandfather and a few others. It’s all one POV so it’s mostly conversations between Mal and someone else but the pitch and change is clear. Mallory is brought to live in this audiobook. I got to know her and totally understood her feelings.
Amusing interactions between Mallory and the community and her Grandfather and also some heart touching moments. The senior aerobics class was funny. I totally understand the not wanting to go back to the office. And the shopping dopamine!
Lovely story. Reconnecting with family and discovering what’s important.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Hachette Audio.
September 27, 2025
A charming, gentle and relatable (for the introverts) story.
Mallory is a remote worker who inherits a seaside cottage, with the expectation that she cares for her ageing grandfather. She is soon immersed in the world of the independent living community, senior citizen aerobics, cottage renovations and an opportunity for love with the extroverted and charming property manager.
This story features self-discovery, humour and connection, alongside a slow-burn chemistry that develops into a closed-door romance.
I really enjoyed the audio production of this audiobook, as well as the narration by Renata Friedman. I was immersed in the story and enjoyed the relationship between Mallory and her grandfather, as well as the romantic connection.
Mallory is a remote worker who inherits a seaside cottage, with the expectation that she cares for her ageing grandfather. She is soon immersed in the world of the independent living community, senior citizen aerobics, cottage renovations and an opportunity for love with the extroverted and charming property manager.
This story features self-discovery, humour and connection, alongside a slow-burn chemistry that develops into a closed-door romance.
I really enjoyed the audio production of this audiobook, as well as the narration by Renata Friedman. I was immersed in the story and enjoyed the relationship between Mallory and her grandfather, as well as the romantic connection.
September 17, 2025
4 stars
~
Mallory Rosen is used to her introverted structured life as a remote worker. She values the predictability of her routine and dislikes surprises. So when she inherits Pebble Cottage after her grandmother’s death she feels like a fish out of water. Not only does she inherit a house, but she also inherits the responsibility to care for her grandfather. With the goal to rent out Pebble Cottage as soon as possible and check on her grandfather, Mallory leaves the comfort of her apartment in Seattle and travels to Florida. There she finds friends and the opportunity for love. But what happens when her job requests for all employees to return to the office and she can no longer work remotely from Florida? Will Mallory return to her comfortably familiar routine in Seattle or will she accept her newfound life in Florida?
I truly enjoyed the approach the author took to writing an introverted character and how the narrator approached the voices and attitudes of the different characters. Mallory was the perfect example of how introverted individuals are comfortable in their self isolation but the book shows how that can lead to loneliness. I appreciated that we got to know Mallory without immediately being in a relationship. I love the progression of Mallory’s relationship with her grandfather and like the understanding they have of each other. As for the romantic relationship, Mallory and Daniel have a natural progression of their relationship and I really love Daniel’s understanding and patience towards Mallory. Something that I should point out is that this is a closed door story, so there are no sex scenes, which I appreciated in this book. One thing I didn’t really enjoy was how Mallory was a tad bit annoying and dumb with money. However, I felt like shopping was her coping mechanism, to deal with the loneliness she felt, in an attempt to make her apartment more cozy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook arc.
~
Mallory Rosen is used to her introverted structured life as a remote worker. She values the predictability of her routine and dislikes surprises. So when she inherits Pebble Cottage after her grandmother’s death she feels like a fish out of water. Not only does she inherit a house, but she also inherits the responsibility to care for her grandfather. With the goal to rent out Pebble Cottage as soon as possible and check on her grandfather, Mallory leaves the comfort of her apartment in Seattle and travels to Florida. There she finds friends and the opportunity for love. But what happens when her job requests for all employees to return to the office and she can no longer work remotely from Florida? Will Mallory return to her comfortably familiar routine in Seattle or will she accept her newfound life in Florida?
I truly enjoyed the approach the author took to writing an introverted character and how the narrator approached the voices and attitudes of the different characters. Mallory was the perfect example of how introverted individuals are comfortable in their self isolation but the book shows how that can lead to loneliness. I appreciated that we got to know Mallory without immediately being in a relationship. I love the progression of Mallory’s relationship with her grandfather and like the understanding they have of each other. As for the romantic relationship, Mallory and Daniel have a natural progression of their relationship and I really love Daniel’s understanding and patience towards Mallory. Something that I should point out is that this is a closed door story, so there are no sex scenes, which I appreciated in this book. One thing I didn’t really enjoy was how Mallory was a tad bit annoying and dumb with money. However, I felt like shopping was her coping mechanism, to deal with the loneliness she felt, in an attempt to make her apartment more cozy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook arc.
July 10, 2025
3.5 stars rounded down
An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love is like a soft romcom for the chronically online introvert girlies. Mallory’s voice felt real, awkward, anxious, and endearing. And I loved her slow shift into actually living instead of just existing behind a screen. The gramps + senior crew were such scene-stealers, and the romance was sweet even if it took its time.
Some parts dragged (a bit too much day-to-day, slice-of-life detail for me), but overall it’s a comforting read with small-town charm, a cinnamon roll love interest, and main character growth that felt earned.
If you’re an introvert, a cozy romance lover, or someone who daydreams about quitting your job and moving to a beach town, this might be your next comfort read. Just maybe don’t expect anything super groundbreaking.
Would def read more from this author in the future, though.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC
An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love is like a soft romcom for the chronically online introvert girlies. Mallory’s voice felt real, awkward, anxious, and endearing. And I loved her slow shift into actually living instead of just existing behind a screen. The gramps + senior crew were such scene-stealers, and the romance was sweet even if it took its time.
Some parts dragged (a bit too much day-to-day, slice-of-life detail for me), but overall it’s a comforting read with small-town charm, a cinnamon roll love interest, and main character growth that felt earned.
If you’re an introvert, a cozy romance lover, or someone who daydreams about quitting your job and moving to a beach town, this might be your next comfort read. Just maybe don’t expect anything super groundbreaking.
Would def read more from this author in the future, though.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC
September 5, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! This was a cute easy read!! Mallory was written very well and was also very relatable. I liked how this book wasn’t only about a love story but also her relationship with her grandpa! Mallory and Daniel were so cute and I loved how he was basically willing to drop everything for her. I do wish there were some more slow burn moments or high tension moments between them. This book had very little spice and was great for young readers. I think it also does a good job proving that it is okay to change your mind at a job you’ve been at for a while, and that you don’t need to have life figured out. It was not super heavy, it had some moments but nothing overly powerful and it was just more relatable things. I do recommend this lighthearted fun read!!!
July 12, 2025
This was a cute cozy read! As an introvert myself, I felt Mallory’s character was a good representation of introverts; the feeling of not wanting to be the center of attention but also not wanting to be left out of life. Mallory was happy enough with her life in Seattle, working remotely, shopping online, hanging out with her one friend that talked enough for both of them, but she wasn’t living her life. After her grandmother, who lived in Florida, passes away Mallory finds out she inherited her cottage and her grandfather. Feeling the need to check on her grandfather she goes to Florida for a quick weekend trip that turns into an extended month long vacation from her life in Seattle. Mallory learns to get outside her comfort zone and live rather than just existing. She still struggles with her introverted ways which can make for some awkward encounters and internal monologues of self doubt. But in the end she learns what she wants from her life and goes for it. Thank you NetGalley and Forever publishing for this arc!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2025
Thank you to Lauren Appelbaum and Hachette Audio for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
The title alone made me feel seen, and the book itself didn’t disappoint. This story is warm, funny, and occasionally painfully awkward in the best way possible. Appelbaum captures the inner dialogue of an introvert so well. The hesitations, the second-guessing, and the small joys that feel enormous when you’re stepping outside your comfort zone.
The romance here is sweet and awkward, built on moments that feel authentic rather than forced. It’s character-driven and reflective, and I often found myself laughing at situations that felt just a little too relatable. What really shines is the balance between humour and hope, leaving you with the sense that love doesn’t need grand gestures to be real. Sometimes it’s found in the small, awkward, perfect moments.
A genuinely enjoyable read that made me feel right at home.
The title alone made me feel seen, and the book itself didn’t disappoint. This story is warm, funny, and occasionally painfully awkward in the best way possible. Appelbaum captures the inner dialogue of an introvert so well. The hesitations, the second-guessing, and the small joys that feel enormous when you’re stepping outside your comfort zone.
The romance here is sweet and awkward, built on moments that feel authentic rather than forced. It’s character-driven and reflective, and I often found myself laughing at situations that felt just a little too relatable. What really shines is the balance between humour and hope, leaving you with the sense that love doesn’t need grand gestures to be real. Sometimes it’s found in the small, awkward, perfect moments.
A genuinely enjoyable read that made me feel right at home.
September 13, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ rounding up to a four!
♡ Loss of a loved one/Grief
♡ Setting in Florida
♡ Closed door spice
♡ Extreme slow burn
♡ Found family
What really made this book for me was being able to experience Mallory and her grandpa together. As someone who lost her grandparents and never had the opportunity to know them or spend time with them, this was so heartwarming to read. I broke down so many times with Gramps. I wanted to sit next to him, hold his hand while he shared his life stories with me 🥺
What frustrated me overall was Mallory. She was stuck and comfortable in her routine back home until she has to go take care of her Gramps. She complained about everything and the lack of effort to make any changes in her life really sucked the goodness out of this book ngl. Overall, the moments with Gramps made it worthwhile for me and Mallory’s slight character growth made the ending all the more lovely to witness even for a brief moment.
💌 Thank you so much to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Lauren Appelbaum for the eARC! Releasing Sept 16 ♡
♡ Loss of a loved one/Grief
♡ Setting in Florida
♡ Closed door spice
♡ Extreme slow burn
♡ Found family
What really made this book for me was being able to experience Mallory and her grandpa together. As someone who lost her grandparents and never had the opportunity to know them or spend time with them, this was so heartwarming to read. I broke down so many times with Gramps. I wanted to sit next to him, hold his hand while he shared his life stories with me 🥺
What frustrated me overall was Mallory. She was stuck and comfortable in her routine back home until she has to go take care of her Gramps. She complained about everything and the lack of effort to make any changes in her life really sucked the goodness out of this book ngl. Overall, the moments with Gramps made it worthwhile for me and Mallory’s slight character growth made the ending all the more lovely to witness even for a brief moment.
💌 Thank you so much to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Lauren Appelbaum for the eARC! Releasing Sept 16 ♡
September 9, 2025
What an absolutely beautiful book from Lauren Appelbaum!!
5⭐️ for an “Introverts Guide to Life and Love”. The sophomore release from Appelbaum. This is the first book I have read from her and I can promise it won’t be the last.
What would you do if you find out that you inherited a beach cottage in Florida from your recently deceased grandmother? The catch….you must look out and take care of your grandfather.
This book was beautifully written and incredibly relatable. How often have you found ourselves shutting out the world for one reason or another and keeping it that way because we get comfortable? This book is endearing and heartfelt. You can tell that so much care and love were taken when writing this book.
Thank you NetGalley, Forever Publishing and Lauren Appelbaum for this eARCine change for my honest review.
“An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love” releases on 9/16/25.
5⭐️ for an “Introverts Guide to Life and Love”. The sophomore release from Appelbaum. This is the first book I have read from her and I can promise it won’t be the last.
What would you do if you find out that you inherited a beach cottage in Florida from your recently deceased grandmother? The catch….you must look out and take care of your grandfather.
This book was beautifully written and incredibly relatable. How often have you found ourselves shutting out the world for one reason or another and keeping it that way because we get comfortable? This book is endearing and heartfelt. You can tell that so much care and love were taken when writing this book.
Thank you NetGalley, Forever Publishing and Lauren Appelbaum for this eARCine change for my honest review.
“An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love” releases on 9/16/25.
September 24, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley & Forever Publishing for this ARC!
Mallory inherits a house from her grandmother unexpectedly. She ends up going to Florida to see it and staying for a while.
What I liked:
-Mallory’s relationship with Gramps was adorable! I loved the activities they did together. And Wally?! The puppy idea was perfect 🐶
- I enjoyed the house renovation side of the plot. You could really picture Pebble Cottage coming together!
What I didn’t like as much:
-It got a little boring along the way! Some of the middle seemed unnecessary.
-I was drawn in by the title but her being an introvert didn’t really affect the plot.
-Slow burn without any burn
Mallory inherits a house from her grandmother unexpectedly. She ends up going to Florida to see it and staying for a while.
What I liked:
-Mallory’s relationship with Gramps was adorable! I loved the activities they did together. And Wally?! The puppy idea was perfect 🐶
- I enjoyed the house renovation side of the plot. You could really picture Pebble Cottage coming together!
What I didn’t like as much:
-It got a little boring along the way! Some of the middle seemed unnecessary.
-I was drawn in by the title but her being an introvert didn’t really affect the plot.
-Slow burn without any burn
September 2, 2025
I loved this book!
Mallory inherited a cottage after a death in the family. She is juggling the cottage renovations, taking care of her grieving grandfather all while working full time.
The moment Mallory met Daniel (her property manager), I just knew it was going to be a good book. The kind of book where you rewind when someone says something cute because you need to hear it again!
Apart from the romantic relationships, I also found the family/friend relationships to be very important to the story. Mallory needed to show her family that she is capable of more than they give her credit for, and no matter where she ends up, she will be okay.
I have read 47 books so far this year and not to be dramatic, but I think this one makes my top 5. That's how much I love the book! I listened to it as an audiobook, and the narration was wonderful, I have no complaints. I may just have to buy a trophy of it for my shelf!
Thank you to Lauren Appelbaum, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!
Mallory inherited a cottage after a death in the family. She is juggling the cottage renovations, taking care of her grieving grandfather all while working full time.
The moment Mallory met Daniel (her property manager), I just knew it was going to be a good book. The kind of book where you rewind when someone says something cute because you need to hear it again!
Apart from the romantic relationships, I also found the family/friend relationships to be very important to the story. Mallory needed to show her family that she is capable of more than they give her credit for, and no matter where she ends up, she will be okay.
I have read 47 books so far this year and not to be dramatic, but I think this one makes my top 5. That's how much I love the book! I listened to it as an audiobook, and the narration was wonderful, I have no complaints. I may just have to buy a trophy of it for my shelf!
Thank you to Lauren Appelbaum, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!
August 23, 2025
This was an easy-going, no-spice/super light spice romance book that was a breathe of warm (Florida humid?), fresh air.
As a pro-WFHer (and Seattlite - is this play about me??) I definitely saw myself in this story. Overall this was just fun - no stress, no problems (which is my one irk: glazing over the political differences and it just… not being relevant is unrealistic).
Thank you NetGalley for this arc!
As a pro-WFHer (and Seattlite - is this play about me??) I definitely saw myself in this story. Overall this was just fun - no stress, no problems (which is my one irk: glazing over the political differences and it just… not being relevant is unrealistic).
Thank you NetGalley for this arc!
August 27, 2025
4-4.5 stars. This book was delightful. I have such a soft spot for books with grandparent characters, and reading one where part of the entire premise is the main character getting to know their grandparent better, spend more time with them, and bond with them was something my heart needed. Of course there also being a romance with a property manager wrapped up in a home renovation project didn’t hurt either.
Mallory took her remote work from Seattle to Florida after being left a cottage from her grandmother with the caveat that she also look after her grandfather in addition to the home. I loved seeing her relationship with her grandfather grow. Not to get morose, but I know all too well how easy it is to take having time with a grandparent in your adult life for granted. Mallory getting to forge a deeper closeness with her grandfather as an adult was something so charming and lovely to me.
Mallory was also an introvert to her core, to which I could relate, and she was even more settled into that role as a full-time remote worker. She had to acclimate herself to opening up to new people again and making new friends. She also had to navigate developing feelings for a man who would be living on the opposite side of the country when she returned to Seattle. Daniel was pretty worth it though. I really enjoyed their dynamic and the push/pull tension of the “should we/we shouldn’t, we want to but we can’t” battle of their attraction to each other. The way their feelings and relationship developed felt really genuine.
I listened to the audiobook alongside the ebook. Renata Friedman was the narrator, and I enjoyed her performance. She had a good delivery and rhythm to her narration. She also did a good job of creating different tones and accents for the voices to really define each character in the story.
Thank you to Forever for the eARC and Hachette Audio for the ALC, both via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Mallory took her remote work from Seattle to Florida after being left a cottage from her grandmother with the caveat that she also look after her grandfather in addition to the home. I loved seeing her relationship with her grandfather grow. Not to get morose, but I know all too well how easy it is to take having time with a grandparent in your adult life for granted. Mallory getting to forge a deeper closeness with her grandfather as an adult was something so charming and lovely to me.
Mallory was also an introvert to her core, to which I could relate, and she was even more settled into that role as a full-time remote worker. She had to acclimate herself to opening up to new people again and making new friends. She also had to navigate developing feelings for a man who would be living on the opposite side of the country when she returned to Seattle. Daniel was pretty worth it though. I really enjoyed their dynamic and the push/pull tension of the “should we/we shouldn’t, we want to but we can’t” battle of their attraction to each other. The way their feelings and relationship developed felt really genuine.
I listened to the audiobook alongside the ebook. Renata Friedman was the narrator, and I enjoyed her performance. She had a good delivery and rhythm to her narration. She also did a good job of creating different tones and accents for the voices to really define each character in the story.
Thank you to Forever for the eARC and Hachette Audio for the ALC, both via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2025
3.5⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to listen to An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love by Lauren Appelbaum in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was a lighthearted, sweet listen 🎧💖. The main character felt very relatable to me—as an introvert myself, I saw so much of my own quirks in her, which made the story fun and personal. (Still waiting for my meet-cute with a hunky ginger contractor, though 😉🔥).
I couldn’t help but tear up during Grandpa’s birthday scene 🖤🐕—it hit harder than I expected and gave the story surprising depth. The narration also brought warmth to those emotional moments, balancing the cozy with the heartfelt.
Would I recommend it?
Yes ✅ — especially for fellow introverts looking for a feel-good romance that mixes laughs with unexpectedly tender moments.
#AnIntrovertsGuideToLifeAndLove #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to listen to An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love by Lauren Appelbaum in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was a lighthearted, sweet listen 🎧💖. The main character felt very relatable to me—as an introvert myself, I saw so much of my own quirks in her, which made the story fun and personal. (Still waiting for my meet-cute with a hunky ginger contractor, though 😉🔥).
I couldn’t help but tear up during Grandpa’s birthday scene 🖤🐕—it hit harder than I expected and gave the story surprising depth. The narration also brought warmth to those emotional moments, balancing the cozy with the heartfelt.
Would I recommend it?
Yes ✅ — especially for fellow introverts looking for a feel-good romance that mixes laughs with unexpectedly tender moments.
#AnIntrovertsGuideToLifeAndLove #NetGalley
July 12, 2025
An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love is a sweet, feel-good love story of both romantic love and family love. Gramps and Daniel made this book for me. I enjoyed that we get a peek into their relationship, too.
As for Mallory, I like that her character is relatable in that she doesn't have her life together because most of us don't. Sometimes her flaws made me quite frustrated with her though. Her frequent lies made me cringe. For someone so concerned about getting her grandfather to attend therapy, she sure lacks the insight into her own need for therapy!
Overall, An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love is a pleasure to read and it will leave you with an urge to visit your favorite senior in your life.
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
As for Mallory, I like that her character is relatable in that she doesn't have her life together because most of us don't. Sometimes her flaws made me quite frustrated with her though. Her frequent lies made me cringe. For someone so concerned about getting her grandfather to attend therapy, she sure lacks the insight into her own need for therapy!
Overall, An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love is a pleasure to read and it will leave you with an urge to visit your favorite senior in your life.
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
June 30, 2025
There's just something about An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love that had me smiling from beginning to end. Perhaps it's the sweet relationship between a girl and her grandfather, or the meet cute with the perfect man. Either way, it's a sweet journey where an introvert finally gives herself permission to live the life she truly wants.
Couldn't go less than five stars for this sweet story. Highly recommend.
I received an advanced reader copy via netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Couldn't go less than five stars for this sweet story. Highly recommend.
I received an advanced reader copy via netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
August 7, 2025
Corporate girl in tech. Remote job. Introvert. Family love with a side of romance.
This book isn’t just about finding love, it’s about Mallory finding herself. It’s about stepping out of her comfort zone so often that it slowly becomes second nature.
If you’re picking this up expecting a typical romance, you might be surprised. At its core, this story is about Mallory’s self-growth, her deep love for family, and her journey toward a life that actually feels like hers. She’s incredibly selfless, and when her grandfather needs her, she drops everything to be there and to restore the home her grandmother left her.
Mallory works a remote tech job, but it’s far from a dream. Endless meetings and a micromanaging boss make her days feel empty. Even when she meets someone special in Florida, her job and obligations in Seattle weigh her down until she finally reaches her breaking point.
Some sections dragged a bit and could’ve been trimmed, but the extra detail added to the cozy, heartwarming vibe that made me want to curl up and keep reading.
This was such a comforting, cozy read. There’s no spice, and the romance doesn’t take center stage until the end but the emotional payoff is worth it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book isn’t just about finding love, it’s about Mallory finding herself. It’s about stepping out of her comfort zone so often that it slowly becomes second nature.
If you’re picking this up expecting a typical romance, you might be surprised. At its core, this story is about Mallory’s self-growth, her deep love for family, and her journey toward a life that actually feels like hers. She’s incredibly selfless, and when her grandfather needs her, she drops everything to be there and to restore the home her grandmother left her.
Mallory works a remote tech job, but it’s far from a dream. Endless meetings and a micromanaging boss make her days feel empty. Even when she meets someone special in Florida, her job and obligations in Seattle weigh her down until she finally reaches her breaking point.
Some sections dragged a bit and could’ve been trimmed, but the extra detail added to the cozy, heartwarming vibe that made me want to curl up and keep reading.
This was such a comforting, cozy read. There’s no spice, and the romance doesn’t take center stage until the end but the emotional payoff is worth it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 4, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ but rounded up.
If you’re expecting a cozy, small beach town romance, this is not the book. While there is romance, it’s the subplot. This story’s primary focus is Mallory’s personal growth and her building meaning and loving connections with people.
This book hit home in more than one way since I’m an introvert. I related to Mallory’s social awkwardness and her inner monologue of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, excessive spending habits, and overthinking. I loved watching her battle herself and learn how to build connections with people and live a little.
The writing did feel immature and chunky. There were also odd assumptions and stereotypes that threw me off.
Example: Mallory learned Daniel was a vegetarian and her response was, “Wow. I’m surprised. You seem so...” I don’t even know what I’m going to say. Manly? Floridian?”
😂 Manly? All because he doesn’t like meat, he’s not manly?
And although I really appreciated & related to Mallory’s behavior, there were times that she was too impulsive, erratic, and all over the place. With this plus the writing style, I felt like I was reading more of a diary than a story. Plus, it gave me whiplash.
Nevertheless, I liked this book and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a quick, emotional cozy read 💕
Thank you, NetGalley & publishers for my gift ARC ☺️
If you’re expecting a cozy, small beach town romance, this is not the book. While there is romance, it’s the subplot. This story’s primary focus is Mallory’s personal growth and her building meaning and loving connections with people.
This book hit home in more than one way since I’m an introvert. I related to Mallory’s social awkwardness and her inner monologue of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, excessive spending habits, and overthinking. I loved watching her battle herself and learn how to build connections with people and live a little.
The writing did feel immature and chunky. There were also odd assumptions and stereotypes that threw me off.
Example: Mallory learned Daniel was a vegetarian and her response was, “Wow. I’m surprised. You seem so...” I don’t even know what I’m going to say. Manly? Floridian?”
😂 Manly? All because he doesn’t like meat, he’s not manly?
And although I really appreciated & related to Mallory’s behavior, there were times that she was too impulsive, erratic, and all over the place. With this plus the writing style, I felt like I was reading more of a diary than a story. Plus, it gave me whiplash.
Nevertheless, I liked this book and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a quick, emotional cozy read 💕
Thank you, NetGalley & publishers for my gift ARC ☺️
September 21, 2025
I was provided both a ALC and an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
This follows Mallory in the wake of her grandmother's passing. Mallory has a nice quite life in Seattle where she works from home, does online yoga, and rarely has to interact with other people. During the reading of the will, Mallory finds out that she has inherited her grandparent's cottage under the condition that she keeps an eye on her grandfather who lives in Florida. Determined to turn the cottage into a rental property, she takes a quick trip to Florida to see what needs to be done and hire a property manager and check in on Gramps. There she finds out that the cottage needs quite a bit of sprucing up before it can be turned into a rental. Gramps enjoys having someone to chat with and help him out with things
I didn't really understand why Mallory was classified as introverted, socially awkward for sure, but Mallory does not like spending time alone in fact she seeks out contact with people even if she says the wrong thing sometimes. At times she is completely outgoing, but she is completely clueless and when it comes to certain basic life skills and adult situations. She gave off a more scared to try new things and not be perfect vibe than introvert. I did enjoy her relationship with Gramps! Mallory's initial attempts to connect with Gramps were a bit insensitive and pushy, her heart was in the right place. Once they started to connect, their relationship was actually quite lovely. The romance that develops between Mallory and property manager Daniel was OK but lacked the tension and chemistry I wanted. She kept pushing him away because she was always going back to Seattle "the next day" then changing plans.
Mallory's work from home situation really irritated me, because it hit close to home and I'm going to step on a soap box for a second which I normally don't do in reviews. As someone who has worked remotely since Covid, and worked from home several days a week for years prior, I know it is a privilege that I don't take for granted. I know I am very lucky but I am also very aware of our company policies, she didn't even seem to know that there was a company policy for working remote which I find strange because most places have them. I have worked with people like Mallory in real life that threaten that privilege daily, because they work where they aren't supposed to without permission, don't complete their tasks in a timely manner, or they get caught doing something else on the clock. In this case, Mallory was already fired once from a remote position and didn't get the hint that she actually has to do her work and got mad when her boss checked in with her about progress. No one wants to be micromanaged, but a simple conversation with her manager about her family situation would have sorted that whole situation out, made this whole thing believable (in my opinion), and given Mallory a sense of maturity that she was missing. To be clear most remote positions can actually be worked from anywhere depending on the company you work for, but there are tax implications if you work out of your "home base" for more than 30 days so there is accounting paperwork that could have been done with a quick conversation with a manager or HR, which her HR person mentioned when they noticed Mallory was using her VPN in Florida instead of Seattle, which if undocumented is a fireable offense at most companies. If she had just asked to work in Florida or taken a leave of absence it would have made so much more sense, plus her job didn't have anything to do with the plot. That's why this bothered me so much, because this could have been portrayed so much more accurately, but instead situations like this is why companies want to take away remote work, because employers think we are painting and installing flooring on company instead of doing our actual jobs. End rant.
I think this book will work for alot of people but the whole work from home thing really took me out of the book because it is something I face everyday. It is kind of a "this is why we can't have nice things" situation that those of us that work remotely face constantly and it hit really close to home and took away from my enjoyment of the story. That paired with my inability to connect with Mallory on other levels didn't help. For alot of readers that will not be an issue, so take my review with a grain of salt.
This follows Mallory in the wake of her grandmother's passing. Mallory has a nice quite life in Seattle where she works from home, does online yoga, and rarely has to interact with other people. During the reading of the will, Mallory finds out that she has inherited her grandparent's cottage under the condition that she keeps an eye on her grandfather who lives in Florida. Determined to turn the cottage into a rental property, she takes a quick trip to Florida to see what needs to be done and hire a property manager and check in on Gramps. There she finds out that the cottage needs quite a bit of sprucing up before it can be turned into a rental. Gramps enjoys having someone to chat with and help him out with things
I didn't really understand why Mallory was classified as introverted, socially awkward for sure, but Mallory does not like spending time alone in fact she seeks out contact with people even if she says the wrong thing sometimes. At times she is completely outgoing, but she is completely clueless and when it comes to certain basic life skills and adult situations. She gave off a more scared to try new things and not be perfect vibe than introvert. I did enjoy her relationship with Gramps! Mallory's initial attempts to connect with Gramps were a bit insensitive and pushy, her heart was in the right place. Once they started to connect, their relationship was actually quite lovely. The romance that develops between Mallory and property manager Daniel was OK but lacked the tension and chemistry I wanted. She kept pushing him away because she was always going back to Seattle "the next day" then changing plans.
Mallory's work from home situation really irritated me, because it hit close to home and I'm going to step on a soap box for a second which I normally don't do in reviews. As someone who has worked remotely since Covid, and worked from home several days a week for years prior, I know it is a privilege that I don't take for granted. I know I am very lucky but I am also very aware of our company policies, she didn't even seem to know that there was a company policy for working remote which I find strange because most places have them. I have worked with people like Mallory in real life that threaten that privilege daily, because they work where they aren't supposed to without permission, don't complete their tasks in a timely manner, or they get caught doing something else on the clock. In this case, Mallory was already fired once from a remote position and didn't get the hint that she actually has to do her work and got mad when her boss checked in with her about progress. No one wants to be micromanaged, but a simple conversation with her manager about her family situation would have sorted that whole situation out, made this whole thing believable (in my opinion), and given Mallory a sense of maturity that she was missing. To be clear most remote positions can actually be worked from anywhere depending on the company you work for, but there are tax implications if you work out of your "home base" for more than 30 days so there is accounting paperwork that could have been done with a quick conversation with a manager or HR, which her HR person mentioned when they noticed Mallory was using her VPN in Florida instead of Seattle, which if undocumented is a fireable offense at most companies. If she had just asked to work in Florida or taken a leave of absence it would have made so much more sense, plus her job didn't have anything to do with the plot. That's why this bothered me so much, because this could have been portrayed so much more accurately, but instead situations like this is why companies want to take away remote work, because employers think we are painting and installing flooring on company instead of doing our actual jobs. End rant.
I think this book will work for alot of people but the whole work from home thing really took me out of the book because it is something I face everyday. It is kind of a "this is why we can't have nice things" situation that those of us that work remotely face constantly and it hit really close to home and took away from my enjoyment of the story. That paired with my inability to connect with Mallory on other levels didn't help. For alot of readers that will not be an issue, so take my review with a grain of salt.
September 13, 2025
My “I don’t read blurbs on books” tendency strikes again. I had no clue what to expect going into An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love by Lauren Appelbaum, but it ended up being a lovely book about a woman who needs to blow up her life to find a place where she can be happy—even if it hit a little too close to home in some respects. Thanks to Forever and NetGalley for the complimentary advance reader copy.
Mallory Rosen has built a safe, predictable life working from home in Seattle. But when her grandmother passes away, she inherits a fixer-upper in Florida—and the responsibility of checking in on her grandfather, who’s living alone for the first time.
Fresh off paying down a big family loan and with little money for renovations, Mallory flies south armed only with YouTube tutorials, a property manager her aunt recommends, and sheer determination. What’s supposed to be a quick trip to get the house rentable and make sure her grandfather is okay begins to feel surprisingly like home—leaving Mallory to wonder if she’s ready to discover why.
An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love falls into the category of contemporary romances that try to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young adults, something with which I am intimately familiar. I was 28 when the pandemic began and went from 14-hour days at work and rehearsals to being home alone all the time. I’m not sure how I feel about dissecting what that did to all of us. Mallory’s experience mirrored mine quite a bit. She went from an office job with frequent travel and daily interactions to being alone at home, and it turned her into a true homebody. While I’m all for weaving real historical events into romance, I’m not convinced we have enough distance from the pandemic yet to fully understand how it changed us—how it even altered our brain chemistry.
I really loved watching Mallory connect with her grandfather. She has always felt like the fifth wheel in her immediate family. Her parents, sister, and brother-in-law are all lawyers, and now that her sister has a baby, everyone kind of ignores Mallory—except when they ask surface-level questions about her job. She and her grandfather are much more alike, and it was lovely to watch her build a community in Florida so quickly, without the safety net of her familiar space or her usual role in the family to fall back on.
The romance, however, didn’t work for me. The love interest is Mallory’s property manager and he’s… fine? Because the book is told entirely from Mallory’s point of view, we never get inside his head, and he honestly isn’t on the page all that much. This novel felt more like women’s fiction or general fiction than a true contemporary romance because the romantic plot simply isn’t central. We do get an HEA, but I found myself far more invested in Mallory’s relationships with her grandfather and her new friends than in the romance itself. If the goal was to deliver a contemporary romance, I think the book needed a developmental edit to make that plot feel essential. As it stands, the romance could have been removed entirely and the story would still work.
I’m giving this one 3.5 stars. There’s a lot to like, but the weak execution of the romance knocks it down a bit.
Mallory Rosen has built a safe, predictable life working from home in Seattle. But when her grandmother passes away, she inherits a fixer-upper in Florida—and the responsibility of checking in on her grandfather, who’s living alone for the first time.
Fresh off paying down a big family loan and with little money for renovations, Mallory flies south armed only with YouTube tutorials, a property manager her aunt recommends, and sheer determination. What’s supposed to be a quick trip to get the house rentable and make sure her grandfather is okay begins to feel surprisingly like home—leaving Mallory to wonder if she’s ready to discover why.
An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love falls into the category of contemporary romances that try to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young adults, something with which I am intimately familiar. I was 28 when the pandemic began and went from 14-hour days at work and rehearsals to being home alone all the time. I’m not sure how I feel about dissecting what that did to all of us. Mallory’s experience mirrored mine quite a bit. She went from an office job with frequent travel and daily interactions to being alone at home, and it turned her into a true homebody. While I’m all for weaving real historical events into romance, I’m not convinced we have enough distance from the pandemic yet to fully understand how it changed us—how it even altered our brain chemistry.
I really loved watching Mallory connect with her grandfather. She has always felt like the fifth wheel in her immediate family. Her parents, sister, and brother-in-law are all lawyers, and now that her sister has a baby, everyone kind of ignores Mallory—except when they ask surface-level questions about her job. She and her grandfather are much more alike, and it was lovely to watch her build a community in Florida so quickly, without the safety net of her familiar space or her usual role in the family to fall back on.
The romance, however, didn’t work for me. The love interest is Mallory’s property manager and he’s… fine? Because the book is told entirely from Mallory’s point of view, we never get inside his head, and he honestly isn’t on the page all that much. This novel felt more like women’s fiction or general fiction than a true contemporary romance because the romantic plot simply isn’t central. We do get an HEA, but I found myself far more invested in Mallory’s relationships with her grandfather and her new friends than in the romance itself. If the goal was to deliver a contemporary romance, I think the book needed a developmental edit to make that plot feel essential. As it stands, the romance could have been removed entirely and the story would still work.
I’m giving this one 3.5 stars. There’s a lot to like, but the weak execution of the romance knocks it down a bit.
September 9, 2025
I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.
Mallory works a remote job in Seattle, and she absolutely loves it. She has her routines, she has minimum contact with people – with the exception of her best friend her family – and she really only has to interact with people at work via Zoom calls and emails. But when her grandmother dies, leaving Mallory her seaside cottage in Florida, it comes with a stipulation: keep her newly widowed grandfather company. She might not have any vacation days left, but instead of telling her boss about what’s going on, she heads to Florida and decides to work remotely from there, especially since she needs to have the cottage renovated if she wants to rent it out to anyone. The maintenance issues are super expensive, but she decides, along with the help of her property manager, that she is going to renovate it herself. Now, in Florida and lying to her job about her whereabouts, she sets out to do all the renovations herself alongside the property manager who is, by the way, super hot, all while keeping her grandfather company. What she doesn't expect is to begin making friends at the senior citizen yoga and around town, and to fall for the property manager.All of a sudden, life in Florida is looking a lot like a second chance that she never knew she needed.
I actually genuinely love this book, it was extremely sweet and there are a lot of great moments between Mallory and her grandfather, her parents, and, of course, hottie hottie Daniel who is pretty much the opposite of her. What I like about their relationship is that he brings her out of her shell and forces her – in the most kindest of ways – out of her comfort zone. This is very much a second chance on life kind of story in that she was content to live almost miserably by herself, doing the same thing, never leaving her house except to go see a handful of people and have everything delivered to her, but now she has friends, she's got family, and she's got love, and she didn't think she would have any of that, especially moving across the country. This was honestly well-paced and everything felt pretty realistic – there weren't over the top situations, she was absolutely awkward when it comes to interacting with people but she slowly learns not to not be awkward but to be more forgiving of herself, and I think that's one of the most beautiful things in this book. I also like the messages of being confident in who you are by letting go of the expectations that not just people have on you but that you have on yourself, and Mallory ends up in such an awesome place once she embraces that. I think the audiobook narrator did a fantastic job bringing Mallory to life, and I would definitely recommend not just this book, but the audiobook as well.
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Mallory works a remote job in Seattle, and she absolutely loves it. She has her routines, she has minimum contact with people – with the exception of her best friend her family – and she really only has to interact with people at work via Zoom calls and emails. But when her grandmother dies, leaving Mallory her seaside cottage in Florida, it comes with a stipulation: keep her newly widowed grandfather company. She might not have any vacation days left, but instead of telling her boss about what’s going on, she heads to Florida and decides to work remotely from there, especially since she needs to have the cottage renovated if she wants to rent it out to anyone. The maintenance issues are super expensive, but she decides, along with the help of her property manager, that she is going to renovate it herself. Now, in Florida and lying to her job about her whereabouts, she sets out to do all the renovations herself alongside the property manager who is, by the way, super hot, all while keeping her grandfather company. What she doesn't expect is to begin making friends at the senior citizen yoga and around town, and to fall for the property manager.All of a sudden, life in Florida is looking a lot like a second chance that she never knew she needed.
I actually genuinely love this book, it was extremely sweet and there are a lot of great moments between Mallory and her grandfather, her parents, and, of course, hottie hottie Daniel who is pretty much the opposite of her. What I like about their relationship is that he brings her out of her shell and forces her – in the most kindest of ways – out of her comfort zone. This is very much a second chance on life kind of story in that she was content to live almost miserably by herself, doing the same thing, never leaving her house except to go see a handful of people and have everything delivered to her, but now she has friends, she's got family, and she's got love, and she didn't think she would have any of that, especially moving across the country. This was honestly well-paced and everything felt pretty realistic – there weren't over the top situations, she was absolutely awkward when it comes to interacting with people but she slowly learns not to not be awkward but to be more forgiving of herself, and I think that's one of the most beautiful things in this book. I also like the messages of being confident in who you are by letting go of the expectations that not just people have on you but that you have on yourself, and Mallory ends up in such an awesome place once she embraces that. I think the audiobook narrator did a fantastic job bringing Mallory to life, and I would definitely recommend not just this book, but the audiobook as well.
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
September 15, 2025
3.5
An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love is a lovely introspective journey. This journey follows a young woman who has become too entrenched in her settled circumstances and soon finds circumstances outside her control pushing her into new experiences. Experiences that might just bring a change to herself she has been missing.
Mallory is very settled in her life. She works from home, shops from home, eats at home. She is content with her mundane lifestyle as it offers stability and reassurance. I can heavily relate to her situation in life, which is why I so admired how she eventually breaks free from it. From being too scared to truly live again. All it took was heading to God's waiting room. Apparently that means Florida, ha! She temporarily moves in with her grieving Gramps in Florida to look after him as well as ready a house her recently deceased grandmother left her. She aims to get in tenants and then get out. What she doesn't aim to do is to experience living outside her box again.
Daniel, her newly hired project manager, is one of many who help Mallory into that outside. He's the charming extrovert to her fumbling introvert. And they bring such a lovely balance to one another. Theirs is an easy romance that feels more slice-of-life. No major angst to be found, just two kindred souls learning each other.
As mentioned, I found this to be a very relatable slice-of-life journey. That said what started off really engaging ride became a bit of a lost path for me. I became impatient for the end instead of enjoying the journey to its fullest. I still very much liked the work, but I think it was less for its overall plot and more for finding myself in its protagonist. And that is something I do really appreciate in this book.
Also, side note and slight spoiler:
How does Gramps go from grieving his recently deceased decades-long wife to enjoying a new romance?! I shan't lie, I was not a fan of that. Give me that elderly The Notebook romance, not grieving for a few weeks and moving on!
This was a very relatable journey that celebrates personal triumphs in taking chances on ourselves.
Thank you Forever and NetGalley for this advanced complimentary eARC, I leave this review voluntarily.
____
original post-read thoughts
It started quite well and very relatable for me, but it sort of dipped in engagement for me as it went on. I wanted to love it but didn’t. 3.5 maybe? I did like the fmc! Hmmm full review to come!
An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love is a lovely introspective journey. This journey follows a young woman who has become too entrenched in her settled circumstances and soon finds circumstances outside her control pushing her into new experiences. Experiences that might just bring a change to herself she has been missing.
Mallory is very settled in her life. She works from home, shops from home, eats at home. She is content with her mundane lifestyle as it offers stability and reassurance. I can heavily relate to her situation in life, which is why I so admired how she eventually breaks free from it. From being too scared to truly live again. All it took was heading to God's waiting room. Apparently that means Florida, ha! She temporarily moves in with her grieving Gramps in Florida to look after him as well as ready a house her recently deceased grandmother left her. She aims to get in tenants and then get out. What she doesn't aim to do is to experience living outside her box again.
Daniel, her newly hired project manager, is one of many who help Mallory into that outside. He's the charming extrovert to her fumbling introvert. And they bring such a lovely balance to one another. Theirs is an easy romance that feels more slice-of-life. No major angst to be found, just two kindred souls learning each other.
As mentioned, I found this to be a very relatable slice-of-life journey. That said what started off really engaging ride became a bit of a lost path for me. I became impatient for the end instead of enjoying the journey to its fullest. I still very much liked the work, but I think it was less for its overall plot and more for finding myself in its protagonist. And that is something I do really appreciate in this book.
Also, side note and slight spoiler:
How does Gramps go from grieving his recently deceased decades-long wife to enjoying a new romance?! I shan't lie, I was not a fan of that. Give me that elderly The Notebook romance, not grieving for a few weeks and moving on!
This was a very relatable journey that celebrates personal triumphs in taking chances on ourselves.
Thank you Forever and NetGalley for this advanced complimentary eARC, I leave this review voluntarily.
____
original post-read thoughts
It started quite well and very relatable for me, but it sort of dipped in engagement for me as it went on. I wanted to love it but didn’t. 3.5 maybe? I did like the fmc! Hmmm full review to come!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews