Title: I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU WELL
Author: NATALIE SUE
ISBN: 9780008604493
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 337
Source: Private Copy
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 colour 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 favour, convince HR she’s Supershops material and beat out the competition.
But as Jolene is drawn further into her coworker’s private worlds and secrets, her carefully constructed walls begin to crumble—especially around Cliff, who she definitely cannot have feelings for. Soon she will need to decide if she’s ready to leave the comfort of her cubicle, even if it means coming clean to her colleagues.
Official Summary
15 June 2026
Alicia found this one hiding on the shelves at Exclusive Books the last time we went book shopping together, and after reading the blurb, I simply could not resist. This one has no murder, no dead bodies—instead, it is more of an office drama crossed with a romcom. Not my usual choice, but I absolutely loved it.
Jolene is something of an outsider, and honestly, she prefers it that way. She does not particularly like her colleagues, but she enjoys her job. When an IT mishap suddenly gives Jolene access to her co-workers’ emails and internal chats, she is initially horrified to discover what they are saying about her. She always believed she was invisible.
But as Jolene secretly spies on her colleagues, determined to use the information to advance her career, she gradually learns more about the people around her. Without even realising it, she begins to like some of them and unexpectedly forms friendships as she starts engaging with them on a more personal level.
The romcom element between Jolene and the HR guy adds plenty of smiles to the story. While this may not normally be my genre of choice, it proved to be a funny and surprisingly moving read that kept me turning the pages.
Jolene’s anxiety and depression, combined with her excessive drinking and a dark secret, add a more serious emotional layer to the novel. At the same time, her inability to interact with people without somehow offending them creates plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
Jolene’s mother was easily my favourite character—the woman had me laughing every time she appeared.
This book truly surprised me. I did not expect to enjoy it nearly as much as I did, and it reminded me that stepping outside your usual genre can sometimes lead to the most delightful reading experiences.
Also by Natalie Sue
YOU’LL LOVE IT HERE
Mona thought her living situation was bad… but the real mess is just beginning.
One day is all it takes for Mona’s life to implode. After years of climbing at her marketing firm, she was supposed to be getting promoted and finally moving out of her crumbling apartment building. Instead, she’s jobless, aimless, and still stuck in a space barely big enough for a yoga mat.
Then her eccentric landlady takes a tumble and asks Mona to step in as the building’s reluctant super. The deal is simple: help prep the place for sale, and she can secure the upgrade she’s been chasing. But that’s easier said than done when the neighbors treat “boundaries” as optional. There’s the shouting couple, the mysterious shut-in, a possible panty thief in the laundry room—and Sami, the relentlessly cheerful diner owner who keeps showing up with coffee and unsolicited ideas about community. As Mona gets pulled deeper into the building’s chaos—and closer to the people inside it—she’s forced to confront what, and who, she’s really been trying to outrun. Sometimes, the place you’re desperate to leave is the one that finally shows you who you are.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
NATALIE SUE is the Canadian internationally bestselling and award-winning author. Her debut novel I Hope This Finds You Well was the winner of the 2025 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour and the Alberta Literary Award for Fiction, and was a finalist for the Amazon Canada First Novel Award. She lives in Calgary with her husband, daughter, and dog.
I have been trying very hard to step out of my comfort zone and read books from other genres. It does not always work for me. But this time I found myself completely engrossed. I highly recommend adding this one to your TBR. Until next time… Happy Reading!
