Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come: One Introvert's Year of Saying Yes

An introvert spends a year trying to live like an extrovert with hilarious results and advice for readers along the way.

“Charming. Brave. Hilariously honest.” —David Litt, New York Times–bestselling author of Thanks, Obama

What would happen if a self-described “shintrovert” (part shy, part introvert, entirely committed to the sofa) 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? Writer Jessica Pan intends to find out. With the help of various extrovert mentors, Jessica sets up a series of personal challenges (talk to strangers, perform stand-up comedy, host a dinner party, travel alone, make friends on the road, and much, much worse) to explore whether living like an extrovert can teach her lessons that might improve the quality of her life.

Chronicling the author’s hilarious and painful year of misadventures, this humorous memoir explores what happens when one introvert fights her natural tendencies, takes the plunge, and tries (and sometimes fails) to be a little bit braver.

• A year-long real-life experiment in living more boldly
• Honest reflections on introversion, anxiety, and loneliness
• Perfect for fans of Quiet by Susan Cain, Yes Man by Danny Wallace, and The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes — witty, warm, and deeply relatable
• Encouragement for readers (introverted and otherwise) who want to challenge their own comfort zones
• More than a self-help book — Pan's “shintrovert” experiment is backed by real psychology, offering genuine insight into how fear and habit shape the lives we think we're stuck with
• A funny, relatable, and highly readable perspective that respects introversion rather than trying to “fix” it

Grounded in behavioral science and driven by sharp, self-deprecating humor, this is a book for anyone who has ever felt lonely in a crowded city, struggled to make friends after thirty, or wondered what they might be missing by always choosing the sofa.