LOVES:
- The bad day/bad town analogy
- Ralph, coolest mushroom guy/flat mate 🥰 and Petra, best work friend 💖 so many great side characters!
- Cate’s situation - too real. Plus, what a sweet, wonderful friend. She deserves so much better.
- The Sims reference 💚
- The self-examination, thinking about what you truly want, having real conversations with your friends and family. Dealing with toxic people and parental pressure. Lots of great themes here.
- Some truly hilarious moments 😂
- The mystery is painful, but you just wanna know! And I really thought I knew the answer, but I definitely did not.
- Saw the side romance coming and loved every freaking second of it
- The epilogue was a little strange, but I liked it and the ending before that was so cute

CRITIQUES:
- “Food being fuel and not joy”????? Gah, absolute rubbish!
- Sometimes I wanted to shake her and say, “wake up! You aren’t noticing the important things!” 🤦🏼‍♀️
- There were time where it felt a little slow moving, but it kept my interest. I think part of that was me wanting more of the romance, but I also appreciated the focus on her other relationships, including with herself.

Thanks to @netgalley for the eARC.

3.5 stars

I loved the premise of this novel and couldn't wait to read it. Haven't we all said or sent something that we wish we hadn't? Millie's journey was an emotional one at times and though there is a very sweet romance sub plot, it's Millie's character arc that is the heart of the story. I'm a huge fan of Lia Louis and her writing is so relatable and wonderful. Sadly, Better Left Unsent didn't hit all the right notes for me.

What I enjoyed:
- The friendships and found family. Lia Louis writes THE BEST friendships! These men and women are compassionate, hilarious, and are 100% ride or die. Cate and Ralph added comic relief to balance the story, but they also added so much love and understanding. Every moment they were on the page was a treat!
- The overall message of facing hard truths and being your most authentic self (versus the palatable version you think you need to be/others want you to be). We see the full spectrum of characters struggling with this, from characters who are 100% faking and manipulating their way through, to those who literally have zero F's left to give about what others think. The story also explores the weight and the toll of expectations we set for others and others set for us.
- The playful and witty banter between Millie and Jack. Their moments were so sweet and easy and had me grinning ear to ear (BackDonald's! Summer-Ween and the costumes!) I loved that Jack saw and accepted Millie exactly as she was.
- Jack. I admit that the fly by the seat of your pants lifestyle isn't for me, but I loved how playful and sweet Jack was. He was just an all around good guy and it showed in all of his interactions. The rhubarb *heart eyes*
- The epilogue. It was perfect for Millie and Jack and felt true to their characters.

Sadly, the pacing of the story was inconsistent and Millie's continued attempts to "right her wrongs" made the story feel too repetitive. Her family drama was a lot and though it contributed to her healing and growth, it also pulled the focus of the story in too many different directions. The mystery plotline about the emails also didn't make the most sense (I'm still confused about the why) and felt anticlimactic once the truth was revealed. The lack of communication was also annoying (though I can understand a lot of that was Millie learning to trust herself again) and the Owen drama dragged on for way too long.

*** SPOILER***

I felt like Jack chose and showed up for Millie over and over again and it really bothered me that she didn't do the same/chose someone's needs over his. I really needed more grovel than her public declaration to make up for the way she hurt him.

***END SPOILER***

Overall, this was still a solid read, but it's not my favorite from the author.

CW: toxic & manipulative relationship, gaslighting, cheating ex, grief, parental emotional infidelity, mentions of hospice care/terminal illness (secondary character), gallstones

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Imagine the conceit of To All the Boys I've Loved Before except it's draft emails to everyone and not just your past crushes. It includes your best friends, your coworkers (the ones you like and the ones you hate), your parents, random companies, exes, and maybe also your entire company which includes said ex and the ex's current fiance.

This is a big deal for Millie because she never tells anyone how she feels - she wants everything to always be pleasant and no one to ever hate her and never be confrontational or controversial and she's made herself so small that it makes you want to tear your hair out. It's also tragically easy to sympathize with that perspective - it's an experience so many women can identify with whether it's just life or a crap ex that got you into that mentality. It makes Millie relatable in that sense, even when you're screaming at her to step up and step back into her life.

She's also surrounded by an excellent cast of supporting characters - her lovely roommate Ralph, her best friend Cate who finds her own freedom after receiving one of Millie's emails, her boss Petra who is just delightful and deserves her own book about her own love story, and of course, love interest Jack Shurlock who is at times, very annoying, but also goes through his own emotional growth. There's a side plot with Millie's family that was shocking and frustrating, and ongoing drama with her ex and total knob Owen and his fiance Chloe. I'm normally a girl's girl but eff you, Chloe. You don't deserve friends.

What brought this down a star for me was that this was way too long. We have a character who is talked about but not seen until the end and it felt kind of...pointless? The character didn't feel relevant to the story. Also things were drawn out much longer than they needed to be, including Millie making any changes in her life and taking any responsibility for her own feelings. However, there's also a quietness to her that I enjoyed because I feel like it made her semi-quirky persona feel real.

Overall, the humor in this was worth reading, and her friendships and relationships with other women were also great. The romance was swoony and respectful, which is adorable.

This book has a really cute premise about emails in your draft folder accidentally being sent out. Unfortunately, I found this to be really slow. I liked Millie and Jack a lot but there just wasn’t enough of them in the book. The romance was not the main plot and instead it focuses a lot on Millie’s development and her relationships with friends and family members. So I’d say this is more Women’s Fiction than a Romance book.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC!

Unfortunately this book did not work for me. DEAR EMMIE BLUE is one of my favorite books and KEY TO MY HEART was another favorite but BETTWER LEFT UNSENT really did not work for me. The main character was unreliable with her changing opinions and not being able to stand by what she said so the premise felt a little pointless. I will absolutely still be reading future Lia Louis books this one sadly was a miss for me.

3.5 Stars

This was my first book by Lia Louis but it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed her writing style.

Our girl Millie writes replies to emails and never sends them as a way of coping & a way to journal her thoughts and feelings. But what happens when they get sent out? Honest but at times harsh messages to her parents, friends, coworkers & the worst of all a reply to her ex’s wedding invite!

Better Left Unsent had so many layers to the story. I loved the romance aspect to it. The banter & chemistry was so good— by far my favorite part of the story. I also enjoyed the parts with her ex and trying to figure out why her messages were sent!

Some of the other parts dragged a bit for me, specifically the parent storyline & her fallout with her friend over the emails she received. I found myself skimming a lot of those parts because I was just bored. I also found a few parts really cheesy and convenient.

Overall, the things that worked made it worth sticking around for and I found myself not wanting to put it down! I’ll definitely be checking out more from Lia Louis!

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for the ARC of Better Left Unsent in exchange for an honest review.

BETTER LEFT UNSENT by Lia Louis was the charming, unpredictable, and illuminating story of a young woman who drafts the things she dares not say directly to the professionals in her work world, romantic partners, and friends, family, everyone she knows. When two years of such drafts are suddenly released to the world in an unforeseeable, unfortunate technical glitch, Millie is suddenly on the spot, accountable for what she has said and has not said, how she has presented herself and what she truly thinks and feels. That accountability and the aftermath is fun to watch from the safe reader distance in an ultimate delight of escaping into a world that we can imagine doing ourselves and enjoying the banter with her "hot guy" who now knows what she truly thinks of him. Loved the read, inhaled the book in one luscious day. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

I’m grateful to have received an ARC of this novel. I really enjoyed the concept and the way the plot was carried out. It certainly wasn’t as predictable as it appeared.

I found Millie to be a bit unbearable in the beginning but I realised it was necessary to see her grow throughout the story. The banter between her and Jack was also fun to read and heartwarming, and I love the dynamic between her and her friends.

It really was a great story which shed light on the importance of not being afraid to say what you mean and not letting anyone dim the spark of who you are.

Another beautiful book from Lia Louis.

This author never fails to move me with her writing. Better Left Unsent is a charming yet poignant story about Millie Chandler, who has tons of drafted emails to colleagues, friends, and family members she never planned to send are suddenly sent after a work server outage. These e-mails are filled with her thoughts and feelings she wants to say but is too afraid to.

From the start of the book, I already love Millie. She is such a nice person, and I love seeing her standing up for herself as the story goes on. I think being a pushover isn't exactly a trait easy enough to get rid of, so reading her change is inspiring and lovely.

I love how the book deals with the concept of honesty. I also like how relatable Millie's character is, especially if you're a people-pleaser looking for an outlet to let out your feelings. I also like the relatability of coming to terms with how people perceive you and how you deal with your shortcomings - will you accept and change or be indignant that they are wrong?

I also love her friends. They are such a wonderful support system when she needed them. I like that they understand Millie but try to make her broaden her thoughts and help her when she's overwhelmed.

The romance in this book is adorable, too. The banter between the characters is a pleasure to read and doesn't feel coerced. I like that he says his opinions in a matter-of-fact way to Millie in what her friends cannot. ( I'm not gonna say his name since it's not mentioned in the blurb, so you can guess who when you read it).

Thank you to the publisher for my copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own

4.25 stars

Positively adorable. The plot was incredible, I loved it! Millie was such a great character and I was in awe of her bravery and how she pushed on and embraced life, despite the hardships.

The middle was a wee bit slow, but otherwise, I’m a big fan and loved this clever rom-com.

Advance reader copy provided by Atria + NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

This book wasn't revelatory in any way but I still enjoyed it. Who among us hasn't accidentally sent an email to someone?? Whether it was the wrong someone or you were just venting and hit send by mistake? I know I certainly have. It's so embarrassing.

I think Millie, against all odds, handled it all quite well. I think the author did a good job of letting us into Millie's head as she works through all of it.

The secondary characters added lots to the story, even a surprise or two, which I appreciated. Jack is too good to be true. Seriously, who is that good of a person?

Jack, that's who!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A book about a girl (Millie’) who vents via email drafts, with all the sarcasm and feelings oozing out… no harm until she accidentally clicks send!

A fun story if you need something a little different in the British chick lit category. I don’t think this book was personally my cup of tea,
I didn’t love the FMC.
However, just because it wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean it’s not for you! I’ve seen several reviews of people who loved the book!
I will still check out her other books.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for my advanced copy!

Lia Louis has become a go to author for me when it comes to rom-coms. Better Left Unsent is a cute, quirky story. It’s funny and sentimental and a little predictable. The characters (with the exception of one) are lovable and relatable, even with their flaws. I’m already looking forward to Lia’s next novel!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Altria and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This rom-com embraces one of those fears that all emailers have - your drafts getting randomly sent out before you're ready. However, not all of us store quite as many drafts with quite so. many feelings as Millie. When her emails get randomly sent out one night, chaos ensues and she needs to find her way though friends who won't speak to her, family that is hiding things from her, and a possible new love interested in her.

It pains me to write this review because I adore this author and have LOVED all of her previous books. I was so happy to receive an arc and I couldn't read it fast enough. Millie was just so whiny and the entire e-mail situation was blown waaaaay out of proportion. The love story didn't hook me either. Sadly, this book was a disappointment and was missing the Lia Louis magic that has always jumped off the page for me. I still love this author and will read anything she writes.

Imagine you've used your email to start pending notes to everyone you know - family, friends, co-workers and exes. You type them out, but never send.....until one day there is a "glitch" in the computer system, and they're all sent out at once! Chaos ensues!

It's a funny concept, and a great storyline - loved the characters and watching their development. Got tired of Owen's character, and the way Millie kept bringing him up in nearly every conversation. Jack was a fantastic character and would have loved to seen more of them interact together. It has some serious moments, too - with Millie's parents. But it was interesting to watch her grow and come into her own.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

This book was super cute! I loved the interaction between Millie and Jack and I absolutely loved the ending(trying not to give out spoilers here). I wish there would have been more of them together though. I also thought the story dragged in a few places and I was ready to push it along a little bit. All in all, it was so good and I am glad I read it. I will definitely be reading the rest of this author's books.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is kind of like a coming-of-age story for when you are already an adult. If you enjoy reading stories where the character has to go through a lot of emotional upheaval to find their true self, this is the book for you.

I really enjoyed the writing!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Millie is me, I am her. This was honestly a funny and entertaining story. Definitely light-hearted and perfect for an in-between read, even better for the beach.

I have loved every book I have read by Lia Louis. And I really enjoyed this one too.
Better left unsent is about Millie as she discovers that all her e-mail drafts have been sent out. These are drafts that are almost diary entries that she writes to no intention of sending to colleagues, friends, and family members. This starts a life changing journey for her, and leads to some romance.

This story is a warm comfort read, it’s cozy, quirky, funny, and sweet. The writing is authentic and I think this is what I love about Lia Louis’s writing, the characters feel real. They feel like they could be my friends or family or even myself. And it makes it easy to connect with Millie, and the side characters.

My only complaint is that I wanted togetherness of her and Jack and found the ending a little rushed. But I still loved it.