Drop Your Complaints Here

by Tristen Willis

The office was beige.

The solution? A fake HR complaints box.

Everyone thinks it’s official. Everyone’s filling it with petty drama, ridiculous demands, and unfiltered confessions.

I planned to keep it secret… until Dan caught me.

Now we’re partners in crime, feeding the gossip, planting chaos, and laughing as the office slowly unravels. It’s messy, it’s petty, and for the first time, work is actually fun.

But secrets have consequences. And when the complaint box blows up, we’ll have to face HR, our furious coworkers, and the question neither of us saw what happens when the game is over?



***

Drop Your Complaints Here is a bite-sized workplace satire perfect for fans of The Office and Parks & Rec. It’s quick, chaotic, and just unhinged enough to make you side-eye your coworkers the next time you’re stuck in a meeting.

If you
- A quick, bingeable read (around 120 pages)
- Workplace shenanigans
- Partners in crime (in chaos, not romance)
- Petty gossip escalating out of control
- Scheming coworkers
- The The Office and Parks & Recreation

Then you’ll probably love this novella.

126 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 2, 2025

About the author

Tristen lives in Newcastle, Australia with her husband and two kids and works full time in the insurance industry, helping people get their lives back.

Currently, Tristen is balancing the joys and challenges of motherhood with an energetic toddler and a newborn. Despite her busy schedule, she’s still dedicated to her writing.

Recently, she released The Insurance of the Heart Novella Collection, a series of interconnected romance novellas. After this, she shifted her focus to writing Dystopian Romance.

Reviews

[AndaReadsTooMuch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe Tran’s life is beige. Beige office, beige coworkers, beige everything. She’s stuck in an office job, dealing with the public and insurance claims. Soul-sucking and draining until the day she chooses chaos. That chaos? An unsanctioned HR complaints box in the break room. What could go wrong?

After being discovered by her cubicle neighbor, together they hatch a plan to break the office of beige one complaint at a time. The complaints are the true gems here. Relatable to anyone and everyone that’s been in an office job during their lifetime. It’s when those complaints start to reach a tipping point they have a decision to make. Back off or turn up the heat.

For a novella, this has a surprising amount of character building and backstory. It was surprisingly heartwarming. If you’ve worked an office job, or are working one now, don’t sleep on Drop Your Complaints Here. It’s the perfect hit of catharsis you need to break the beige.

Drop Your Complaints Here releases December 2.


Huge thank you to Tristen Willis for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.

[its_just_christin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is marketed as if “The Office had a HR complaint box” and as a die hard office fan I’d say that’s pretty accurate. Zoe is bored at her office job. She didn’t see herself ending up there and it’s getting old for her. She starts a complaint box for her own entertainment and her coworkers go all out with their complaints. Dan catches on that she’s the one behind the box and wants in. They start collecting the complaints to enjoy on their Friday nights.

Soon after Dan gets involved the office becomes chaotic with everyone arguing and pointing fingers. Dan and Zoe have a fun relationship, it’s not exactly a romance but you can tell there’s something there. Dan is the crazy one with no fear that loves to stir the pot and Zoe is a little more reserved and starts to feel guilty. Their banter is great. The other office employees are super funny with some of the weirdest quirks. The complaints were mostly entertaining and kept me laughing.

I think I would’ve gave this a 5 star if I didn’t start to feel bad for people but that’s on me. I’m just too much of an empath. This was a quick and enjoyable read. The characters are very well written and believable. You definitely root for Zoe and Dan.

Thank you Tristen Willis for providing this eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When office life is bland and unsatisfying, there’s only one solution - create a fake HR box. That’s the setup in Drop Your Complaints Here.

Zoe’s work life is monotonous. The work is unrewarding, her colleagues are the wrong sort of interesting, and her desk plant has already given up. If she is to survive much longer, something needs to change.

Then she is hit with a brainwave - a fake HR complaints box to liven her days. Soon, the little scraps of paper with her colleagues’ woes become the highlight of her week. The box is filled with gems like “whoever tried to boil eggs in the microwave needs to be performance managed” and “the women’s bathroom bin has a half-eaten sausage roll in it. Why??”

With the occasional hint of a potential office romance down the track, this novella is focused on the workplace madness, not romance. It is satire and does not go overly deep, but goodness it was an enormously fun read.

The humour is so very Australian and would be completely at home in The Office or Parks and Rec. It briefly delves into the unintended consequences of the box, including identifying some behaviour as potential bullying.

Ultimately, the book is positive and an absolute riot to read. I highly recommend it for anyone who needs a break from the daily grind or a short read to make them snort with laughter.

[Mariah Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drop Your Complaints Here! This was a short read and well written. This book had me laughing I would definitely recommend it. It captures some very relatible drama in the office. Highly recommend if you want a short read and a good laugh!
I had the pleasure of reading this book early and I rate it 5 stars!

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun story filled with much needed laughs, a reminder that life doesn’t always have to be so serious, and that sometimes the “good” guys do win.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

easy novella

Great for lovers of the office. Quick read! Some laugh out loud moments. I wanted to find out what happened at the end.

[Ashley Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute and good read. I was lucky enough to get the ARC of this book before it’s published. I think it’s definitely worth the read in my opinion. Definitely an easy quick read too!

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was quirky and a good quick read. It was a nice palate cleanse after reading a book that wasn’t my taste. The two main characters were fun and their personalities went well together in the book. The only reason i didn’t give a higher rating was because the book didn’t call to me as much as I thought it would. Nonetheless I did enjoy the banter and atmosphere of the story.

[Vyk Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious, relatable novella with some laugh out loud Aussie humour. I love a Tristen Willis novella and this was no different. A gorgeous palate cleanser in between some heavier reads.

[Dee Aksynova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun little read, ever wondered what would happen if you created a complaint box in a boring beige office workplace? CHAOS UTTER CHAOS. Poor Zoe is just slowly descending into the boring monotony of the usual office culture where she would rather scratch her eyes out then continue to stare at the computer screen or answer yet another phone call. All while trying to ignore the annoying things her coworkers do like heat fish in the communal microwave and stinks out the entire office floor purely to keep the entire workplace descending into chaos. What would happen in she made a box from "HR" to add any anonymous complaints her coworkers may have.
This is exactly what she does and in doing so she makes an unexpected partnership which slowly becomes friendship her office neighbour Dan. They slowly build a stronger friendship while sneakily reading their coworkers gripes about each other. All while the workplace slowly becomes more unhinged and the unspoken rules of office etiquette fly out the window.
This was such a funny read it had me cackling at some of the antics. I am now considering creating an anonymous HR box for my office and giggle at all the complaints that role in. Also poor Pryia I half expected her to pack her desk up and leave.
This was so different from what I normally read but once I knew the premise I was desperate for an ARC and thankfully got one. I devoured this so fast and loved it so much. Definitely great if you want a change from romance and looking for something fun as a palate cleanser.

[Skye Mckean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drop Your Complaints Here by Tristen Willis is a short, bingeable read. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and loved watching the chaos unfold, from a boring office to an absolute war zone.

Zoe was sick and tired of the beige, boring office and decided to create a fake HR complaints box to enjoy for herself. Zoe is the quiet, forgettable, goody two shoes of the office, someone the office would never think could make chaos erupt. Dan is the lazy one in the office, the one that sighs too hard when having to refill his water bottle. Little does everyone know, he is the one that encourages the chaos whereas Zoe is the one that begins to feel guilty. I loved watching these two characters start to bond and grow more chaotic by the chapter as the office started to crumble.

This is my first read by Tristen Willis and I am glad to have picked this read. The writing was smooth and easy to read, the story itself was hilarious and even though this was not a romance, I enjoyed the chemistry bubbling between Zoe and Dan.

Overall, if you enjoy a short, bingeable read full of humour, Drop Your Complaints Here is the way to go. If you have worked in an office before, this is the book for you, if you enjoy reading about corporate drama and absolute chaos, this book is also for you.

Thank you Tristan Willis for the opportunity of reading The ARC version of Drop Your Complaints Here. All thoughts and reviews are of my own.

[Kelsbookreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit, I read this in one sitting.

It was fun, it was satire, it was pure chaos - and it hit a little too close to home if you work in an office.

You can tell Tristen had an absolute blast writing this, it's so true to life, the characters all somebody you've met at least once in your life, but the undertones of what happiness and contentment in your work days looks like actually hits deep.

Maybe all office workers need a little anarchy in their days.

We follow Zoe, who works in insurance, is questioning her life choices and is ready to quit... except quitting means no rent money, no more take out and feeling like a failure. She's stuck, well, stuck until she creates a fake complaints box supposedly from HR.

What follows is a swathe of petty grievances, unrest and general glee as Zoe finally finds purpose again, and if her cubicle buddy Dan happens to find out about her sackable offence idea - well, so be it (he joins her and it's pure mayhem).

You'll be hard pressed not to find something familiar in this book, whether it be the job, the people, the stinky food or loud chewing of others - or maybe the genuine hurt and feelings of being left out or ostracised.

If you love:

- workplace satire
- coworkers to co-schemers
- fake complaints box for real complaints
- the sniff of a future romance
- lots of takeaway, lots of complaints and lots of laughter
- a short, sharp and fun read

Then add this on to the TBR!

[Kay Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see how the quirky characters are reminiscent of The Office and Parks and Rec, but it's hard to really capture that feeling when the novella focuses on the person who is least in on the drama.

This was such an interesting premise, and while a novella limits where it can go, I was hoping for a bit more. Maybe if some of the characters or complaints were fleshed out more, it wouldn't have felt quite as repetitive. Or maybe, if it leaned into the romance between Zoe and Dan, it would make sense why we would need to see them meeting weekly and their relationship evolving. However, part of me is glad Zoe was spared that because it felt like Dan was a different person with her than he was in the office, and I wasn't a big fan of office-Dan.

Ultimately, I am happy that HR eventually stepped in and tried to course-correct, and that Zoe feels less beige after all. I also really enjoyed seeing her feelings change throughout, especially having moral issues with how things have evolved—making Dan a great foil because he was going deep into the other end.

Overall, though, Drop Your Complaints Here by Tristen Willis was truly a fun read, and some scenes felt a little Mean Girls' cafeteria scene. So, if you like satires, workplace drama, and bite-sized stories, this one might be for you.

[Karen Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the concept of this book, and that’s what initially pulled me in. A fake HR complaints box in a bland office setting is a clever idea, and it genuinely sounded like something fresh and different. At the beginning, the prank felt small and harmless—almost wholesome—as a way to brighten up Zoe’s otherwise dull workdays.

However, once Dan became involved, the story took a turn that didn’t work for me. What started as lighthearted mischief quickly escalated into something that felt unnecessarily cruel. Instead of playful workplace satire, it began to feel like Zoe and Dan were subjecting their coworkers to psychological warfare, and that shift made it hard to enjoy the humor.

I kept waiting for Zoe to push back or set boundaries, especially as Dan’s behavior became more extreme, but that moment never really came. Her continued participation—and lack of accountability—made it difficult for me to root for her as a main character. The chaos felt less funny and more uncomfortable as the story went on.

Overall, the idea was strong, but the execution didn’t quite land for me. I think this novella will work for readers who enjoy exaggerated office antics and darker humor, but I personally wanted more balance, consequences, or character growth to fully enjoy it.

[Kaylee’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for allowing me to read this early. I absolutely LOVED it!

This was a very quick read due to it being a novella and it was honestly such a fun time. I had to stop reading this late at night because I was laughing so loudly I was terrified I would wake up the kids. I'm talking about the type of laughter that has you snorting, tears streaming down your face and wheezing for air because it was just that good.

I absolutely loved how this was set in a corporate office that at the beginning was a super boring place work. Our FMC Zoe decides to put a HR complaints box in the staff break room except these complaints don't exactly make it to HR. Instead, her and a fellow co-worker spend their Friday nights going through the weeks complains, laughing and eating takeout. I also cackled every time they found a really funny complaint and decided to stir up a bit of drama in the office. We have staff arguments, petty office crimes committed and a whole load of drama thrown in here. If you are a fan of the office or any comedy show for that matter this is the book for you!

Would definitely recommend!

[Tracey Cotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious and painfully relatable!

“Drop Your Complaints Here” is an absolute gem — a quick, clever, and laugh-out-loud novella that perfectly captures the chaos of office life. I was wheezing with laughter for most of this book!

As someone who has worked in an office myself, I found so many moments that felt way too real. The humour, the petty complaints, the slightly unhinged coworkers — it’s all here, and it’s brilliant.

Our FMC, Zoe, decides to set up an anonymous HR complaints box in the break room… only, those complaints never make it to HR. Instead, she and her coworker Dan spend their Friday nights reading them, laughing over takeout, and uncovering a few unexpected truths along the way.

The writing is sharp, the characters are delightfully exaggerated yet believable, and the story moves at the perfect pace for a short, satisfying read. It’s got humour, a dash of possible romance, and just enough corporate chaos to make you snort into your coffee.

If you’re looking for something fun, fast, and refreshingly different — or just need a break from heavier romance reads — this one’s the perfect palate cleanser.

Highly recommend! 💼😂

[Shani · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was an ARC reader for this book, and this review contains spoilers.

I didn't hate it, but I didn't really like it either. I read it in about 2 hours, and I only really finished it because I couldn't be bothered looking for something else to read at 11.30 at night.
The premise is interesting - place a fake HR complaints box in your office and see what happens. But the complaints kept repeating, and then people knew about the complaint. I know that in one scene we see that one has fallen out, etc, but it's never explained as to how every other complaint is being known. The middle of the story seems rushed and is very repetitive.

I know it is fiction, but it is set real world, and I find it hard to believe that no one got so frustrated that "HR" wasn't doing anything about the complaints and didn't take it up with HR via email or in person and catch them out far sooner than they were.

This isn't something I would recommend to anyone; it tries to be funny but mostly ends up being gross or slightly mean. It's unrealistic, and it has a slow-burning romance that hardly burns and ends up going nowhere - but slowly.

[AB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to receive an advance copy, and I'm so happy that I was chosen. Drop Your Complaints Here is one of the funniest books I've ever read. Imagine having a boring workplace, but your coworkers are doing things that drive others crazy like heating up fish in the break room or not flushing the toilet. To get a little excitement, Zoe, the quiet and unseen coworker, decides to make a fake HR complaint box. Reading the complaints gave her something to finally look forward to until she was caught by Dan. He pretty much tells her to let him in on it, or he'd tell. Without any other option, she let's him join, and their secret meet ups to read the notes start to blossom a friendship between the two. The complaints get crazier and crazier, and people are starting to speculate whether or not it's even real. It causes a lot of drama amongst everyone, but Zoe and Dan are in too deep to stop. The book hints at a possible romance in the future, and it is a it'll keep you engaged til the very end.

[Brooke Layer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tristen Willis • Drop Your Complaints Here (ARC Novella)

Drop Your Complaints Here is a hilarious office based novella by Tristen Willis.

The office life was beige. The solution? A fake HR complaints box that everyone else thinks is real. Everyone fills it with petty drama, ridiculous demands, and unfiltered confessions. It was supposed to be a secret until Dan caught on to Zoe’s scheme. Now they’re partners and causing more chaos in the office.

This was a hilarious and quick read. I work in an office myself (if my boss reads this I love my job and would never create a fake HR complaints box, I promise!) and I can imagine the chaos a fake HR complaints box could cause.

The writing was fun, the characters were funny, somewhat exaggerated, but still mostly believable. This is a perfect novella if you’re looking for humour, a little bit of potential romance, and some corporate chaos in a quick 100 page read.

[Armando Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone new to Tristen Willis’s work, I wasn’t sure what to expect outside of her usual romantic storytelling. But when she announced a one-off fiction piece centered on workplace antics, my curiosity got the better of me, and thank God it did!This book was wildly entertaining from start to finish. Working in customer service myself, I found the humor spot-on and the situations painfully relatable. The mix of boredom, frustration, and absurdity that comes with dealing with the public is captured perfectly. I laughed out loud more times than I can count, even while wincing at some of Dan’s questionable decisions. More than once, I caught myself thinking, “This is going to blow up in his face!”“Drop Your Complaints Here” is a hilarious, smart, and refreshingly honest take on workplace life. I truly enjoyed every page and will absolutely be keeping an eye out for more of these one-offs from Tristen Willis. They’re worth every minute!

[MiMi · Rating 4 out of 5]

For an individual who is known for her sarcasm. I absolutely love this short read. Tristen Willis delivers a beautifully written story, with sharp wit seamlessly woven throughout. The humor feels natural and self-aware, making the book both engaging and disarmingly honest.

Beneath the sarcasm lies a thoughtful message about accountability, personal growth, and choosing intention over habitual negativity. Willis invites readers to pause and reflect, encouraging them to consider when venting is truly necessary—and when it may actually be holding them back. This balance between humor and introspection keeps the book from feeling preachy while still offering meaningful insight.

It’s this nuance that gives Drop Your Complaints Here its staying power. Short yet impactful, the book lingers in the reader’s mind, prompting small but important shifts in perspective long after the final page. A clever, reflective read that proves growth and sarcasm can absolutely coexist.

[Bek ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this novella in one sitting! It’s a hilarious, chaotic romp through office life that hits all too close to home for anyone who’s ever been stuck in a cubicle. Tristen clearly had a blast writing this!

Zoe and her coworkers are all characters you’ll recognise from your own workplace. As Zoe questions her life choices while stuck in insurance, she creates a fake HR complaints box that sparks pure mayhem and hilarity.

With each petty complaint, Zoe and her sidekick Dan uncover truths about themselves and their coworkers, all while sharing laughs over takeout. This fast, witty read captures the absurdity of office life perfectly, mixing sharp humor with potential romance and just the right amount of chaos. If you want something fun and refreshing to break up your heavier reads, grab this one; you won’t regret it!

[Melissa Mejia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of receiving this as an eARC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review. This was a n easy quick read! It had me laughing with the office drama. It was a very good read i would definitely recommend.

“Drop Your Complaints Here is a bite-sized workplace satire perfect for fans of The Office and Parks & Rec. It’s quick, chaotic, and just unhinged enough to make you side-eye your coworkers the next time you’re stuck in a meeting.

If you love:
- A quick, bingeable read (around 120 pages)
- Workplace shenanigans
- Partners in crime (in chaos, not romance)
- Petty gossip escalating out of control
- Scheming coworkers
- The shows: The Office and Parks & Recreation

Then you’ll probably love this novella.”

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a 9–5 office girl, this book felt less like fiction and more like a workplace documentary with better vibes.

Drop Your Complaints Here is what happens when boredom, burnout, and unchecked office chaos collide and honestly? I support it. A fake HR complaints box sounds unhinged in theory, but in practice it’s the most believable thing I’ve ever read. I could name at least three coworkers who would absolutely use it, and one who would definitely take it way too seriously.

Zoe is painfully, hilariously relatable, stuck in a job that drains the soul one spreadsheet at a time and just trying to survive the week. The complaints themselves? Feral. Petty. Uncomfortably accurate. The kind of stuff that makes you laugh and then immediately side-eye your coworkers wondering what they’d submit about you.

Add in Dan, who chooses chaos every single time, and suddenly the office becomes an emotional support group powered by anonymous notes and bad decisions. The banter is gold, the humour is peak Aussie, and the slow realization that this has spiralled way out of control just makes it better.

This novella is short, sharp, bingeable, and absurdly fun. It’s the kind of read that makes you laugh, cringe, and whisper “oh my god, same” at least ten times. If you’ve ever survived office politics, beige carpets, or a microwave crime, you will feel seen.

10/10 would absolutely drop a complaint in that box.

[Rhiannon Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drop Your Complaints Here - Tristen Willis

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the authors writing and I think that they write really engaging and fun characters. Zoe and Dan are absolutely hilarious as well as their coworkers. I would love to see a full length book or this be a series. This seems like just such a fun office to be around. Highly recommend the book if you want a quick read that is guaranteed to be entertaining.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Out of 5 Stars ⭐️

🫑 / Spice Rating ☀️

# of Pages 🌙 126 pages

Release Date 🌟 12/2/25

Format 💫 Gifted Digital Copy

Series 🌙 Unknown/Not Applicable

Genre/Tropes ✨ Workplace romance, contemporary romance, romantic comedy

Favorite Character ☀️ Dan

Favorite Line 🌟 ‘This office is a zoo. And I’m stuck in the enclosure’

[Grace Ruston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute riot. Hands down the funniest read I’ve ever picked up! It's short, hilarious, and the perfect palate cleanser between heavier novels. If you're not into shows like The Office or that brand of silly, stupid humor, then this one might not hit the mark for you.

Just a heads-up, it’s a novella, so if you’re not down for a quick, straightforward read, this probably isn’t your jam. It’s not trying to be a traditional book; it’s just here to make you laugh.

You don't have to work in an office to get the crazy dynamics between the characters and their wild complaints. Seriously, some of them were so over-the-top funny! Plus, every workplace definitely has a Fiona 🤣

[Kait Melvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

i received this as an ARC but my opinion/review are my own!

this was a funny, easy, and well written read. this really felt like “jim and pam” from the office and a scheme they would come up with. i enjoyed the banter between dan and zoe as well as the characters around the office. there were times i thought the obvious tension between dan and zoe would go somewhere. i knew going into this ARC not to expect any romance so i was surprised by all the tension between them. even just knowing if they went camping would have given closure for their story.

overall i really liked this and is a fun interpretation of corporate life.

[LiAnna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This office comedy was right up my alley.

The wit, the scheming, the shenanigans, the forged friendship, THE ABSOLUTE CHAOS… adding some spice to the everyday mundane… I loved it all!!!!

As a 9-5 office girlie, this was such a fun read!!! All I could picture was my own workplace and the people in it!!! Having that mental picture and connection made it so much better!!!

This cute little novella was the perfect pick me up read. It was silly, it was entertaining, it was hilarious and I wasn’t ready for it to be over!!! Definitely worth taking the time to read!!!

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to experience their work!!

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drop Your Complaints Here is a light, playful and genuinely funny read.

I have spent time in similar workplaces and found myself laughing out loud at several of the so called complaints. It captured the everyday quirks of workplace culture in a way that felt relatable and warmly human. I only wish something like this could work in real life, although I suspect HR would have a bit of a moment.

I enjoyed this more than I expected. It offered a gentle, humorous breather from situations that can feel heavy, and I appreciated the way things came together in the end.

I received this book as an ARC, and these reflections are my own, shared voluntarily.

[Charlee Lock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I laughed out loud so many times - the author paints pictures that trigger horrific memories - that Lynx Africa haze from high school still haunts my nostrils!!

This is a fun and quirky workplace novella that is of course satire and I ate it up!!

Fiona and her salmon reminds me of an ex coworker that would use the sandwich press to cook his salmon lunches 🤢🤢

I really enjoyed the slow burn between the MFC and MMC and didn’t mind at all there was no spice (as a smut reader that says a lot!!) the workplace comedy was pure gold.

If you want a quick palette cleanser between stories I highly recommend this fun novella!!