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The Introvert's Guide to Kissing in Europe
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Expected 18 Aug 26Win a free print copy of this book!
12 days and 11:43:08
30 copies available
U.S. only
13 Little Blue Envelopes meets Love and Gelato in this YA coming-of-age romance about Emily, who takes a gap year in Europe to learn about life, love, and working through grief—while following in her grandmother's footsteps.
Everything in Emily Tannenbaum's life is going according to plan. Graduate high school as valedictorian? Check. Gain admission to Dartmouth? Check. Decide to pause everything to embark on a gap year adventure abroad? Wait, what?
Ever since her sister died, Emily has done everything in her power to be the good girl, the safe girl, the one her parents don't have to worry about. She's worked hard, she's studied, she's attended school-approved functions.
But when her grandmother, a former member of the famous Flower Sisters music duo, proposes that Emily take time off to follow the European tour the Flower Sisters took in 1966, Emily impulsively jumps at the chance as a way to embrace the messy and unexpected parts of life.
As she travels from Spain to Sweden with stops in Paris and Rome along the way, Emily begins to experience all that life has to offer. She deals with pickpockets, dances the night away, has her heart broken, and learns more about herself and where she came from than she ever could have imagined.
Everything in Emily Tannenbaum's life is going according to plan. Graduate high school as valedictorian? Check. Gain admission to Dartmouth? Check. Decide to pause everything to embark on a gap year adventure abroad? Wait, what?
Ever since her sister died, Emily has done everything in her power to be the good girl, the safe girl, the one her parents don't have to worry about. She's worked hard, she's studied, she's attended school-approved functions.
But when her grandmother, a former member of the famous Flower Sisters music duo, proposes that Emily take time off to follow the European tour the Flower Sisters took in 1966, Emily impulsively jumps at the chance as a way to embrace the messy and unexpected parts of life.
As she travels from Spain to Sweden with stops in Paris and Rome along the way, Emily begins to experience all that life has to offer. She deals with pickpockets, dances the night away, has her heart broken, and learns more about herself and where she came from than she ever could have imagined.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 18, 2026
About the author
Brenda Janowitz
12 books837 followersBrenda is the author of eight novels, including THE AUDREY HEPBURN ESTATE, which was chosen as the Reader’s Choice by the CBS New York Book Club with Mary Calvi. Her debut Young Adult novel, THE INTROVERT’S GUIDE TO KISSING IN EUROPE, will be out this August from Disney Books. Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Real Simple, The Sunday Times (UK), Salon, Redbook, USA Today, Bustle, The Forward, the New York Post, Publisher’s Weekly, Hello Giggles, Writer’s Digest Magazine, WritersDigest.com, and xojane. She is the former Books Correspondent for PopSugar.
Brenda attended Cornell University and Hofstra Law School, where she was a member of the Law Review. Upon graduation from Hofstra, worked for the law firm Kaye Scholer, LLP, and did a federal clerkship with the Honorable Marilyn Dolan Go, United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York.
Brenda attended Cornell University and Hofstra Law School, where she was a member of the Law Review. Upon graduation from Hofstra, worked for the law firm Kaye Scholer, LLP, and did a federal clerkship with the Honorable Marilyn Dolan Go, United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 30, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for the ARC.
This was a fun, mostly lighthearted read. I believe the title is misleading. She is supposedly an introvert but definitely does not act like it, except for a couple of times. It is filled with great life advice tidbits and also quite a few "what not to do when traveling" scenarios. I loved the descriptions of the places that she visited. There were a lot I didn't know and I enjoyed looking them up. I really feel like I got to see Europe again through her eyes. She matured over the course of the book and it had a nice wrapped up ending.
It was enjoyable and is a nice travel fiction novel.
This was a fun, mostly lighthearted read. I believe the title is misleading. She is supposedly an introvert but definitely does not act like it, except for a couple of times. It is filled with great life advice tidbits and also quite a few "what not to do when traveling" scenarios. I loved the descriptions of the places that she visited. There were a lot I didn't know and I enjoyed looking them up. I really feel like I got to see Europe again through her eyes. She matured over the course of the book and it had a nice wrapped up ending.
It was enjoyable and is a nice travel fiction novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 rounded up
This book was just ok for me. I struggled with the title ironically, giving it far too much thought while reading. I am confident the story was trying to show how an introvert found her way and herself during a gap year in Europe. The whole book felt like one giant party through Europe and very un-introvert-like. It would have worked better for me if there was more build up in the early part of Emily's journey and how she came out of her shell. Overall I struggled with the pacing mostly. A great deal of time was spent early on in Barcelona and I was well over a third into the book when Emily moved on. Other stops felt like they were merely mentioned in comparison. Regardless, it had me wanting to go explore Europe which is never a bad thing!
What was nailed was the teenage perspective. Emily is a recent high school valedictorian who decided during her speech she would defer her enrollment at Dartmouth and take a gap year in Europe. Not only this, but she was going to recreate the music tour her grandmother and great aunt did in 1966 as the Flower Sisters. Emily did come across as naïve...well maybe sheltered or juvenile are better descriptors, but this makes sense given her age etc. Everyone she kissed she "fell in love with"...not really, but in her mind that's how it worked and this made a lot of sense to me. Overly trusting due to inexperience and there was a part that had grandma referencing Anna Delvey...I was curious where this storyline would go and think the choice that Janowitz made best fit the book. The only pop culture reference I didn't enjoy was "Emily in Paris" given our FMC was an Emily, I don't know why this made me eyeroll because there were some similarities in a way,
I liked Penny's character. There was some mystery to her and her story which gave the book a little more substance. I like how it was all handled especially where Penny landed at the end of the book. I wish we had more Grandma Rose. I L-O-V-E grandma/granddaughter stories and while this one was about Emily truly, I selfishly wanted a little more. The use of Rose's journal entries was great as we could follow the trail that Rose wanted Emily to discover. I liked that Emily would check in with Rose and send pictures...a little more than the rest of the family received, which showed how special their relationship was. One part left me perplexed as it mentioned briefly that Emily wasn't close to Rose and this didn't make a lot of sense and I personally would have removed the statement had I been the Editor.
This was an easy read mostly, short of the pacing and flow issues I encountered. I was invested enough to want to know how it all came together and where the central characters landed. Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
This book was just ok for me. I struggled with the title ironically, giving it far too much thought while reading. I am confident the story was trying to show how an introvert found her way and herself during a gap year in Europe. The whole book felt like one giant party through Europe and very un-introvert-like. It would have worked better for me if there was more build up in the early part of Emily's journey and how she came out of her shell. Overall I struggled with the pacing mostly. A great deal of time was spent early on in Barcelona and I was well over a third into the book when Emily moved on. Other stops felt like they were merely mentioned in comparison. Regardless, it had me wanting to go explore Europe which is never a bad thing!
What was nailed was the teenage perspective. Emily is a recent high school valedictorian who decided during her speech she would defer her enrollment at Dartmouth and take a gap year in Europe. Not only this, but she was going to recreate the music tour her grandmother and great aunt did in 1966 as the Flower Sisters. Emily did come across as naïve...well maybe sheltered or juvenile are better descriptors, but this makes sense given her age etc. Everyone she kissed she "fell in love with"...not really, but in her mind that's how it worked and this made a lot of sense to me. Overly trusting due to inexperience and there was a part that had grandma referencing Anna Delvey...I was curious where this storyline would go and think the choice that Janowitz made best fit the book. The only pop culture reference I didn't enjoy was "Emily in Paris" given our FMC was an Emily, I don't know why this made me eyeroll because there were some similarities in a way,
I liked Penny's character. There was some mystery to her and her story which gave the book a little more substance. I like how it was all handled especially where Penny landed at the end of the book. I wish we had more Grandma Rose. I L-O-V-E grandma/granddaughter stories and while this one was about Emily truly, I selfishly wanted a little more. The use of Rose's journal entries was great as we could follow the trail that Rose wanted Emily to discover. I liked that Emily would check in with Rose and send pictures...a little more than the rest of the family received, which showed how special their relationship was. One part left me perplexed as it mentioned briefly that Emily wasn't close to Rose and this didn't make a lot of sense and I personally would have removed the statement had I been the Editor.
This was an easy read mostly, short of the pacing and flow issues I encountered. I was invested enough to want to know how it all came together and where the central characters landed. Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
So I have been trying to review every new book I read this year and I have a bit of a backlog, but I just finished this little delight and I want to write what I loved about it before I forget.
I love the title. It's cute, even though Emily seems more nervous than introverted. At first. This girl, doing a gap year across Europe after high school, sheds her inhibitions pretty quick when she smacks one on the lips of a cute boy in a train station in Spain. He is Chekov's cute boy and you can bet he comes back around. Meanwhile, she befriends Penny, aka @PennyForYourThoughs, an instagram travel influencer. And she meets all the expats that Penny is traveling with. So she spends the whole book almost never alone and doesn't seem to have an issue with it. Hence, not an introvert.
In other news, her grandma was in an early rock duo with her sister back in the 60s and Emily wants to go to all the places her grandma played. Oh, and she had a sister who died. And part of the book is written in her grandma's journal entries. And she is Jewish. She doesn't talk much about the belief system, but she is observant of the holidays and you can tell her Judaism is an important part of her identity.
Okay, I didn't read any of the Goodreads reviews yet, but I did notice that mine will be the first 5 star one. Not only because I give out 5 stars like tee-ball coaches give out trophies, but because I just LOVED the opportunity to see a bunch of expats wandering around Europe. I spent the fall and early winter of 1990 in Brussels, which is a bit of the kissing-your-cousin of expat experiences, but I did make very close friends with a bunch of other expats who I never spoke to again after those months. I found it fascinating to see it in fiction. I just thought I was great at making friends and bad at keeping them.
Yes, WAY too much happens in this book. There are so many issues, some of them quite serious, but they are handled in such a blase way that they didn't hurt my feelings. The cover makes this look like absolute fluff and even though I got it from my best friend NetGalley and didn't see the cover that prominently, it must have influenced my reading. This seemed like a light fun read that occasionally went deep. And I found that kind of refreshing. Did it matter that I read this on the last day of school and first day of vacation, my own personal high holy days? Perhaps. But I still closed it with a feeling of utter satisfaction!
I love the title. It's cute, even though Emily seems more nervous than introverted. At first. This girl, doing a gap year across Europe after high school, sheds her inhibitions pretty quick when she smacks one on the lips of a cute boy in a train station in Spain. He is Chekov's cute boy and you can bet he comes back around. Meanwhile, she befriends Penny, aka @PennyForYourThoughs, an instagram travel influencer. And she meets all the expats that Penny is traveling with. So she spends the whole book almost never alone and doesn't seem to have an issue with it. Hence, not an introvert.
In other news, her grandma was in an early rock duo with her sister back in the 60s and Emily wants to go to all the places her grandma played. Oh, and she had a sister who died. And part of the book is written in her grandma's journal entries. And she is Jewish. She doesn't talk much about the belief system, but she is observant of the holidays and you can tell her Judaism is an important part of her identity.
Okay, I didn't read any of the Goodreads reviews yet, but I did notice that mine will be the first 5 star one. Not only because I give out 5 stars like tee-ball coaches give out trophies, but because I just LOVED the opportunity to see a bunch of expats wandering around Europe. I spent the fall and early winter of 1990 in Brussels, which is a bit of the kissing-your-cousin of expat experiences, but I did make very close friends with a bunch of other expats who I never spoke to again after those months. I found it fascinating to see it in fiction. I just thought I was great at making friends and bad at keeping them.
Yes, WAY too much happens in this book. There are so many issues, some of them quite serious, but they are handled in such a blase way that they didn't hurt my feelings. The cover makes this look like absolute fluff and even though I got it from my best friend NetGalley and didn't see the cover that prominently, it must have influenced my reading. This seemed like a light fun read that occasionally went deep. And I found that kind of refreshing. Did it matter that I read this on the last day of school and first day of vacation, my own personal high holy days? Perhaps. But I still closed it with a feeling of utter satisfaction!
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July 23, 2026I really wanted to love this one. A gap year spent traveling across Europe while retracing a grandmother's footsteps? That sounded like exactly the kind of YA adventure I'd enjoy. And while there were definitely parts I liked, the overall story just didn't quite come together for me.
The travel aspect was easily the highlight. I loved following Emily through different European cities, and the descriptions of each destination made me want to start planning my own trip. I also enjoyed the idea of uncovering more about her grandmother's past through the journey, and that storyline kept me invested.
That said, I struggled with several aspects of the book. Despite the title, Emily never really felt like an introvert to me. She came across as more inexperienced and uncertain than someone who genuinely preferred solitude, so the premise didn't fully match the character I was reading. The story also tries to tackle a lot—grief, family history, romance, friendships, self-discovery, influencer culture—and because there were so many different threads, few of them felt as fully developed as I wanted. Some of the heavier topics, especially surrounding Emily's family, felt like they were introduced but never explored with the depth they deserved.
I also have to mention the ARC formatting. I completely understand that advance copies aren't the finished product, and I genuinely tried not to let that influence my opinion of the story itself because that wouldn't be fair to the author. But the formatting in this ARC was so rough that it regularly pulled me out of the reading experience and made the book difficult to get through at times. I can't honestly say it had no impact on my enjoyment, even if I did my best to separate the formatting from the story.
Overall, I liked the idea behind this book more than the execution. There are some sweet moments, plenty of wanderlust, and readers who love travel-focused YA romances may still find a lot to enjoy. For me, though, the story never fully delivered on its promising premise, and I finished wishing the characters and emotional arcs had been explored in greater depth.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!
The travel aspect was easily the highlight. I loved following Emily through different European cities, and the descriptions of each destination made me want to start planning my own trip. I also enjoyed the idea of uncovering more about her grandmother's past through the journey, and that storyline kept me invested.
That said, I struggled with several aspects of the book. Despite the title, Emily never really felt like an introvert to me. She came across as more inexperienced and uncertain than someone who genuinely preferred solitude, so the premise didn't fully match the character I was reading. The story also tries to tackle a lot—grief, family history, romance, friendships, self-discovery, influencer culture—and because there were so many different threads, few of them felt as fully developed as I wanted. Some of the heavier topics, especially surrounding Emily's family, felt like they were introduced but never explored with the depth they deserved.
I also have to mention the ARC formatting. I completely understand that advance copies aren't the finished product, and I genuinely tried not to let that influence my opinion of the story itself because that wouldn't be fair to the author. But the formatting in this ARC was so rough that it regularly pulled me out of the reading experience and made the book difficult to get through at times. I can't honestly say it had no impact on my enjoyment, even if I did my best to separate the formatting from the story.
Overall, I liked the idea behind this book more than the execution. There are some sweet moments, plenty of wanderlust, and readers who love travel-focused YA romances may still find a lot to enjoy. For me, though, the story never fully delivered on its promising premise, and I finished wishing the characters and emotional arcs had been explored in greater depth.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First I'd like to thank the publisher for a digital arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. DNF at 10%. If the title of this book didn't say "An Introvert's Guide" I might not be as disappointed as I am. No, I probably still would be. Never would I guess that our FMC is an introvert. Inexperienced, naive, and a little bit of an idiot maybe. Our MC Emily (I have no problem with that name but then she proceeds to mention "Emily in Paris" in the preface, and it just felt a little cringy. I don't really like those kinds of references to modern media) Then the first chapter was about her grandmother is the 1960s (when we read the chapter, we don't know it's her grandmother so I thought it was setting up a little mystery, that we would slowly learn more about who this was as the book went on) Nope, chapter 2 we find out it's her grandmother. Already feeling disappointed. Anyway then Emily talks about how she aced Spanish in school and how it's perfect that she's now in Spain, but then proceeds to discover that no one can understand her! *face palm* One of the first things I learned in my one unit of Spanish in middle school was that the Spanish spoken in the US and in Mexico was very different to the Spanish spoken in Spain! And this is a high school graduate taking a gap year. Then in chapter 3 she meets the travel influencer she idolizes and a group of other teens touring Europe, who she basically just immediately becomes best friends with. They take her to party and drink (I would say underage but I know age restrictions are different in Europe but no mention of that). They all annoyed me right off the bat. And all I could think was that this girl was in no way, shape or form an introvert! It was at this point that I decided to just check a couple reviews to see if anyone else had a problem with this and if it got better. Nope. Someone else said its her and her new buddies partying across Europe. DNF.
June 11, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
I was so excited about the premise of this book, especially since I was that “do everything right” girl in high school and I teach high school and have such a heart for the young people who are just trying to figure out what they want out of life. Unfortunately, a lot of the novel felt like a list of all the amazing things to do in the amazing European countries; there was a lot of “telling” and not a lot of “showing.” Also, the character development was two-dimensional: Emily is struggling with who she wants to be, grief from losing her sister, and learning how to be on her own. That’s a lot to grapple with and I just didn’t see the character work there. The title labels her an “introvert” and she describes herself as a consummate planner, and I can tell you those things just don’t go away overnight; yet she doesn’t seem to have any issue falling into a life of partying all night with her group of friends she meets. Additionally, this girl sees Europe in one of the most privileged ways: not only does her grandmother finance her trip (complete with emergency credit card) but she also happens to befriend an Instagram influencer who is able to get them posh hotel stays and dinner at the Eiffel Tower on New Year’s Eve. With the exception of her purse getting stolen on her first night and realizing that her AP Spanish didn’t really prepare her for real conversation in Spain, Emily doesn’t really seem to struggle at all. It just feels so unrealistic. Also, I would have liked to see more with the relationship between her and her parents. I find a hard time believing that her parents wouldn’t be more communicative with her, especially once we discover what happened with her sister.
Thank you to Disney and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was so excited about the premise of this book, especially since I was that “do everything right” girl in high school and I teach high school and have such a heart for the young people who are just trying to figure out what they want out of life. Unfortunately, a lot of the novel felt like a list of all the amazing things to do in the amazing European countries; there was a lot of “telling” and not a lot of “showing.” Also, the character development was two-dimensional: Emily is struggling with who she wants to be, grief from losing her sister, and learning how to be on her own. That’s a lot to grapple with and I just didn’t see the character work there. The title labels her an “introvert” and she describes herself as a consummate planner, and I can tell you those things just don’t go away overnight; yet she doesn’t seem to have any issue falling into a life of partying all night with her group of friends she meets. Additionally, this girl sees Europe in one of the most privileged ways: not only does her grandmother finance her trip (complete with emergency credit card) but she also happens to befriend an Instagram influencer who is able to get them posh hotel stays and dinner at the Eiffel Tower on New Year’s Eve. With the exception of her purse getting stolen on her first night and realizing that her AP Spanish didn’t really prepare her for real conversation in Spain, Emily doesn’t really seem to struggle at all. It just feels so unrealistic. Also, I would have liked to see more with the relationship between her and her parents. I find a hard time believing that her parents wouldn’t be more communicative with her, especially once we discover what happened with her sister.
Thank you to Disney and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own. I wanted to read this one bc of the comparison to 13 Little Blue Envelopes as that was a favorite among my middle school students, and I’m also ways lookin for more books to recommend to them. Although the book wasn’t terrible, it did fall short for me of my expectations. First, the overall idea was interesting of Emily following the path her grandmother took on a music tour back in the day. I also enjoyed all her stops and what she learned about her grandmother and great-aunt along the way. Also, she meets some interesting characters (an influencer and some other teens she travels with) and love interests and discovers a lot about herself. What I didn’t love was that it wasn’t very realistic (do that many people have money to do a gap year or even travel like that at a young age?!?), especially the ending. I also felt there was a lot going on in this book and story where it seemed like I couldn’t figure out the main focus-self-discovery? Love? Handling her grief? I also felt like what happened to her sister was fluffed over, and Emily isn’t really an introvert but more naive than anything. I do think some teens would enjoy this book, but I think it’s a lot and also doesn’t handle big issues and themes as well as it could. FYI talk to underage drinking (although legal in Europe), drugs, and sex (although it’s not graphic)
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Read by one of my middle school children. This is her honest review:
The Introvert’s guide to Kissing in Europe was a refreshing, wonderful read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The book highlighted many interesting topics and situations, putting them together in such a masterful way. It wasn’t just another read that I put back on my shelf and never thought of again, the story made me really think about the ideas and relationships formed. I really felt connected to the story, the theme really reaching out to me.
The characters weren’t only there to move the story along, they represented how people can react and treat each other, and how social relationships can work. I felt that it brought out ideas that most books typically don’t. While I don’t think that the book is perfect, I stand by the fact that even the greatest books aren’t. With that in mind, this book is perfect for people who feel a bit lost, who want to have a new sense of freedom and independence.
The story portrays how it is okay not to always be in control, and it also describes love. It describes how relationships can just as easily be formed and broken, and how attachment really does play a part in life. This book really hit home, it was such an amazing read and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to read it.
Thank you GoodReads for the opportunity to read this book early!
The Introvert’s guide to Kissing in Europe was a refreshing, wonderful read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The book highlighted many interesting topics and situations, putting them together in such a masterful way. It wasn’t just another read that I put back on my shelf and never thought of again, the story made me really think about the ideas and relationships formed. I really felt connected to the story, the theme really reaching out to me.
The characters weren’t only there to move the story along, they represented how people can react and treat each other, and how social relationships can work. I felt that it brought out ideas that most books typically don’t. While I don’t think that the book is perfect, I stand by the fact that even the greatest books aren’t. With that in mind, this book is perfect for people who feel a bit lost, who want to have a new sense of freedom and independence.
The story portrays how it is okay not to always be in control, and it also describes love. It describes how relationships can just as easily be formed and broken, and how attachment really does play a part in life. This book really hit home, it was such an amazing read and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to read it.
Thank you GoodReads for the opportunity to read this book early!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a cute, easy read that really made me want to book a trip to Europe.
The travel aspect was easily my favorite part of the book. I loved following Emily through Spain, Paris, Rome, Sweden, and everywhere in between. It felt like the perfect backdrop for a coming-of-age story, and I found myself looking forward to each new destination.
I also liked that this wasn't just a romance. At its core, it's about grief, family, and learning how to stop playing it safe. Emily has spent years trying to be the "good" daughter after losing her sister, and watching her slowly let herself experience life was satisfying, even if it took her a while to get there.
My biggest issue was that I never completely clicked with Emily. I understood why she was so reserved, but it also made her feel a little flat at times. I kept waiting for her personality to really shine through, and it never quite did for me. The romance was sweet, but I wasn't nearly as invested in it as I wanted to be, and it felt like it wrapped up a little too neatly.
Overall, this is a solid YA contemporary if you're looking for a travel-heavy, character-driven story with a little romance mixed in. It didn't completely sweep me off my feet, but it was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours—and now I really want to take a European vacation.
The travel aspect was easily my favorite part of the book. I loved following Emily through Spain, Paris, Rome, Sweden, and everywhere in between. It felt like the perfect backdrop for a coming-of-age story, and I found myself looking forward to each new destination.
I also liked that this wasn't just a romance. At its core, it's about grief, family, and learning how to stop playing it safe. Emily has spent years trying to be the "good" daughter after losing her sister, and watching her slowly let herself experience life was satisfying, even if it took her a while to get there.
My biggest issue was that I never completely clicked with Emily. I understood why she was so reserved, but it also made her feel a little flat at times. I kept waiting for her personality to really shine through, and it never quite did for me. The romance was sweet, but I wasn't nearly as invested in it as I wanted to be, and it felt like it wrapped up a little too neatly.
Overall, this is a solid YA contemporary if you're looking for a travel-heavy, character-driven story with a little romance mixed in. It didn't completely sweep me off my feet, but it was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours—and now I really want to take a European vacation.
July 25, 2026
Cute YA fiction about a girl who goes on a gap year to Europe. It’s very sweet but I didn’t really like it, and I don’t have a great explanation as to why. It just felt so …privileged? Sheltered? Unrelatable? Also inaccurate—she doesn’t act like any introvert I’ve ever met. All she wants to do is party with her new friends around Europe.
Also, I’m sure there are people who have the experience Emily does, deferring Dartmouth for a year and having the funds to travel for a whole year around Europe without working, but I didn’t love how this author normalized it/barely acknowledged it. Emily worries that she will go back to the U.S. and be a year behind her friends, and that she doesn’t have anything to take away from the experience, but then she never decides to learn something specific or to do any project other than follow in her grandmother’s footsteps.
Grandma is clearly very wealthy and generous, and she had quite an adventurous life on her own European trip as a young woman. She was the best part of the book.
I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Also, I’m sure there are people who have the experience Emily does, deferring Dartmouth for a year and having the funds to travel for a whole year around Europe without working, but I didn’t love how this author normalized it/barely acknowledged it. Emily worries that she will go back to the U.S. and be a year behind her friends, and that she doesn’t have anything to take away from the experience, but then she never decides to learn something specific or to do any project other than follow in her grandmother’s footsteps.
Grandma is clearly very wealthy and generous, and she had quite an adventurous life on her own European trip as a young woman. She was the best part of the book.
I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Cover contained excellent detail from the girl mid motion touting a suitcase to the little dashes marked with push pins surrounding her. Title, while lengthy, is catchy.
Too bad that the read disappointed.
When you have a reference to an "introvert", certain expectations are set. It's not enough to use labels as to lack of friends to define an 'introvert'. If anything, Emily quickly acclimated to virtual strangers enough to travel to several European cites. This Reader just doesn't buy that. Introverts, by definition, would do a lot of reconnaissance, getting the lay of the land (so to speak) before becoming immersed in the company of others. Even then to be part of a group rather than gloaming on to individual would be an anomaly.
Feel that the story would have been richer with the investment of not just Dahlia and Rose's relationship but Emily and her Grandma Rose. Again, descriptions that she's not like any other grandma seemed superficial.
Thank you Disney Publishing Worldwide | Melissa de la Cruz Studio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#TheIntrovertsGuidetoKissinginEurope #NetGalley
Too bad that the read disappointed.
When you have a reference to an "introvert", certain expectations are set. It's not enough to use labels as to lack of friends to define an 'introvert'. If anything, Emily quickly acclimated to virtual strangers enough to travel to several European cites. This Reader just doesn't buy that. Introverts, by definition, would do a lot of reconnaissance, getting the lay of the land (so to speak) before becoming immersed in the company of others. Even then to be part of a group rather than gloaming on to individual would be an anomaly.
Feel that the story would have been richer with the investment of not just Dahlia and Rose's relationship but Emily and her Grandma Rose. Again, descriptions that she's not like any other grandma seemed superficial.
Thank you Disney Publishing Worldwide | Melissa de la Cruz Studio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#TheIntrovertsGuidetoKissinginEurope #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a charming, easy-to-read romance with a really fun travel backdrop. The European setting adds a nice sense of escape to the story, and it works well with the introvert-meets-romance premise in a way that feels both relatable and escapist at the same time.
The main character’s internal world is where the book really shines. If you enjoy quieter, more thoughtful protagonists who overthink, analyze, and slowly open up emotionally, this story does a great job of capturing that experience. The romance builds gradually, which makes the emotional payoff feel more grounded and believable.
There’s a nice balance of lighthearted moments and more reflective scenes. The travel element keeps things moving, but the heart of the book is really about confidence, connection, and learning to take emotional risks—even when it feels uncomfortable.
Overall, this is a soft, feel-good romance with a thoughtful tone and a satisfying slow-burn love story. Perfect for readers who enjoy travel romance, introverted leads, and a mix of humor and emotional depth.
The main character’s internal world is where the book really shines. If you enjoy quieter, more thoughtful protagonists who overthink, analyze, and slowly open up emotionally, this story does a great job of capturing that experience. The romance builds gradually, which makes the emotional payoff feel more grounded and believable.
There’s a nice balance of lighthearted moments and more reflective scenes. The travel element keeps things moving, but the heart of the book is really about confidence, connection, and learning to take emotional risks—even when it feels uncomfortable.
Overall, this is a soft, feel-good romance with a thoughtful tone and a satisfying slow-burn love story. Perfect for readers who enjoy travel romance, introverted leads, and a mix of humor and emotional depth.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This is the kind of teen book that you know the author is so removed from teen hood they fail to capture the way teens speak and behave. Emily is unlikable from the start, calming to be a rule follower, and in essence and introvert and yet with little to no reservation throws it all out the window.
Her trip is conveniently paid for by grandma's money and magical befriends an Instagram traveling influencer. Though I'm the last person to appose traveling solo and making out with cute boys (been there done that). Non of Emily's experiences feel authentic. The emotional through line not only doesn't do any heavy lifting, it doesn't feel like it's there.
I kept hoping there would be more heart, and more of the grandma's story of her Europe trip with her sister and see a well established juxtaposition between the too and Emily's loss of her sister.
This story fell so flat I wasn't even interested to finish it.
Her trip is conveniently paid for by grandma's money and magical befriends an Instagram traveling influencer. Though I'm the last person to appose traveling solo and making out with cute boys (been there done that). Non of Emily's experiences feel authentic. The emotional through line not only doesn't do any heavy lifting, it doesn't feel like it's there.
I kept hoping there would be more heart, and more of the grandma's story of her Europe trip with her sister and see a well established juxtaposition between the too and Emily's loss of her sister.
This story fell so flat I wasn't even interested to finish it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Between 4 & 5 stars for this YA novel.
Emily was going to be doing trip with her sister Liv between High School and College with her older sister. The were going to follow their grandmothers performance schedule from 1966 through several European cities. Emily's sister died and she decided to take the trip anyway (although for a year and not just the summer).
Emily stumbles into an influencer and her entourage and joins the group.
I love traveling and this book had so many great descriptions of popular sites along the way, many that I was not familiar. Made me want to schedule a trip abroad.
I also like that Emily is Jewish and I learned a bit about celebrating Jewish holidays.
Many thanks to author Brenda Janowitz for writing The Introvert's Guide to Kissing in Europe. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Disney Publishing Worldwide for approving my request to read the advance read copy in exchange for an honest review.
Emily was going to be doing trip with her sister Liv between High School and College with her older sister. The were going to follow their grandmothers performance schedule from 1966 through several European cities. Emily's sister died and she decided to take the trip anyway (although for a year and not just the summer).
Emily stumbles into an influencer and her entourage and joins the group.
I love traveling and this book had so many great descriptions of popular sites along the way, many that I was not familiar. Made me want to schedule a trip abroad.
I also like that Emily is Jewish and I learned a bit about celebrating Jewish holidays.
Many thanks to author Brenda Janowitz for writing The Introvert's Guide to Kissing in Europe. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Disney Publishing Worldwide for approving my request to read the advance read copy in exchange for an honest review.
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June 15, 2026This book was a little less than I was hoping it was going to be. That being said it was a quick and easy read. There was just something off about the FMC and how her at home personality didn't match her abroad personality. I could have understood if you saw her open up throughout the book, but it seemed like what the author was saying this girl was and how she was acting were just different spectrums. That being said the side characters were great. It was interesting to see about those taking a gap year and traveling. Overall glad I read, solid three as liked it but just something keeping it from being higher starred.
Also I received a free ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Also I received a free ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25 stars: This was such a fun Love and Gelato feeling romance book about a girl taking a gap year in Europe. Her grandmother was a singer with her sister in the 1960s, and she's loosely following her grandma's tour stops while figuring out who she is and what she wants. All the relationships were very insta-love, but it fit the vibe of the book, which, even though it spanned a year, felt very light, breezy, and summery. There were notes of heartbreak and grief, but overall it was a sweet read with a nicely happy ending full of possibility.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC; all opinions are my own.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC; all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was pretty cute, and well written.The story follows Emily , who has set off to take a gap year in Europe, reliving a tour of the continent her own grandmother had taken when she was young and famous. At the same time she is grieving the sister who was supposed to be on this tour by her side. Along the way she makes friends, catches feelings, and , as the title suggests, learns how to kiss in Europe. The people she meets are all likeable, and she really seems to connect and bond with these strangers.
A feel good story, with a great lesson about life and learning who you are. Loved this!
A feel good story, with a great lesson about life and learning who you are. Loved this!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book.
This was a cute, sweet, and funny coming-of-age story. It had a nice balance of lighthearted moments and more reflective scenes, making it an enjoyable read from start to finish.
The characters were easy to root for, and the story captures the excitement, uncertainty, and self-discovery that come with stepping outside your comfort zone. While it didn't completely wow me, it was still a charming and entertaining read.
Overall, I'd recommend this to readers looking for a feel-good YA contemporary with travel, humor, and a heartfelt coming-of-age journey.
This was a cute, sweet, and funny coming-of-age story. It had a nice balance of lighthearted moments and more reflective scenes, making it an enjoyable read from start to finish.
The characters were easy to root for, and the story captures the excitement, uncertainty, and self-discovery that come with stepping outside your comfort zone. While it didn't completely wow me, it was still a charming and entertaining read.
Overall, I'd recommend this to readers looking for a feel-good YA contemporary with travel, humor, and a heartfelt coming-of-age journey.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Amelia, still realing from the death of her sister, has a mini-meltdown at highschool graduation and takes a gap year traveling in Europe, recreating her grandmother and great aunt's tour as the musical duo Flower Sisters. During the trip, Amelia makes new friends, goes on new adventures, and grapples with what it means to love herself and others.
This honestly wasn't my favorite book. I just have different values from Amelia, and that's ok.
This honestly wasn't my favorite book. I just have different values from Amelia, and that's ok.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free copy of, The Introvert's Guide to Kissing in Europe, by Brenda Janowitz, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Emily Tannebaum decides to change her life, take some time off and travel through Europe. This was a really engaging read, Europe is such a great place to visit.
July 1, 2026
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
All opinions are my own.
This book is, in a word, awful. Our main character Emily is a vapid bubblehead who is taking a gap year through Europe on her grandma's dime. That's it. That's the plot. There's the predictable pickpocket and romance with a stranger, but there's zero depth to the character and zero growth. Not sure where the "introvert" comes from, because I am one and Emily is definitely not. Kinda read to me like Emily in Paris fan fiction. Not recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide | Melissa de la Cruz Studio!
All opinions are my own.
This book is, in a word, awful. Our main character Emily is a vapid bubblehead who is taking a gap year through Europe on her grandma's dime. That's it. That's the plot. There's the predictable pickpocket and romance with a stranger, but there's zero depth to the character and zero growth. Not sure where the "introvert" comes from, because I am one and Emily is definitely not. Kinda read to me like Emily in Paris fan fiction. Not recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide | Melissa de la Cruz Studio!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Review to come closer to publication.
Review to come closer to publication.
May 13, 2026
This was a really fun and cute ya novel.
I loved all the aspects of traveling. It was almost like if you were there in all these different cities, really fun concept and an easy read I recommend.
I loved all the aspects of traveling. It was almost like if you were there in all these different cities, really fun concept and an easy read I recommend.
July 15, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! I had such a fun time traveling through Europe with Emily! A sweet and funny, coming of age story with fun characters and good pacing! It was a fun and easy read!
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