✨️Netgalley ARC Review✨️
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a sweet romance and coming-of-age story about Mallory, who inherits a house in Florida and has to leave her Seattle home to take care of her grandfather. The story is gentle and slow, with a great love interest in Daniel, and a believable cast of characters. I appreciated that there was no inheritance fighting, and each character had a distinct personality.

However, the story was a bit too slow for my taste, with some dialogue and descriptions that went on too long. There was also some virtue signaling that I didn't care for, and I didn't really relate to Mallory, and since I didn't love Mallory but did love Daniel, it was hard to see what he saw in her.

Overall, I think people will enjoy this book!

Sweet romance book following an introvert FMC who connects with her Gramps while she renovates a family beach cottage. She deals with grief, family relationships, and a job she hates all while falling for her property manager. In the end, she has to decide if she should follow her heart and stay in the small beach town or go back to the big city and the corporate world.

Super cute read, whether you're introverted or not!

As an introvert myself, I did find the main character quite relatable. She had a work from home job, a small circle and was perfectly content doing her own thing. When she inherited a house from her Grandmother, she took a trip to Florida to try to fix it up while also looking after her Grandfather. This turned out to be a super cute story with a lot of heart. I loved the main characters growth throughout the story and the fact that it seemed genuine. I loved the small town vibes and her Grandfather's cozy little condo spot. There was also a cinnamon roll, super helpful and adorable love interest. And to top it all off, a loveable dog also made it's way into the story. Honestly, this was right up my alley!

I really enjoyed this and would recommend picking it up!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reader's copy of the book. I was a bit unsure of this book when I started it, but as it progressed, it got better. It read fairly quickly once I got into the story, and the main character grew on me. The main character had a lot of growth and it wasn't because of a third quarter break up which was a refreshing change. All in all, a decent read.

As the title suggests, this book is about a women having to leave her comfort zone when she inherits her grandma's house. I really related to the FMC's introverted personality and loved seeing her relationship with her grandpa develop. Seeing her find true happiness through the book was heartwarming Overall a good book

Mallory - Initially Annoying, but the book has HEART!

🌅As a bi-coastal traveler, I love reading about Seattle neighborhoods and Tampa/St. Pete areas I’ve visited often. It almost makes up for Mallory Rosen’s annoying habits. I do get her anxiety and desire to hide out in her Seattle apartment rather than deal with the chaos of the outside world. And the premise of shaking all that up by having her sudden inheritance, which sends her to coastal Florida with a house to fix, a grandfather to care for, and a tightly sealed comfort zone about to be cracked wide open, wasn’t too far out there. But the slow part in the middle, the lying to her boss, trying to keep track of her work day (wasn’t she supposed to be working instead of riding a bike), and her whining about ripping up carpet or painting a wall got to be too much. I work remotely, I work with millennials, I parent millennials, many of whom are anxiety-ridden introverts, and even they would be rolling their eyes at Mallory. What redeems Mallory? Her tender, introspective journey of grief, dealing with her grandmother’s death, and her connection with Gramps and his friends, her growth is all wrapped in cozy seaside charm and anchored by the gentle rhythms of chosen family.

This book delivers an unexpected emotional resonance beneath its soft and initially annoying exterior. While the romance between Mallory and Daniel—the kind, patient local property manager—is sweet and slow-burning, the story’s true heartbeat lies in Mallory’s evolving bond with her grandfather—their relationship blooms with awkward starts, quiet grief, and understated affection that feels deeply earned. I found myself wholly invested in their dynamic, which was both touching and beautifully written without tipping into sentimentality.

Mallory herself is overly flawed. Her introversion, avoidance habits, and online shopping as a coping mechanism aren’t just character quirks—they’re reflections of real-life anxiety, grief, and the push-pull of change (she’s the one who appears to need some therapy, instead of Gramps). Watching her learn to engage with her surroundings, take emotional risks, and allow herself to feel discomfort was deeply rewarding. She doesn’t reinvent herself overnight, and I appreciated that the book resisted that kind of narrative shortcut.

The pacing may be slow for readers craving high drama or rapid plot twists—much of the book unfolds through quiet, slice-of-life moments and internal revelations. The writing is warm and inviting, the dialogue authentic, and the atmosphere immersive. The beachside community is vividly drawn, filled with nosy neighbors, aerobics classes, and a subtle current of nostalgia that makes the whole story feel like slipping into a favorite sweater.

There are moments where the prose veers into slightly immature or uneven territory, and a few character assumptions—especially around gender stereotypes—felt clunky or out of place. Additionally, Mallory’s professional arc could have used more grounding; her disregard for her job raised stakes that didn’t quite resolve satisfyingly. Still, these are minor bumps in an otherwise emotionally rich story.

I found it balanced humor, heartfelt family dynamics, and a soft-focus love story without rushing the emotional beats. This book is a quiet little gem. It’s not about a grand transformation—but about the courage it takes to open the door, one small step at a time.

Thank you Net Galley, Lauren Appelbaum, and Forever publishing for the ARC!

A fellow reviewer said “If you get it, you get it. If you don’t, you don’t.” Well I absolutely get it and couldn’t put this book down. It is so cute and does such a great job of showing an actually introverted character who is self-aware, empathetic, and funny. It touches on grief in small, but meaningful ways, and more largely touches on identity and choosing happiness in a world with an emphasis on performance and societal pressure/expectations.

The characters were easy to connect with and visualize all together, and finally a redheaded MMC! Definitely recommend this book to anyone seeking a fast-paced, easy, and meaningful read, especially fellow introverts whom I suspect will feel lots of genuine connection to the FMC.

Overall, An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love is a sweet, cozy story with a relatable main character and just enough romance to make you smile. It’s more about self-growth than swooning, but still very much worth the read, especially if you’re an introverted, anxious girly like me.

You know I really enjoy a book when I ignore going to sleep at a decent time and read straight through. The stream-of-consciousness narration resonated so much with me. It felt like being inside the brain of someone who just gets it.

My favorite part of the book was the main character’s relationship with her grandfather. Their dynamic was so cute and comforting, and honestly my favorite scenes were the ones with the two of them together.

The romance wasn’t the main focus (and that’s totally fine), but it was cozy and sweet. I liked that the story was more about the main character coming into her own.

Some of the day-to-day details dragged a little, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying it.

Tropes: introspective heroine, cozy romance, no spice

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 was really sweet. As an introvert I could relate to Mallory I’m so many ways and really loved her arc. That being said I found a lot of her decisions to be very hard to read and wanted to shake her at times. I also think this could have been 50+ pages longer to really flesh out the story more…perhaps even add in a love triangle with the hot French man from the coffee shop who seemingly disappeared?

This story was written for the introverts who got a little too cozy during the pandemic and forgot what it was to live beyond a screen and online communication. Mallory was a great example of what it is to be an introvert, not wanting to be the center of attention but desperate to not be left out. I loved her inner monologue so much, constant worries about imposter syndrome, missing the peace and quiet of home, and always overthinking.

Gramps & the senior community stole the show with every scene they were in. I loved how her relationship with her grandfather grew as the story went on. Daniel was a perfect "cinnamon roll" hero, and was a treat every time he showed up.

If you're looking for a giant love story/romance, this might not be the book for you, as the romance felt like more of a subplot. An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love felt like more of a story of personal growth. This was an incredibly cozy read, and is perfect if you're looking for something quick, yet emotional.

Thank you to Forever Publishing for the eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I can't believe this is only Lauren's second book. I couldn't put it down. One thing I love about her stories is that they're character-focused with an emphasis on personal growth and development. There was a romance, but to me it didn't feel like the main plot point. Nope, that was all about Mallory, which I loved. Her time with her grandfather, her newfound friend group, and finding herself in Florida is what made me really devour this book. As someone in her late 20s, I relate to Mallory quite a bit, and seeing her from beginning to end was fantastic. This had heart, humor, and tangible emotion. I, of course, loved the Jewish representation, and I think Appelbaum handled grief really well, too. It makes me excited to see what she will do next. Thank you to Forever for sending me an ARC to read and review!

I really enjoyed this book! I found myself laughing out loud several times, and I appreciated the substantial plot and solid character development. The book's main protoganist, Mallory, has found herself in a rut after the COVID pandemic. She stays in her apartment, works from home, and follows the same weekly routine. Then she gets a push from her recently passed grandmother to come out of her shell. Would definitely recommend if you are looking for a lighthearted read with some depth.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Mallory inherits her grandparents’ home in Florida after the passing of her grandmother. In her will, Lottie, her grandmother, also asks that she look after her grandfather.
Initially, Mallory intends to make a quick trip to Florida to prepare the house to rent and check on her grandfather. Things are in as good of shape as she hopes on either front.

I so rarely finish a book I don’t like - because so many books, so little time - but I trudged thru this, skimming many pages, in hope of the FMC redeeming herself. Alas. She did not. Mallory was the most irresponsible, self-centered person ever. If this is how people of her age truly respond to work and decisions and responsibility, Gos Bless Us. Her character ruined the story for me.

Additionally, I felt like the way introversion was defined was not the true definition. Mallory had some introvert characteristics, but she more just seemed like she was lacking in confidence and or happiness. Shyness and being socially awkward does not make one introverted.

I also didn’t feel any super feelings between Mallory and her love interest, who also had an interesting choice in some of his features…

Ok, I just didn’t like this book. Sorry.

This book was a nice quick read. I loved the fact that this book took place after the pandemic and discussed how working from home can get us set in our ways. I also loved the commentary on watching someone go through grief and watching how to learn how to live after losing someone.

I liked Mallory as a character and was rooting for her to be proactive in her own life and enjoyed the sunshine that was Daniel. I would have liked to have learned more about him, but thought he was a good fit for Mallory.

I thought this book was a great reminder to step outside your comfort zone while also taking time to realize what makes you happy and not to let work consume you.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was such a fun lighthearted read. The main character was perfect and the plot got me out of a bad funky mood. I can see this being a book that I return to when the bad moods strike again.

As an introvert with some serious social awkwardness myself, I found *An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love* cozy and cute.

Reading this made me smile and had me missing my own wonderful grandpa.



Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the DRC

3.5⭐️

Cozy + slice of life + a bit of romance

This is not my usual type of read, but I enjoyed it. Mallory is stuck in her routines and works from home for a job that she doesn’t even really like, but it’s respectable enough and pays her bills. Her grandmothers passes and leaves her a house and instructions to take care of her grandpa. But the house is in Florida and she’s currently living in Seattle.

In the beginning, Mallory reminded me of if someone took all those dumb articles about the things millennials do/don’t do and turned them into a person. But she has incredible growth and really finds herself and her place by the end.

It’s definitely very detailed, which can be a bit slow at times, but it works. The thing I didn’t like was the amount of brand names for a lot of things. I don’t know if that’s normal for this type of book or not? But as someone who isn’t American, it can be really distracting because I don’t know all the brands and I’m left wondering if I’m supposed to infer something from that specific brand or it’s nothing?

The romance was slow and cute, a few steamy scenes but nothing explicit.

Overall, it was sweet and enjoyable. It even made me tear up a few times.

Thank you Lauren Appelbaum, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! All information below is based off my own opinion of the book! I also like to keep my reviews short and simple as someone who looks at the short reviews before reading books. 💕⭐️
Book rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️ .5
Favorite characters: Gramps, Daniel, Walley
Review: First off let me start by saying I could relate in so many ways when it came to being introverted. I often get overlooked and stay in the background as much as possible! I loved that the chapters were short, it kept me saying just one more chapter won’t hurt! This is a closed door romance so there’s no spice really at all. This book was a good read and definitely a slow burn romance. Overall It had a really good story of grieve, and overcoming the obstacles that come with being introverted.

3.5⭐️

This is a cute, classic rom-com full of lovable characters and small town charm!
Daniel and Gramps were standout characters for me and I would honestly love a book of their duo adventures! Mallory is a relatable introvert queen who goes through some self-reflection to figure out what she wants her future to look like. I found myself relating to her a lot, but also could’ve done with a bit less “hi, I’m an introvert and here’s an awkward reminder of why” moments.

The relationships between Mallory and Gramps, and Mallory and Daniel are strong!!! I instantly fell in love with all of them and loved getting to know all of them as they got to know each other.

This is a read for anyone who loves small town charm, a fun and lovable ensemble of characters, and a blossoming romance between people trying to find love again.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for this e-ARC!