hanreadsbookself's reviews
170 reviews

Thank you Simon & Schuster, Lia Louis, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC of Better Left Unsent!

The emotional journey that this wonderful story takes you on is something that is so personal and well crafted in a medium that allows you to enjoy the giddiness that it provides, while also slowly planting the seeds of the true message behind the story. While it is not your typical RomCom that many may think it potentially may be, it allows you to follow the unraveling effect of letting life happen and seeing where the current takes you; for better or for worse.

Our story takes off with Millie who is experiencing what one would easily label a horrific nightmare/stress dream. Coming into work on a regular day, to be pulled into a meeting with leadership, and finding out that all of her saved email drafts (professional and personal) were sent out overnight. Emails that should have never seen the light of day ranging from nonsense to snarky replies you so wish you could send to the colleagues that make you want to pull your hair out to the dreaded “reply all” to the whole company saying you still love your ex-boyfriend who works at the company and his now fiancée that, surprise, works there as well. Millie’s life that has been in a plateau for the past two years has now completly plummeted before lunch.

The reader now gets the luxury of watching someone gain resiliency, confidence, and care for themself by doing the most daunting task of making it through a terrible situation. You get to follow the journey of Millie not only witnessing the bomb that has imploded internally for her, but the ones she has set off in other peoples lives that she never intended.

Walking along side Millie as she navigates all of these hardships is an experience that leaves you growing yourself. Through watching everything unfold, while enjoying perks of funny moments, heart warming growth, and maybe a new and exciting relationship with the most attractive guy in the office, you get small kernels of wisdom and knowledge that reminds you that everyone is a forgivable human being and seeking the constant validation and acceptance of the masses may do you more harm than good.

Better Left Unsent provides the joys of romance, but sets you up to emotionally connect with these flawed characters and really absorb their lives and see the bigger picture. Going into this novel thinking it is your typical RomCom will leave you missing such imporant messages that can deeply impact you on multiple levels. I had such an enjoyable experience with this story and the ending really brought everything home for me. It is one of my favorite books that I have read this year so far!

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