Anyone who has ever worked in an office will relate so well to this book! I loved Jolene's voice and was rooting for her all the way, even when she was clearly making questionable choices. Such a beautifully written story of how we never truly know what someone is going through - and also a good reminder to never to put anything in an email that you don't want everyone to know.

This is one of the most depressing, painful books I’ve ever read. So many times, I wanted to quit, but I kept going only to see how everyone’s redemption arc would play out. Ultimately, at a time when the ugliness of human beings is on full display on social media and in the news, with wars raging, human rights being attacked, and the threat of fascism way too real, the last thing I want is to read about a bunch of colleagues backstabbing each other. I abhor dishonesty, and this book was rife with it. With the exception of Cliff, who is a truly kind and caring person, I just couldn’t care about any of them, including Jolene. I give it 2* because it isn’t poorly-written, but it’s not a book I would ever recommend.

This is one of the most depressing, painful books I’ve ever read. So many times, I wanted to quit, but I kept going only to see how everyone’s redemption arc would play out. Ultimately, at a time when the ugliness of human beings is on full display on social media and in the news, with wars raging, human rights being attacked, and the threat of fascism way too real, the last thing I want is to read about a bunch of colleagues backstabbing each other. I abhor dishonesty, and this book was rife with it. With the exception of Cliff, who is a truly kind and caring person, I just couldn’t care about any of them, including Jolene. I give it 2* because it isn’t poorly-written, but it’s not a book I would ever recommend.

I received an ARC from William Morrow through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are strictly my own.

I really enjoyed this quirky, cute book about office politics and relationships (with coworkers, family, potential mates, and one ignored child), and the drama that can unfold with both.

I found the writing to be really easy and enjoyable to read. It has a conversational tone to it, even when we are hearing Jolene's (the FMC's) thoughts. We get to understand how she thinks and what makes her tick, but in a really approachable way.

Joelene is not the most likeable character. If you like your characters to be morally grey, then you'll have no problem with Jolene at all. However, if you want your characters to be mostly good people without any ugly thoughts, this book might not be for you. I personally don't think Jolene is a bad person. I think she's got a lot of baggage to work through, and I think she's honest and relatable, even if you might not like what she has to say. To me, she's a very real person; flawed like the rest of us.

This book had me laughing out loud repeatedly. Not just at Jolene's snark and wit, but also some of the random phrases used in this book (which I've admittedly never seen used elsewhere). I'm sure some of the phrases will be off-putting to some people, but I am not someone who is easily offended - so even while they are things I might not say myself, I can still find the humor in them.

I mostly liked the plot but it did feel a bit drawn out...until the end, where it suddenly felt really rushed. There was so much attention given to Jolene's relationship with her officemates, but then when we finally got to the "payoff", it was only a few pages long and some of those issues that weaved through the course of the entire book were wrapped up with just a paragraph or two. While I didn't need multiple chapters dedicated to this, there are certain conversations and situations I would like to have seen a little more fleshed out. I would've liked to gain a better understanding of some characters and their motivations.

The only thing I didn't care for was how Jolene treated the lonely neighbor girl, Miley. Miley was brought up consistently throughout the book, and I kept thinking that plot line was really going to go somewhere and that they were going to form this heartwarming friendship. While ultimately there was a "resolution" (if you could call it that) to that situation, I just expected something more from that based on how much focus was given to it throughout the book. And while I didn't care much for how Jolene treated Miley, I can at least say it was true to her character. I just think that based on Jolene's history, I would've expected her to be a little more friendly towards Miley.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and was surprised and impressed to see that this is Natalie Sue's debut novel. I look forward to reading whatever she comes up with next!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This was a very good workplace drama with a side of family drama. The MC had a great dry wit but also had some serious issues that at times were troubling for me. But her evolution bit by bit kept me invested and warmed/won me over.

I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU WELL is called a "laugh-till-you-cry" debut novel by Natalie Sue. It received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly and is indeed a humorous take on an office work situation involving Jolene, a 33 year old, single, and very unhappy woman. Initially, Jolene is not a likeable character at all - she actively dislikes her coworkers, often leaving hidden messages in emails to them. When one of her messages is discovered and reported, she must take HR classes and have her computer monitored. That mistakenly results in a new ability to see private messages and emails of all other employees. The extra information helps Jolene to get ahead and to begin to appreciate that her co-workers have their own issues. Frankly, the humor is an acquired taste; be ready to read – ewww- about a boss who "often discreetly touches his penis," for example. Certainly not entertaining for everyone, I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU WELL may appeal to anyone who has struggled with office politics in the past.

Potentially the best book I’ve read this year. It was SO funny, I actually laughed out loud - and at 1AM since I made the mistake of starting this around 10PM and then had to stay up as late as possible (on a Thursday no less!) to get as much in before I simply had to sleep.

I loved the narration, the casual style/internal monologue was incredible. And all of the side characters became so fleshed out in a way I wasn’t expecting when I started the book. And the lesson was clear without hitting you too aggressively over the head.

Would HIGHLY recommend, and can’t wait for future books from Sue.

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