Our fmc Jolene struggles with anxiety and is disconnected from her co-workers at her dead-end job. She meets Cliff from HR after she is discovered secretly adding phantom white-fonted postscripts on her inter-office emails in a cathartic effort to privately air grievances with her co-workers. After 8 years in a soulless job, she barely interacts with any of her colleagues. She seems to suffer from social anxiety and anxiety in general, and there are hints of a mysterious tragic past, which made me wonder if continuing to work at her horrible job with what she considers sub-par humans is a form of self-flagellation. (Although I think many of us can relate to just tolerating your co-workers and working a thankless job that is most definitely *not* a fulfilling career.) Some technical hi-jinks ensue, leading Jolene to have full access to her co-worker's emails and inter-office communications. What will Jolene do with all of this forbidden information? What lines would you be tempted to cross in that situation, and would you actually do it? It turns into quite a ride for both Jolene and for Cliff.

Ordinarily, I wouldn't enjoy a book like this due to the excessive collateral anxiety I'd experience on behalf of the characters. And make no mistake, there are a lot of cringe-inducing events in this book. But they're written so earnestly and, at times, with such great comedic absurdity that they're a delight to read. I love the progression of the supporting characters as Jolene learns more about her co-workers, as she (and we as readers) see them evolve from one-dimensional quasi-adversaries to actual human beings with lives and personalities and problems. I also really love the author's comedic timing (Jolene's inner snark is fantastic), her ability to almost trick us into liking semi-unlikable characters, and her knack for weaving both emotional tension and hopefulness into the story. The complexity of the supporting characters almost make this seem like an ensemble story although it's very definitely Jolene's story. This was a fun debut story, and I will absolutely read this author again!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this story, this is my honest and objective review. ( )

Okay, you know that feeling you get when you start to read a debut novel - and you can't put it down? Yeah, that's what happened to me when I started to read I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue.
Jolene works as an admin for a large company. She does her best to hide in her pod, and interacts with the other staffers as little as she possibly can. Which works out, as they ignore her. Jolene has a way she uses to get back at them, but it backfires on her. She's now on HR's radar. But....someone in HR has messed up - and Jolene can see everyone's email - and what they're really thinking. Hmm, there are so many ways this tale could go...

Having worked in similar setting, I could empathize with Jolene. I was appalled and angered by the treatment she received from the others. Sue has filled the office with easily identifiable personalities. (I has some flashbacks from the television show The Office.)

Sue takes us home with Jolene as well. What is happening at work is only one issue. She's also carrying trauma from her past and there's pressure from her Persian family to get married and do well at work.

Now, it might sound like heavy reading, but it is - and it isn't. I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud. Rather than think 'heavy' I think of it as introspective and taking back yourself. I think that everyone that reads this book will recognize something that speaks to them.

I Hope This Finds You Well is a wonderful debut, one I can easily recommend. ( )