Full Description

Holly’s Inbox

Dear Holly,

Are you sure you know what you're getting into…?

***

System alert: Inbox full of scandal, romance, and office hilarity!

Meet Holly Denham. It's her first day as a receptionist at a London investment bank and inexperienced Holly is struggling. Take a peek at her email and you'll see why: Holly's inbox is a daily source of drama. An affair with a sexy VP heats things up at the office, but when Holly's first flame (who, she thinks, left her in the lurch) gets a job at the same company, complications abound.

How's a working girl supposed to have a love life with a demanding job, crazy friends, a dysfunctional family, and gossipy colleagues? Not to mention that Holly's been keeping a secret from everyone - and the past is about to catch up with her.

Written entirely in emails, this compulsively readable UK smash hit will keep you laughing and turning the pages all the way to its surprising and deeply satisfying ending.

Repeatedly compared to Bridget Jones' Diary, hollysinbox.com became a website phenomenon, with thousands of daily visitors from all over the world. This novel tells Holly's story in full, and also includes exclusive extra material not available on the site.

PRAISE FOR HOLLY'S INBOX:

"I didn't get any sleep last night because I just HAD to finish it!"
forums.handbag.com

"The new Bridget Jones' Diary..."
ShinyShiny.tv

"Are you ready for the Bridget Jones' Diary of the digital age?"
Trashionista.com

"Be warned… once you start reading, it's addictive."
Shiny Fashion

"Bound to be a huge success."
Guardian Unlimited

"Compulsive reading."
Heat Magazine, 4 Stars

"A hilarious delve into someone else's daily life."
Closer Magazine, 4 Stars

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Excerpt

Excerpt

Excerpt from Holly's Inbox

MONTH 1

***
Week 1
Monday

Subject: To Holly—New Job
From: Mum and Dad
To: Holly
Holly,
Exciting news about the job. Are you enjoying it?

Your sister has a parcel (books or something) that needs bringing out with you, when you come to see us. Alice says it's very important and 'Ferret,' a friend of hers, is passing by Maida Vale next week to drop it off.
Love, Mum
PS Send us your flight details!

From: Holly
To: Mum and Dad
Job—I don't know yet, only been here an hour, very busy. Ferret—what? How does anyone get to make a friend called Ferret?

Parcel—no problem, as long as it's not too heavy.
xxxx

Subject: Welcome
From: Roger Lipton
To: Holly
Dear Holly,
Glad to have you on board.
I hear everything went well with your induction on Friday and you are now familiarising yourself with our systems and policies. It's a shame the reception area is so separated from the rest of us here, but you know where we are if you need anything. I hope you'll be very happy here.

Roger Lipton, Director of Human Resources, H&W, High Holborn WC2
6NP

From: Holly
To: Roger Lipton
Dear Mr Lipton,
Thank you for your email. I'm sure I'll be very happy; everyone has been so welcoming.

Kindest regards,
Holly
Receptionist, H&W, High Holborn WC2 6NP

Subject: Reception experience
From: Patricia Gillot
To: Holly
Holly,
I told them to get me a receptionist I could work with, like the one I had before with lots of experience. Not having a go at you on your first day, but I feel like giving up, I really do. Where've you worked again?

Trish
Patricia Gillot, Senior Receptionist, H&W, Holborn WC2 6NP

From: Holly
To: Patricia Gillot
Hi Patricia,
In 5* Hotels—on reception.
Holly

From: Patricia Gillot
To: Holly
Great.

From: Holly
To: Patricia Gillot
It was really busy there.

From: Patricia Gillot
To: Holly
That's nice for you, darlin. Just keep grinning at people for today, and I'll do the rest. Hopefully by the end of the month you might know your arse from your elbow.

Trish
PS Stop trying to talk to me; this is a corporate bank. If you wanted to natter; you should've taken a job in a salon. Email me when you have a problem.

Subject: A good luck message
From: Alice and Matt
To: Holly
Holls,
Glad things are going so well again. It sounds wonderful there, and you've got yourself a new start. Just what you wanted.

Love,
Alice & Matt

From: Holly
To: Alice and Matt
I hate the job and everyone's awful.

From: Alice and Matt
To: Holly
Oh dear, by the way, thanks for agreeing to bring out our parcel. It's really nice of you.
xxxxxx

From: Holly
To: Alice and Matt
No problem. What's in it?

From: Alice and Matt
To: Holly
Oh, nothing, just a box of essentials.

From: Holly
To: Alice and Matt
What—books and things?

From: Alice and Matt
To: Holly
Yes, all that. I've given Ferret your number.
xxx

From: Holly
To: Alice and Matt
Oh good

***
Tuesday

Subject: A little advice from your Mum
From: Mum and Dad
To: Holly
Holly,
Sorry to bother you again, dear. Glad to hear you bumped into Jennie from school. You were always very fond of her. Sounds like she's doing so well there. I've given it some thought, and the only way you're going to get as far as she has done is by using any contacts you come across. My advice is: take her out for lunch as fast as possible. You never know what doors she could open for you.

What are you doing there at the moment again, PA work?
Mum xxx

From: Holly
To: Mum and Dad
Mum,
Jennie has been nice on the couple of occasions I've seen her, but I'm fine doing what I'm doing, which is RECEPTION work.
x
Holly
From: Mum and Dad
To: Holly
That's what I said, darling, it's the same thing.
Just make sure you eat properly, especially if you're going to be greeting all those people. You could pick up an infection from one of them.
Mum

Subject: A few pointers
From: Patricia Gillot
To: Holly
Stop standing up when people come to the desk!
I'm off for a fag. I'll be on the other side of the glass doors, and I'll be keeping an eye on you. Got any problems—don't shout whatever you do. Just think you're working in a library, and you'll be halfway there.

From: Holly
To: Patricia Gillot
OK, Patricia. What time are toilet breaks?

From: Patricia Gillot
To: Holly
Any time you can't hold on, darlin—also, it's just Trish. No one calls me Patricia.

Subject: School Friend!!!
From: Jennie Pithwait
To: Holly
Hi Holly,
You went off the map for a few years. Where've you been?? So glad you're working here; sorry about the misunderstanding yesterday. I should have told you what Mr Huerst looked like; lucky he was so forgiving, even when you told him he needed an appointment.

Jennie
Jennie Pithwait, Associate, Corporate Finance, H&W, High Holborn WC2
6NP

From: Holly
To: Jennie Pithwait
Hi Jennie,
I felt like a real idiot. I even chased after him with his security pass.
Holly

From: Jennie Pithwait
To: Holly
He was fine. I said it was your first day.
What's it like sitting with Trisha?

From: Holly
To: Jennie Pithwait
Awful, rude, I can't stand her.

From: Jennie Pithwait
To: Holly
Tough old girl, probably doesn't get laid much. Great with clients, but that's about it.
Jennie

From: Holly
To: Jennie Pithwait
xxxx
Thanks Jennie.

Subject: Pretty P'Holly
From: Jason GrangerRM
To: Holly
Hiya,
How's the job going? Is it OK to email you?

Jason Granger, Reception Team Leader, LHS Hotels, London, W1V 6TT

From: Holly
To: Jason GrangerRM
Emailing is good, the job stinks, and I'm about to take a contract out on my mum.
How are you?
xx

From: Jason GrangerRM
To: Holly
I'm good. Talking of stinky, guess what smelly celeb we've got staying here?

From: Holly
To: Jason GrangerRM
Smelly?

From: Jason GrangerRM
To: Holly
(Housekeeping told me she's got a few personal hygiene problems.)
Who cares though—she's famous!!!

From: Holly
To: Jason GrangerRM
That makes it OK then, does it?

From: Jason GrangerRM
To: Holly
Of course! You don't like her though (she's a bit of a marriage breaker)—can't tell you who it is. If you were still working here, I could, but I can't. It's a trust thing. Enjoy your nasty bank.

From: Holly
To: Jason GrangerRM
JASON!!!

Reviews

Reviews

Chicklit Romance
What a remarkable book! Told through the personal emails of Holly Denham, this peek into Holly’s inbox really lets us see who she is and what happens to her on a daily basis. It’s unique style draws us into the story on a personal level. Reading the emails, we really feel as though we get to know Holly and all the drama that surrounds her on a daily basis. We can be voyeurs without the guilt.

Holly works as a receptionist for a bank in London. She is not necessarily competent at her job, but is thrilled to have some money coming in to pay the bills. Holly is trying to restart her life after a miserable marriage and divorce which is slowly revealed throughout the story. She relies on her two best friends, Aisha and Jason, to help keep her sane and their antics provide us with a outsiders point of view. Of course, Holly has to deal with hostile coworkers and jealous friends when she begins a romance with a VP at the firm. We also monitor his courtship of Holly through the emails.

I really enjoyed the unique aspect of this book and having it connect to a website where you can read further emails sent to and from Holly adds another dimension to the book. I will admit that at times the onslaught of emails got a little bit confusing, but just as checking your own email occasionally requires you to go back to a previous email, that is all it took to fix these glitches in comprehension. The amount of insight that we gain into the character of Holly is truly remarkable. It makes me wonder how much my emails reveal about me.

This story was quite humorous. I loved the well-meaning but often ill-advised emails sent by her mother. We have all probably had similar conversations with our parents and cringed as we were reading their emails. Her brother’s emails were also a source of amusement and as an older sister, I could relate to the frequent requests for help. Fortunately, my brother has never asked me to be the license holder for an S&M club. Holly handles all of these situations with calm.

I am sure that this book will be compared to Bridget Jones’s Diary, but needs to be read and considered in its own right. It is a different story involving different individuals and different story lines. You should definitely read this book and judge it for yourself. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by how much you enjoy it.

OK! Magazine
“Fantastic!”

Heat Magazine
“Compulsive reading” 4 stars

Booklist
Denham’s novel written entirely in e-mails began as a serialized Web site, www.hollysinbox.com. Thestory revolves around Holly Denham, the new receptionist at a London bank, and through her correspondence, readers get to know her daily life. She befriends Trish, the other receptionist, and begins a relationship with James, a charming higher-up. Between organizing meetings at the bank, she trades hilarious, risqué e-mails with her friends Jason and Aisha, assures her parents she’s getting along well, helps her grandmother decipher the Internet, and offers her siblings much-needed advice. Her e-mails even reveal a life-altering event from her past. While the premise can be tiresome—who doesn’t have to slog through enough e-mails of their own?—the story becomes more engrossing as fresh details come to light. The author, a placement agency owner writing under a pen name, explores a new format with compelling results. A second novel is planned, and Holly’s adventures continue online.

A Novel Menagerie Sheri Freed
The Review
First, I want to communicate that I really enjoyed this book. It’s format is a great spin on “ChickLit.” The website, www.HollysInbox.com is an on-going site with regular entries in the story of Holly. The “backstory” to this creative project is that the true author of this project is Bill Surie. He is the owner of an employment agency in London who specializes in receptionists and secretaries. Surie started the website in 2007 and received over 90,000 visitors. Eventually these website emails made their way into a book.

Although the book is a tad thick at 665 pages, because of the “email format” of those pages, it really reads rather quickly. I became quickly entangled into this book and its host of characters. Holly is an extremely likeable character, one that I’d liken to Bridget Jones. What the reader gets from Holly’s Inbox is humor, romance, and views of true friendship between its characters.

On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale:”
This isn’t your typical ChickLit book, but if you’re a fan of the genre (as I am!), you will love this book. This book has it all from romance to friendship… to ties with crazy family members… to the frustration of dealing with unbearable bosses and gossipy co-workers. Every tid bit of the book is JUICY and fun! It’s very different in format, but brings everything you need in a story alive one email at a time. For the genre Fiction:Women’s/ChickLit, I am going to rate this book an 8 OUT OF 10.

The Romantic Times Laurie Spielberg
Written entirely in e-mail form, this is a very funny — but lengthy — read. Denham herself got a publishing deal after her personal e-mails were uploaded online, and she creates a warm, comedic heroine who slowly grows a backbone. There’s a marvelous twist at the end that helps rebuild momentum after a rather plodding middle.

A Bookworm’s World Luanne Olliver
Okay, get out your pen out and add Holly’s Inbox to your must read chick lit list!

Holly Denham begins work as a receptionist at the banking firm of Huerst and Wright. It’s a busy place, requiring two receptionists. Policy also forbids conversation unless it is business related. The next best thing? E-mail! The entire book is a series of emails from Holly’s Inbox! We meet Holly’s two best friends who both work at her last job - reception at a large hotel. Jason is incredibly funny, Aisha is a bit of a runaround. We get to live Holly’s life vicariously through the correspondence of these three. And really, doesn’t everyone have a bit of peeping tom in them? We meet her meddling mother, her siblings (one who wants her to deliver some frozen rats to Spain) and her gran, who has just discovered the world wide web. She helps Holly out by signing her up for cheap flights and dating services.

But Holly doesn’t seem to need the dating services. She begins to date one of the traders from the bank. But then.....

And that’s where I’m going to stop. I don’t want to spoil the story. And I could go on and on, as I couldn’t put the book down. Devoured in two days! Reading it was eating a bag of candy, one more piece, one more page until sadly the whole thing was done. Mind you, at almost 700 pages, it was satisfying!

This is a charming, amusing, entertaining read. One of the best chick lit books of the year for me. Holly’s Inbox covers the first five months at her new job. I can only hope that it continues! If you’d like to check out Holly’s Inbox online you can - at www.HollysInbox.com. Really - it’s her email account.

This was a phenomenal hit in the UK and Sourcebooks is releasing it in the US. I guarantee it will be a bit hit in North America too. Want a chance to read it yourself? Stop by tomorrow for a guest post by author Bill Surie. Who? Yes, Holly Denham is really Bill! Find out how he came to write Holly’s Inbox and enter to win your own copy in tomorrow’s post.

Long and Short of It Reviews Hibiscus
Holly Denham is a sweet young woman trying to make a way for herself in London. Just coming off a bad marriage and losing her position in the company she ran with her ex, Holly takes a job as a receptionist in a large corporate bank. As I made my way through the emails, I found myself drawn into the life of a sensitive, caring woman who is looking for a bit of love herself.

The day to day dealings with utility and delivery companies are situations that I’ve dealt with and could relate to. The spam emails, courtesy of her grandmother and brother, are hilarious. And I thought Holly’s family was a riot. I found myself chuckling and bursting out in laughter as I read of her very unique family. From a lonely grandmother who dances at her retirement village and a sister who requests British mice sent for her husband who raises snakes, to her quirky, fetish club want to be owner brother, the familial manipulations had me in stitches. Friends, both old and new, added to the fascinating reading in Holly’s daily life.

Loves lost then found had me cheering for Holly and her friends in this delightful look into her life. I hope you will agree with me that it is definitely worth a look into Holly’s Inbox.

The Book Binge Rowena
I’m really glad that I picked this book up. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve read books that haven’t really impressed me much. I’ve lost count of how many books I’ve picked up and put back down because I just could not get into the story. Stories that I’ve been looking forward to reading fell flat for me. As much as I was keen on reading this story, I was afraid that this was going to fall flat on its face for me and I’m so happy that it didn’t.

This book reminds me of The Boy Next Door and Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot because it is written entirely through emails. We meet, greet and get to know Holly and the many characters in her life and it’s so easy for us to fall in love with her. She’s got a quirky personality that definitely leaps off the pages and had me laughing from the beginning to the end.

I enjoy chick lit books exactly like this, that are lighthearted and cute. What I liked most about this book was the way that this story flowed flawlessly from one email to another as the story kept unfolding. The secret from Holly’s past kept me turning the pages, wondering just what the heck it was and why she hated Toby so much. I’m disappointed to say that I fell for that asshole James Lawrence. I was so miffed with myself for falling for such an asshole but what I didn’t understand about that dumb ass was why did he want to meet Holly’s parents if he was seeing that tramp Jennie on the side? I mean, seriously? That seemed so dumb and then what was his reason for dumping Holly in the second place? Because she told him that she used to be married?

Another idiotic reason. But whatever, I’m glad that things didn’t work out with that dummy at the end because the book ended the way that it was supposed to end. My one complaint for this format and also for this book was that there was not nearly enough Toby in it. I hated that we had to wait until the very end of the story to find out what went down with Toby and then we didnt even get to live vicariously through their happy reunion, we had to wait for it to be over to find out what happened. That sucked but everything else was cute and fluffy and everything I like in a story.

I really enjoyed getting to know Trish, Jason and Aysha. I thought that they were great additions to the story..now, what I’m curious about is if there will be more stories coming out that we will find out what is going on with Aysha and her married self and then Jason. I really want to read those books.

Overall, this book flowed nicely and it was told in a manner that kept me interested from page to page. I enjoyed the story and thought that it was an easy weekend read. I think anyone who is looking for something light and fluffy will enjoy this story so you should definitely pick it up, I’m glad I did. =)

Cheryl’s Book Nook Cheryl Koch
Have you ever wanted to feel what it is like in someone else’s shoes? Well you can in Holly’s Inbox. Holly Denham has decided to open her inbox to readers. So come take a wild and crazy ride into Holly’s world. Holly Denham has just gotten herself a new job working as a receptionist for Huerst and Wright. A huge financial institution. As if the first day of a new job wasn’t hard enough, having your friends and family emailing you every second of every day can be really stressful.

You can bet through that there is never a dull moment when you have friends like Aisha and Jason to keep you company or a brother who wants to name you as owner of his sex nightclub. Alisha asks Holly for help getting a job. Holly finds Alisha the perfect job working at a hotel with her friend Jason. Now if only Alisha would only stop playing housekeeper with the hotel guests. Alisha and men equals trouble with a capital "T". But you have got to love Aisha even if she is a major drama queen. Then there is Jason who on the other hand is the type of friend ever woman needs. He makes sure you are kept up to date on the latest celebrity gossip and he always has some piece of advice to share. Some of it is pretty good. Now if only Holly would listen to it. Jason is the ultimate perfect gay best friend. My favorite person of all has got to be Holly’s granny. I have one questions...What do you get when your granny gets introduced to the wonderful world known as the world wide web? The answer is...a hilarious good time.

I want to thank Holly for letting me into her world and specifically her email inbox. What a hoot. I started this book on a Sunday morning and by evening I had finished it. I couldn’t put it down. With Holly’s Inbox this is the first time that I have read a whole book, where it was composed up of just emails. Holly has some of the greatest friends. Her family makes me glad mine is normal compared to her’s. I can’t wait to read more of Holly’s adventures. I mean come one who hasn’t waited to read someone else’s emails. Now you can without getting in trouble. So the next time you are looking for a good laugh then you have to read Holly’s Inbox.

So Many Books, So Little Time Andrea Mason
When I first saw this 650 page book, I thought "oh boy, this is gonna take a while to read, especially with how long its been taking me to read books lately." But I was wrong—really wrong! I read 400 pages the first time I sat down and opened it. Not only is it quick to read because its written in email format, but because its also so entertaining! I found myself laughing at alot of things in the emails. I think maybe I partly enjoyed it so much because I a pretty nosy person and have to admit that there are a few people’s emails I would love to read. I could identify with Holly and her friends (in fact, I have some friends that are just like Trisha, Jason and Aisha!) I want to read more—I hope there is a sequel!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

I Loves to Read Anita Morgan
I must admit, when I first picked up Holly’s Inbox, I was a bit leery of the concept of an entire book written via email. I like character interaction in books. I like dialogue, thoughts, details. None of which you really get out of an email...can you?

Well, Holly Denham surprised me! I found it amazingly hard to put this book down. The whole book draws you in. Yes, you do miss details, descriptions an avid book reader would love to have, but it was okay. The characters of this book keep it entertaining. It’s a book you’ll enjoy laughing with. The story line was captivating enough, although the "surprise" ending was a bit predictable in my opinion - but who cares. The book worked, and that’s all that matters.

Fun, light reading that sucks you in until the last page - Holly’s Inbox hits the bookshelf in June!

Bookfoolery and Babble Horner Nancy
Holly’s Inbox is written entirely in emails, as you see in the example above. I’ve read a couple of email books — I think by Meg Cabot — and loved them. It’s surprising how much character development one can create through a series of emails. But, at a massive 665 pages and given the fact that Holly Denham is a fictional character created by a man, I admit that I was a tiny bit skeptical that I’d enjoy it. It took about two pages to lay that skepticism to rest.

Holly’s Inbox is miserably, painfully addictive. I started reading it on Wednesday evening and the pages just kept turning. I didn’t want to put it down!! Finally, I decided I’d better try to get some sleep and set it aside at about 2:00 am. Well. That didn’t work at all. By then, I was so far into the soap opera of Holly’s world that I was a wee bit wired. Plus, my husband was in freight-train snoring mode. I ended up giving up on sleep at around 4:00 in the morning and just stayed up, typing and then reading until I reached the end of the story.

At the beginning of the book, Holly is starting a job as a receptionist at a corporate bank. The two receptionists can’t be seen chatting, so they email each other. At first, Holly has trouble keeping up and Trisha seems a bit of a snob, but then the two receptionists become fast friends and allies. Meanwhile, Holly deals with uppity bank employees, chats with her wacky friends and dysfunctional family members, and develops a secret romance with one of the upstairs bankers.

A little bit of a mystery brews when a man named Toby begins working at the bank. Holly and Toby have a history, but it’s very, very slowly revealed along with the rest of her past and how Holly, who has a decent education and apparently an upper-middle-class background, ended up working as a receptionist.

Holly’s Inbox is unbelievably, compulsively readable. It’s very much like peeking into someone else’s mailbox, but not quite so cryptic as real-life emails can be. It’s a well-rounded story, often funny, sometimes poignant. There’s a lot of sex talk and sometimes it gets a little rude, but never enough that I was tempted to put the book down. That would be my only complaint with the book. With a sex addict as a character (Holly’s friend, Aisha) and an office romance, you have to expect some rude sex talk. Holly herself is a sweet, lovable character — very much like the heroines in Jill Mansell’s books.

4.5/5 - Excellent, nearly impossible to put down, with great characters, loads of laughs and a little scandal.

Good Books, Bad Books Bridget Locke
When my contact Danielle first mentioned this book and the history behind it, I admit I was intrigued. A book, written entirely in email format, from a woman’s POV written by a man. Yes, that’s right, folks. Holly Denham is actually Bill Surie. I know! Shocking! :)

I actually interviewed Bill first since Sourcebooks didn’t have copies of this book handy immediately and I got to ask questions without any knowledge of the books. Yeah, that was a bit odd.

Anyhoodles, my thoughts on Holly’s Inbox (for one lucky commenter...US & CANADA ONLY...I will be giving away a copy of this book). Holly’s Inbox is about Holly Denham, a young woman who has just started a job at a pretty prestigious bank. It’s quite entertaining to read the beginning emails between her and Patricia (or Trish), the other receptionist. You can see that Holly really has no experience as a receptionist and reading her emails to her friends about her lack of abilities is actually quite funny.

Her friendship w/ Jason Granger is the predominate force through 99% of the books. He is her best friend and he helps her out when she’s in trouble.

There’s Aisha her slutty best girlfriend who doesn’t seem to understand the concept of keeping her legs together.

There’s her sister who asks her to bring odd things on her visit (the dead mice for their snake is the biggy).

The relationship that begins and ends with James, the hunky VP who begins flirting with her almost immediately.

Her relationship with her mother which is very much up & down.

And just her basic, overall Holly-ness.

Due to the fact that I knew Holly wasn’t actually a woman (or real), it was still fascinating to read this story. It felt real. I could actually see these things happening and I found it very intriguing. I also found it to be LOL funny as well.

Watching as Holly maneuvers her way through a rivalry with a fellow coworker, her issues w/ someone who ends up being not who she thought, and her budding friendship with Trish was great.

That being said, I do have a couple of quibbles.

One being that there’s something brought up about Trish near the end that’s never resolved. I found it to be an odd addition and wasn’t really necessary...unless another book is written, which might happen.

The romance-it came across rather abruptly and didn’t seem quite as realistic as the rest (I’m talking the end of the book...won’t go into further details than that). If you read the book, you’ll know what I mean.

All in all though, I found I really enjoyed it. If I hadn’t known that Holly was actually Bill, I would have thought it was a woman. That’s saying something. :)

My Rating: B-

I Just Finished
In a story told completely by email we get a glimpse into the life and loves of Holly Denham. From her first day as a receptionist in a London investment bank we go share the ups and downs during five months worth of Holly’s interactions with friends, family, co-workers and of course the men in her life.

Being fed bits and pieces with each email keeps the pages turning. Holly’s conversations jump from family arguments to flirting with the hot VP of Corporate Finance to snarky conversations with the office know-it-all. Throw in backstabbers, sluts and long lost loves and you have the makings of a hilarious adventure.

This book was so unique. In first glancing at the book you might be put off or overwhelmed by the heft of 665 pages but they fly by so quickly you’re left wondering why there isn’t any more. The only down side to the book is that the emails jump from one sender to another with just a change in subject and sometimes I got caught up in the story so much that I frequently skimmed over the subject in my haste to continue reading and got thrown off by the changes.

If you’re a fan of chick lit then this is a must read for you and don’t forget to visit http://www.hollysinbox.com/ catch up on Holly’s most current inbox revelations.

Books and Needlepoint Kristi Herbrand
My thoughts: Who would have thought that you could learn so much about someone from reading their email? This book was hilarious - and very believable. Even though I have not been in the work force for 5 years - I remember how people would email me rather than just picking up the phone! I am sure that email has only gotten more prevalent since then. The entanglements and problems that Holly gets into are pretty common - but the presentation of those situations - learned entirely through email is very original! I flew through this book quicker than I ever though possible. It was very clever the way it was laid out - 5 months - week by week - day by day - mainly being Holly’s inbox with the occasional detour to one of her friends. There is Trish - the other receptionist - who at first you think is going to be really tough to work with, but that soon changes. Then there are her friends Jason and Aish - Jason being more of her confidente and problem solver while Aish gets into a lot of trouble on her own that she needs help getting out of. Charlie, her brother, who is trying to open a fetish club and always seems to need Holly’s help. Alice and Matt, her sister and husband, who have the interesting occupation of raising snakes. . . And then of course Holly’s Mum and Dad and dear old Granny - who seems to get into as much trouble as Holly - w/o even trying! You can begin to get an idea of what the book is alike by visiting Holly’s Inbox online. Warning - You will be addicted!

BookLoons Joan Burton
Holly has just started a new job at a busy London investment bank. She finds it very fast paced and demanding, and questions her ability to keep up with the everyday workload. Perhaps if Holly left her social life at home and out of the work place she would be okay, but Holly has to be kept informed of what is happening with her friends and family.

Her best friend Jason is gay, and works for a large London hotel. He has just hired Holly’s friend Aisha, and is finding out she is more interested in the clientele than in doing her job. Holly’s mother is very interfering and controlling. Even though she lives in Spain, she reaches out to Holly with plenty of suggestions and advice. Even Holly’s grandmother has informed Holly she has signed her up on an online dating service, thinking she is being helpful.

Holly soon finds herself in a very flirtatious relationship with James, a VP at the bank. She tries to keep it from her co-workers but gossip travels fast through the corporate halls. Much to Holly’s surprise, she learns that she is not the only one who has caught James’s eye and a once good friend soon becomes enemy #1.

When a boyfriend from the past is hired at the bank, Holly tries to avoid him at all costs. She does not want history repeating itself, but soon learns just how controlling her mother can be. Secrets from Holly’s past are revealed and we find out her past is now her future.

Holly’s Inbox is a funny, lighthearted story about a young woman navigating through life. The story is told in email format and is over 600 pages long, but don’t let that stop you from sharing Holly’s hopes and dreams.

Cuckleburr Times Kay Elizabeth
Holly’s Inbox should come with a warning - “anything you can’t do one handed, get it done before you settle down to read.” Why? Because this hilarious book is not leaving your clutches until it’s finished. Holly’s Inbox by Holly Denham (ISBN: 9781402219030; Sourcebooks Casablanca) will be glued to your hands until its unexpected conclusion. This tale of Holly Denham’s life, a London receptionist at her first day on a new job, is incredibly smart and funny.

I’m not a laugh out loud type of book reader. Barely a chuckle escapes my lips when I read humor, no matter how uproarious I find the content. I keep my jocularity behind my teeth. Which explains why my husband kept popping his head around the door, saying “What are you laughing at?!” with a surprised look when he saw I had a book in my hand. But with Holly’s Inbox, it’s impossible not to.

This romantic comedy is very clever. The humor veers from the dry, sarcasm dripping kind to slapstick comedy without skipping a beat. The most outstandingly creative thing about this book is the style of its composition. Holly’s Inbox is told entirely with emails flying back and forth to receptionist Holly. There are no lengthy descriptions nor scene setting preambles. Everything that unfolds, every character you grow to love, like or loathe, you discover via those emails.

I’ll be honest. I would never have thought well rounded characters could be created when emails alone are used to tell a story. Bill Surie, the author who uses the Holly Denham pseudonym, has knocked that assumption right out of my head and pulled this format off impeccably. To my knowledge this is a completely unique style of writing and one, given the influence of the Net on our daily lives, that’s long overdue. (Expect copycat writers to flood the market with similar attempts in the near future. You heard it here first. But I guarantee you they won’t be this good. )

Gossip, sly office politics, manipulation of employees and personality clashes - they’re all part and parcel of working in large companies. In Holly’s Inbox, you’ll recognize many of the usual suspects from the corporate world: the scary superior, the pretty Jekyll and Hyde and the office’s VP heartthrob who’s a bit of a mystery. Holly has to handle them all. On top of everything else, Holly’s trying to keep a secret under wraps. Throw in her well-meaning but overbearing mother’s demands for attention, her eccentric grandmother’s misguided kindness in signing Holly up for everything online, and her two siblings’ personal ongoing dramas and you have a laugh-a-minute. Holly’s two best friends and co-receptionist are only an email away, keeping her relatively sane one moment and driving her even more crazy the next. You just cannot resist reading this hilariously compulsive novel.

Holly’s Inbox is the first time I’ve read a book written by a man under a female pen name. I’d still be none the wiser if the publisher hadn’t told me. I would love to know how the author became so good at delving into the female psyche. A master of the wry throwaway comment, Mr. Surie captures so many female insecurities and moments of self doubt with the character of Holly in such a funny manner that you can’t help but laugh. Bill credits being the owner of a real life London placement service for reception staff as a direct inspiration, but I think he’s too modest. He absolutely nails the wonderful characters to perfection and I doubt that a career choice alone is the reason for it. This author is very talented, very witty and I hope is compiling a sequel to this as we speak. I can tell I’m going to become as addicted to this stroke of genius that is Holly Denham as I am to caffeine.

I’ve saved the best news until last. Want a sneak peek at Holly’s life? Then visit her inbox at http://hollysinbox.com/. That’s where this novel all began and the seeds were sown of a girl’s life you’ll find you just won’t be able to get enough of. There are plenty of emails there to tempt you. In 2007, Bill’s site peaked with 90,000 visitors checking in, all wanting to find out what was going to happen next to our heroine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you when you find yourself doing the same!

Fantastic, heart warming and a truly novel stylistic approach. You’ll love it. 5 stars.

Passionate Reviews
10% work, 90% family and friends. Big business beware. Holly’s inbox is a rollicking tale of multi-tasking at its finest.

Holly Denham is a sweet young woman trying to make a way for herself in London. Just coming off a bad marriage and losing her position in the company she ran with her ex, Holly takes a job as a receptionist in a large corporate bank. As I made my way through the emails, I found myself drawn into the life of a sensitive, caring woman who is looking for a bit of love herself.

The day to day dealings with utility and delivery companies are situations that I’ve dealt with and could relate to. The spam emails, courtesy of her grandmother and brother, are hilarious. And I thought Holly’s family was a riot. I found myself chuckling and bursting out in laughter as I read of her very unique family. From a lonely grandmother who dances at her retirement village and a sister who requests British mice sent for her husband who raises snakes, to her quirky, fetish club want to be owner brother, the familial manipulations had me in stitches. Friends, both old and new, added to the fascinating reading in Holly’s daily life.

Loves lost then found had me cheering for Holly and her friends in this delightful look into her life. I hope you will agree with me that it is definitely worth a look into Holly’s Inbox.

Coconut Library Blog
This weekend, I finished Holly’s Inbox by Holly Denham. I ate it up. Swallowed it whole. It is 665 pages and I downed it in 5 days (4 of those days were working days when I was only reading before bed). It’s that good. And it’s written in e-mail form, so it goes faster than other books. (Be sure to click the link about Holly Denham, but maybe after you read? You don’t want to spoil the surprise about the author until you’ve started reading and can understand the irony. Let me know what you think...I was impressed.)

This book is from the UK—published two years ago, and was only recently published in the United States. I was in Barnes and Noble on Tuesday evening perusing books, and it popped out of the table to me. I went to pick it up, thinking it was a thin, chick-lit novel…it is a brick. I almost dropped it because I wasn’t prepared, and I was laughing (out loud, but myself). I knew I had to have it; a thicker than thick, total chick-lit, British novel—SOLD! Did I mention it had a recommendation by OK! Magazine on the front cover (that’s the British version of US Weekly only better)? It was exactly the kind of light read I was looking for to get me through the end of the “year” (the beginning and end of the school year—ok, and all the times right before a vacation, too—are mad…completely exhausting and stressful).

Can I tell you how fun this book was to read. First, it’s always fun to read e-mails and letters (who doesn’t like getting letters? And who doesn’t remember The Jolly Postman and how fun that book was?So 665 pages of e-mails, that you don’t have to worry about answering, is spellbinding. Not to mention that Holly is very Bridget Jones-esque, yet not quite so incompetent. (Note here: I love Bridget Jones, and most other of the British chick-lit books…isn’t there just something delicious about the way British authors write?) It’s got the ridiculous aspects, but is also relatable…which is why this genre is so successful.

For the first few hundred pages I was reading it because it was fun and entertaining. For the last couple hundred I was reading because I couldn’t put it down and wanted to know what happened next! It was kind of like eating guacamole; although there isn’t that much nutritious value, you just can’t stop eating! Tastes. So. Good.

Enchanting Reviews Lisa Chalmers
HOLLY’S INBOX is a fun and truly hilarious tale told strictly through emails. Holly Denham’s just begun a new job as a receptionist at a top London investment bank but before long, she finds herself on the wrong side of the bank’s bully, Shell aka “Cruella” but on the upside seems to find herself indulging in what might be the start of an office romance with the hottie upstairs.

Even though page-wise, HOLLY’S INBOX is a long read, it’s one I easily breezed through, laughing—and sometimes grimacing— at Holly and her friends adventures. Her BFF, or one of them, Aisha, is at times brilliantly hilarious with her shenanigans (like being caught having sex at her new job Holly helped her land) and yet is often there to support Holly’s mishaps. Also among the emailers is her older brother, who added some truly hilarious parts to the book with the building of his club, the kind of which comes as quite a surprise when its finally revealed to Holly and the reader. I loved the situations that poor Holly finds herself in, although the ending

An amazingly fun tale filled with enough surprises to keep you breezing through the pages long after you thought you’d put the book down, anyone looking for a really entertaining, laugh out loud book can’t go wrong with HOLLY’S INBOX.

Holly Denham is the pen name for Bill Surie, the owner of a placement service for receptionists and secretaries in London , a direct inspiration for Holly’s Inbox. He started the Holly’s Inbox website () as a place to serialize his first novel, which received 90,000 visitors at its peak in 2007. When the virtual sensation was made into a book, it received incredible praise, including from bestselling UK author, Jill Mansell: “Funny, captivating, and completely addictive!”

All About Romance Lynn Spencer
Holly Denham
2009, Chick Lit
Sourcebooks Casablanca, $14.99, 672 pages, Amazon ASIN 1402219032

Grade: B
Sensuality: Kisses

The very best chick lit books entertain me, and often hit themes that resonate, even if the frequently encountered ditzy heroines sometimes drive me mad. Holly’s Inbox, a modern-day update of the epistolary novel, follows the life of fictional character Holly Denham as she starts work as a receptionist in a large corporate bank. Though Holly sometimes annoys, the story is ultimately a lot of fun to read.

As Holly begins work in the bank, some similarities to Bridget Jones’ Diary seem obvious. Like Bridget, Holly can be endearingly silly and sometimes seem overwhelmed at the notion of managing her own life. However, as she bumbles her way through settling in at her new job (and it’s no easy transition), the tone of her emails is so amusing that it’s difficult not to like her. At first I wondered how I would cope with nearly 700 pages inside the mind of a heroine who seemed clueless and more than a little dysfunctional, but, as the book continued, I discovered more to Holly than my first impression led me to believe.

Reading through Holly’s emails takes the reader into Holly’s world - wacky family, moderately off-kilter friends and all. However, beyond the almost stereotypical characters, one starts to see that Holly’s friends may have messy lives, but they’re staunchly devoted to her, have great senses of humor, and help one another out. And the more one gets to know the various characters in Holly’s life, the more one starts to like them.

If poorly done, a book this long could have seemed interminable, but the pages just seemed to zoom by. I would start to read, become thoroughly engrossed, and then suddenly find myself hundreds of emails into the text. One thing that made this story work comes from the writing itself. Many of the emails are quite humorous and the author does a good job of giving the various characters distinctive voices.

Those strong voices make Holly’s life and the various office intrigues in the story come to life. Her flirtation with her banker boyfriend feels immediate and real and I enjoyed watching the relationship develop. In addition, the reader quickly learns that Holly has a few secrets in her past that she is hiding. These come out gradually, and I enjoyed watching her reveal them bit by bit.

Since Holly’s Inbox is chick lit rather than straight romance, the focus of the story is primarily on Holly and her adjustment to life at the bank. Since she is a likable character, I did not mind this at all. However, readers expecting romance as the primary focus of the story may be disappointed. Holly’s romantic life certainly plays a role in the book, but it’s not the only - or even the main - action. Still, aside from frustration with Holly’s ditziness or doormat-like qualities on occasion, I greatly enjoyed this book - and its fantastic twist near the end that I suspect will please many readers.

Book Reviews by Bobbie Bobbie Crawford-McCoy
Holly’s Inbox is addictive and entertaining; a fresh, fun take on inter-office politics and romance in the workplace.

Holly’s Inbox is written in an email format which is unique and for me, a little distracting as well (having to check on who the emails are to and from all of the time). Holly’s new job as a receptionist gets a rocky start and she gets more then she’s bargained for with the new employees that she communicates with. As she settles in, Holly finds a new love interest who provides a great deal of fodder for the email gossip-mill. The story is told via emails that Holly and the other characters send to one another. For the most part, it is fairly enjoyable to read; the first 2/3’s of the book was a little slow for me but I am happy to tell you that it picked up in a BIG way after that and it finished with a satisfying, well written ending! As I read through the book, I began to care about Holly and how I hoped her life would turn out…as I said before, the last 1/3 of the book is where Holly’s story really starts to seize the readers attention. The story isn’t as fluid as I would have liked; it is broken up by the email format and the constant back and forth between the different email senders. The plot consists of some fairly typical office-type romances and the stresses that office workers deal with on the job.

Make sure you check out www.hollysinbox.com/ to visit the fun, interactive website that looks like Holly’s REAL inbox!

Socrates’ Book Review Yvonne
Genre: Chick Lit

This is the story of Holly Denham. Trying to get over a bad marriage, divorce, and a career change, Holly takes a job at Huerst and Wright as a receptionist. Her only previous experience in this type of position is a two week stint at a hotel, but her current employer does not know this. They think she’s an experienced receptionist, but soon learn otherwise.

The head receptionist, Trisha, takes Holly under her wing and Holly finds herself thriving in her new job. One of the most handsome vice presidents asks her out, Holly accepts the invitation and they began a hot, torrid, secret love affair. Or at least they think it’s secret. With all the office gossip going around, can anything ever be kept a secret?

Holly is surrounded by good friends, a wacky family, and even a few enemies. Her life is never dull, but trying to juggle all these people is not easy – especially with the constant threat that her job is on the line, backstabbing “friends”, and a grandmother who fills her email with spam for online dating services and cheap airline flight advertisements.

“Holly’s Inbox” is a cut look into the everyday life of Holly Denham. The entire book is written in email format. Reading through Holly’s emails is a very clever way to get to know and fall in love with a character. As each day passed, I felt as if I knew each character a little more. I would love to see a sequel of this book. The best way to describe this book is that it’s a bit different, fun and not to be read in public (you’ll find yourself laughing out loud and people will wonder what’s wrong with you).

If you’d like to get a taste of the book, check out the website www.hollysinbox.com

I absolutely have to give this book the “Socrates’ Book Reviews Blog Great Book Alert” medal.

WJXB-FM ,Knoxville, Tennessee Jennifer Alexander
"Holly’s Inbox is delightful, funny, it’s been lauded as the next Bridget Jones, it’s made up of email conversations that will keep your nose in the book and laughing at Holly’s predicaments, it’s hilarious, it’s completely addictive and I totally recommend it!"

Diary of an Eccentric Anna Horner
When I received Holly’s Inbox by Holly Denham (a.k.a. Bill Surie), I was surprised that it was more than 650 pages. I thought I’d take a peek and after reading a few of the emails, I was hooked. It took me only two days to finish the book.

Holly’s Inbox tells the story of Holly Denham beginning with her first day on the job as a receptionist in a corporate bank in London. You can tell right away that Holly isn’t an expert receptionist, but she’s an expert at email. With all the messages sent between Holly, her best friends Jason and Aisha, the bank’s other receptionist Trisha, her family, and various people in the office, you begin to wonder whether she does any actual work. I don’t want to say too much about the characters because part of the fun of Holly’s Inbox is getting to know them through their emails, but you’re in for a treat with Holly’s new-to-the-Internet granny and her brother, Charlie, who fumbles his way through the construction of a new fetish night club. Tensions arise when Holly begins dating a bank executive, and her boyfriend from her school days begins working for the company.

Holly’s Inbox is a different type of chick lit, not only because it is written by a man but also because the narrative is a series of emails. The characters are better developed than you’d expect from a book comprised of emails, and Surie does a great job unfolding Holly’s story and the stories of the secondary characters. Much of the book takes place inside Holly’s inbox, but readers get to read a handful of messages in Trisha’s inbox and Toby’s (Holly’s old boyfriend) inbox as well. Most of the emails are humorous and sarcastic, but the book has its more serious moments, too. While reading Holly’s Inbox, part of me felt like I was spying on someone, and another part of me felt like I was communicating with old friends. When I heard the book was all emails, I wasn’t sure it could be pulled off, but Surie succeeded. The ending left me wanting to know more about what happened to Holly, and they’ll be a part two at some point. (Surie told me by email that a U.S. release date for the second book has not been set.)

I highly recommend Holly’s Inbox for chick lit lovers and others looking for a unique, quick, and light read. Check out Holly’s Inbox for excerpts from the book, and stop by Diary of an Eccentric tomorrow for a guest post by Bill Surie.

Thanks to Bill Surie and Sourcebooks for sending me a copy of Holly’s Inbox for review.

The Bookkitten
Don’t let the length of this book intimidate you. At 668 pages, yes, it qualifies as a chunkster, but since it is written entirely in E-mails, it goes by quickly. Very quickly. And there are so many delicious plot lines, it’s hard to put down.

Holly Denham has a new job as a receptionist at a large bank in London. She has a lot to deal with during her first week on the job: a co-worker who doesn’t seem to care for her, a bitchy PA, and a colleague who went to school with her, who seems to know something devious in Holly’s past—but she’s not letting on. Yet.

And that’s just at work. Holly also sends lots of E-mails out to her best friends, Jason and Aisha. Jason works at a hotel where Holly was once a receptionist. Aisha has a rawther complicated love life and constantly looks to Holly for advice.

Then there’s Holly’s family, who all have moved to Spain. Mum keeps meddling in Holly’s affairs, much to Holly’s chagrin. Charlie, her brother and the only family member remaining in England, is trying to start a nightclub—a different sort of nightclub. Elderly Granny has just discovered the wonders of the Internet, and has started to sign Holly up for various different websites.

Holly’s life does get rawther interesting juggling all of these kooky correspondences throughout the day. But the most interesting tidbits are reserved for Holly herself—and we find out about them through random E-mails from people other than her friends. Let’s just say that the phrase "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when we first practice to deceive" is an appropriate description for Holly’s character. Eventually, her lies—and her past—catch up to her. The untruths build the novel up to an interesting climax and finale, where Holly promises that "she’ll be back."

This was delightful reading for me. It was quick, cheeky, humorous, and just plain dishy. I loved it, especially as it progressed. I loved learning little details that one might dismiss as unimportant, but then they crop up again later in the novel, and one sees how the pieces of the puzzle fit together.

GirlaWhirl.com
What would it be like to have full on access to someone else’s inbox? Girlawhirl and Super Pals everywhere can find out in the recently published novel Holly’s Inbox. Through her emails, Girlawhirl follows Holly though her life – one that’s full of work worries, social escapades and dealing with a secret from her past – with each e-mail taking her further into the story…

Written by a man – Bill Surie – who created a sensation in the UK with the website hollysinbox.com, which looked like an e-mail inbox for a woman named Holly Denham, it’s more than just a great beach read. This book embraces the internet not just as a vehicle for how the information’s delivered – the book is written as a series of email messages to Holly’s inbox – but it’s also as an example of how forward thinking publishers are finding ways to convert and integrate some of the best online content into more traditional publishing.

Booklist
Denham’s novel written entirely in e-mails began as a serialized Web site, www.hollysinbox.com. The

story revolves around Holly Denham, the new receptionist at a London bank, and through her

correspondence, readers get to know her daily life. She befriends Trish, the other receptionist, and begins a

relationship with James, a charming higher-up. Between organizing meetings at the bank, she trades

hilarious, risqué e-mails with her friends Jason and Aisha, assures her parents she’s getting along well,

helps her grandmother decipher the Internet, and offers her siblings much-needed advice. Her e-mails even

reveal a life-altering event from her past. While the premise can be tiresome—who doesn’t have to slog

through enough e-mails of their own?—the story becomes more engrossing as fresh details come to light.

The author, a placement agency owner writing under a pen name, explores a new format with compelling

results. A second novel is planned, and Holly’s adventures continue online.

The Romance Studio Dee Dailey
People say that affairs at work are not a good idea. Too bad Holly didn’t listen. James Lawrence turns out to be a real cad but his new girlfriend is even worse. All the ups and downs of life seem to come straight to Holly’s inbox at work. She and co-worker Patricia/Trish aren’t supposed to talk to one another but that doesn’t stop them from sharing their lives through their email. Seems like Holly couldn’t begin to get any work done with the friends, family and numerous irons she’s juggling needing her as the corporate world goes on around them.

Holly Denham has quite a life as her emails portray in great detail. So many great characters help make this a real joy to read. Friend Aisha Peters is a hoot as she shares her never ending exploits with the opposite sex. Jason Granger, a former co-worker at a hotel gives us the gay version of life as a friend who always has her back and offers a shoulder to lean on as she lives through the ups and downs of life. Trish, her fellow receptionist, becomes a great friend after a rocky beginning. Her family, especially brother Charley, seems to always pull at her to help them out. Her Granny is one of those ageless women who shares her secrets and her love.

This book is a winner from first page to last as Holly shares a few months in her life with us via her emails. It’s so easy to relate to the characters and the corporate infighting that seems to drive every kind of work place. This is one of those page turners that’s hard to put down as we get involved, wishing we could shoot an email back. I hope there’s another installment in the works!

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Specs / Support

Trade Paper Specfications

• Length: 8.00 in
• Width: 5.25 in
• Height: 0.00 in
• Weight: 24.00 oz
• Page Count: 672 pages