oh boy i loved this book so much- as an introvert i felt so seen and connected tremendously to the FMC fo i also loved the relationship between the grandpa and
FMC- it was so wholesome.
BIG WARNING that this is not the cozy summer beach read romance that the cover makes it seem to be- it leans more women's fiction with a dash of romance. i feel like the book really leans into life's little moments which you either love or find boring, i absolutely loved it
i don't usually love a ton of modern world mentions (ex. i made coffee with my Nespresso & stopped at Publix for groceries) but somehow it just worked in this book and I don't know if it's just cause I was really enjoying the book itself, but be worn that there are a lot of like modern day references in this one!

The premise had potential, an introverted woman forced out of her comfort zone by a seaside cottage, a meddling grandpa, and a charming property manager. Unfortunately, the story didn’t quite deliver. Mallory was meant to be relatable, but her growth felt rushed and somewhat forced. The romance was predictable and lacked real spark, and the supporting characters, while quirky, didn’t feel fully fleshed out. The plot relied on familiar tropes without adding anything fresh or memorable. It’s a light, cozy read with a nice setting, but overall it felt too surface-level for me. I wanted more depth, more connection,and walked away a bit underwhelmed.
Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the chance to read this book in advance.

Thoroughly enjoyed and was invested in this story. Every single character was lovable, but I was truly engrossed in wanting to see the MC, Mallory, win at life. This book is a good mix of women's fiction and romance and it balances the many elements well. At the end of it I can't decide if I was more drawn to her relationship with her gramps or her "property manager" more.

Let me also add the name of the book was perfect! If you are an introvert you will feel seen and understood. If you are an extrovert it might give you a glimpse into our recluse minds. Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was better than I expected! Mallory is such an interesting character, and the topic- she has a remote job that she's also trying to exist as a person, granddaughter, adult- and then has to go back into the office- felt so timely for our current era of learning work/life balance in a new way. The relationship between Mallory and Gramps made this book shine for me.

This book touched me. It's an adorable story about a girl named Mallory who is finding her way in the world. She is a major introvert living in Seattle, doing her thing and living in routine. It's all thrown off course when she inherited a house and spends time in Florida fixing it up and taking care of her grandfather. It's a beautiful self discovery. I found myself identifying with Mallory A LOT. I'm an introvert who enjoys online shopping rather than leaving her house too. What Mallory doesn't expect to find when down in Florida is love. But she finds herself inexplicably drawn to Daniel and it's the same for him. The only thing I wish was that we got more of their relationship at the end. It made me SO happy for them.

This book is the perfect contemporary romance with closed door spice and perfect for a quick read. I will admit that it is not my typical read but I found myself enjoying it a lot. I may or may not have cried towards the end ;)

I read a quarter of this book, and there just wasn't much plot. There was no conflict and the main character didn't have any motivations. I did like the writing style, but I was confused about the point of the narrative,

Warm, witty, and wonderfully heartwarming, An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love is a charming blend of self-discovery, family bonds, and slow-burn romance that will tug at your heart.

Mallory is just looking for some peace and quiet when she inherits her grandmother’s cozy cottage, but life has other plans—including her sweetly stubborn grandfather and an unexpectedly endearing property manger named Daniel. What follows is a gentle, soul-soothing journey through healing, second chances, and stepping out of your comfort zone.

Gramps completely stole my heart, and the evolving relationship between him and Mallory is just as touching as the romantic sparks with Daniel.

This story doesn’t just offer a cute love story—it’s also a reflection on grief, growth, and the power of showing up for the people who matter.

An Introverts Guide to Life and Love follows Mallory as she navigates life after her grandmothers passing. Her grandmother leaves her a house in Florida with the request that she spends time with her grandfather. Mallory leaves Seattle to go check in on the house and her grandfather. In Florida, she starts to see life in a different way.

I had a hard time with Mallory because of how helpless and clueless she was. For most of the book she has a hard time understanding simple parts of life, which ended up making it hard to read the book. Then randomly she would have moments of confidence and be completely outgoing which was contradictory with her “introverted” personality. I did like some characters like her grandfather and Daniel. My favorite part of the book was at the end because she finally made her character arc. I honestly could have used a chapter or two more with Mallory as she was in the end. This book did have cute moments, but it didn’t make up for the awkwardly made up character that Mallory had become.

Thank you Forever publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

Cute romance that's very relatable for introverts. I enjoyed her getting out of her shell and developing relationships but could very much relate to her desire to stay in her bubble.

An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love by Lauren Appelbaum is about Mallory who lives in Seattle and works from home. She is a relatable character who is content living in her own bubble. She likes her routines.

Mallory’s grandmother passes away. While attending the funeral she learns she inherits a seaside cottage in Florida that her grandmother left her.

Mallory decides to stay for a little bit in Florida to do renovations on the cottage so she can have tenants stay. During her stay with her grandfather she gets to learn more about him. She also develops a crush on her property manager, Daniel. Daniel is so care free and always happy.

Mallory makes friends, enjoys renovating the cottage, finding herself, and is not looking forward to going back home to Seattle.

I gave the book three stars because I felt some of the day to day parts dragged on (online job). I wish there were more parts with Daniel and Mallory.

Thank you netgalley for the e-arc.

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!

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!

More than a story about an introvert, I found this is really about a woman finding connection with her grandpa and also some new relationships along the way. Mallory's grandma unexpectedly leaves a cottage to her with the expectation that she also takes care of her grandpa. So she heads there to figure out what she'll need to do. Once there, she finds lots of unexpected connections and emotions. This was a light, fun read that was also about navigating grief and figuring out where you belong - A story about a connection with grandparents always pulls at my heartstrings, and I also liked the bonus layer of remote work as that's also a life I know well. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the look at this September 2025 release.

Book Review: An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love by Lauren Appelbaum
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

This book felt like a warm, quiet weekend in — cozy clothes, tea in hand, something gently emotional playing in the background. I picked up An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love expecting a sweet, maybe slightly quirky romance, and found myself wrapped in something a little softer and a lot more tender. It’s a story about letting go, letting people in, and learning to be present in your own life — all in the slow, sometimes messy, way real change happens.

Mallory Rosen is a creature of habit. She lives alone in Seattle, works from home, keeps to herself, and rarely ventures outside her carefully curated bubble. When her grandmother passes away and leaves her a seaside cottage in Florida — with the condition that she look after her grandfather — Mallory is thrown into a life that’s noisier, messier, and far more human than she’s used to.

Her plan is simple: check in on Gramps, prep the cottage for rental, and get back to her routine. But plans unravel quickly. The WiFi is patchy. Her grandfather is more independent and opinionated than she expected. And the property manager, Daniel, is far too charming for someone she’s supposed to ignore. Suddenly, Mallory finds herself swept into a world of senior aerobics, community gossip, shared dinners, and unexpected feelings.

What makes this book shine is how grounded it feels. Mallory doesn’t undergo some instant transformation. She resists. She complains. She makes selfish choices. But little by little, she starts noticing the things she’s been missing. The small joys. The warmth in shared silence. The possibility of belonging. Her growth feels honest, not rushed. That slow unfolding is part of the book’s charm.

The relationship that truly anchors the story is the one between Mallory and her grandfather. I absolutely adored their bond. It’s not saccharine or forced — it’s a little awkward, a little prickly at first. But underneath it all is so much love and unspoken grief. One moment that stayed with me was when her grandfather quietly tells her, “I spent my life loving one woman. Now I get to spend a little more time loving the people she loved.” That line made me pause. It’s simple, but it carries so much tenderness and truth. Watching their relationship evolve was, for me, the heart of the book.

Daniel, the love interest, is sweet, thoughtful, and genuinely likable. He’s also a bit of a cinnamon roll — kind in a way that feels earned, not just convenient. Their chemistry is subtle, more companionable than fiery, but it works within the story’s rhythm. If you’re looking for a grand, dramatic romance, this won’t be it. But if you love a slow-burn connection that builds through shared space and mutual respect, you’ll find something lovely here.

The romance doesn’t dominate the plot, and I liked that. This isn’t a story about a woman being saved by love. It’s about her saving herself — by opening up, by sticking around long enough to feel something real, by realizing she doesn’t have to live life with her guard up all the time. The love story is just one piece of that larger journey.

The setting plays a big part in the coziness of this book. The beach town in Florida, the independent living community, the locals who never mind their own business — it all added to the charm. Every time I picked up the book, I felt like I was being gently nudged into a world that moved slower, one that asked me to sit still and listen. I could picture the breezy porches, the mismatched mugs, the warm lights at night, and the smell of ocean air drifting in through open windows.

That said, the pacing isn’t for everyone. It lingers in the quiet moments — the ones between action, the pauses between decisions. Some chapters revolve around very little: a walk, a phone call, a cup of coffee, a memory. I personally liked that. There’s a softness to it, like the book is more interested in atmosphere and emotion than plot. But if you prefer a more fast-paced story or high tension, this one might feel slow.

Mallory’s relationship with her job — and her somewhat careless attitude toward it — did make me pause. She’s not especially driven or focused when it comes to her career, and at times that bordered on frustrating. She lies to her boss, forgets meetings, and zones out in ways that felt irresponsible. I wish there had been a little more depth given to her professional arc, especially because her return-to-office crisis becomes such a pivotal moment in the plot. It would’ve been nice to see her take more ownership there.

There’s also a thread about Mallory’s online shopping habit that gets introduced but never fully explored. It’s clear it’s a coping mechanism — something she uses to feel in control — but the book never quite dives deep enough into it. I didn’t need a full subplot, but a little more reflection would have added another layer to her character.

Still, what the story gets right far outweighs those bumps. There’s a sense of emotional honesty in Appelbaum’s writing that I really appreciated. She doesn’t try to tie everything up too neatly. Mallory doesn’t become a different person by the end — she’s still awkward, still uncertain, still figuring it out. But she’s also braver, softer, and more present. She starts listening more. She opens her door without flinching. She learns that home isn’t just a place — it’s a feeling you build through connection.

The writing is gentle, sometimes funny, and always warm. There’s a comforting simplicity to the prose that made it easy to settle into. No flashy metaphors, no overdone drama — just people trying their best, stumbling into each other’s lives, and figuring out how to keep going when things shift.

The final chapters left me with that quiet, satisfying feeling I get from a really good slice-of-life story. The ending doesn’t overreach. It doesn’t need to. It offers Mallory (and us) a small but meaningful sense of peace — the kind that comes from staying still long enough to understand what you want, and finding the courage to choose it.

This isn’t a story that changes everything — but it’s the kind of story that gently reminds you of what matters. And sometimes, that’s exactly what I need.

I picked this up because I related to the premise. I've become more introverted after working from home for over four years. Unfortunately, I stopped connecting with the main character, Mallory, almost immediately.

A lot of the story centers on Mallory’s work-from-home life, which really frustrated me. While the synopsis claims she takes her remote job seriously, in the book she gets fired from her first work-from-home job for slacking off and doesn’t seem to learn from it. At her current job, she again takes advantage of working remotely, which rubbed me the wrong way as someone who truly values the privilege of remote work.

Beyond that, the romance was just okay and the plot was pretty predictable. The highlight for me was Mallory’s grandfather. He was absolutely adorable and brought some warmth to the story. Overall, I had high hopes, but Mallory’s attitude toward her job soured the book for me.

What a charming story! "An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love" by Lauren Appelbaum is a delightful women's fiction novel about family, personal growth, and stepping out of your comfort zone. Written in the present tense, the story follows an introverted woman's life-changing journey from her perspective.

Mallory Rosen works from home in her comfortable Seattle apartment, in a tech job she doesn’t really enjoy. Her parents and sister are all lawyers, so she’s sort of the black sheep of the family—the only one not working in the legal profession. She’s full of insecurities, and as an introvert, working from home suits her just fine. She has her own routine and loves her alone time.

All that changes when she inherits her late grandmother's seaside cottage in Florida. There’s only one condition: that she takes care of her grandfather. Mallory flies to Florida for a few weeks to sort out the property and reconnect with her grandfather, who lives in an independent living community, doing her best to care for him as her grandmother asked. Her stay lengthens more than she predicted, as the cottage needs fixing before it can be let out—according to her extroverted property manager, Daniel. Just as she starts to find her rhythm, real life gets in the way.

I enjoyed this feel-good book immensely. Please note that this is more women’s fiction than rom-com. Although there is a slow-burn romance, it isn’t the main focus. The pace is steady—some might say slow—but it didn’t feel that way to me. It’s a slice-of-life kind of story, so the pace felt just right. And I absolutely loved the small-town vibes and the portrayal of community life.

The heroine’s awkwardness is relatable, and I found it easy to connect with her. I loved her relationship with Daniel and her growing bond with her grandfather. I adored their interactions—the nightly chats, the gradual development of trust and closeness. It reminded me of my own relationship with my late grandparents, whom I greatly miss.

Yes, Mallory isn’t perfect. She doesn’t always act responsibly (especially job-wise) and can be a bit immature at times—but that’s what makes her so relatable. And she’s a “good egg.” One detail that nagged at me was that, on one hand, she didn’t eat pork because she’s Jewish (I loved having a Jewish heroine), but on the other hand, she ate seafood, which isn’t kosher.

The writing style is natural and flows well, with touches of gentle humor that balance out the heavier emotional themes. There’s a subtle thread of grief and healing, as Mallory’s grandfather learns to adjust to life without his wife—with help from his granddaughter and the supportive community around him. Through their growing bond, Mallory also begins to open up and grow—with others and within herself.

Overall, this is a lovely story with a slow-burn romance that I simply adored. The story arc was engaging, and the emotional undercurrents gave it depth. I recommend this heartwarming novel to readers who enjoy stories about family, self-discovery, community life, and finding love when you least expect it.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

This is a cute and cozy, slower-paced romcom set in a Florida retirement community.

This definitely reads more like literary fiction than romance to me.

Our main character, Mallory, has a lot on her plate at the moment. Between her job, grandmother passing and helping her grandfather, she's busy. I also found her to be rather immature in a very strange way. I don't know any introverts that are as childish and/or forgetful as she is. She feels more insecure than introverted (to me). And this made the relationship aspect of the book feel a bit more awkward than was comfortable. Awkward moments need to be written in such a particular way, this didn't really do that.

The best characters were the random old people that get into everyone else's business. They were an absolute mood and an absolute blast. I would gossip with them any day!

This is definitely a slower-paced book, so beware of that. At times, it did drag. But other times, it felt on purpose and suited the moment. But I know that pacing is such a personal preference thing, so some people may love it and some may hate it. I think just how slice-of-life this was really made it feel draggy. And some people love that sort of thing!

The love interest is very nice and sweet, a cinnamon roll (some may say).

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

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

Cute, cozy read! Mallory just wants peace and quiet, but inheriting her grandma’s cottage—and dealing with her grandpa and a charming property manager—throws her life off track.

Sweet slow-burn romance, fun side characters, and a great look at stepping out of your comfort zone. A little slow in spots, but totally worth it for the heartwarming moments.

The thing that drew me to this book was that title. I am all for the introvert life. Living in my own bubble, having my own routine, etc.

At this point in my life I 100% related to this story and it just reminded me that there is always more options out there. You just have to be willing to take them.

I really enjoyed this book.