Holly's Inbox [Paperback]

Holly Denham (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 1, 2009

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

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Holly Denham, the lead of this epistolary novel (and yes, the name of the author), is an overwhelmed receptionist at a major British bank. The reader's access to Holly's frantic life is via her e-mail inbox—the entirety of the novel, in fact, is e-mail messages sent by, among others, her gay best friend (a chick lit necessity), her brassy co-workers (another requirement), her meddling mother (check, again) and, of course, her would-be paramour (ditto). The plot runs along very traditional lines, and in the end overreaches for a happy ending, but this overlong novel's saving graces are its fast pacing and very funny writing. Some of the best exchanges are between Holly and her grandmother, who sends e-mails that just read TESTING and signs her up for annoyingly spammy Web services. Despite the limitations inherent in an e-epistolary novel, the book is populated by vibrant, endearing characters, and Denham manages to juggle a dozen story lines at once. The ending's contrived, but feel-good, which, in these gloomy times, might be enough to do the trick. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From 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. --Aleksandra Walker

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (June 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402219032
• ISBN-13: 978-1402219030
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #828,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Add this one to your must have chick lit list May 19, 2009

By Luanne Ollivier TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

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 corresponcence 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 an 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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars What Really Goes On At Work. . . June 21, 2009

By Shon VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

When I discovered this book at Barnes & Noble, I immediately added it to my TBR List. I was quite surprised to learn my library owned a copy and was first on the wait list. I couldn't wait to begin reading Holly's e-mails.

I was looking forward to reading this as I read so many glowing reviews. I have to admit, around page 200 or so, I lost interest in Holly and her friends. I really wanted to know Holly's back-story with Toby. It took awhile for Holly to disclose to Trisha, her co-worker.

I do have to say, the secondary characters were quite interesting and added to the story. Around page 415 (the reader was able to peek inside Trisha's inbox), I found myself glued to the story and couldn't put it down.

Yes, it's a long book (665 pages of e-mails), but worth reading on a lazy afternoon. Even though I thought it was sluggish in the middle, I do hope there's a sequel in the works. I would like an update on Holly and her friends.

3.5 Stars

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Chick Lit for Nosy Readers! June 6, 2009

By A. Mason

Format:Paperback

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!