I enjoyed entering the world of Jolene and her co-workers, although at times I did want to jump into the pages and give them a good, hard shake.

Most of us have begun an email with, "I hope this finds you well." But Jolene surreptitiously hides nasty remarks in emails to her coworkers until she's caught. Now, if you work in an office, like I do, I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU WELL is hilariously relatable.

There is always drama and toxic behavior circulating, which makes it all the more entertaining when Jolene has access to everyone's dirt!

3.45/5 ⭐️
I felt underwhelmed by this book. I am not sure what I expected, but it was not this. The main character seemed unreliable but it was hard to tell if this was just her humor. She fell flat. I agree with the other reviews stating it began to feel like a "self-help" book, which I am not the audience for. The drama was fun, and I wish there were more of that and less side notes.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I Hope This Finds You Well is an office drama narrated by Jolene Smith, a introverted woman in her thirties who has no interest in engaging with any of her coworkers. She pretty muchs shows up, does her job and goes home to drink herself to sleep. This isolated state goes on for years and Jolene considers herself invisible, so much that she starts writing passive agressive comments on emails that she turns the text color to white. Well, one day she forgets to change the color and gets busted, so HR gets involved. Jolene gets on probation until she completes a harrassment course with the new HR guy, Cliff, with whom she feels oddly at ease. As part of her probation, some limitations are imposed on her credentials but as a big mistake, she gets access to all emails and chats from all her coworkers, ever her boss. It's rumoured layoffs are coming, and since Jolene has no life but this job, she takes the leverage to get a promotion.

I enjoyed this book very much, it reminded me of the petty drama that happens in office jobs and reassured me I don't really miss working in corporate. I liked the character development and the human connection between coworkers that spend more time at work than in their own homes. The writing is fun and heartwarming.

It’s been many years since I worked in the corporate world, but this book brought me right back. The story was filled with expected office drama, but also had heart and some unexpected twists. I enjoyed Jolene’s story and thank Net Galley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

I absolutely adored the characters in this story! The characters were so likeable and relatable. The story reminded me that what we see on the surface isn't really what things are like behind the scenes. Even though I felt like it was so icky for Jolene to read the messages and emails going through her co-workers inboxes, I like how for the most part, she tried to find good ways to help.

When you work in a close-quartered office setting, you are bound to bear witness to any number of awkward, juicy, or jaw-dropping moments - and perhaps be the subject of one yourself. Debut author Natalie Sue capitalizes on all of that scandalous gossip and unsavory office politics in her first novel, I Hope This Finds You Well, a story about a downtrodden corporate worker, Jolene, who finds herself privy to all of her coworker's emails after a tech mix-up gives her complete access to their every written thought and utterance. If the mere mention of suddenly being able to dig through your colleagues' inboxes gives you overwhelming anxiety and shame, buckle up because Jolene is going down with this ship ... and it's one wild ride to the bottom.

Jolene, Supershops, Inc. office employee, is having a tough go of it. Besides being in constant competition with her office nemesis Caitlin to see who can work better, faster, smarter, she is also generally disliked, primarily for her idiosyncrasies and seemingly inability to make friends. Jolene passively aggressively channels all of the negative energy she has towards her despicable coworkers by leaving them a little mean-spirited note at the bottom of every email she sends. The catch? She changes the text color to white so that her colleagues are never the wiser.

When Jolene's nasty notes are discovered, she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a mandated harassment course. With the course comes new security measures installed on Jolene's computer, but imagine her surprise when she discovers that instead of administration being able to spy on her every move, she learns that she is able to spy on THEM. That's right - Jolene has access to the entire office's emails and DMs - and the gossip is real. As she dives deeper into the office politics, mapping out the alliances and wading through the snark, she feels guilt for invading her coworkers' privacy; however, she can't let go of the fact that she can use this unfettered access to her advantage. It need not be said that when you play with fire, you're sure to be burned - which Jolene is about to learn the hard way ...

I Hope This Finds You Well is one of those gems of a book that completely took me by surprise. While I was expecting this novel to be funny and relatable, I did not know that it would leave me feeling so much - both good and bad! I experienced some definite secondhand humiliation and anxiety reading this novel as I watched Jolene dig her own grave deeper and deeper. I would never want to be in a situation like Jolene's, but it sure as heck made for an entertaining read!

Office antics aside, I Hope This Finds You Well portrays mental health and how it manifests itself in the workplace in a genuine and thought-provoking way. We all show up to work day after day with a smile on our face (or not), doing our best to make it through whatever comes our way, but how often do we check in with ourselves and others to ensure that we are truly okay? I Hope This Finds You Well shines a light on the importance of community and seeing and showing up for others, and adds a touch of nuance to this otherwise comedic novel.

Recommended to anyone who has ever worked in an office setting, I Hope This Finds You Well is the life-affirming novel you need.

How much do your coworkers annoy you? What’s the worst thing you’ve done? Well, Jolene, our anti-hero, can top it. What starts as a reprimand for putting blistering but unnoticeable text in emails ramps up to more accidentally sinister spying.

Is it uncomfortable? At times! Do you think she’s going to get away with it? I got caught up in the writing and really thought everything was just going to be fine. (Spoiler: it isn’t and it is.). Is it funny, groanworthy, and sad all at the same time? Yup. Just like everyone’s actual life.

What starts as a snarky, jaded office-drama-laden comedy ends as a book about compassion and growth. As a mood reader, it took me a little while to officially dive in to the book but once I officially started, it was easy to finish!

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I would recommend to friends and my book club.

Jolene accidentally gains access to her entire office's emails and messages. Coincidentally she also needs to save her job and this is the perfect opportunity to gain info to do that. Also, there's a hot new HR rep in town.

This book was so fun and actually funny and heartwarming! I was having such a good time reading it. There were times I wanted to scream at the main character but I really ended up loving her. If you miss The Office, or love drama, check this out.

This was an absolute riot, I devoured it in one sitting. When Jolene gets put on an HR course correction, everything goes awry - in the best way possible. From amazing side characters to a very cute budding romance, to a lovable if overbearing family, this has everything one could want for a summer read. Definitely recommend!

This was a fast, character-driven read about Jolene, who is unlikeable at first but quickly becomes more sympathetic as we understand the motivations behind her behavior. The same goes for her coworkers, whose layers are revealed as the story goes on.

This book was such a surprise! ‘Even after reading the premise, I wasn’t’ prepared for the way the author told the story. It was a fresh tale, with a little allusion to The Office and maybe Parks and Rec. I was invested in the characters fairly quickly and kept coming back because I wanted to see what was going to happen. I feel like the author does a good job of highlighting the precariousness of office relationships - hate/love all mixed into the inability to say what’s really on your mind. It also reminds us that while we may not always get along with other people, we are all people with our own problems, and people are usually acting a certain way for a reason. Thank you. NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this delightful book

This book is The Office meets a Jesse Q Sutanto book (sub Persian culture for Asian culture). Natalie Sue did such a good job of having you relate/get into the protagonists head that I ended up feeling uncomfortable MYSELF for a lot of the book (as the lead character does) instead of rooting for her.

The book is about a woman, Jolene, who hates her coworkers. When she sends them emails she sends hidden rage messages in white text at the bottom. When she gets caught, part of her probation is computer monitoring but they mess up and give her access to everyone’s inboxes and slacks. The story goes into how she uses that info to try and improve her work life .

It could have been a little shorter as I felt like some of the middle dragged on slightly, but overall I enjoyed the book. All of the side plots and references tied up nicely, which is not always the case with books.

Jolene Smith, a 33-year-old Iranian Canadian, has worked at Supershops Incorporated for eight years. During that time, she has generally stayed to herself and only discussed work-related issues with her coworkers. She adds a text comment in her emails with an invisible white font that expresses her actual thoughts as a way to deal with the stress of her job as an administrative assistant and conflicts with her coworkers. Sadly, a thoughtless error on her part lands her in hot water; as a result, she must attend sensitivity training with Cliff, the new HR gut, and her internet and office email usage are restricted. However, due to an IT error, she can view her coworkers' emails and direct messages, giving her insight into what's happening in the office and how everyone feels about one another. Even though she first chooses to let HR know about the confusion, she gradually starts making use of the facts she discovers. Finding out about the challenges and secrets of her coworkers motivates her to reflect on her own life and set out on a path of self-discovery.

The format of this book is something that I thoroughly enjoyed. There are DMs and emails, and the story is told in the first person. The author writes from the heart and with humor. Character development and a realistic portrayal of interpersonal relationships outside of the job are the novel's strongest points. The supporting cast, including the unlikeable ones, is realistic and well-developed. I thought the author did a great job of pulling everything together and skillfully integrating the subplots into the main story. With tact and compassion, the author tackles touchy subjects like addiction, mental health, trauma, and terminal illness. Jolene has a difficult trip ahead of her, and her tragic past saddened me. Jolene is a character that many will find unlikable for a multitude of reasons, but I thoroughly enjoyed her.

Overall, I enjoyed the themes that the author presented and how they were executed. For what the story was, I enjoyed the ending and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the literary fiction genre.

Binge-worthy. Humorous. “I Hope This Finds You Well” by Natalie Sue follows Jolene as she finds herself in a workplace conundrum. When her emails get flagged due to suspicious activity, she soon discovers she has access to her coworkers’ emails and instant messages. With a cheat code to the office, she crafts a mastermind plan for how to win in the office, including winning over the new HR member, Cliff.

I loved the breezy chapters and cute title names. Jolene was utterly relatable and had the most entertaining thoughts. This book reminded me of “The Office” and brought flashbacks of my days fresh out of college working in the corporate world. I loved its nod to how despite our best efforts, we only see the version our coworkers show us and don’t know the battles they’re fighting.

First 5-star book of the year! Thanks @williammorrowbooks and @netgalley for the Advanced Reader’s E-Proof! Run, don’t walk to read this book (out now)! What a gem of a debut novel!

Build Empathy and I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU WELL by Natalie Sue

Cover of the book I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue, used to teach the concept of building empathy
Jolene has been working at Supershops for eight long years. For all that time, she’s shown up, done her work, and left – barely getting to know her colleagues and experiencing no passion for the job. Maybe it’s the company, possibly it’s Jolene (who has her own history), but also, Jolene hates working at Supershops because her co-workers are annoying. Take the three she sits with: Rhonda, who wastes altogether too much time bragging about her adult son; Armin, who is intentionally killing Rhonda’s plant; and Caitlin, an aspiring social media influencer who spends a good portion of her day gossiping and complaining.

But wait – are Rhonda, Armin, and Caitlin really that bad? Does Jolene know anything about the people she works with for forty hours each week? Would Jolene see them differently if she gave them empathy?

Empathy is the ability to feel and understand another person’s life from their perspective. Empathetic people are generous, better able to forgive and help others, and less aggressive. Before jumping to harsh conclusions, empathetic people wonder if there’s information they don’t know that would impact their judgments. Because they have a charitable perspective, empathetic people tend to be happier.

Empathy, luckily, is a skill that can be learned and strengthened. Here are ways to build empathy:

Pay Attention: Consider both diverse cultures and specific experiences. The more you know about another person’s situation, the easier it is to see things from their perspective.

Read Fiction: The only way to understand stories is to recognize motivation and human interaction. Relating to characters is a non-threatening way to practice stepping into someone else’s shoes.

Ask Questions: Open-ended, curious, and supportive questions help you understand the other person better and reinforce genuine interest in them.

Look for Alternatives: If you make negative assumptions about someone, stop yourself and accept that you might be wrong. Then, list other (gracious) assumptions that could be right.

This book was not what I was expecting but I liked it! The main character was very relatable and I liked how she changed throughout the book

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for early access to this title in exchange for an honest review.

What a delight this was to read. Let's admit it, Jolene was quite hateable in the beginning (despite being comical). If you read on, you will find there is a reason she keeps people at a distance. The character development that ensues perfection, and we get a satisfying full arc. The side characters were also fantastic and multifaceted. Caitlin can burn in hell tho. I said what I said.

Prose were great, no complaints to file here. My only issue is that this was less about plot, and more about vibes. The vibes were Dunder Mifflin Paper, so it was sometimes hard to read due to the sheer awkward tension. Its still five stars from me. What can I say, I liked The Office. I'm usually a plot girly, but this was giving and I cannot wait to see what Natalie Sue puts out next.

This was a unique experience, that I can't really match to any other books. There was drama. Comedy. Romance. This one is worth the read imo.

The Good, the Bad and the Warhammers


Thank you Netgalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


The good: the author did an incredible job with mental health inclusion (social anxiety, PTSD). One of my favorite parts of the book were the (Feyre from ACOTAR) type of bodily descriptions:
“My stomach turns to acid.”
“My heart almost falls out of my vagina”

I also found it interesting to read about Persian customs and the “auntys”


The bads: It took me a long time to finish this book because I couldn’t stay focused. It would have been a great audiobook. I also felt like it changed directions too many times. I think the author tried to make Jolene’s childhood a huge part of the story but I felt like it didn’t fit and we could have avoided that whole piece.

ughhh the warhammers. My husband is a warhammer nerd and I hate that it was added into my escapism but Jolene trying to understand it was hilarious- I’ve been there- I’ve had similar conversations with my husband.

ARC Review: Publish Date 5/21/20241
Thank you Net Galley for letting me read more books!

As a corporate gal for the last 13 years, this was so spot on. It is dry, sarcastic, dark, witty, and charming. It paints a very accurate picture of office bureaucracy and politics, drama and disdain. Even down to the burnt popcorn. At the heart, it is about people and how easy it is to overlook humanity and fill it with judgement. I Hope This Finds You Well drives home the idea that you just never know what is going on with someone underneath, so maybe don't judge.

Jolene, our main protagonist, is carrying some serious childhood trauma, a weight that leads her to spend all her non-work time alone, in her dingy apartment, nursing her drinking problem and depression. The only thing she has is her shitty corporate cubicle and yet, she has spent all her years working there not getting to know anyone, silently judging everyone from her little cube. She is forced to change how she sees the people she works with when an IT blunder grants her unlimited admin access, and she discovers her job is at risk. Takeaway? We are not our jobs. Sue writes Jolene’s mental health situation with such honesty.

The cast of characters were written with a lot of depth and Sue uses the office stereotypes as a starting point but goes so much further in what makes them tick. The slow-burn romance between the office HR guy, Clif, and Jolene, is heartwarming and sweet. Jolene’s family, her Persian roots, and her relationship with her fellow office Persian, Armin, was awkward and hilarious. The past-retirement Rhonda, self-imposed office party planner busy body (don’t we all have one?), is spot on. Caitlin, the office beauty queen, wow did I feel for her when her depth was uncovered. The only person that can F&$% right off is Gregory, the boss. He is, as every bad corporate boss is, irredeemable.

I enjoyed this. Jolene’s choices were not always my favorite, but the honesty and realness of her character and the characters around her helped.

4 stars.