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An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love - by Lauren Appelbaum Paperback
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About this item
Highlights
- Inheriting a seaside cottage comes with strings attached in this touching romance where an introverted remote worker must leave her city apartment and learn to connect with others--and find love--in real life.
- About the Author: Lauren Appelbaum works as a technical editor and has been writing fiction since she could hold a pencil (usually when she's supposed to be doing other things).
- 352 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Romance
Description
About the Book
"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 dâejáa 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 unexpected: 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 ever: All employees must return to the office"--
Book Synopsis
Inheriting a seaside cottage comes with strings attached in this touching romance where an introverted remote worker must leave her city apartment and learn to connect with others--and find love--in real life.
Mallory Rosen loves working from home--minimum contact with others suits her just fine. Nothing could make her leave her comfortable Seattle apartment. Until she inherits her late grandmother's seaside cottage . . . with strings attached: Take care of your grandfather.
Fine. She can quickly check on Gramps, rent out the cottage, and return to her life. Yet when she arrives at the independent living community, the WiFi keeps dropping, Gramps interrupts her meetings, and the cottage needs renovating--according to the handsome, extroverted property manager.
So much for grand plans. Soon Mal finds herself caught up in senior citizen aerobics, new friendships, nightly chats with Gramps--and in the sparks flying with her charming property manager. Then, just when her new life and chance at love feel worth leaving her safety net behind, she gets the worst notice ever: All employees must return to the office.
Review Quotes
"A sweet slow-burn romance that champions family bonds, self-discovery, and true love. I was rooting for Mallory from the first page and ended the book still cheering. A winner."--Kate Spencer, author of All's Fair in Love and Pickleball
"A feel-good slow burn, AN INTROVERT'S GUIDE TO LIFE AND LOVE shows how necessary it is to go bravely after the life you want instead of the one you think you need. It was so satisfying to watch Mallory grow as she's thrown into the deep end and learn how to balance her remote job, a new rental property across the country, family, and a burgeoning love. This book reached into my introverted soul and gave it a big hug!"--Lauren Kung Jessen, author of Yin Yang Love Song
"An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love is like a warm hug full of multi generational connections, personal growth, and swoony settings. With a perfect love interest and descriptions that transport the reader to exactly the kind of summer escape we all deserve, Appelbaum once again delivers a story you'll want as your companion whether on the beach or snuggled up in a blanket on the couch."--Anna E. Collins
"An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love spoke deeply to my introvert's heart. I loved watching Mallory come into herself while not losing who she is. Introvert or extrovert, you will love it too."--Amanda Elliot, USA Today bestselling author of Love You a Latke
"Delightfully charming, An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love is a poignant ode to the wonderful things that can happen when we chase expansiveness and uncertainty. It's a treat to watch Mallory move out of her comfort zone, grapple with the demands of family and corporate life, and flirt with a new kind of future (and a delicious man, of course!) I rooted for her from start to finish!"--Katie Naymon, author of You Between the Lines
"I read the Introvert's Guide to Life and Love with a goofy grin on my face from start to finish, completely charmed by both the burgeoning bond between Mallory and her Gramps and her sweet and slow-burn romance with dreamy Daniel. Adorable and laugh-out-loud funny with true character growth and development, Lauren Applebaum's delightful sophomore novel is the perfect feel-good read!"--Meredith Schorr, USA Today bestselling author of RoomMating
"The slow burn of Mallory falling for Daniel as well as Florida is full of lush and lovely scenes, and Mallory is a pleasurable narrator who readers will root for. Like a good soak in a hot tub near the beach."--Kirkus
"Appelbaum is a rising powerhouse in the world of contemporary romance."--Sara Goodman Confino, bestselling author of DON'T FORGET TO WRITE
About the Author
Lauren Appelbaum works as a technical editor and has been writing fiction since she could hold a pencil (usually when she's supposed to be doing other things). She lives in Seattle with her family.
Dimensions (Overall): 7.9 Inches (H) x 5.3 Inches (W) x 1.1 Inches (D)
Weight: .65 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 352
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Romance
Publisher: Forever
Theme: Contemporary
Format: Paperback
Author: Lauren Appelbaum
Language: English
Street Date: September 16, 2025
TCIN: 1001577115
UPC: 9781538757864
Item Number (DPCI): 247-34-5197
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1.1 inches length x 5.3 inches width x 7.9 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.65 pounds
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5.0 out of 5 stars with 1 reviews
5 out of 5 stars
20 September, 2025Verified purchase
Must must read cozy feel good romcom
I picked up this book on release day, expecting a fun read that I’d get to enjoy at the end of the night as my wind down. Instead, I was instantly drawn into Mallory’s world and I couldn’t put the book down, I ended up finishing it the day after I got it. I can only describe this book as everything you want from a good romcom, one you end up going back to over and over when you need a cozy feel good story that actually still feels relatable and rooted in reality. Without providing spoilers, the things I loved about this novel were: The compelling romance that pulls the reader in and leaves the reader needing to know how it ends, but leaves room for the other storylines in the novel that feel just as if not more important: Mallory’s self discovery and relationship with her gramps (arguably the BEST character in the book, an absolute gem who I want to give a big hug to, who is so well written you feel like you’re getting to know him just as Mallory is) Mallory’s internal monologue. It’s hilarious and also SO relatable (I will say, between where Mallory lives, her job, and what she describes her life was like in her early 20s, and being a self described awkward introvert, I feel like I could be Mallory) but I feel like all the things she says in her inner monologue I know EXACTLY what she’s feeling, I could not have related more. Her inner thoughts are at times actually laugh out loud funny (at one point my husband asked what the heck I’m reading - I couldn’t stop laughing and had to read him some blurbs) The development of all the characters and Mallory’s relationship and interactions to each one. You feel like you’re connected with her people and her world, the characters are so well written, no one feels unrealistic or out of place, and the realistic relationship Mallory has with each one adds such a compelling aspect to the story line. It’s hard to get into a novel or movie when you keep getting pulled out because the character writing feels unrealistic or like it doesn’t quite flow, this novel has absolutely none of that and I love it The more serious moments in the novel. Again, without spoilers, it’s a lighthearted feel good read, but there are a number of moments where the plot does get serious, and the writer does such an amazing job connecting the reader to the characters that you feel Mallory’s emotions with her (I definitely cried once or twice…) and I absolutely love the way the writer handles them and some of the outcomes of the more tender and sad conversations between Mallory and the people in her life I’m going to say it again: Gramps and Mallory’s relationship with him. It’s just too good. The last several chapters. You’re SO drawn in at that point, and I just LOVE a romance novel where you’re practically screaming at the pages by the end and you get that intense dopamine rush only a good romance can bring Long story long, I was obsessed with this book. I’m definitely a repeat reader/watcher of shows and movies, when I like something I want to re-enjoy it over and over and this will definitely be on my repeat list, in the same way my favorite romcom/romance movies get repeated probably once a year haha!