Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come

An Introvert’s Year of Living Dangerously

By: Jessica Pan

Narrated by: Jessica Pan

Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come written by Jessica Pan.

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?

©2019 Jessica Pan (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

Tender, courageous and extremely funny, this book will make us all braver. (Daisy Buchanan)

In a world of self-care and nights in, this book will inspire and remind you to do some things that scare you every so often. (Emma Gannon)

Absolutely bloody great. As a textbook, concrete, public changing, foghorn extrovert, I find Jessica Pan’s descriptions of introversion and shyness fascinating and she is very funny. (Nell Frizzell)

The best books are sometimes those that we find accidentally.

And this books proves it all the way.
I honestly don’t even know how I found out that this piece or marvelous book exists. I guess it was meant to be.

Hardly ever do I love every bit of a book. Hardly ever do I want to become best friends with the author. Well, this is the case and let me tell you, that the lovely Jessica Pan just found herself a fan girl.

For us, introverts, life can get hard sometimes and we often don’t understand why. Are we weird? Do we not belong? Do we not deserve a life full of fun, friends and experiences?
This book sums our lives so well and more importantly it challenges us, introverts, to step outside our little bubble and do the unthinkable.

Not that I am planning of trying a stand-up comedy or even an improv class, but I feel like the book has actually taught me a lot. So much I actually started implementing some things in my office. And damn, it feels good to engage in random conversations. It really, really does.

Thank you, Jessica, for this amazing year long journey you took me on. It might as well be life changing for number of your readers. 🙏

Love a real life experiment

Interesting with some insights that can be applied in daily lives without being a self help or how to book

It's not that bad but it made me feel worse...

I'm a happy introvert and I expect an easy and funny story of venturing out to the wild world. I didn't get it, instead I started questioning myself again, I just couldn't help myself but feel that extraverted life was superior to the one I'm happily living. So sorry but no, I could not finish it... The author sounds very very American and full of extraverted ideal. Didn't find much of originality in this work.

Loved it!

Discovered Jessica via her Substack and I absolutely love her writing style. I hope there’s more to come! I’m an extrovert but still loved it and wish I have a friend close by like Jessica (as I’m British American and have friends globally).

Relatable

An enjoyable easy read. Relatable and funny if you're also a bit of an introvert.

First half was great

First half was great. Really interesting and funny. Second half was quite waffley and I got bored. I could relate to a lot of things in the book, like trying BFF. It’s definitely worth listening to.

Wonderfully Funny & Heartwarming At The Same Time.

A wonderful personal account of her experience of what it is like for someone who is naturally shy.

Jessica Pan’s story is so relatable to many people and I laughed and sympathized with her, hearing how she suffered at periods of her life and marveled at her exploits in becoming slightly more extrovert and improve her quality of life.

A funny, inspiring story.

As a shy introvert, this story was so relatable! It is funny and inspiring. I really loved Jessica! ❤

fantastic book

It was so interesting and entertaining. well read too.
It definitely motivates me to do more "extrovert" things. thank you!

Reassuring and Inspiring, not to mention Funny!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's so relatable, right from the title! I laughed out loud but also learnt from Jessica's tales on extroverting. A balanced helping of light entertainment and nourishing food for thought. Thank you, Jessica., for sharing.

Truly inspiring story!

Very relatable and funny! Jess' courage to overcome her introversion have really inspired me to do the same. Although I won't be doing stand up comedy anytime soon!

loved it!

Dear Jessica, you're my friend in my head :)
this is such a great book for different personality types. there's good stories and laughter and connections. the author describes things and the people she met in her year in a way that makes you feel like you're in the room with them or at improv class. Also I learnt that there s a coach for everything:)