I requested this book ages ago on Netgalley and then for one reason or another I never picked it up. I am so glad I finally read this book, as Jessica Pan taught me quite a lot about introvert-ism and how to challenge myself more.
I always thought I was a shintrovert (a shy introvert as Jessica defines it) but as I listened to more and more of Jessica’s year of extroverting, I realized that while I am still quite an introvert, I am way less shy than I used to be. There were many challenges that Jessica puts herself through that I don’t think I could handle (like improv class or stand up comedy) but I found myself agreeing that I could handle some of the tasks (hosting a dinner party, combining friend groups, and making small talk with strangers or semi-strangers).
I really appreciated all that Jessica put into this book and I am quite glad that I read it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was about an introvert live trying to live like extrovert a year. I'm an introvert and while I did learn somethings. Especially about how to be an extrovert when needed even if I had to fake it, there's no way that I could change m personality for a year let alone for life.

I had this initially as an ARC from NetGalley, so I'd like to thank them, Andrews McMeel Publishing and Jessica Pan for this book in exchange for an honest review.

However, I eventually ended up listening to the audiobook narrated by Jessica herself on Audible 2 years later.
The book was humorous at times, embarassing at others and even whole, especially towards the end.

I like that the author gave some details about Harry Potter and the dementors (associating one woman with them), Mr Darcy and Perpetua from Bridget Jones' Diary (I love those movies), and a few others.

Her journey was an interesting one and it's one I'd like to make as I'm an ambivert and want to make myself get out of my comfort zone more.

The reason why I gave this book 2.5 - 3 stars is just because I had different expectations for it, so no one's fault other than mine.

However, you should definitely read this book and see for yourself because it's funny and unique.

I have to admit, the entire reason that I read this book is because of the title. Seriously, it is something I would say, if I had the nerve to to. As a shintovert (kudos for introducing me to that term, Jessica!), I've been in that spot so many times I can't even begin to calculate. I found it highly therapeutic to read her adventures during her "year of living dangerously". I caught myself highlighting so many phrases, lines, and paragraphs either because I could relate to them or they were observations that I need to remember for myself. Thoughts such as "what we should actually fear is being boring and dying having never connected with anyone" (chapter 2, Talking to Strangers or New People), "where do you go to make friends when you're an adult" (chapter 5, In Search Of The One or Friend-Dating), or probably my personal favorite, "a part of introversion for some people is being too much inside their own head, being overly cautious, and not opening themselves up to other people" (chapter 11, La-La Land or Traveling Solo). Author Jessica Pan does things throughout her year that I can't even begin to imagine doing...Improv class? You go girl! Getting up on stage not once, not twice, but THREE times to do stand-up comedy? While I've done stand-up routines in my head a hundred times at least, the thought of actually getting up on stage to perform? I'd rather go through a root canal without anesthesia or numbing. Nope, not happening. But reading about her doing it- and surviving with a mental breakdown- makes me think that just maybe, someday, I could.
The conclusion and notes that finish out the book get more into a psychological aspect of introversion. The author discusses what she has learned over the course of her year (expected), lessons learned and where she sees herself now (new word alert- grintrovert! I like it). Like any good, honest writer, she cites her sources in the notes, giving this reader more material to dive down the rabbit hole into. I also discovered that she has another book, Graduates in Wonderland, which has now been added to my "want to read" list.
Overall, a genuine, amusing, thoughtful read that I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated.

Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come: One Introvert’s Year of Saying Yes is Jessica Pan’s story of committing to a year of engaging in activities far beyond her comfort zone as a shintrovert (shy introvert). She forces herself to talk with strangers and attempt to move beyond surface level conversations, uses apps in an effort to meet new friends, takes an improv class, performs stand-up comedy, takes a solo trip, and hosts a dinner party.

I admire Jessica’s bravery, particularly in her repeated participation in stand-up comedy, something I have no interest in doing. While I’m definitely more introvert than extrovert, I fall closer to the middle of the road and would not call myself a shintrovert — I enjoy socializing and going out with friends and family, I attend sporting events often and enjoy solo travel, but rarely initiate conversations with strangers, and definitely welcome and enjoy a low key weekend at home.

”Sharing our vulnerabilities and insecurities is the quickest way to make a real connection with someone ... It’s not that we want others to fail, but we need to know that our own sorrows have echoes in other people’s lives. That’s what connects us. Strength may be impressive, but it’s vulnerability that builds friendships.”

Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come is both funny and relatable. One of the biggest themes from the book is that regardless of where you land on the extrovert-introvert scale, you can apply behaviors from the other side, at least occasionally, to your benefit. We can stay true to who we are while recharging through alone time, and yet by talking to someone new, learn something we wouldn’t have otherwise known.

Thank you so much @SimonAndSchuster & @NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 28 May 2019)

SYNOPSIS | This non-fiction follows Jessica Pan (a shintrovert aka Shy Introvert) as she vows to spend one year doing things outside of her comfort zone like going to networking events, doing standup comedy, asking strangers silly questions, traveling alone & hosting a dinner party etc.

WHAT I LIKED:
- i completely appreciated the lengths that Jessica went to for this book (my introvert heart hurts thinking about some of them... well most of them)
- that this book doesn't gloss over the fact that doing extroverted things as an introvert can be panic inducing
- witty & self-deprecating writing style
- each chapter focused on a new goal or experience

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- i lost a bit of interest around the stand-up comedy & improv chapters as those two things generally don't really interest me

I received a reviewer audio review copy of I’m Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want To Come by Jessica Pan from the publisher from Andrew McMeel Publishing from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Loneliness and references to depression and suicidal thoughts (minimal but present)

What It’s About: Jessica Pan is an introvert who has committed to living a life as an extrovert for a year. She is also an American in London, married to a British man. The book follows this year and Jessica through making new friends, going to Improv class, doing stand-up comedy, trying shrooms, and even traveling to a foreign city with no prep work.

What I Loved: I really respected Jessica’s bravery and commitment to her mission. She was relatable to an extent, as she wasn’t wealthy and so it seemed more feasible. The feelings and fears were also relatable as well as someone who has trouble making friends and the fear of rejection. I really liked the section where Jessica has to deal with her father’s health scare and the kindness of strangers and her insight into that. Jessica is also a likeable narrator!

What I Didn't Like So Much: Look, unfortunately this book was just okay for me. I think perhaps it got repetitive and might have worked better as an article. I think that being a writer likely made doing some of these things easier (just in terms of having a free-lance career and an end goal of publishing) and a bit unrelatable that you could also do this with a standard career. I wish she had maybe sat with it more and had more of a tie up as well.

Who Should Read This: People who are introverts who want to read a story about getting out of your comfort zone. People who like books about a year long challenge (ie: The Year of Yes, Eat Pray Love, etc.).

Quick Summary: An introvert challenges herself to extrovert for a year!

Overall as an introvert I enjoyed reading this book. The good was the humor even though some of it fell flat. The bad, there was way way too much swearing and it took away from the book. I am not sure the author really is an introvert or just liked playing one for a year. It did take me awhile to finish this book as I would read for awhile and then put it down. Read it for a fun memoir but do not expect to be an extrovert by the end of the book.

I, like Jessica Pan, consider myself to be a shy introvert, so I was really interested to read about her journey trying to be an extrovert for a year. While in many ways I could relate to this book, it never fully grabbed me, I think at least in part because I don’t feel the intense loneliness that Pan clearly did at the beginning of her journey. I’m sure it helps that I have a job that requires me to interact with people every day and a large family that lives quite close to me. I also think that I have some financial barriers that Pan doesn’t have to worry about, so her chapter about going on the surprise trip didn’t really speak to me.

What I did like was hearing about her experience and how she was working to improve herself because she identified something she wanted to change. Her experiences were very interesting and there were some good tips for making friends as an adult and public speaking that I enjoyed. Overall I’m glad I read this (and very much enjoyed the audio, read by the author), but I wasn’t blown away.

This one is an autobiographical account of Jessica Pan, who calls herself a shintrovert (shy introvert). While sunk in the gloomy depths of loneliness and finding herself without any friends in London after recently moving there, she decides to say yes to all social events for a year in order to find the extrovert side of herself. The book is a witty account of her travails as she talks to experts for advice, asks people on the street ‘Who is the queen of England?’ and finds interesting replies (All hail Queen Victoria!), to giving a public talk, doing improv, stand-up comedy, going alone on a surprise vacation, to finally hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 friends made over the course of the year. The situations that arise are witty and funny but not rolling on the floor funny.

Calling all introverts--this is your book, your mantra, your life. I read the title of this and was hooked. Jessica Pan nails the struggle introverts face in wanting the invite, saying yes, and then struggling with the actual "going" part. Funny, insightful, true!!! Highly recommend!!

What would an introvert do if she lived like an extrovert for a year? As a self proclaimed extroverted introvert, I was drawn to this book as I was Curious about how behaving like an extrovert would affect an introvert. This book delivered all the awkwardness of this social experiment that I had Imagined-both having me cringe and laugh, sometimes simultaneously. I enjoyed the variety of situations that the author experienced, but at times I felt bogged down by some of the facts and studies that were cited in the book. Admittedly, it’s partially because I’m not generally a non fiction reader, but it made it difficult for me to find a good flow in reading the book. Overall, however, I enjoyed this book for its creativity of topic and enjoyability. I would Definitely recommend this book.

As soon as I saw the title of this book I knew I had to read this! Like the author, I am also a shintrovert (shy introvert). So many of the anxieties she described I have experienced, i found myself nodding my head so many times in understanding. I loved living vicariously through her challenge her, even though I wasn’t the one going through the things I found myself feeling the same things. There were a lot of interesting references to different studies too, I found that really helped validate things I’ve felt as a shintrovert (I’m not a complete weirdo!). I loved the authors humor and honesty. This is a great read as a introvert/shintrovert or even as an extrovert to better understand what life is like as an introvert. I also listened to a portion of this an audio and just love when authors read their own work, it makes it so much more personal!

I really enjoyed Jessica’s honesty and candidness of how her life was and what she wanted out of it. It takes a lot of courage to admit that you want to change things about your life. Her year of being an extrovert was bold and helped her bring some happiness to her life. I would love to know how she continues to push herself now that her experiment year is over. I hope she kept the friends she made and continued to step outside her comfort zone.

This wasn’t what I would call a page turner but it was interesting and enjoyable.

It took me a long time to finish the book. And it's not because it wasn't good; it's because it was too good. I mean the title alone had me screaming "it me" but with every sentence I read, I found myself relating more and more to Jessica Pan and her fear of socializing and talking to people. I related on such a level that, at times, I'd have to put the book down and walk away because it felt like I was reading my own thoughts.

When she starts her experiments and talking to people, I had so much anxiety. It was like watching episodes of The Office where cringey things happen but you can't look away because the characters are ultimately so lovable. It was often difficult to get through passages where she is putting herself out there because I find that to be one of the MOST difficult things to do. But reading this made me realize how necessary connections are and how, even when you say the dumbest things in conversation (which is sort of my specialty), it's really not the end of the world. I recommend this book to introverts, but warn it will be difficult (but necessary) to read. I also HIGHLY recommend this to extroverts and people who often misjudge introverts for snobs, etc. It gives you quite an insight into the mind of people who struggle with socializing.

Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come is a laugh-out-loud funny, highly relatable, sometimes revelatory and ultimately, an inspiring read.
I loved how author Jessica Pan keeps it utterly real in the book. She doesn't advocate extroversion and tell people how her life was so much better after doing extrovert things like improv, talking to strangers in the Tube, going on a weekend getaway in the woods with strangers (yikes!!!) But neither does she glorify introversion.
She simply documents her experiences and thoughts about the excruciating activities she puts herself through (with help from relevant experts) just for the heck of it. Her writing is hilarious; tone, approachable & friendly. I loved how unabashedly she talks about her anxiety and other misgivings she had in the duration of this exercise.
At the start of the book, I remember thinking Jessica is exactly the kind of person who could be a potential best friend for me. We both would love to rant about things and hang out in the comfort of our own homes. But by the end of book, my respect for her had grown so much that I can only think of her as a 'sensei' now.

While reading her adventures, I realized I have low-key done many extrovert-y things in 2019.
> I met loads of new people.
> In fact, willingly made more friends this year alone than all of my school years put together (teenage me would be in awe of me rn)
> Said yes to a lot of things.
> Even tried joining a public speaking group! It ended up not happening but I tried okay? That's what matters. 😛
If you're looking for a relatable and enjoyable nonfiction read, pick this one. I believe this book can be enjoyed by introverts and extroverts alike.

Jessica Pan make a conscious decision to not be an introvert for a year. This is the opposite of her past and of her inner tendencies.
The situations are endearing and funny due to this decision. I had trouble identifying with the character but it did help me to understand one of my sons. Good, solid book that I would recommend.

FANTASTIC read! Not just for introverts, Pan shows us all how to live waaaaay outside of our comfort zones.

Can't wait to read more from her...

This book was not quite what I expected, and I think that lies in my expectations and not in the writer's intent. As it was presented as falling in the memoir and humor category, and based on the title itself, I imagined something more along the lines of Jen Lancaster's memoirs, and that is not the case. This does not mean that this was a bad thing at all, just not what I was expecting.

I think because of my expectations coming into the book differing so much from what the book actually was, I had a difficult time getting into it initially, and had to set it down a couple of times before I was able to get really immersed in it. Ultimately, I did enjoy it, but it took a few chapters before my attention was fully grabbed.

Jessica Pan does a great job sharing her experience of her year of attempting to extrovert. She includes a lot of expert opinion and some of her research as she shares each of the tasks she undertakes to attempt to improve her happiness and find new friendships as an adult.

Many of her experiences are humorous, others are touching. She steps out of her comfort zone in many different ways throughout her year, and revisits tasks that were both successful, and some that were less so. I felt connected with her through many of the projects she undertook, though others were so far beyond my own comfort zone, I couldn't imagine even attempting them.

While the book turned out to be different from what I expected, I did enjoy it and recommend it to anyone who wants to challenge themselves to break out of their introverted comfort zone and attempt to extrovert every once in a while.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through Net Galley and the publisher {Andrews McMeel Publishing} in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I ended up buying a hard copy of this book. I really enjoyed it! The things the author forced herself to try and get out of her comfort zone made me squirm. But the results of her experiment were so interesting. I felt inspired to try some new things too.