Book Review: ‘Hate Mail’
What if your worst pen-pal turned out to be your best match?
What It’s About (In My Own Words)
Hate Mail by Donna Marchetti
This is the story of Naomi and Luca, two pen-pals who’ve mastered the art of turning every letter into a sparring match.
Their correspondence is less “dear friend” and more “prepare to be verbally eviscerated.” Yet, beneath the snark, an unlikely friendship takes root—one that stretches across coasts and years.
But then, out of nowhere, the letters stop.
Two years later, a mysterious letter lands on Naomi’s news desk. Now, armed with equal parts curiosity and sass, she’s ready to reply—and determined to prove that in this war of letters, the last word belongs to her.
If the cover and title of Hate Mail don’t instantly plunge you into full-on 2000s chick flick and romcom nostalgia, then I don’t know what will. This book has vibe written all over it—imagine Mean Girls meets You’ve Got Mail, sprinkled with sass and topped off with second-chance romance magic.
At the centre is Naomi, a career-driven weather reporter who can forecast storms but can’t quite read the emotional weather in her own life. Enter Luca: aquatic vet, animal foster daddy, and the mysterious pen pal who’s been her sparring partner (and occasional ally) since fifth grade.
Their correspondence? A deliciously sharp and savage war of words that had me chuckling out loud. If you’re a sucker for letter exchanges—and honestly, who isn’t?—this one’s an absolute jackpot.
The novel smartly juggles dual POVs: Naomi’s chapters unfold in the present with her razor-sharp wit, while Luca’s chapters rewind to their first letter in fifth grade, slowly dropping puzzle pieces about their complicated history. The back-and-forth timeline keeps the narrative fresh and engaging, and I loved how the story’s settings shift seamlessly.
Now, onto the characters. Naomi is a delightfully sharp protagonist, with a no-nonsense career attitude and a hilarious internal monologue. Her best friend Anne is the perfect sidekick. And Luca? Utterly charming, slightly mysterious, and absolutely devoted to his fur family—including some irresistibly cute kittens and a deaf dog who steals every scene. The chemistry between Naomi and Luca leaps off the page, both in their snarky letters and their in-person moments.
Heads up: there are some steamy scenes to spice things up, but more importantly, the book isn’t afraid to explore complicated emotional territory. It tackles issues like ghosting, stalking, and emotional cheating, which made me squirm a bit, especially since miscommunication is usually my romance pet peeve. But Marchetti handles it all with enough nuance and honesty to keep me hooked instead of frustrated.
In the end, Hate Mail is a giggle-and-kick-your-feet kind of read—light, warm, and bursting with sass and emotional depth. I guessed the mystery early on but didn’t care, because the humour, heart, and clever writing kept me glued to the pages. If you love sharp banter, pen-pal battles, and a second-chance romance that feels both fresh and cosy, this one’s for you.
MOM BRAIN FILTER
This is not a book for reading with one eye open during a 3 a.m. feed unless you're cool with waking the baby from snort-laughing. Between the witty hate mail exchanges and the steamy slow-burn payoff, I was emotionally and hormonally invested. That said, if miscommunication gives you hives (especially the third-act kind), brace yourself—but it’s handled with surprising emotional intelligence. Also, 10/10 would adopt every animal in this book.
READ IF YOU:
You’re a sucker for pen-pal romances with razor-sharp banter
You once daydreamed about enemies-to-lovers playing out via angry Post-its and misunderstood feelings
You miss the vibe of early 2000s romcoms and want it bottled with sass and steamy scenes
A dual-POV structure and clever timeline shifts sound like your jam
You believe every romance should include cute pets
SKIP IF YOU:
You loathe the miscommunication trope and can’t forgive characters for poor decision-making (even if they’re hot and charming)
Second-chance romances give you hives
You prefer your romcoms fluff-only and free of emotional grey zones
You need the mystery subplot to truly surprise you (this one’s not exactly hiding the ball)
⭐ RULING
Hate Mail is the kind of fizzy, heartfelt, pen-to-paper romcom that wraps you in nostalgia, makes you root for messy humans, and leaves you wanting to write angry letters just to flirt. Minor emotional plot crimes aside, it’s 100% worth the stamp.
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YOUR TURN
Are you a sucker for snarky letter exchanges too? Do you fall for characters who flirt like they’re firing warning shots?
Tell me:
What’s your favourite book with letters, emails, or any kind of long-distance pen-pal dynamic?
Do you forgive romances that hinge on miscommunication, or do you scream into a pillow every time it happens?
👇 Hit reply or drop a comment—I’m dying to know your thoughts (and your spicy takes).
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