Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. I have enjoyed Lia Louis’ other books, but this one was a bit of a miss for me. The premise intrigued me, but it dragged on for too long. It did not feel realistic to me that Millie would still be trying to solve this email mystery months after the incident occurred. It’s something you dwell on for a couple of days at most and then move on. I feel like another edit was in order. At least 40-50 pages could have been cut from this without changing the story at all. I will still check out what Louis writes next. Hopefully, another lighter romance and less “main character finally finds herself” quest.

Better Left Unsent- 3.25⭐️ 1.5🌶️

Contemporary romance
Clean romance
Workplace romance
British chick lit
Past relationship drama
Family drama
Self discovery
Slow burn

This was a cute British chick lit. The idea of having unsent drafts absolutely calling people out leak out gives me so much second hand embarrassment. I can’t even imagine the fall out.

I enjoyed the formatting of the book and having texts and emails injected into the storyline so that we can see exactly the stakes for the FMC.

I wish that we learned a little more about the MC. I felt like we didn’t know him well enough. So much of the FMC’s back story is given and flushed out, it felt like we didn’t know much about the MMC… but there was so much potential for a MMC with so much depth.

The pacing was decent. Sometimes it felt like there was a bit too much back and forth. One time moving past something, only for the FMC to come back to it and restate.

The twist was pretty good!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to love this book because overall it sounded like it was going to be such a fun and exciting one to read. I felt bored at most points of this book and I really wished the love interest went deeper than it did throughout this book. I felt like the main character could not let go the email thing that happened and that part kept her from moving on and really living her life. Now I will say this was cute especially the ending I really loved how cute it was finally and that she figured out who she was and didn’t need to be someone else or someone who she thought others wanted her to be. Lovely ending but I wish that there was something more throughout the book to grab you and have you continue to read and enjoy it.

After a heartbreaking public breakup, Millie learned to keep to herself and never share her true feelings. Instead, she vents her thoughts into emails that never leave her drafts folder. When all her emails are accidentally sent, Millie must deal with the chaos that ensues after her colleagues, friends, and family find out her deepest confessions.

Lia Louis has penned an adorable and lighthearted romance with a relatable protagonist. Millie's self-doubt and constant people-pleasing were all too realistic. As was her awful ex that you wish she'd realize wasn't good enough for her. With the public embarrassment of having everyone hear her unfiltered thoughts to her struggle to be open and vulnerable with a new romantic interest, Better Left Unsent was a well-written, heartwarming, feel-good read.

What an utterly fascinating story about Millie, s not so special, tried to keep any attention away from herself, unhappy young woman. She decides to write e-mails to everyone she has a problem with, or has a crush on, then put them in a file she will never send, Sadly, when a problem with the server at her company accidentally sends them all, Millie is appalled and terrified at what will happen once everyone reads those e-mails.
I absolutely loved reading this book and it was one I read non-stop until I finished!
Definitely unputdownable!

I buddy read this book with a couple of friends. It looked and sounded SO CUTE, but honestly I just felt so bored through lots of the story. Millie had no self confidence, and sure, it was a tough situation, but it just felt like she lived in perpetual panic, but didn't really do anything about it. I wanted so badly to love this because the premise was so unique and fun, but it was a bit of a miss for me!

The premise of this book was so fun - what would happen if your email drafts with your innermost feelings on people, never meant to be read by anybody except yourself, got sent out all at once to the recipients? Definitely a plot that had a lot of promise....except it ended up being exceptionally boring. There just wasn't any real fallout for Millie besides one friendship and drama between Millie's ex-boyfriend and his new fiancé (also her co-workers). I found myself skimming the pages because nothing was really happening. There were a couple of swoon-worthy moments between Millie and Jack (ANOTHER co-worker), however not enough to bring this book together. Unfortunately this one had promise, but lacked in execution. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced opportunity to read and review this e-ARC.

I actually got to the halfway point and decided to DNF this one (or at least skimmed/speed read the rest), which I’m actually pretty bummed about. Upon reading the summary, I was so excited to start Better Left Unsent. The premise is unique, captivating, and had the potential to be a story I couldn’t put down until I finished the whole thing in one sitting. However, for such an interesting idea, the book actually seemed to read so slowly. The entire first 20% felt like a lot of the same—Millie thinking she ruined her life sending the email drafts and avoiding doing anything about it and instead moping around or avoiding people. I kept waiting and waiting for it to pick up, but it never did. Sure, things started to move along a bit, but it was never as fast as I wanted it to. I almost feel like the premise for the book is intriguing in theory but would have made for a better short story or novella instead of a full-length novel. It just feels like there’s only so much you can do with the aftermath of the emails drafts being sent—Millie dealing with the fallout and either positives or negatives coming out of it, rinse, repeat.

We meet Millie Chandler after she’s been pulled into a conference room with HR, after all her email drafts have been sent following a server outage. No one quite knows how or why it happened, but Millie is mortified, because she’s been using her draft folder as a bit of a personal diary. A way to get things off her chest, but with absolutely no intention of those emails ever seeing the light of day, or much less being read by the (un)intended recipient. Her ex-boyfriend, Owen (sent to the whole office!) finds out Millie’s still in love with him, followed by his fiance calling off the wedding and moving out believing there’s always been something between them. Millie’s best friend, Cate, finds out that she secretly hates her boyfriend. Her other close friend, Alexis, finds out Millie is relieved by their waning friendship. The emails also highlight cracks in her parent’s relationship, her dad emailing about her mom visiting her Easter weekend, Millie responding that her mom wasn’t there.

Told through the email drafts and the ‘after’ experience Millie has to deal with the fallout of her inner feelings being shared with everyone she knows. Millie is left to pick up the pieces, try to fix her relationships, and figure out how only her draft emails were sent out. Cute office mate, Jack, comes into Millie’s life to cheer her up and she realizes there may be more there.

While I thought the premise was cute and promising, I struggled to get through this book. The first half was very, very slow and I had a hard time connecting with Millie or her struggles. It picked up a bit as the Millie and Jack relationship blossomed - the rhubarbs - swoon! Ultimately, however, I never felt close enough to the characters or plot lines. I found the character development lacking and several points of the story hard to fathom.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

A cute and little bit quirky rom-com. I can't imagine the fear and pain and embarrassment of having my 'diary" of sorts out there in the world, that thought could keep some people up at night. There were parts of the book I struggled to get through, almost didn't keep going but overall I gave it three stars.

Haven’t we all had those “oh shit, kill me now” moments in our lives? The moments that make you want to absolutely crawl in a hole and disappear? Of course we have. Which makes this book so damn relatable. Even more so for me because I actually DO vent my frustrations with friends, family, coworkers, strangers on the street, in email drafts. Good news, I don’t address them, but also- I will not be doing that any longer. We’ve also definitely dealt with a gaslighting creep at some point, which is just the worst. This book is funny, it’s well written and it will definitely have you feeling the feels. Millie and her friend group are truly the best and Jack is to die for. Perfect little rom-com.

We all have those oh sh*t moments in life....the ones that could possibly implode our worlds. It is a relatable concept. In this book, it was emails being sent. I was invested on how it unfolded. What I absolutely loved: the quirky friend group, love interest, and overall resolution of issues.
What I didn't care for: the hyperfixation on negative aspects.

It honestly could be a me thing.

Jack was a doll.

I adore Lia Louis and will continue to be a fiend for her books.

A light and fun Rom Com about speaking your mind, and not hiding what you're feeling. Heroine Millie's worst nightmare comes true when all of her draft emails that she never meant to send are accidentally sent from her work email address. All of the sudden and much to her mortification, all of her innermost thoughts are released to everyone in her workplace. We follow Millie as she tries to cope with her new reality and do some damage control among her closest friends, her family, her boss and other superiors at work, as well as a manipulative yet charismatic ex who is quite familiar with always getting what he wants.

What a fun concept with the perfect amount of mystery thrown into the plot as well as characters that weren't immediately decipherable. Millie's friends were so likeable and witty as well, and played off her personality so well. Millie's romance with Jack, her longstanding office crush, was also very sweet and I adored that he was a voice a reason to her throughout the entire ordeal.

Even though the emails sprinkled into the chapters were a nice touch, sometimes I was lost on who was who because there were simply so many characters. I also thought that some of the romance seemed a little rushed sometimes, I think because it wasn't really the main focus of the story, which was fine since it was mostly about Millie's own growth, but I was a bit caught off guard with the depth of romance that bloomed after such a short time. Still, such a lovely and fun book, though it was a bit lighter than her usual books, Lia Louis still did a wonderful job with this!

Lia Louis is one of my favorite authors. She writes in such a relatable, heartfelt way that makes me believe in magic. Lovely humans finding other lovely humans with the addition of real hardships and life lessons. I eat it up.
Better Left Unsent had a Briget Jone's Diary feel to it. It has over the top characters that seem to match real life at the workplace. It felt a little more on the surface than her other novels I've read by Louis. More fun and light-hearted, f you prefer that in your romances.
Millie is a woman who explores her truths and re-ignites her passion for life after a bad break-up with a co-worker. She has lost her zest for life and all its possibilities. She takes a hard look in the mirror after a technical snaffu at work, when her draft emails she uses as a diary send to everyone after an internet issue occurs. Many funny and scathing truths are released to everyone in her life. Shame and embarrassment ensue.

There are second chances and healing that occurs in family and friendships.
The settings that her dates took place within were a dream. I think Louis does such a good job of making you care for all the side characters. However, I wasn't engaged in the plot as much as I would of liked. It seemed quite repetetive, and therefore dragged in spots. I thought her constant berating of herself got kind of old. I did enjoy it overall, but it didn't give me the magical vibes of her previous works. It was missing the depth and ache that I love about her writing. I will still pick up anything this author writes in the future, of course.

#netgalley #betterleftunsent

I ADORED THIS!!!

It started off a little slow for me and I almost put it down, but I’m so glad I didn’t. The premise sounded hilarious and I imagined all of the stories that would come from it, but this book took a different, brilliantly different, direction than my imagination. A lot of lessons learned and sweet love stories shared.

Thank you Lia Louis!

Thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for sending this book for review consideration.

3 ⭐️
0 🌶️

I thought this was overall a sweet story - very much chick lit, not romance.

I enjoyed Millie and Jack’s chemistry immensely and her friendship with Cate and Ralph. The story fell flat a bit for me in other places though, felt like it dragged on and went over much detail on things that weren’t super interesting. The side plot about Millie’s parents felt a bit out of place and imo didn’t add much value to the story overall.

I enjoyed the evolution of Millie and Jack’s relationship through the book. Truly the epitome of a slow burn, friends to lovers. Overall would recommend to British chick lit fans.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC 😇

I have been a HUGE fan of LIa Louis since I read Dear Emmie Blue and I was beyond excited for this new book when I read the premise of a woman having all her unsent emails accidentally sent out revealing all sorts of secrets she's been holding back with friends and coworkers alike.

Unfortunately while this book had lots of drama, some twists and a lot of laughs, overall I had trouble paying attention while listening and found the main romance a bit lackluster until the very end with the great epilogue.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and Simon. Audio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. Sadly this was a bit of a miss for me and did not live up to my high expectations but it might just be a me thing since lots of others have loved it.

I really enjoyed this book! I am always really interested by the "blew up my whole life somehow, time to keep trucking" trope and how it weaves through a story while still feeling entertaining and of course, romantic in some way. And I think Lia did a great job delivering on that. The supporting characters were also well crafted and added a lot of life to the story. At the beginning, so many characters did feel overwhelming and hard to remember who is who. Eventually I broke past that point and thought the second half was a bit easier to follow. I do also wish there was more time between the two MCs for the romance to build.

A heartfelt journey of unsent words, “Better Left Unsent” by Lia Louis weaves a delightful tale that explores the power of words, the vulnerability of the human heart, and the unexpected consequences of accidental revelations. Set against the backdrop of modern life, this witty and charming novel invites readers to reflect on their own unspoken truths.

Meet Millie Chandler. Two years ago, the thirty-year-old receptionist suffered a heartbreak that shattered her world. Since then, she has become a closed book, guarding her feelings, truths, and dreams with unwavering determination. But Millie does write emails, but they’re sarcastic retorts to her rude boss, candid confessions to her friends, and, of course, a heartfelt love declaration to her ex, who is now engaged to someone else. These emails remain safely tucked away in her drafts folder. That is, until an unexpected server outage at work catapults them into the open. Every single one of them.

As Millie grapples with the chaos her words have caused, she embarks on a journey to fix the mess she inadvertently created. Along the way, she confronts buried emotions, faces long-buried secrets, and discovers the strength to embrace her true self. Some readers may find the pacing slow, especially during Millie's attempts to rectify the email debacle. However, I found the humour and character dynamics to compensate for this.

The concept of accidentally sending out your innermost thoughts resonates deeply. Who hasn't wished they could express themselves honestly without fear of judgment? Millie's transformation from a closed-off individual to someone willing to face her vulnerabilities is beautifully portrayed. Her journey of self-discovery is relatable and heartwarming.

Louis infuses the narrative with humour, making it an engaging and enjoyable read. Millie's sarcastic emails and the quirky side characters add levity to the story. While not the central focus, the romance between Millie and Jack adds sweetness to the plot. Their chemistry is palpable, and their interactions are swoon-worthy.

“Better Left Unsent” is more than a romance; it's a journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, and the courage to embrace vulnerability. Lia Louis's writing is solid, and her characters leap off the page. If you've ever wondered what would happen if your innermost thoughts were accidentally revealed, this book is a must-read. It’s a light, fun rom-com that will leave you smiling and contemplating the power of the unsent word. Louis's ability to blend humour, heart, and relatability makes this novel a delightful addition to any bookshelf.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

BETTER LEFT UNSENT is a workplace romance about millie chandler, a receptionist who uses her email drafts as a diary, until the day her emails are accidentally sent to everyone—ranging from her soon-to-be-married ex-boyfriend, her unattainable (or so she thinks!) work crush, her best friends, and all the people she doesn't like in her office. new fear unlocked, right?! millie is struggling to figure out how to pick up the pieces and patch things up with the people she hurt, and she just so happens to get closer to her quasi-boss/work crush, jack, in the process. i absolutely loved millie and jack's relationship, their dynamic, and the way she felt comfortable enough to be her true self with him. i also really loved all of the side characters and would gladly read a novel about cate and ralph or petra and kira. the pacing did feel a little off, with the beginning of the book dragging while the second half went by super quickly, and i would've loved to see more of millie's other best friend, alexis. but overall, i really enjoyed the book and can't wait to see what lia louis writes next!

read if you like:
- messy FMCs,
- office romances,
- lovable side characters,
- low spice

thanks to netgalley and atria for the advanced copy! BETTER LEFT UNSENT comes out may 21st.