I Hope This Finds You Well
Ratings24
Average rating4.2
15
Ratings24
Average rating4.2
In this wildly funny and heartwarming office comedy, an admin worker accidentally gains access to her colleagues’ private emails and DMs and decides to use this intel to save her job—a laugh-till-you-cry debut novel you’ll be eager to share with your entire list of contacts, perfect for fans of Anxious People and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
As far as Jolene is concerned, her interactions with her colleagues should start and end with her official duties as an admin for Supershops, Inc. Unfortunately, her irritating, incompetent coworkers don’t seem to understand the importance of boundaries. Her secret to survival? She vents her grievances in petty email postscripts, then changes the text color to white so no one can see. That is until one of her secret messages is exposed. Her punishment: sensitivity training (led by the suspiciously friendly HR guy, Cliff) and rigorous email restrictions.
When an IT mix-up grants her access to her entire department’s private emails and DMs, Jolene knows she should report it, but who could resist reading what their coworkers are really saying? And when she discovers layoffs are coming, she realizes this might just be the key to saving her job. The plan is simple: gain her boss’s favor, convince HR she’s Supershops material, and beat out the competition. But as Jolene is drawn further into her coworkers' private worlds and realizes they are each keeping secrets, her carefully constructed walls begin to crumble—especially around Cliff, who she definitely cannot have feelings for.
Eventually she will need to decide if she’s ready to leave the comfort of her cubicle, even if that means coming clean to her colleagues. Crackling with laugh-out-loud dialogue and relatable observations, I Hope This Finds You Well is a fresh and surprisingly tender comedy about loneliness and love beyond our computer screens. This sparkling debut novel will open your heart to the everyday eccentricities of work culture and the undeniable human connection that comes along with it.
Reviews with the most likes.
4.5 - I had an absolute blast diving into this book! Natalie Sue's writing skillfully breathes life into characters with remarkable depth. She effortlessly blends outrageous and humorous workplace conflicts with poignant explorations of complex themes. From grappling with grief and parental expectations to shedding light on issues like child neglect and domestic abuse, this book exceeded all my expectations. And let's not forget the utterly charming romance subplot that had me swooning!
What really stood out to me was how the book delved into the idea that the cutthroat nature of work and the relentless demands of capitalism often blind us to the humanity of our coworkers. It's a poignant commentary on how this system fosters competition at the expense of genuine connection and community.
I was so engrossed in this story that I even brought it along to a concert! It consumed my thoughts and sparked countless discussions with friends. Relatable and engaging, it's a must-read for anyone navigating the corporate world, especially those who struggle to find meaning in the daily grind imposed by society.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to this review copy.
I first thought this would be a novel equivalent to the very funny [b:Several People Are Typing 54468020 Several People Are Typing Calvin Kasulke https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1627964160l/54468020.SY75.jpg 85004135] - with the setup of an office worker getting access to everyone's emails and deciding to take advantage of the situation - but it rather turned into a compassioned study of loneliness and anxiety. A good listen.
Perfect airplane read that captured my attention for five hours. It started off so relatable for anxious people (and so well written too) and slowly unravels into some unhinged territory - but you can't help sympathizing with the main character too. Mental health is talked about so much but this is another read that can help you FEEL it.
PS love a straight forward romantic story. Love Cliff
A fun workplace dramedy, written in a heartfelt manner from the point of view of the lead, Jolene. I enjoyed reading about the Persian culture too and the pressure to succeed and have a rich life. Cliff the MMC was a cool dude too and loved his nerdiness.
PS. Supershops sounded like a horrendous place to work. No idea if it's real but if you work there, move on.
