I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

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My Review

When I first started reading I Hope This Finds You Well, I was genuinely convinced I was going to dislike it. However, after seeing this book highly recommended in the book community, I stuck with it. I am so glad I did because it completely shattered my expectations in the best way possible.

Jolene has spent years working at Supershops, a job that leaves her isolated and miserable. Her anxiety makes it difficult for her to form friendships, while her overbearing mother only adds to her desire to spend most of her time alone in her apartment. To cope with her frustrations at work, Jolene leaves snarky remarks hidden in white at the bottom of her emails. When one of these comments is accidentally exposed, Jolene is forced to attend an anti-harassment course run by the cheerful head of HR, Cliff, leading to her email access being restricted. When a serious IT mix-up accidentally gives her access to the private emails and DMs of everyone at the company, she can’t resist reading the secrets and grievances her coworkers keep from one another. Jolene learns layoffs are on their way and begins using this information to protect her job, but the more she learns about the people around her, the more she begins to question her assumptions about them. 

At first, I found Jolene an annoying, unlikable main character and thought I would dislike the book. However, as the story progressed, I came to feel for Jolene’s character, loving her quirky, slightly awkward personality. I particularly enjoyed watching her cynical worldview shatter as she read her coworkers’ private messages. This invasive look at their lives forced her to realise that everyone at Supershops was masking their own pain, which ultimately helped her confront her own. 

Because of this emotional depth, there were times I laughed while reading this novel. However, it really is a bittersweet, character-driven story. I was impressed by Sue’s ability to convey humour and melancholy in equal measure. Instead of rushing through the corporate drama, the pacing was on the slower side, which suited the nature of the story and allowed me time to reflect on how easily we misunderstand the people we see every day. In addition to this, I enjoyed being able to read the emails and messages as Jolene was reading them; this multimedia style made the book highly engaging as well as easy to follow.

The supporting cast adds immense depth to the story, particularly Cliff, the upbeat HR director. While a romance develops between him and Jolene, Sue wisely keeps it from hijacking the plot. Instead, their relationship acts as a mirror for Jolene’s growth as Cliff’s genuine kindness challenges her defences. The novel also shines in its portrayal of Jolene’s relationship with her immigrant parents. Sue beautifully captures the layered child-of-immigrant dynamics, showing how deeply rooted grief and cultural expectations can fracture family bonds. 

If I had access to everyone’s emails and messages, I’d probably snoop too. I loved how this book balances humour with more emotional and serious topics, creating a story that is both hilarious and heartfelt. If you’re looking for a character-driven story about loneliness and connection, I’d definitely give this book a read. This was a fantastic debut novel, and I look forward to reading more of Sue’s work.