Reading this book felt like having a conversation with a supportive and understanding therapist. As someone who has experienced social anxiety since childhood, I couldn't help but wish I had discovered a resource like this earlier in life. The author presents ideas in a way that is both approachable and easy to read, offering clear, actionable advice for real-life situations that many of us can relate to.
While some of the strategies were familiar, this book served as a valuable refresher, reinforcing important concepts while introducing fresh advice. One of my favorite takeaways was the SPARK method, which provides tips on how to initiate conversations—something that can feel daunting for those of us who struggle with social interactions. Chapter 3, in particular, stood out for its practical guidance on engaging with others. Whether you're looking for new insights or simply a reassuring voice to help guide you through social challenges, this book is a worthwhile read.

I thought this book would be helpful to me in some situations. Evidently, I don't have that much of an issue with being socially anxious. I do pretty well being in front of others and speaking, this year I even started a book club at work and I have no problems doing this. Plus, I am a quiet and introverted person and don't see a problem being this way. I don't overthink too much, I am confident, and maybe not thrive in social situations but I do just fine to me. Maybe this book isn't exactly for me but I did get some benefits from reading this. I have been reading on and off for about a month (even though I put it as reading it today). It was good and had lots of exercises to work on, for those who needed it. A class I took in college was the best for me and that was public speaking. It made me do the things in this book that really helped me. So the skills you learn are good ones.

Thank you to Zeitgeist (through Netgalley) for the copy of this book.

How to Be Less Socially Anxious by Megan Ashley Smith is a compassionate and highly accessible guide for anyone who struggles with social situations. Whether you're anxious about speaking up at work, navigating friendships, or just making small talk, Smith breaks down the overwhelming into the manageable with clear, step-by-step strategies.

The book shines in its practicality. It doesn’t overpromise or lean into vague self-help jargon—instead, it offers grounded, relatable examples and tools that are easy to apply in real life. Smith’s tone is encouraging without being patronizing, and she strikes a good balance between educating readers on the roots of social anxiety and offering solutions that feel achievable. The inclusion of real-world scenarios across different life contexts (work, dating, community) makes the content especially versatile.

While the book may not introduce radically new psychological concepts for readers familiar with CBT or anxiety management, its strength lies in simplicity and empathy. This is an excellent starter resource for those looking to take control of social anxiety without feeling overwhelmed.

A solid, approachable primer that delivers on its promise—making readers feel seen and supported as they work toward social confidence.

While this did not help me with my root issue, this book gives many coping tactics. There are plans on how to get ready for certain situations and what to say. This is a really helpful book.

A wonderful read!
Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

First, thank you to Penguin Random House and Zeitgeist for the complimentary review copy!

How to be Less Socially Anxious is a great guidebook and workbook for people wanting to start tackling their inner critic! Megan Ashley Smith, LCMHC, NCC is a licensed clinical mental health therapist and has put together a great resource for people, like myself, who struggle with social anxiety.

Smith starts by describing what social anxiety can feel like, the effects it can have on a person and several aspects of their life. But the real purpose of the book is her practical skills and the real-life scenario workshops! With an approachable writing style and clear methodology, Smith guides the socially anxious through conquering the inner critic, navigating work holiday parties, and building confidence in oneself.

This felt more like a workbook guide than a traditional book, and I would've appreciated real life rather than only theoretical examples, but for what it is, this has a lot of important information. For example, the CLEAR acronym (Challenge, Learn, Evaluate, Adjust, Reframe) seems useful. The skills were explained well and repeated often so information could be fully absorbed. Smith is obviously knowledgeable as a guide, but the language is accessible without being condescending.

This is a wonderful resource for anyone dealing with social anxiety. It includes several pages of worksheets with questions and charts to help highlight and pinpoint what is the individual’s underlying reasons for the anxiety. It also had several pages focusing on reflection as well. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was an interesting read. It gave great advice but was a little confusing on how to implement it. How to Be Less Socially Anxious would work best with a workbook to go with each topic. There were some spot that indicated a possible workbook, but I didn't have one through this ebook.

I do think this book could be helpful to some.

How to Be Less Socially Anxious by Megan Ashley Smith is a practical and insightful guide to overcoming social anxiety. Drawing on her expertise as a licensed counselor, Smith offers clear strategies and techniques to help readers manage anxiety in social situations. The book is supportive and empowering, providing tools for building confidence, improving communication, and developing healthier mindsets. It’s a valuable resource for anyone looking to better understand and manage social anxiety.

Smith combines psychological concepts with practical tips, presenting the information in a way that's easy for readers dealing with social anxiety to grasp.

She highlights the importance of self-awareness, introduces cognitive-behavioral strategies, and advocates for gradually facing anxiety-provoking situations.

Her writing style is straightforward and uplifting, enriched with relatable stories that foster a sense of understanding.

This book is ideal for those looking for practical methods to manage anxiety rather than instant solutions. Ultimately, it’s a valuable resource for anyone aiming to feel more at ease and genuine in social environments.

This is a great guide for working on beating social anxiety. I really appreciated that it’s not just journaling but has all kinds of tips, tricks and skills to work on with examples. It’s a short book but mostly because it doesn’t ramble on and just gives you the tools. I also appreciated that sections cover different situations like work and dating, since they require different tactics and strategies.

I read a temporary digital loan of this book via netgalley.

I wish this book had come out years ago! Instead I had to obtain a Communications degree with many added psychology classes to learn the lessons at the core of this book. And without the helpful roadmap and questions/situations to workshop.

How to Be Less Socially Anxious: Practical Skills to Stop Overthinking, Be Confident, and Thrive in Social Situations by Megan Ashley Smith is an approachable guide for anyone looking to tackle the complex feelings of social anxiety. The book covers a range of topics, from building confidence to improving communication skills, which can be helpful for those struggling in social situations. The information is clear and straightforward, and the step-by-step guidance provided is practical, though some of the suggestions may feel a bit basic for readers already familiar with self-help strategies. The book also touches on the causes of social anxiety.

Overall, How to Be Less Socially Anxious serves as a decent starting point for anyone looking to improve their social skills. If you need a gentle nudge toward becoming more comfortable in social environments, this book might do the trick. I would rate this book a 3.75 out of 5 stars (rounded to 4).

#HowtoBeLessSociallyAnxious #NetGalley

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a person who has been through a lot of therapy, the skills in this book deeply resonated with me. Each skill targets a different area of your life, whether its confidence in dating or family drama. It definitely bought all the skills in one place and gave unique tips throughout the book. That's why I really enjoyed this book because now I've got tools that I can put into practice. The author really thought about the client in this book and it clearly shows.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for sending me this copy. I enjoyed it.

Megan Ashley Smith's How to Be Less Socially Anxious is a practical and compassionate guide for anyone looking to build confidence in social settings. The author combines relatable insights with actionable advice, making it both comforting and empowering. It's an easy read that feels like chatting with a supportive friend, perfect for anyone wanting to take small but meaningful steps toward overcoming social anxiety.

A book I would highly recommend to be read atleast once or to be referred back to. I myself have experienced social anxiety and still do sometimes, I found a lot of advice and techniques that I would personally use and would recommend to others to use.
Reading this book made me feel that I now have more awareness and that I'm way more educated about social anxiety itself and how to deal with or prepare for it.

Thank you Netgalley for the ebook.

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„Your future is bright and filled with endless possibilities. Believe in yourself and embrace the path ahead with confidence and optimism.“

For me as a Person diagnosed with Social Anxiety , this has been really helpful. While i knew a lot from my Therapist, some things are new and i can't wait to try them.

-Thank you Zeitgeit for allowing me to read this via NetGalley.

No easy way to loose that social anxiety--this book is full of homework. You'll want to be serious if you pick this book up. Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC. The author comes across as very knowledgeable and most socially anxious readers should find this book helpful. I decided that I would rather be a little anxious and not do the work. (I would rather stay home and read anyway). This review is my own.

Thank you Zeitgeist for providing this book for review via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

This is a good read for someone who regularly experiences heightened social anxiety and is looking for a wide range of tips and techniques to use in various situations when interacting with others. There are a lot of opportunities given to reflect and take note of past, current, and future experiences that could be very helpful when trying to identify patterns and make better decisions in social situations. With how short this book is, it’s easy to do a first read where you get a grasp of the different techniques available then afterward you can reference specific sections when needed.