Book Review: I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

If you’ve ever fantasized about adding a snarky postscript to an email before hitting send, I Hope This Finds You Well will feel like a cathartic, caffeine-fueled daydream. Natalie Sue’s debut novel delivers an office rom-com that’s equal parts biting and heartwarming, with a main character who turns passive-aggressive email etiquette into an art form.

Jolene, our delightfully prickly protagonist, has perfected the fine balance of corporate survival: keeping her head down, maintaining firm boundaries, and secretly roasting her coworkers in hidden email postscripts. But when one of her invisible jabs gets exposed, she’s sentenced to the modern office equivalent of purgatory—sensitivity training, led by the unnervingly cheerful HR rep, Cliff.

Jolene’s situation spirals further when a workplace IT error hands her an all-access pass to her coworkers’ private emails and DMs. What starts as guilty curiosity quickly turns into an opportunity—one that could save her job amidst impending layoffs. But as she digs deeper into her colleagues’ lives, she starts to see them as more than just the office annoyances she’s always dismissed. And then there’s Cliff, who is proving to be far more complicated (and disarmingly charming) than his HR handbook demeanor suggests.

Sue nails the absurdities of corporate culture with laugh-out-loud moments and painfully relatable work grievances. From pointless meetings to awkward breakroom encounters, the book captures the nuances of office life with sharp wit and a surprisingly tender undercurrent. The slow-burn romance between Jolene and Cliff is both sweet and satisfying, balancing out the novel’s snarkier edges.

The only reason this isn’t a full 5-star read? At times, Jolene’s cynicism borders on exhausting, and the pacing in the middle drags a bit before the story finds its momentum again. But ultimately, this book is a sharp, entertaining reminder that even the most frustrating work environments can foster unexpected connections.

If you love workplace comedies with a touch of romance and a hefty dose of millennial existential dread, I Hope This Finds You Well is the perfect read. Just maybe double-check your emails before you hit send.

Have you read this one? Let’s discuss in the comments—just keep it HR-approved!