I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue: Surprisingly Addictive and Utterly Human

I’ll be honest — when I picked up I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue, I fully expected to cringe my way through it. The setup (an anxious admin assistant snooping through her coworkers’ private messages) sounded like a secondhand embarrassment waiting to happen. I figured it would fall into the same “I don’t get the hype” category as Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. Spoiler alert: I was wrong. Very wrong.

Not only did I not hate it, but I was completely sucked into the lives of the characters — messy, awkward, and wildly imperfect as they are. The author does an incredible job of making every character feel undeniably human. Not always relatable, mind you (some of these people need a serious reality check), but human. Each person’s quirks, flaws, and anxieties are written with such authenticity that I couldn’t help but feel invested.

I’ve seen some chatter that the book’s marketing may have misled readers, leaving some feeling disappointed. Since I wasn’t exposed to that pre-release buzz, I can’t say how much expectations may have influenced those reactions. What I can say is that I went in with low expectations and came out pleasantly surprised. Rather than feeling let down, I found myself thinking, “Wait, why isn’t everyone talking about this book?”

One of the things I really appreciated is how the humor doesn’t feel forced. Jolene (our lead character) makes some objectively terrible decisions, but instead of making her seem ridiculous, it highlights her anxiety, grief, and the way she copes with both. The result is a story that’s funny without being over the top, emotional without feeling heavy-handed. It’s a tricky balance, and Natalie Sue nails it.

If you’re hesitant to pick up I Hope This Finds You Well because you’re worried it’ll be awkward or shallow, I get it — I was right there with you. But trust me, this book has far more heart (and far better writing) than I expected. It’s engaging, surprisingly insightful, and perfect if you’re in the mood for a character-driven story that blends humor with emotional depth.

So, if you’re on the fence, take this as your sign — give it a chance. You might just find yourself pleasantly surprised too.

Have you read I Hope This Finds You Well? If so, what did you think? I’d love to hear your take!