I devoured this book. Anyone who feels discontent with some aspect of their life can relate to the main character, Jolene. In a way, she feels like a release. Her behavior is wildly unhinged, and she said the things others wouldn’t dare to, providing much needed comedic relief in the current state of the world.

The story follows an office secretary who is put on work probation during a time of possible layoffs. During that process, she accidentally gains access to the servers, allowing her to see everyone’s emails and messaging activity. Through this, you get to witness immense character development and relationship growth between this flawed but relatable protagonist and her initially unlikable colleagues. I immensely loved that aspect of the book, and the story would have felt complete with just that.

The book is technically a fictional, romantic comedy, so there’s also a romance with an HR guy. Honestly, though, the romance feels more needlessly supplemental to the story. It’s not as thrilling or captivating as some of the messages she witnesses through her newfound server access. Additionally, there’s an aspect of trauma for the main character, as she lost her best friend at a young age. I found the use of trauma in story to be a crutch for the plot and character development. I’ll explore that more in-depth in my “To Be Traumatized” creative analysis.

Still, the negatives didn’t stop me from fully enjoying this book. It was exactly what I needed and really lifted my spirits.