Title: An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love
Author: Lauren Appelbaum
Publication: September 16, 2025
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Romance
Pages: 352
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SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
Mallory Rosen takes her remote tech job seriously. She values routine with predictability and minimum contact with others. So the last thing she wants are any surprises that force her to leave her comfortable Seattle apartment. Surprises like inheriting her late grandmother’s seaside cottage in Florida…with the requirement that she keeps her newly widowed grandfather company.
With no vacation days left, Mal will have to quickly check on her grandfather, sell the cottage, and return to her structured life before her boss even knows she left. But when she gets to Gramp’s new independent living community, it’s not so simple. The cottage needs expensive maintenance fixes with a much too charming property manager. Her grandfather constantly interrupts her Zoom meetings. The WiFi drops at the absolute worst times. It all feels too much like déjà vu—the kind that reminds her of when she was fired from her last remote job and was forced to live with her parents.
But right when she’s about to call it quits, she starts finding the making friends at the senior citizen yoga, getting to know Gramps as a person (rather than just a stubborn boomer), and exploring the tight-knit small town. It doesn’t help that she keeps running into her hot property manager who seems to know everyone. Just when she finally feels alive, connected to others, and like she has a chance at love, she gets the (almost) worst notice All employees must return to the office.
REVIEW:
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Being an introvert myself, I have to admit my hopes were high going into this book and for the most part I wasn’t disappointed. Overall, this was a really sweet story! The thought processes of the FMC are relatable to real life and it made the few negatives I found in this book easier to digest.
There is a lot of what seems like filler in this book. It makes the story drag and a lot of the moments didn’t really lend to any of the characters. It was just there as a movement to the next scene. The FMC and the MMC have a sweet relationship, or what feels like the build up to one. I don’t think this story was one of deep, soul altering love which is fine! I think it was meant to be a glimpse into the choices and inner dialogue of a very anxious and introverted person. That was well accomplished.
If you’re looking for an FMC with personal growth, this is the book.
