3.25⭐️

Imagínense que un día alguien envía los emails en donde escribieron todos sus pensamientos, descontentos, críticas sobre sus amigos y compañero de trabajo, esos emails que eran privados y sólo eran un método para sacar todo lo negativo. Pues eso le pasó a Millie y la pobre ahora tiene que vivir con las consecuencias. ¿Perderá su trabajo? ¿Sus amistades entenderán? ¿La relación con su madre se rompera?



Pequeños Spoilers ⚠️

Millie no tenia que hablar y decirle disculpas a Chloe.

El responsable de los emails debió haber recibido su merecido, no me importa la razón por la que lo hizo, casi le destruye la vida a Millie.





Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for and honest review.

This captivating story unfolds with a whirlwind of unexpected events from the start. Initially, it feels like a nightmare, with the protagonist inadvertently sending emails they never intended to their coworkers. The initial panic and embarrassment pave the way for what evolves into a delightful rollercoaster of emotions and experiences.

As the plot progresses, each twist and turn draws me deeper into the narrative. Despite the chaos caused by the accidental emails, the story gradually reveals layers of complexity and depth. What begins as a seemingly disastrous mishap transforms into a series of events that bring unexpected joy and fulfillment.

The seamless blend of humor with heartfelt moments throughout the story keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. The comedic mishaps of the protagonist evoke laughter, while moments of genuine connection and growth add depth to the storyline. It's a perfect balance that enhances the overall enjoyment of the narrative.

The characters are exceptionally well-developed, each with their own quirks and complexities. From the protagonist's endearing yet bumbling antics to the supportive camaraderie of the coworkers, every character feels authentic and relatable. Their successes and struggles evoke empathy, creating a sense of emotional investment that keeps the reader hooked.

This story offers valuable insights into resilience and the importance of embracing unexpected circumstances. Through the protagonist's journey of navigating unforeseen challenges, the reader is reminded of the resilience of the human spirit and the potential for growth within adversity. It's a refreshing reminder that even in the face of setbacks, there is always room for redemption.

This book provides a captivating and thoroughly enjoyable experience. With its clever storytelling, lovable characters, and meaningful themes, it leaves a lasting impression that lingers long after the final page. It's a testament to the transformative power of laughter, friendship, and embracing life's unpredictable twists and turns.

The premise of this book was unique and fun. I found the concept relatable, the emails being Millie's version of her inner most thoughts and having those released into the world all at once. I despised her loser ex and loved her friends, especially Petra and Cate. This story had a wonderful balance of relationships with friends, co-workers, and family. Millie experiences a lot of growth and I found her relationship with Jack refreshing. He was a great guy who wasn't perfect, but was a perfect match for Millie. I loved that he wanted to support her through the drama, but I also love that it wasn't an insta-love, all sunshine and rainbows, situation.
The book had a few slow parts, and the self-doubt did get a little repetitive (especially around Owen). This didn't take away from the overall experience and I will definitely recommend this one.

Have you ever imagined your deepest thoughts and feelings accidentally shared with the world? “Better Left Unsent” by Lia Louis plunges readers into the whirlwind life of Millie Chandler, a receptionist whose world turns upside down when her private emails are mistakenly sent out.

In this captivating narrative, Louis masterfully weaves together humour, romance, and the unwavering support of loved ones. Millie’s journey of self-discovery and resilience resonates deeply, as she navigates the aftermath of her intimate revelations being laid bare.

From the outset, I found myself drawn to Millie’s character, rooting for her every step of the way. Her strength, compassion, and unwavering determination in the face of adversity are truly inspiring. Louis crafts a protagonist who is not only relatable but also emblematic of the power of forgiveness and personal growth.

What sets “Better Left Unsent” apart is its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from laughter to tears, in a single sitting. Louis’s narrative effortlessly captures the complexities of human relationships, reminding us of the importance of trust and the healing power of love. Millie’s resilience serves as a poignant reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is always hope for redemption.

Final Thoughts:

Lia Louis has once again delivered a masterpiece that is sure to captivate readers from start to finish. “Better Left Unsent” is a testament to the enduring power of love, friendship, and the indomitable human spirit. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone in search of a heartwarming story that will stay with them long after the final page.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher, but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

A fun rom-com! Lia Louis always hits it for my reading taste and this one was no different. The email premise was hysterical and I was surprised at how it all unfolded! Her books are always fun and sweet which make it such an enjoyable read. Great characters and the romance was perfect! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

I decided not to finish this book. I got 40% into it, and found myself not paying attention and not connecting to the plot or characters. I think people that enjoy quirky characters would really enjoy this book. The main character, Millie, was just a little too quirky for me.

I found the first about 30% of the book to be very repetitive. I understand that the emails being sent out was humiliating and caused a lot of distress for herself and her peers, but I found myself waiting and waiting for the plot to move on from that point. Where I stopped reading at 40%, the assumed romance was starting to develop more, but at that point I just wanted to move on to something else.

I can see how other people would enjoy the concept of this book, but it just wasn’t for me! I would be willing to read something else from this author in the future. Thanks again to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC!

Millie finds peace in writing emails of her true thoughts and not sending them. One day, however, her entire draft folder gets sent and her life changes forever.

This was a really cute romance! I enjoyed the characters, even when they drove me nuts at times. The idea of your private thoughts getting sent out to everyone is terrifying, and I really felt sorry for Millie. But I did think she handled it well. The shinning star for me in this one were the side characters. I loved Jack and all of the people Millie worked with or were friends with. The story was really well rounded because of that rich world.

While I did enjoy the book, it was a bit slow at times and I thought a couple of things could get easily cut out to help with that.

Overall, this was a cute romcom!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

Lia Louis books are always a delight to read. I look forward to every one. I enjoyed this book like all her others. It was sweet, heartfelt, and fun. The characters were interesting and wonderful. The romance was tender and exciting. The character development was strong. Just an enjoyable read all the way through.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

While this book was cute, I wish it didn’t start with her emails being sent. I wish we would’ve been able to learn about Mille before everything unfolded. With that being said it was a fun and sweet romcom

I wanted to enjoy this book, but it fell short for me.

I like the idea of writing emails to people about things you want to say but don't dare to say in person, and all emails are sent in error. However, I thought the emails were a little childish and not particularly interesting. I think you could have said it, if you had some backbone, unfortunately, our heroine lacked it. I think Millie was very immature for her age. The story is very repetitive, slow, and drags on too long.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.

This is my first Lia Louis book so I was excited! However, this book felt a little flat for me. At times it felt a little slow and drag but overall the story was cute.

DNF'ed at 21 percent. The book was too descriptive that it took the reader out of the plot and made the story difficult to stay immersed in. I felt for Millie cause we all obviously think things about others that we don't want them to know especially when we are angry. What got me most about Millie though was that it felt like she had no back bone what so ever. It is a cute premise for a book but the execution could use some work.

"Unsent Epistles" offers a delightful romp through comedic romance, sprinkled with amusing moments, intriguing correspondence, occasional blushes, and endearing connections. For some, it serves as a therapeutic outlet to pen down unspoken thoughts without the intention of dispatching them. It becomes a means to unravel feelings and sentiments. Millie Chandler finds solace in composing emails, using them as a medium to unload her burdens without the intent of hitting send. However, a fateful day ensues when a workplace blackout triggers an accidental mass dispatch of her draft folder to everyone. The ensuing embarrassment is palpable!

Millie's plight resonated deeply as her private musings became public fodder. The prospect of facing everyone post-disclosure is cringe-worthy indeed! Navigating life and relationships amidst this email debacle adds layers of complexity to her journey. The ensemble cast adds richness to the narrative, with some characters endearing while others are decidedly less so, including one particularly disagreeable individual. Deciphering the mystery behind the accidental dispatch provided an enjoyable puzzle, complemented by the intricacies of various relationships depicted.

In summary, this book presents a refreshing, well-crafted, and entertaining narrative that leaves a warm, satisfied glow. It diverges from my usual literary fare, offering a welcome change of pace.

I had the pleasure of engaging in a buddy read with Kim from "It’s All About the Thrill," which sparked lively discussions and enriched the reading experience. I encourage readers to explore her review for additional insights!

Gratitude is extended to Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest appraisal. all opinions expressed herein are genuine and my own.

Better Left Unsent is easily my favorite Rom-Com of the year!

It’s funny, charming, and romantic, all wrapped up into a book that reminds you of your favorite Rom-Com movies of the 2000’s.

I honestly believe this book is a play on a combination of ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ and ‘The Holiday’. And if you love both of those films, you’ll love this story too.

Tropes
• Workplace Romance
• SLOW Burn
• Coming of Age / Finding Your Purpose / Self-Discovery

Things I Loved
• Millie’s character development throughout the book was wonderful and I thought the overall pacing flowed well and the story arcs were complete.
• Ralph and Cate (Seriously adore them! And they were an amazing support system for Millie)
• Actually, all the secondary characters in this story I thought were fantastic and brought so much depth!
• The flirty banter and realistic conversations.
• Accurate portrayal of messy relationships and dynamics. Especially with family.
• The spice level is perfect for those who are fans of closed-door romances with sweet kisses / Hallmark movie feel. Throughout the story I never felt lacking for romance, and it was refreshing to read a book where the plot was developed for the relationship more so than the (dot dot dot).
• The theme of honesty that ran throughout the book was well done. It showed the importance of sharing the truth with family, friends, co-workers, romantic relationships, and most of all- Ourselves.

Now for Jack DOT Shurlock (because he deserves a whole section for himself- he’s that solid of book boyfriend material - IMHO)
• A few adjectives that come to mind = Steady. Honest. Confident. Sexy. Warm. Playful. KIND!
• Millie has spent her whole life ‘people-pleasing’. With Jack though, she realizes- she can just BE. Jack is the person she is the truest version of herself with. And it was beautiful to be a part of that discovery and dynamic as a reader.
• Does anyone know where I can put in an order for one Jack Shurlock? Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Final Thoughts
I’m a huge sucker for a grand romantic gesture and the one in Better Left Unsent had me grinning from ear to ear. It was wonderful and hit every emotional beat I desired as a reader.

I loved this book and can’t recommend it enough.

The perfect read for this summer!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Funny, original, and sweet. I loved the humour and the author's writing style. A lovely read

How many times have you felt compelled to type out that email you *really* want to send just to expel some of your frustrations before erasing it and replying in an ‘acceptable’ way or letting something slide altogether? Imagine that you save those to your drafts instead of deleting them and then, whoops, your drafts ALL get sent out. Millie has that exact scenario happen from her work email and is left to face the fallout of all the thoughts and feelings she never meant to share landing in the inboxes of each person they were directed toward.

The result is this lovely, introspective story about coming back to oneself after having a light dimmed by heartbreak and unrealized toxic behaviors. There is a lot of thoughtful consideration of how honest any one person really is, not only with their loved ones, friends, and colleagues, but also with themselves. The book also touches on learning when it’s time to let the past go and working toward releasing the expectations of others while living the life that is best for you.

I thought Millie was an admirable character who held her head high in the face of an extremely embarrassing event for her. In the wake of her heartbreak, she had become an introverted people pleaser, not one to rock the boat or make waves, and in one click, all of that came crashing down. There were a lot of different scenarios that pulled the story in multiple different directions at times, but ultimately it all had its purpose. The growth she achieved from beginning to end was a moving journey for her.

There was also an adorable romance subplot woven throughout. Jack was sweet and supportive, and planned was of the most unique and thoughtful experiences for Millie that showed he really listened to her. He had very big ‘if he wanted to, he would’ energy — he wanted to, so he did. I would’ve loved even more moments between the two of them, simply because the ones we got were so great.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited about this one after reading the blurb, but unfortunately this one fell a bit flat for me. I really loved the concept, but I felt like there was just a bit too much going on and it felt like it distracted from the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Millie’s email drafts are a mishmash of her innermost thoughts, an e-diary never meant to be read by anyone but her. One night an unfortunate server malfunction causes all her drafts to send–unintentionally—to their unsuspecting recipients. Embarrassed, Millie goes on an apology tour in an effort to make amends.
 
The first half of this book was difficult for me to get into. I wanted Millie to get on with it. Stop repeating yourself, stop simmering in your self pity and misery. Accept that you did what you did (it was an accident!), and just move on already.

I enjoyed the book more as the plot began to focus more on her relationships with Petra, Cate, and Ralph, and on her budding romance with Jack. I was very pleased with the storybook ending that left a huge smile on my face. Ultimately, this book is a reminder that no matter how someone may appear on the surface, we all have something going on and should treat each other with grace and kindness.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria books, and Lia Louis for the ARC of Better Left Unsent.

Better Left Unsent was an easy five star read for me.

Better Left Unsent was a sweet and funny book that captured my interest immediately. It definitely gave off Bridget Jones vibes with the main female character being Millie, a British woman in her 30's who works in a job she doesn't love seemingly stuck after losing love. I absolutely loved the idea of her writing emails or responding to emails and not sending them - haven't we all wanted to do that? I know I sometimes want to respond to emails at work with a swift, "are you kidding me?" Millie's emails reminded me of Bridget Jones' diary entries, as they often reflected innermost thoughts she was not planning on sharing with the other person.

Millie was incredibly relatable as a character and was fleshed out really well. Her emotions and inner monologue were seemingly effortlessly intertwined with the exposition of the story and the dialogue between characters. It was fun and engaging to read her innermost thoughts among the action of the story, and I loved the addition of the emails and text messages within the pages of the book, because that is so central to the story and really part of our daily lives these days. Millie struggles with self-image, friendships, and relationships with her family, which was also really relatable to me as a woman in my 30's navigating life and also provided another facet of my Bridget Jones comparison.

I loved Millie with Jack, the main male character lead. Their flirtation begins on page one, and you can feel the palpable interest between them from early on. It was fun to watch their attraction and his attempts at wooing her as the book progressed. The burn was slow with most of the romance occurring in the last 30% of the book or so. I loved Jack as a character and definitely saw why Millie would be intrigued by him. He was a well written male character with charisma. The intimacy stops at cuddling and kissing, so if you prefer no or low spice books, this one would be very appropriate.

This book kept me laughing and was really intriguing with the mystery component of how the messages were sent as the story reached its climax. I loved the pop culture references. They made the book feel very fresh and relatable, but I don't feel they will date that quickly due to the nature of the references - they were seemingly lasting, like Ben Affleck and JLo.

Overall, this book offers:
- British humor
- Office romance
- Slow burn
- Low spice

I definitely would read this again and will keep it on my shelf, especially as a humorous read or palate cleanser from spicier stories.

The premise of Better Left Unsent really intrigued me, and I was pleased that the story turned out to be just as interesting and compelling as I hoped it would be.
Millie’s life gets turned upside down when all of her email drafts that she has been using as a personal diary get sent to their receivers. She has a huge mess in front of her with best friends, ex boyfriends, coworkers, her parents, and her work crush receiving emails she never meant for them to see. The concept of this happening to me honestly gives me nightmares, so as a fellow people-pleaser I related so much with Millie. I loved how the author was able to weave the story together as we learned about so many different relationships and watched as Millie navigated many difficult problems in her work and personal life. The romance plot was so good, and my only complaint is that there wasn’t enough of it. There were so many other things going on that I felt like only about 1/3 of the book had Jack and Millie together in it, and I wanted so much more because their relationship was so sweet and had me smiling so many times. The ending did not disappoint and I also loved that there was a bit of mystery to how the emails got sent that we wanted to solve throughout the book as well. I highly recommend this one!

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.