I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

Rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 352 pages
Published: May 2024

I found this gem of a book the old fashioned way, perusing a book store and letting the good read find me! I Hope This Finds You Well is not only a familiar adage for those of us working (emailing) in corporate business situations, but it is a humous story with many layers and a debut for author Natalie Sue. It's a solid debut. The story is centered around Jolene, who is an administrative worker for a corporation in Canada. As a coping mechanism, she writes sarcastic messages at the bottom of real emails but changes the text to white ... until she doesn't. She makes a mistake with her arch nemesis and gets in hot water with management. When the new HR representative puts tracking software on her computer during her probationary period, she inadvertently gains access to the entire company's email and chat (think Microsoft Teams) messages. She attempts to use the intel to her advantage in hopes of securing her job, but instead she learns that not all things are what they seem, and people are so much more than their email addresses and usernames. 

I found this book to be quite delightful. It had a little bit of everything. It was funny, touching, romantic, and entertaining. While I do question the realistic ability for someone to gain access to the communication Jolene was privy to, the overall message was greater than the technicalities. At the end of the day, we're all trying to survive and be the best person we can be. And sometimes that can be lonely. This book made me think about connecting with people on a level beyond digital, and it made me thankful I found it in a non-digital way. 

Recommendation: As one of my school teachers used to say, "Life is hard. Then you die." I think this book reminds readers that we can make what happens in between more pleasant for ourselves and those around us. I am thankful for this copy, and highly recommend it to others look for a read that touches on all the emotions. If this book is any indication, I think Sue has a healthy writing career ahead! 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.