This book was amazing! It was a brilliant portrayal of life with social anxiety. It allows those who suffer it to feel like they are reading the story of their life and makes it seem more manageable as you’re not alone! This is one of the best books I’ve read all year!

Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert’s Story is exactly what it says, in comic strip form. It’s charming and insightful and adorable.

Debbie Tung’s comics are deceptively simple, mostly one-pagers of standard panels, but her self-figure is so cute and relatable. She uses dot eyes and a few lines for features, but I both know what she’s feeling and want to hug and protect her. I like that she has friends and later, a perfect-sounding boyfriend she appreciates for complementing her; she’s not a friendless loner. She just knows herself and what she needs and likes.

The comics are grouped into rough time periods. The first section covers going to grad school, followed by her developing relationship with the boyfriend, their wedding, starting a job, and making career choices.

Everyone can likely relate to some of the incidents shown here, because everyone has times when they need to be by themselves. Put together, though, this becomes an educational portrait of what it’s like to live this kind of life. Tung isn’t apologetic or embarrassed that she is how she is. Instead, she values the comfort of coziness and solitude, accompanied sometimes by a good book or a cup of tea.

Quiet Girl in a Noisy World from Debbie Tung is a wonderful positive book that will bring a knowing smile to the face of any introvert. In fact, anyone who has had to learn how to interact with us (I am one) will also find a lot to appreciate as well.

While there is a general chronology this can also be thought of as a collection of related comics. Either way works just fine. If you happen to be introverted and have been made to feel that there is something wrong with you, this book will remind you that you are fine. This is positive without being antagonistic toward extroverts. We are who we are, embrace it and help each other any way we can.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

I could have used this book twenty-five years ago.

QUIET GIRL IN A NOISY WORLD is a memoir in graphic novel format. Author/illustrator Debbie Tung explores the growing pains of adulthood … made all the more agonizing and confusing by her introversion. As she struggles to maintain a proper level of sociability – first as a graduate student, then as a member of the workforce – Tung wonders what the heck is wrong with her? When she stumbles upon a personality test online one day, it all clicks: she’s not broken, just different.

I have social anxiety; I’m probably an introvert, too. I wasn’t exactly sure how much I’d relate to Tung’s life but, as it turns out, it’s like looking in a mirror. Whether it’s celebrating the cancellation of a much-dreaded get together, lying awake obsessing over an embarrassing episode that transpired years ago, or spending the remainder of the day napping to recuperate from an hour-long appointment, many of these could be scenes from my own life.

Yet these are pretty common manifestations of social discomfort and malaise, especially in the modern era, where technology often circumvents face-to-face interactions. It’s when Tung’s more specific weird quirks hit home that my mind was well and truly blown.

Humiliating parent-teacher meetings about your shyness? Check.

(My sixth-grade teacher actually set me up with another girl, on account of we were both so quiet and friendless. Like can you imagine?)

Fantasizing about eloping in order to avoid the public spectacle of a wedding? Check.

(My husband and I did elope, in Las Vegas. The only witness? The secular priest. My mom tried to send some family along and was super-pissed when I begged off.)

Not being able to make a phone call around other people? Yup, I’m afraid so.

Honestly, it just got freaky deaky after a while. It’s like she cracked my skull open and was crawling around inside my mess of a brain.

The artwork is sweet and complements the story nicely; the color scheme is a muted grey, which suits the story’s melancholy feeling. Topics like this can get real dark, real fast (seriously, just read my journal. Or don’t!), and there are some rather depressing panels, but overall it’s pretty gentle and forgiving. It’s clear that Tung has found a place of acceptance and self-love (or at least understanding), which lends the book a hopeful vibe.

Along with HYPERBOLE AND A HALF and the Sarah’s Scribbles collections, this is a book that I’ll keep on my bedside table and return to in the future, whenever life feels like it’s just too much. A must read for introverts, the terminally shy, those with social anxiety – and the people who love them.

This was such a nice and relatable book!
I'm not as introvert as the author but there were a lot of situations I identified with.
It's also super fast to read which was nice.
I definitely recommend it and I'm sure you'll also relate to a lot of stuff in this :)

Debbie Tung is a classic introvert who only discovers this about herself about 3/4 of the way through this particular book. If you're a fan of Sarah Andersen/Sarah's Scribbles, this graphic novel has largely the same feel - with the added bonus of art that looks a lot like Kate Beaton's. This is all high praise. I thought reading yet another comic about introversion might wear me down, but Tung's take on it is unique and nicely supported by her pretty grayscale artwork.

This cute collection of illustrations and thoughts on introversion will hit home for anyone who prefers a quiet night in. Sometimes silly, sometimes poignant, sometimes heartbreaking, Debbie Tung shares the many ways introversion can manifest, from simple things like calling books our friends to incredibly real struggles with social anxiety. Full of heart, Quiet Girl in a Noisy World is a simple celebration of introversion, and also reads as a thank-you note to the extroverts who understand the needs of the introverts in their life. While it is based on the author's life, introverts everywhere will easily see themselves within the pages.

It is so cute. I loved the illustration style. And it was a reflection of myself in so many ways. The habits and all.
Truly adorable.

this book says exactly what ever introvert is thinking with lovely illustrations.

this tells how you want to hang out.. but you actually don't
this talks about how you really want to be left alone.. and being alone isn't lonely at all!!!
and it talks about how you get "people" and being with that person or people is plenty and you have no desire for more.
I am one of those weird extroverts who is an introvert in my spare time which means at work I'm a social butterfly but once closing time happens i just want to be with my 2 people and my dog in silence and relaxation.

received from net galley for an honest review.

This is the book I wish existed 20 years ago as I began to navigate the beginnings of adult life!

I related very strongly to introverted life of a young adult that Debbie portrays. Her drawings capture the mood and the dialog is perfect. She also captures the arc of college, to young adult navigating the extroverted (and open business plan) office world, to self employment contentment very well. I think with a few minor changes, it's as if she drew 15 years of my life.

Tea really does make everything better!

As an introvert, there was so much in this little graphic novel that I could relate to. There were so many pages, where I was just like yes, exactly!

I feel like other introverts will probably feel the same way. Debbie Tung does such a fantastic job of getting down the introvert experience.

The art was also pretty adorable, and totally fitting for this little graphic memoir. Perhaps the only issue I had with the book was that it was often non-linear and didn't really have much of a 'story' per se for much of it. There were little strips where we learn about Tung feeling uncomfortable with socialising, how she has to recharge after a party, etc., which were great but didn't fit into a larger arc. I think if the book was a little more structured, I would have felt more invested in it. Despite that, I did greatly enjoy it and would recommend it giving it a read!

This book got me nodding like if I was listening to my favorite song. It is so relatable that it is scary! Most of my "weird" traits are nothing but normal characteristics of being an introvert: the most typical is that we need time to recharge after social interactions (messaging counts as well, but not as tolling as face to face interaction...usually). What surprised me was how many of Debbie's everyday actions were similar to mine, it made me laugh and feel connected.

The stories Debbie tells are mostly 1 page long divided in panels and show all kinds of "introvert struggles" she has faced along the years; as a college student, working adult, girlfriend and then wife of an extrovert, plus all the hassles of adulting while trying to fit in the world. Even though each mini story is individual, there is a chronological order and her shift in perspective is noticeable. At first everything feels like a struggle and she pushes herself to fit in and act extroverted while feeling alienated from the world. Then, as she discovers she is an introvert and that there is nothing wrong with her, she starts to accept herself. By the end of the book, it is clear that the struggles will continue, but she no longer tries to be someone she is not and embraces her true introverted self. The illustrations are monochromatic and really cute. I like Debbie's drawing style, it is pleasing to the eye, without too much detail but enough to catch the expressions and the general mood of each story.

I cant recommended this enough for all introverts; you will find yourself in most, if not all, pages of this book. For those with an introvert partner, friend or family member, before gifting this book to your loved one, read it first! and then, let them know you read it, or better yet, read it together. I believe there is no greater gift than knowing that there is someone out there who truly understands and accepts you as you are.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me an eARC in exchange for an fair review.

I can hardly put into words just how much this book touched me but I'll try my best! It's like Ms. Tung read the heart of every introvert and bravely illustrated it in a relatable, sweet, open minded way. It's like belonging to a tribe of like minded people and Debbie Tung is the thread that weaves it all together. If it's ever difficult for an introvert to use their voice then I would point them to this book because it speaks life! There's a gentle, loving quality to the writing and illustrations. They're simple but filled with so much tenderness. I'm not going to lie, there were some comics that made me tear up. But there were more that made me smile and laugh and see the humor in our funny little introvert brains. This is ultimately a love letter to the introvert. It's about loving yourself, embracing your differences, and finding freedom when you do. It's also deeply human and capable of making an impact on all people; introverts, extroverts, and any combination in between. Did I mention how brave this work is? It was not only brave to put this into the vast, loud world but it also made me feel brave too. Thank you Debbie Tung.

If someone was to ask me to name 1 book that I relate to the most to, it would be this one.

Quiet Girl I a Noisy World: An Introvert's Story was the story I never knew I needed in my life until now. Honestly, I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy so I can tab the heck out of it and keep it at my bedside. I don't think I've ever connected with a character as much as I connected with Debbie. At some point while I was reading this I completely forgot that the character's name was Debbie as I just kept seeing myself.

For all my introverts out there, this story is for you.

Would I recommend Quiet Girl in a Noisy World? YES!!! Absolutely!! DUH. I strongly feel that this is an absolute must read.

I really enjoyed this illustrated story. As a fellow introvert myself, I could completely relate to most of the situations that the author discussed.

The drawings in this book fit the story perfectly. I thought that the black & white detail gave the story a darker tone which complimented the character feeling out of place and unsure of herself.

I liked that the author followed a timeline of her life as I’m pretty much at the same point in my life and could also relate to all of those milestones. I was a child who read all the time and brought books everywhere with me. I also had (and still sort of do) social anxiety at parties. And I was TERRIFIED of everyone looking at me on my wedding day.

I also enjoyed & related to the hating to call people, needing to recharge after anything social, loving alone time and wishing I was better at being extroverted.

This is definitely a fun book that I would recommend to any introvert or anyone who wants to understand an introvert.

For some reason, the PDG did not download appropriately. It was mostly black pages with some white areas.
To be fair to the author and publisher I am giving this a 5 star review.

This is a treasure of a book for people who are shy and a great opportunity for discussion about shyness/introversion. There's so much insight offered, acceptance, and understanding. Set up in a cartoon style, the illustrations are engaging and beautifully done. It's almost like advice from a friend or a good listening ear from someone who has been there, someone who truly understands introversion.

Thank you to Debbie Tung, the publisher, and Netgalley for the complimentary copy to read and review.

Such an enjoyable and fun read! As an introvert myself I found myself feeling relatable to almost every scenario. I also really liked the art style. :)

When I first saw the cover of Quiet Girl in a Noisy World, I was instantly drawn in. I often feel like a “quiet girl in a noisy world” and the illustration could have easily been of me on any given night after my children are asleep. There's nothing like the peace I feel when I'm cuddled up with my book + tea. And for these reasons alone, I couldn't wait to dig into these pages. I was hoping to find bits of myself sprinkled somewhere in the book. And I wasn't disappointed.

Not only are the illustrations adorable, pairing them with Tung’s honest thoughts made me smile and nod my head in agreement. I found myself mumbling "me, too" many times as I flipped the pages. And while I don't believe I am socially awkward, I do identify as an introvert. I enjoy the company of others (a few at the time) and am often exhausted after a lot of social interaction. I felt those moments when she couldn't wait to get home to her books to my core. And as I continued reading, I found that she put words and illustrations to so many moments I had experienced as well. “Someone gets it,” I thought to myself. It’s safe to say I felt right at home in this graphic novel. I’ve even bookmarked the pages that resonated with me the most to revisit later.

There were two things that really stood out to me in this book. One was the way Tung’s husband was so supportive and understanding. The author illustrates how the support of a loved one can help you cope and deal with “life stuff” in such an endearing way. Another was the growth that took place in Tung’s life after she accepted who she really was, quirks and all. After learning she has an INFJ personality type, she started seeing everything with different eyes. Instead of allowing her introversion to hinder her, she found ways to interact in ways that worked for her. These things were so reassuring to read about in a graphic novel. There are people that will love you and support you as you are. And you don’t have to use your differences as a crutch, you can use them as strengths to allow you to live life on your terms.

I recommend this read to anyone who is an introvert and has a difficult time interacting with others socially. I also recommend this to anyone who loves an introvert, whether it be friends, family, or a significant other. It illustrates the way our minds operate in such a refreshing, yet lighthearted way. I will be obtaining a physical copy for myself (and a few of my friends) soon.

I appreciate you for being so open and honest in your work with us, Debbie Tung.

*Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing via Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Page after page, all I did was nodding, mmmming and relating to almost all the situations. I've found the art to be simple and highly enjoyable, it was a fun read.