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.

This is the first book I have read by the author. I have heard great things about her other books. However, Better Left Unsent just fell short for me. That being said, I did enjoy the book but it went by so slow for me. Millie is a 32 year old receptionist and while she has been left heartbroken by the company that they both work for, Flye golden boy Owen - 2 years ago. She seemed very immature for her age. As someone in the administrative field I did feel for Millie but I didn't connect with her character. Her poor me attitude all the time became a drag to read. I chose to pick up this book because I felt like it would be an interesting read. Who doesn't want to read about someone's emails being sent? I was hoping for a read filled with gossip, and chaos. Instead it was more like something that could have been said at face value if the character had any type of back bone.

I think it painted receptionists and administrative professionals in a bad light with how Millie just lets people walk all over her.

For instance Alexis - She just forgave her for everything! That is such bullshit. That is a bad friend. You don't trash your friend and things that happened to her on tiktok and ghost her then just show up in the last chapter. All the while Millie is begging her to come to the treehouse?! That would be an automatic un-invite.

AND OWEN? I was holding out for a whole Screw you scene where Millie makes him feel less than small. Instead she's waiting in the rain for him having a conversation with him while he's drunk. He probably won't even remember in the morning. Missed opportunity I think. Especially with Chloe.

I did enjoy the scenes centered around Millies friends Cate, and Ralph. I think she had a great support system, including her parents. I wish the author had gone more into the backs of the mother seeing another man.

For what little "romance" this book had I did enjoy the scenes with Jack and Millie the most but they also lacked luster, and Chemistry I felt. I don't think that Jack ever really came out of his shell and even at the end of the book It just didn't make sense to me that they were in love over a couple dates and kisses. It would have been better had it been given more time to be developed.

I rated it three stars because there were things I did enjoy about the book but I wouldn't recommend it to someone.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria Books for early access.

Honestly, this was not for me. As someone who works in IT, I absolutely loved the idea of this book. But getting into it, it just felt too chaotic, too "all over the place". Millie as a character was just "too quirky" for me, and therefore I couldn't find myself like her.

I can definitely see where others would like this book, it just didn't grab me, it wasn't for me.

Have you ever drafted an email for the sake of getting something off your chest? Well, Millie’s been doing just that. She just has no intention of sending said emails. Until one day there’s a glitch in the system and all her drafts get sent out. All 107 of her very honest unfiltered emails. The emails range from being about who she has the hots for in the office, being a jilted lover, hating on her friend’s boyfriend, and telling people off for bad behavior. Millie’s life has been turned upside down and has to face the consequences of her very real inner most thoughts. Millie might just find that there’s freedom and excitement to be had in being more open and honest. But some honestly might come at a cost. Don’t worry there is romance too!

God - this romcom made me instantly go through and delete my drafts at work. It’s kind of far fetched that she would actually address the emails… because let’s be real whose anxiety can actually survive addressing emails until they’re perfected… certainly not mine! But despite that one flaw I found this book to be incredibly charming, face paced, and hilarious. The drama of each email kept me on the edge of my seat! With a great lesson on the importance of honesty.

If you enjoy face paced, humorous books, with loads of awkwardness and drama you’ll love this one. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Better Left Unsent was my first Lia Louis book, and it certainly won’t be my last! It had humor, heart, depth, great characters, and a fun plot…what more could you ask for?!

Millie has a method for dealing with her frustration when she doesn’t want to get involved in a conflict- she writes an email and leaves it in her unsent folder. When something happens at work and all of her unsent emails suddenly get sent, her life is thrown into utter chaos. Issues with her ex, her best friends, her parents, and her co-workers are brought front and center in her life, and Millie slowly comes to realize that maybe it would be better if we all just said what we were feeling.

I adored this book. The synopsis reminded me a bit of Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella, a book I absolutely loved years ago, and it made me immediately grab this book. I felt for Millie through all the embarrassing moments she went through. Her character has a kind heart and truly wants good things for other people, and I was charmed watching her character growth from someone who didn’t feel like she deserved good things to someone who knew she did. Her love interest is absolutely charming, and their first date swoon worthy and meaningful.

We also get a friendship story that is deep and heartfelt, as Millie’s emails to her besties help them face hard truths about things in their own lives. I loved seeing their unbreakable bond as they helped each other find themselves!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own,

We all have things we think or feel about people or certain situations but that we never say out loud.  Well Millie is no different.  But, she finds an outlet for all of her emotions/feelings/thoughts in drafting emails where she give her honest replies to everyone…coworkers, family, friends, her ex, and even her new crush, with the plan of never actually sending them out.  Think of it as a digital diary of sorts.  However, her life gets turned upside down, when all of those email drafts get accidentally sent out to everyone…all 102 drafts.  Now she must deal with the after math of everyone reading the thoughts she never meant anyone to see ever.

Because of this accident, this book was full of both funny and embarrassing moments and interactions for Millie.  I felt for Millie as she felt that her life was falling apart, however, since she just couldn’t let it go, it started to become a detriment to other areas of her life, and I felt like the story became more about her finding out the ‘how’ behind the accidental send and it wouldn’t release its hold on her until she found out all the answers.  On the flip side, I liked learning about Millie and those in her life and their relationships through these accidentally sent emails, and the writing made these characters feel very relatable.  I mean, I know I can relate to someone hearing or learning about something I didn’t want them to know, so I could feel and understand her cringe in dealing with this.  I just wish she would have seen the supportive people around her a little more and a little earlier, as they were in her corner, trying to help her deal.

Overall, another fun read from Lia Louis to add to the collection.

Better Left Unsent publishes on May 21st!

Thanks to Lia Louis, Atria Books, and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I am a fan of Lia Louis & this one was a cute story with some depth. I love that her characters feel very human and not perfectly crafted, And I firmly believe that Lia Louis can write inner dialogue like nobody else. I was laughing out loud multiple times during this book.

Thank you to Netgalley & Atria Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!