I like how this book and lots of examples of scenarios. At the end of every chapter, there are action items which are short and helpful.
Thanks to netgalley for the review copy!

I don't consider myself to be socially awkward but I do find myself often dreading being social events as I'm shy and introverted. This book intrigued me because I feel like I'll take all the advice I can get - especially since I've become complacent within the last year and a half of COVID..

Overall, I'm glad I read this book as it did offer some great advice. The conversational tone of this book made it a very easy read, even with all the information it contained. It never felt too bogged down. Highly recommend if you're socially anxious and looking for advice!

Rachel does an excellent down to earth take on reconnecting with others in this tech savvy world.
Easy to read and easy to devour. Great author and very down to earth in her writing skills.

I didn't feel I'm in this book's targeted demographic, Millennials and others addicted to cellphone technology. But even so I found the author's bubbly exuberance engaging, and pretty much nodded my way through this quick and entertaining self-help read. There's plenty of interesting information and advice to glean here, did you know that Americans lie eleven times a week on average(?!)
-Large networks of shallow depth feed ego. Deep authentic connections feed your soul.
-Word choices should be empathetic, straightforward and positive.

Someone I used to talk to online was always looking at themselves while we chatted, fixing their hair and whatnot, their distraction with themselves was quite distracting to me. DeAlto's suggestion is to "turn off self-view when you can. If the program you are using doesn't include that option, use a sticky note to block your own face. It... will result in a drastic improvement in your online interactions."

This book provides guidance on how to boost your self-confidence and connect and communicate with others. Although anyone who feels socially awkward can probably find some useful tips here, the book seems to be aimed mostly at Millenials and Gen Z. I don’t use my phone much for anything other than phone calls, and I don’t use social media, so some of the content wasn’t relevant to me. I also didn’t relate to many of the client stories the author shared, but your mileage may vary.

Ms. DeAlto writes in a gentle, encouraging tone. Having already studied interpersonal communication, I didn’t learn many new techniques for overcoming my shyness and social discomfort, but I did find her content reassuring. I highlighted a few passages to remind myself that I already have many of the traits that make people most relatable. I will also be practicing the affirmations she provides at the end of each chapter.

To really benefit from this book, you have to spend a lot of time in self-reflection, trying the exercises at the end of each chapter; you also need to journal about your negative thoughts and learn how to reframe them. I’ve done some of that work in therapy, so I know that it can be helpful, but I didn’t have the energy to do all of these exercises right now.

For me, this book was just ok and I am rating it 3 stars. To be fair to the author, I’m sure your results from this book will depend on your willingness to do the exercises.

I was provided an ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.

I'd never heard of this author before getting this book. She had some great advice for socially awkward people like me. But this book suffers from what most self help books do, a few great ideas/points, lots of filler.

As far as personal development/self-help books go, this one is pretty good (and I’ve read my fair share of this genre)!

relatable felt like it was written like a friend giving you the advice you need to hear. It was super easy to read & there were a lot of great takeaways!

Whether you’re a social butterfly with the relationship department on lock or socially awkward, you’ll find something useful in this book.

I’m definitely glad I was able to read this ARC.

I had never heard of Rachel deAlto before, but I dove head first into this book anyway. Rachel puts things in a no bs but friendly manner, which I appreciated. She seems to really know what she is talking about, which comes through in her writing. It took me a while to get through this one, but it was definitely worth the read.

Rachel DeAlto has written a lovely conversational book about the difficult topics of fear and social anxiety. Throughout the book she offers coaching to overcome your fears and to be able to relate to others and to have meaningful conversations. Although this book is certainly no substitute for seeking in person help for true social anxiety (which I realize is something a person with social anxiety may find very difficult), it does contain many helpful ideas and was easy to read.

This book was received as an ARC from Tiller Press in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

As an introvert, I sometimes struggle with making connections face-to-face. I picked up a couple of tips from Rachel DeAlto that I plan on using in the future after the world gets back to normal a little more, and I find myself in social situations once again. DeAlto is herself, relatable, by telling stories about her own experience along the way. I've read better self-help books, but I've also read worse, so I would put this in the middle. It's definitely a good read for someone who has social anxiety, but if you aren't struggling with that, I would skip it.

This was an interesting book targeted at millennial and gen z to help us with our social anxiety. With case studies, advice, and clear organization, this book offers a lot to the reader. It also breaks down statistics about our generation and how we relate socially, which I really appreciated. However this book didn't hold my interest. I don't know if it was the writing style, or something else, but I struggled with it. I think it is a valuable book, it just wasn't for me.

4.5-5 Stars! Are you anxious? Lonely? Feeling less than? Want to connect but scared? Well then, this book is for you! Ha! Seriously though, I’m glad I read this book. I was thinking I’m the only one anxious to go out and connect with others and like I’m the only person my age not living a fabulous life and sharing it on social media! In reality, I know that’s not true but sometimes it’s easier to believe the negative and compare my life to my “friends” on Instagram. The author walks you through life stories that had me smiling and ways for me to get out of my social anxiety web. It’s not going to be comfortable but what’s the alternative, continue to be friendless, sad and lonely? I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone that gets anxious and uncertain in social situations. You have to put the work and effort in but this book gives you tips and tricks to help you help yourself!!
*I received this book at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

I really enjoyed this book! Rachel's conversational tone made this book easy to quickly read and I thought it was really informative. As an introvert who is completely exhausted by being around people and never knowing what to say, I thought this book had a lot of helpful tips. There is a lot of work and effort that is required on the reader's part to actually make progress, but she really lays the groundwork for how to do so.

This book was received as an ARC from Tiller Press in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I needed to read this book for being a librarian and gradually transitioning from virtual to in-person events and programs. Rachel DeAlto has a friendly, welcoming persona throughout the book and the language use was brilliant in creating this imagery like she was having a conversation with you and in the right mindset, coaching you throughout the book in overcoming your fear of social anxiety and become more confident in who you are. Online, people have the most confidence in the world because they literally can't be seen or heard or through some mediums seen from the face-up such as Zoom. I also love how often Rachel reminds the reader that they are awesome because loving yourself and building that self-confidence is key to socially interacting with others face to face and that will lead to making new friends which will lead to a lifetime of happiness. It is also nice to be reminded that no matter what happens , you are awesome and you deserve the very best in life.

We will consider adding this title to our Self-Help collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

This book wasn't extraordinary, but it did stand out from the standard self-help style book. She provides some good and useful advice, but you have to work through a good amount of filler and fluff to get to the book's meat. Worth a read if you enjoy self-help and similar books, but not number one on the list IMO.

As someone who never realized that I too have social anxiety until a few years ago. I always hated to strike up a conversation with just anyone and I have always been the shy type of person. Instead I have learned through reading this book a few tips and tricks on how to overcome that anxiety. I have learned that I am not the only person who does this and avoids major social media contact too. I felt like this book was written just for me and I highly recommend it to anyone who just doesn't feel like you always fit in.

Excellent! As someone who struggles to create connections and is introverted, this book was a breath of fresh air. I think everyone knows that the past year has been challenging and sometimes I feel like I have forgotten how to connect with others. Rachel has a history of helping others and this is evident from the valuable advice she provides. I loved the activities posted and the advice she has offered various clients. I absolutely loved the chapter on Zoom world. Having multiple zoom meetings everyday, I found it quite challenging to connect with others in a meaningful manner. Instead of focusing on my phone, I should take time to connect with others!

I am looking forward to implementing the advice in my daily life!

Engaging motivational book with useful ideas to develop people skills to enhance relationship building. Rachel engages with humorous stories, providing tips and action steps. This is a must read for anyone wanting to improve their connections and build stronger relationships.

Thank you NetGalley, for the advanced copy.

Fabulous book! Many of us feel we can benefit by increasing our relatability in person or on Zoom but we’re unsure just how we can accomplish this. Rachel DeAlto’s practical suggestions cover a wide range of topics that are useful in various situations. The personal stories shared help the reader connect with her advice. If you’ve caught Rachel on one of her many television appearances, you know first and how relatable, confident, relaxed, and likable she is. Her perspectives are useful and on the mark.

As someone who is extremely shy and introverted, I have always struggled to know what to say in social situations. Over the years I feel like I have done my best to try and overcome my shyness and be more social but during the pandemic this past year I have found myself becoming more isolated.

This book offered some great advice. I had never heard of Rachel DeAlto before but she does have quite a history of helping others in relationships and coaching them. I enjoyed the personal stories she shared and it helped me appreciate her advice more. She gave some great activities and shared stories of clients she had worked with in the past. I found this very valuable. I also loved that there was a chapter on making connections in our Zoom world that we are currently living in. I know I am guilty of focusing on my self too much and being on my phone instead of concentrating on making connections. I recommend this book for anyone looking for some ideas to help them connect and become more relatable to other people.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tiller Press for this advanced copy.