4.75 ⭐️

“ I know what life I’m supposed to live, I have Pinterest.”

This book is so funny. If you’ve worked in an office setting you’ll be drawn to the premise. But it also got deeper than I anticipated it would. So many unlikable characters but also some decent character development by the end, at least for the protagonist.

Natalie Sue, what the hell did you put in this?

After some passive aggressive emails come to light, Jolene is put on probation at work. Her emails will need to be monitored and she will have to pass an HR course to be back on good standing. When the new HR rep, Cliff, changes her email inbox to be surveyed, he messes up. Now, Jolene can see everyone’s emails and IMs. She knows it’s wrong to look, but she can’t help herself. After reading some terrible things about herself, she decides to change her fate within the company. She just has to make sure no one finds out her secret.

This is a debut? Someone needs to give this woman a 10 book deal immediately! The writing style is what made this story unique. If you enjoy the sarcastic wit of Sarah Hogle, then just stop what you’re doing and read this book. There were several moments where I not only literally laughed out loud, but I laughed so hard I was crying. That is such a beautiful and difficult thing to pull off in a book.

The character development was so great. It isn’t just a linear slope. Jolene makes strides, gets knocked down again, picks herself up, gets knocked down even further. It was quite the roller coaster and made me connect with her so well. This book is essentially seeing someone enter their work villain era, which I have been through before. This was all just so incredibly relatable to me, and maybe if you’re also a desk jockey you will think so, too. I will say, I found that aspect of this pretty healing.

This book definitely has romance in it, but it’s not the main focus. And I loved that. The romance was excellent and very sweet (like… maybe too sweet? Cliff, how many damn donuts do you consume???), but I found the work tea parts wayyy more interesting. I also appreciated learning about a different culture through our Persian protagonist, and I will always be excited to see my hometown of Calgary, AB be the setting of a book.

Everything about this book was perfect for me. I really hope I sold you to read it. I already want to pick it up again.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed the ARC version of this book. There were a couple of funny, but awkward phrases I hope don't make it to the final cut ("My heart almost drops out my butt" followed by "My heart almost falls out my vagina.") But overall, I thought it was a great story - funny, poignant, and deeply relatable. Whether at the office or in other parts of our lives, we've all felt alone in a sea of people and been faced with tough choices around how to find belonging. I loved the journey the main character (Jolene) went on to find her own voice and to build warmth towards the voices of others. Would recommend!

This got off to a slow start but then picked up once our protagonist, Jolene, finds herself in quite a state after it's discovered that she white-texts grievances in her emails to work colleagues. If you liked Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, you would really enjoy this. Past trauma haunts Jolene and impacts a lot of her adult behavior. Natalie Sue has a somewhat endearing cast of characters that are written into the story very well. Overall I enjoyed this read and definitely recommend. I will say if you're looking for chili pepper romance, this is not it. It's a sweet story with a bit of a meet-cute. It reads a lot like a Mhairi McFarlane - some forced proximity with decent banter.

I think there is a lot here for readers to enjoy and be drawn too. Ultimately it was a miss for me, but there was a lot of humanity and depth to the writing and characters.

I really wanted to like this book. It starts off well, and the office banter and drama are dynamic. The lack of personal growth on part of the FMC over the course of the book, as well as how she continually rationalizes her manipulative actions, left me not enjoying the storyline. The straw that broke the camel's back was the office scene where the newborn was brought to the office. The FMC couldn't stand 5 minutes of simple social interaction without being rude. The hating baby trope isn't quirky, it's immature. I'm surprised that I was continually reminded that she was 33 but clearly lacked the maturity of such. This book might be your cup of tea, it just wasn't mine.

Jolene works in an administrative role at a corporate office and to vent her grievances against coworkers, she adds additional text to her emails, changing the font to white so it’s not visible… until she’s caught, then forced to complete a mandatory training with Cliff, the new HR guy.

There is an IT mixup in the training setup process, and Jolene now finds herself with access to all her coworkers’ emails and chats. She knows it’s wrong but maybe this is a chance to use the information to her advantage, to save herself and her job. While doing so, Jolene contends with her overbearing family, her feelings toward Cliff, and, she begins to realize her coworkers aren’t necessarily who they seem on the surface.

With its dry humor, I Hope This Finds You Well has vibes of “The Office”, though as a huge fan of the show, I must say this book isn’t quite as funny, yet I still found it enjoyable. I didn’t agree with all of Jolene’s behavior but I appreciated her growth and found elements of the story relatable.

The mixture of unresolved childhood trauma, tricky family dynamics, and a soul sucking workplace is perfect in I Hope This Finds You Well. I knew I would love this book from the second that I read its description. A nightmarish office and mundane job are unfortunately very relatable.

The story itself is easy to predict. Jolene gets herself in a situation that will inevitably implode and she risks ruining the relationships she has reluctantly built through her attempts to save her job. Normally, being able to predict a story can take the fun out of it, but Natalie Sue writes in a way that makes you love the characters so much you don’t want something unpredictable to happen. Each character has a lot going on below the surface and good God it’s pretty heavy stuff. Despite this, the read is does not feel heavy or emotionally draining.

It was fast-paced, layered, and a joy to read. I loved it.

I Hope This Finds You Well - Natalie Sue

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

“I know I'm not supposed to think like this. It just feels like everyone else is moving forward with their lives, but I'm trapped behind this glass dome.”

Jolene is stuck at a dead end job she hates and is put into a mandatory HR course after her ranting about a coworker is exposed in an email. As she works to keep her job she needs to survive, she is surprised HR accidentally had given her access to everyone in the company’s emails.

I received this ARC from William Morrow and NetGalley! This book was giving “The Office” vibes with a kooky cast of characters. I loved the storytelling device of emails and slack messages, all through Jolene’s creeping. I was surprised to find myself rooting for Jolene, even if she was a bizarre and slightly troubled woman. I know I was supposed to find some of the humor funny but it didn’t totally hit. I felt like the whole book was waiting for Jolene’s charades to be discovered but the lies just got bigger by the day. Overall, I enjoyed this more than I expected to after just starting it.

I’ll cut to the chase. I loved this book! What I expected to be a litfic workplace comedy ended up being much deeper than that. This was laugh out loud funny, tender, wildly relatable, and sometimes sad. My emotions ran the gamut with this one. I would say this leans more contemporary than literary but I absolutely loved it. There is also a romance involved but it’s not the main plot point which I enjoyed. The romance aspect was also not at all cheesy in my opinion; it was very real and raw and sometimes awkward, more true to real life. I absolutely love stories like this that remind us that we all have more in common than it seems & that there is always more than meets the eye to a person.

For fans of: sarcasm & dry humor, the show The Office (or possibly Parks & Rec bc Jolene gives me Aubrey Plaza vibes), Fredrick Backman, stories about human connection, empathy, and the Persian American experience

Rating: 4.5 rounded up!

"I Hope This Finds You Well" by Natalie Sue is a literary gem that undoubtedly deserves to win Best Book of the Year! This captivating novel is an absolute must-read for anyone who has ever navigated the complexities of office life, wrestled with anxiety, or felt the pangs of loneliness and awkwardness.

From the very first page, Sue immerses readers in the authentic and often hilarious reality of office dynamics, family expectations, and the weight of harboring a life-altering secret. Her deft storytelling captures the essence of not only distrusting those around you but also the intricate journey of learning to trust yourself. The narrative masterfully balances moments of poignant introspection with laugh-out-loud humor, making it impossible to put down.

What sets this book apart is its heartwarming exploration of creating spaces of understanding and compassion for those around you. Sue's writing is not just wonderfully crafted; it's deeply resonant and relatable. The characters are vividly drawn, their struggles and triumphs echoing the reader's own experiences, creating a profound connection that lingers long after the final page.

"I Hope This Finds You Well" is not just a novel; it's an essential read that everyone should experience. It's a testament to the power of empathy, self-discovery, and the unbreakable human spirit. A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy. This book is a treasure, and Natalie Sue's storytelling brilliance deserves every accolade.

I have so much love for this book because it just filled me up with so much emotion and appreciation. It is a magical debut and I honestly can't ask for anything more from it. For me, it's just one of those books that stick with you in every way.
From the writing to the narration to the plot itself, it all encompasses my favorite things in a contemporary lit novel. There's humor, there's emotion, there's complicated families, identities, and supporting characters. There's deep, poetic emotion that's handled with so much fragility and care, but it's balanced with a story that moves and keeps you hooked.
Jolene as a narrator is written marvelously. Her personality was so absorbing to me, maybe because I related strongly to the immigrant experience and her anxiety, maybe because she was real and funny - every aspect of her character, down to every flaw, was a match for me as a reader. And that's honestly one of my favorite things about reading books like these. Finding yourself reflected in the pages in ways you could never imagine. It's wild how words and characters help you feel things about yourself you were never able to before.
My favorite aspect about this novel might be the premise of it. The secretive email reading and spying is such a clever way to develop the characters and the story. It fits right in with the ensemble of characters in Jolene's life and reminds me strongly of a perfect sit-com. Truly, there were moments in this novel that actually, genuinely, had me laughing out loud. Then seconds later, I could feel angry or sad for the next shift in the novel. It's a powerful thing for a book to resonate with you this much, and while it may not hit as hard for everyone, for me, this book was an embodiment of why I love literature so much. I felt seen and heard not just by the characters, but by the writing style and plot events. I loved every minute of it -- especially the creative and silly chapter names. If I had to ever describe a book that is literally my personality, it would be this, hands down.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 5/5

Have you ever wanted to read a co-worker's mind? If you've ever worked at an office and understood the complexity of workplace dynamics, I highly reccomend this book. Each of the characters in it was described in such a beautiful way, and I knew instantly which character would be which co-worker from my past jobs and workplaces. It describes the nuance I feel as an employee so well! I laughed, I cried, I felt understood! This book makes me smile and I've already purchased a copy for a former co-worker turned friend! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

What would you do if you suddenly had access to your co-workers' interoffice messages and emails? Would you read them? Would you tell anyone?

I Hope This Finds You Well both broke me and had me cackling out loud! I don't think I've been this invested in a character and her life in a looong time. Now when I'm asked, "What fictional character would you like to befriend in real life?" My answer - Jolene!! She is hilarious and snarky, and I loved every second of it!

I Hope This Finds You Well is a heartfelt debut about ordinary people in ordinary circumstances. And I don't mean "ordinary" in a negative way. Honestly, that is the perfection of this book! I adored the simplicity and layered complexity of this story.

Natalie Sue breathes life into characters we both love and loathe. Anxiety-ridden, second-guessing Jolene? Loved! Witty, cinnamon roll Cliff? Loved! Their boss? Loathed. "As a person, he's like the human embodiment of an internet comments section." Couldn't have said it better myself! And seriously, don't we all know someone like this???

My heart is just happy after reading this book.

Read this if you like:
•  books that hilariously explore interoffice politics
•  books with flawed but lovable characters
•  Satire/Humorous fiction with a little romance

I enjoyed this debut novel so much! If you work in or have worked an office job, I believe you will, too! It’s funny, relatable, and also has deeper themes that give the book layers, and have you rooting for the main character. I highlighted so many lines that literally hit the nail on the head of office life and made me laugh out loud!

The story is about Jolene, an employee of Supershops who doesn’t have the best relationships with her colleagues, and starts with her getting caught sending hidden messages in her emails about how she really feels about them - honestly don’t we all want to do this at times LOL! After getting put in sensitivity training and having her computer slightly monitored by IT, she somehow gets access to everyone’s emails. From there, Jolene is able to get a leg up in hopefully saving her job in an upcoming round of layoffs. What could possibly go wrong?

The book highlighted the importance of mental health, belonging and connection, and how we don’t always know what others are dealing with. At the beginning, I was cringing at Jolene, but as her character developed I was rooting for her!

Thank you Net Galley and William Morrow Books for the Advanced Readers Copy!

I absolutely adored this book! It was highly relable but also had some serious insight into corporate culture. Sue writes grief and trauma well and expertly wove it into the plot. I love how Jolene’s character morphed throughout the story and she tried to use her inside information for the greater good. The office culture was fantastically flawed and it was enjoyable seeing everyone’s different priorities. This truly had a mix of so many things and would be a great read for anyone!

This was such a funny, sweet, well-executed book. I knew from the first couple of pages that I would love it. Jolene was an unlikeable FMC but I really enjoyed that and found myself being so amused by her personality and actions.

Cliff being the sunshine to her grumpy was also enjoyable to read. Their relationship had good pacing from beginning to end. It felt realistic and I supported all the decisions that were made by them both towards their futures.

I cackled throughout the story but I also liked the tender moments that arose as more was revealed about each character. The novel showed that people are really dynamic beings and we never really know what goes on behind the scenes.

I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue
If you are a donut lover, this book is for you.
If you were a weirdo in high school, or in the work place, or especially now, this book is for you. Seriously, all the people that feel weirdness in their hearts need to read this book.

This is a slower moving story with a deep dive into a character that feels completely and butterfly invisible and unseen. But when she is seen is deemed weird and unlikable. It takes place largely in the workplace and so many can relate.

“It shouldn’t be this hard to remain neutral with people. But trust Supershops Incorporated to turn a desk job into an air conditioned version of Survivor, complete with alliances and betrayals.”

The story is laugh out loud funny, like The Office, and also deeply heartfelt like Superstore.

4.5

Thank you net galley and publisher for this ARC. I was initially really interested in this plot. I found the main character to be a little annoying at first, but it was nice to see how things ended for her. I was hoping for a little bit more office humor, but I liked the message at the end for all the coworkers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Willam Morrow Books for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5- I think this book does a great job of demonstrating how trauma impacts people and what happens when they get stuck. There were some very on the nose observations about office and corporate culture that I think anyone who has worked in a corporate environment can relate to. I think this book is falsely advertised as a comedy, it was not funny at all and was definitely more of a drama, so that changed my expectations going in. That being said, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would after getting over the fact that it was not funny.