One thing I really liked about this book is how likable all of the characters were, even the smaller side characters. This book was sweet, funny, and the perfect read for fans of early 2000s romcoms!

Millie finds herself in a conundrum after a faulty server sends her drafted emails out-the emails she used as sort of a diary and never wanted people to see. Great and unique premise, however not quite real or relatable? I struggled to relate or feel any empathy towards the MFC which is a bummer. If this scenario happened to me I would have no friends, no job, no life…but things just seemed to work like okay for Millie. I enjoyed the beginning and probably the last 5% but the middle dragged a bit. I appreciate the opportunity to read a copy provided courtesy of NetGalley and Atria and provide my honest thoughts.

Better Left Unsent by Lia Louis is a delightful, witty, and heartfelt novel that explores the perils of keeping secrets and the unexpected consequences of honesty. Millie Chandler, a thirty-year-old receptionist, has spent the past two years carefully guarding her emotions after a public heartbreak. She hides her true feelings, even her unspoken love for her ex, through sarcastic and often hilarious emails that never see the light of day—until a server mishap sends them all out into the world.

What follows is a whirlwind of chaos as Millie must confront the fallout of her emails, which include everything from bitter truths to unrequited love declarations. As she navigates the aftermath, Millie is forced to face the unresolved issues in her life, her relationships, and most of all, her own heart.

Louis' writing is sharp, filled with humor and depth, making Better Left Unsent both entertaining and emotionally resonant. The story is an honest look at the messiness of life and love, and how sometimes, you need to let go of control in order to heal. Fans of witty, character-driven novels with a mix of humor and heart will find this an irresistible read.

I love reading Lia Louis. Her books are always full of relatable, lovable, and vulnerable characters. Better Left Unsent tells the story of Millie Chandler who has the habit of writing down her grievances about her job, coworkers, family, and friends as email drafts using her work account. Those are never to be seen by anyone but somehow all her drafts were sent to the entire company. Millie finds herself in a very awkward and embarrassing situation but with no other options, she continues to work and face everyone she somehow offended.
The premise of the story is crazy and highly unlikely (at least I hope so) but I still found it very funny and loved reading how Millie got herself out of the sticky situation and in the process, learned how to be herself again and go after her dreams.

If you’re looking for a quirky and light read for this summer, Better Left Unsent is a great option.

Tropes: workplace romance, strangers to lovers, clean romance

⚠️Trigger warning: emotional abuse

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, Emily Bestler Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Lia Louis. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Millie Chandler's heart was broken in public two years ago, and she vowed to keep all her emotions to herself ever since. But to get those feelings out, she writes emails that she never sends expressing her opinions - to her boss and coworkers, friends, and family. She just never sends them, keeping them in her drafts folder on her computer. Then one day, after a computer glitch at work, all her emails get sent. Can Millie mend all the fences she just magnificently mowed down?

Isn't this a worst nightmare for anyone using email? To have something sent to someone that was never intended to reach them? Millie's draft emails were the perfect way to get out all those feelings we have but can't express without hurting others or ourselves, until the worst happens. Lia Louis always writes books that touch on your emotions, and this one did that with a situation so relatable. There are lots of unlikable characters in this book as well as the mystery as to how those emails really did get sent. A nice, light read to curl up with on these cold days!

I was much more charmed by this than I expected to be! The premise still feels a little insane - everyone knows you don't actually put in the email address when you're writing a draft you don't ever want to send - but I liked that it ended up being only the catalyst of the book and not the main plot point. I liked Millie as a protagonist and the variety of issues she was forced to confront in the wake of her email fiasco. I also thought the "reveal" worked really well and helped to highlight some of the character dynamics. I wasn't super into the main ship, which made the middle section drag A LOT, but I did find the ending satisfying. This felt very cozy and British in a way that worked for me.

Better Left Unsent" by Lia Louis is a fun light read that effortlessly weaves humor, heartbreak, and hope into a story you won’t want to put down. From the very first page, I was drawn into the world of relatable characters and a narrative that feels as though it’s speaking directly to the heart.

Lia Louis has an extraordinary gift for exploring the nuances of human emotion. The protagonist's journey is beautifully layered, filled with moments of vulnerability, self-discovery, and resilience. The writing is poignant and lyrical, yet refreshingly witty, striking the perfect balance between lightheartedness and depth.

The themes of love, forgiveness, and the importance of communication are explored (with a little hint of spice) that left me reflecting long after I’d finished the last page. Louis crafts a story that feels intimate and universal all at once, with twists and turns that kept me eagerly flipping pages until the very end.

This book is a testament to the power of words—those said, unsaid, and better left unsent. It's a must-read for anyone who loves stories about life’s messy, beautiful complexities and the strength found in vulnerability.

unfortunately this was just not for me, but i have enjoyed others by Louis and i will try her next book as well!

I couldn’t get into this book. I honestly skimmed the last half because I just lost interest. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Such a cute, fun story! I loved reading about Millie’s journey of self growth and related deeply to her need for people to like her- everyone.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this advanced reader's edition. Unfortunately, I will not be able to give it the time required to write a thorough review and will be unable to read it for this purpose.

Lia Louis's Better Left Unsent introduces readers to Millie Chandler - who has my personal nightmare happen to her when her personal emails are set out. What happens from there are the madcap antics of dealing with the consequences of that action. There were some slight pacing issues that I felt while reading, but I will look forward to reading more from this author.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy (and trade paperback copy) in exchange for my honest review.
I love Lia Louis' writing. She develops quirky characters whom always provide me with second hand embarrassment. Millie has inadvertently sent all of the hate mail sitting in her draft folder and then events which followed had me smiling, laughing, and wanting to die of embarrassment.
This book was not quite as emotional as Louis' other books, but it was a great deal of fun.

Thank you so much @AtriaBooks for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 21 May 2024)

SYNOPSIS | Millie writes draft emails as a way to get all of her thoughts out (the good, the bad and the ugly), however she never intends for them to ever be read by the recipient. One night a computer glitch causes every single one of her drafts to get sent to her boss, her coworkers, her ex-boyfriend, her best friends and her recent crush.

WHAT I LIKED:
- such a fun concept for story and ongoing conflict
- many humorous moments sprinkled throughout
- the inclusion of email and text exchanges

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- despite the premise of the book being extremely cringeworthy and anxiety inducing, I didn't really feel that there was a huge dramatic fallout from it
- the general pacing was pretty slow going (the story suffered a bit from repetitiveness)
- didn't have that heartbreakingly emotional tug that Dear Emmie Blue had
- I didn't really find myself caring about the romance between Millie and Jack

BETTER LEFT UNSENT was a novel that didn't quite work for me. I've been trying to decide it I misinterpreted the synopsis, of if it failed to deliver, or if it's the writing. Maybe a mix of all three?

There are some aspects that I enjoyed (trying to go after what she wanted), some that were surprising (the ex boyfriend's fiancée at the end), and some that just weren't great (everything to do with the awful ex boyfriend). The romantic element seemed to have been forced in, but I could see it working if this was TV/movie instead.

Might give the author another chance.

I laughed out loud so many times while reading! Who hasn’t written out their honest thoughts before only to be too scared to hit send?! Unfortunately for Millie, her emails were sent and there’s nothing she can do now except for damage control. This book was comical, witty and a delight to read!

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Better Left Unsent by Lia Louis!

This was a cutie little book and worth the read to me! I think my book club girls will love it too! I love Lia Louis so no big surprises here! Thank you so much for the review copy, netgalley!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.