Do social situations feel harder than they should? You'll learn how to feel calmer, more confident, and comfortable around other people.
Wondering, “How do I make new friends—and where do I find them?” You'll discover practical ways to meet your people, make genuine connections, and turn them into friendships that lasts.
If you:
• Run out of things to say — you'll be able to start conversations and keep them flowing naturally.
• Feel awkward in groups — know how to join in, speak up, and feel that you belong.
• Struggle with confidence around other people — build genuine self-belief through practical social skills.
• Hold back because you’re worried how you’ll come across — express yourself naturally without pretending to be someone you’re not.
You’re not alone—and you’re not “bad with people.” Social confidence isn’t something you either have or you don’t. It’s a collection of skills anyone can learn.
This book shows you how.
Written by a former inner-city police officer who worked closely with young people for many years, Teens’ Guide to Making Friends is a practical, real-world guide to building self-confidence, improving teen social skills, and learning how to talk to people naturally — without pretending to be someone you’re not.
Inside, you’ll learn how to:
- Start conversations without feeling awkward
- Know what to say and keep conversations flowing
- Read people and understand social situations better
- Build genuine confidence in yourself
- Handle embarrassing moments without overthinking
- Stop feeling like an outsider in groups
- Build real friendships that actually last
No fake confidence.
No cheesy scripts.
No “just be yourself” advice that doesn’t actually help.
Whether you struggle with shyness, low self-confidence, social anxiety, awkwardness, or simply want to get better at talking to people and making friends, this book gives teens the social confidence and friendship skills they need in the real world.
You do not need to change who you are.
You just need to know what works.
Having a stark choice of fighting teens on the city streets or helping them find their way in life, Kev Chilton knew which way he wanted to go!For most of his working life, he was an inner-city cop and detective, concentrating on murder, gun crime, and other serious offences.However, he joined the police as a 16-year-old cadet and early in his career, he was tasked with helping young offenders, which quickly became his speciality. He noticed that by simply listening to the problems young people were concerned with, the majority were prepared to listen to him back. He built trusting relationships with most, who were happy to listen to and act on his advice. Many responded positively, and they moved confidently into adulthood.Throughout his police service, he arranged youth clubs, attended schools where he gave talks and maintained an open-door policy, encouraging any young person with a problem to approach him privately afterwards. He also set up and operated specialist juvenile squads geared towards helping those who had gone off the rails. The results were excellent, and he was never happier in his job than when he could redirect a young person's life onto the right path.It was a fulfilling time in his life, and it helped him understand the constantly evolving challenges teenagers face as they transition to adulthood. More specifically, as times change, so do the needs and circumstances of young people. Choosing the path of mentorship over the chaos of city streets, he has dedicated his journey to helping teenagers, steering them away from conflict and towards a brighter future.Today, he is proud to utilise his extensive experience to make a positive impact. He is particularly attuned to the unique issues that young people are currently grappling with, and one of his main goals is to bridge the gap between them and the adults in their lives.Through this series of his guidebooks for teens, Chilton has become an international, award-winning author, and a beacon of support for teenagers and the adults regularly involved with teens.
