Book Title: Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come
Author: Jessica Pan
Purchase: Amazon
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Description from Goodreads:

What would happen if a shy introvert lived like a gregarious extrovert for one year? If she knowingly and willingly put herself in perilous social situations that she’d normally avoid at all costs? Jessica Pan is going to find out.

When she found herself jobless and friendless, sitting in the familiar Jess-shaped crease on her sofa, she couldn't help but wonder what life might have looked like if she had been a little more open to new experiences and new people, a little less attached to going home instead of going to the pub.

So, she made a vow: to push herself to live the life of an extrovert for a year. She wrote a list: improv, a solo holiday and... talking to strangers on the tube. She regretted it instantly.

Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come follows Jess's hilarious and painful year of misadventures in extroverting, reporting back from the frontlines for all the introverts out there.

But is life actually better or easier for the extroverts? Or is it the nightmare Jess always thought it would be?

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

I was looking for a break from YA and fantasy, and this memoir certainly did the trick. The writing style was clear and concise. I found the book super readable and was so engaged that I was able to finish it within a couple of days. I also found Pan very relatable and enjoyed her witty commentary throughout the book. At times, I would be reading and think to myself, this sounds like something I would say or this is how I would react in that situation.

Jessica Pan starts the book off saying she is a “shintrovert,” meaning a shy introvert, and goes on a journey to try to open herself up to more extroverted tendencies. As a fellow “shintrovert,” I was blown away by some of the things she did. I mean, the thought of performing improv scares me to death. It was amazing to read just how scared and anxious she would get before these events, and yet, how she was able to push through in the end. It really inspired me to think more about my life and what I can do to challenge myself and get out my shell. At the same time, she always made it clear that while it’s good to put yourself in new situations, introverts should still take the time to decompress and be alone. It’s all about having balance in your life.

Throughout the book, Pan did a good job of mixing in research studies with funny and moving stories. I liked that for each step she took, she contacted a mentor (i.e. psychologist, comedian, speaking coach) who would give her some advice and help her along the journey.

Overall, this book was about more than just being an introvert versus extrovert — it was also about the importance of human connection and how loneliness can effect you. At the start of the book, Pan was suffering from deep loneliness and depression. She hit rock bottom when, sitting in a sauna trying to sweat out water weight for a weight loss competition, she ended up yelling at the spa assistant. She realized she had to make a change in her life because she was so unhappy. She took the year to become a more open person, to build friendships, and feel more connected to others. It was amazing to watch her challenge herself and to read along as her quality of life improved. Pan showed me that taking risks in life and being more vulnerable with others is truly worth the effort.