The Unrequited Love Department

by Kristina Forest

From USA TODAY bestselling author Kristina Forest, a whimsical workplace romance with a light speculative twist, about a hopeful romantic in the Unrequited Love Department of Cupid & Associates who’s forced to team up with a cynical coworker after she releases secret love letters into the world.

Joy works in the Unrequited Love Department of Cupid & Associates, where she catalogs secret longings and unanswered letters from people around the world. She believes in love—despite the fact that it has never chosen her back. When a moment of heartbreak leads her to make a catastrophic mistake and leak confidential unrequited love letters, Joy risks exposing the most private feelings of strangers everywhere—and losing the job she loves.

Cynical, guarded, and entirely unimpressed by Joy’s optimism, Charles from the Solutions Department has spent years fixing other people’s romantic messes while refusing to believe in love himself. Assigned to help Joy recover the leaked letters, the two are forced into close quarters—and an unexpected partnership—on a road trip to intercept secrets before they land in the wrong hands.

Along the way, as they witness love in all its messy, hopeful forms, Joy and Charles find themselves drawn to each other. But with their outlooks on love so at odds, their journey puts their fragile connection to the test.

Tender, funny, and full of heart, The Unrequited Love Department is a magical workplace romance about taking risks, letting go of the past, and believing that love—when it finally arrives—might just be worth everything.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Fiction, Grumpy Sunshine, Contemporary Romance, Adult Romance

320 pages, Paperback

Expected publication January 5, 2027

About the author

Kristina Forest is the USA Today bestselling author of romances for both teens and adults. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing at The New School and she can often be found rearranging her bookshelf.

Reviews

[ellen]

thank you so much to netgalley for this arc!!

4.5⭐️
oh how i LOVED this. i have a soft spot for magical realism style romance stories (think things like the seven year slip, good spirits/grim tidings) and this massively ticked that box. i have read many kristina forest books, and i have adored them all, but this one is even more of a firm favourite.

we are following our fmc who works within the unrequited love department, dealing with letters from people who are unlucky in love, and choosing which ones earn he right to be magically blessed by cupid himself. the premise itself was so sweet and original, and i adored our female lead. the mmc also works within the same department, and we have a dislike-to-love/mutual pining situation on our hands which i LOVED.

the writing was so immersive, incredibly quick to read, super witty, and overall just a really cheerful, gorgeous book. i would highly recommend!!

[Grace Quan]

· ˚ 💌⊹ ⌇ 3.5 stars


This book is for the hopeless romantics *and* for the people who have lost faith in love.

I was drawn to the cover and to the age-old trope: Hopeless Romantic + Guy Who Doesn't Believe in Love. This book was Grumpy x Sunshine done right and Joy and Charles together made my heart sing.

The plot was very sweet but a bit predictable. But I found that the predicability was very comforting and almost cozy. This was a low stress book and it was easy to relax and turn off my brain while I was reading. The writing had a really distinct voice that was so endearing and matched the vibe of the book perfectly.

The romance was very sweet but parts of it were underdeveloped. Charles and Joy were supposed to be these workplace "enemies" who were always butting heads, but we really didn't get to see that. This was a case of telling us they didn't get along rather than showing us. Of course this was not detrimental to the romantic development, but it was a missed opportunity for another layer of depth. Besides that, Joy and Charles romance was so sweet and enjoyable to read about. In fact, it was so sweet and innocent that the sex scenes felt out of place. Like, the first time they confessed their feelings, they slept together. I thought this book was supposed to be about love, not sex. I understand they go hand in hand, but the way the scenes were placed in the book purposefully took away from the love and feelings and focused on the lust. In my opinion, this book would not have been hurt if the spicy scenes were omitted.

Apart from that, I really enjoyed the character development, especially Charles's. I loved his journey of losing faith in love and then learning to get it back. It was such a beautiful transformation and definitely one of the highlights of this book. Joy's character was also so incredible. She woke up every day and chose to believe in love and to trust people with her whole heart. She was such a kind soul.

Overall, this book was a really fun and sweet time. I would recommend it to a friend and if you love books about love, I recommend it to you too!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the arc. All thoughts are my own.

📆 Publication Date: January 5, 2027

[madi]

⋆˙⟡ — 4 stars
⌗ ┆started: july 30th ● finished: aug 1st
⤿ arc review with no spoilers

thank you so much atria books and kristina forest for the arc!!

thoughts ⋆˚࿔

this book was honestly such a fun time, and now i can't wait to read other books by this author 🤭 the concept of this book was so interesting that i never wanted to stop reading. joy was just so sweet, and i loved being able to read abt her and how she never let anyone change the way she felt abt love 🥹 while reading this, i could see that me and joy had sooo many similarities, and i loved being able to relate to her 😌 and then we have charles... this man was everything 😩 he is the complete opposite of joy bc he actually doesn't believe in love. as we got to learn more abt charles and why he doesn't believe in it, it really helped me understand him better and realize that it could be the same reason for people in real life too ☹️

characters ⋆˚࿔

⋆˚࿔ ― joy + charles

ugh these two 😩 them having to go on a road trip together to find the letters that joy had written made my heart sooo happy bc hello, forced proximity?! 🤭 being able to see these two slowly open up to each other really touched my heart the most 🥹 even tho charles had so many walls up, i loved the fact that he always softened whenever joy was around. as soon as i finished the book, i just wanted to go back and reread all their scenes bc they had me giggling and kicking my feet SO much 😭 just writing this review is making me happy thinking abt them all over again. and i swear these two had such good chemistry 😩💗

⊹ ﹒ ♡ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ♡ ﹒ ⊹﹒ ♡ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ♡ ﹒ ⊹

˒˒ ⊹⌇ pre-read ᝰ
i was literally in the middle of editing a post for insta when i got an email from atria and saw they sent me a widget for this book?! 😭 i’ve heard amazing things about this author’s other books, so now i’m really excited to read this 🤭

thank you so much atria books and kristina forest for the arc!!

[Erin (erinsreadingroom)]

☆ 4 stars

The Unrequited Love Department by author Kristina Forest feels like the epitome of the warmth and security that you seek under your favourite blanket on the coldest day of the year. Like an encompassing embrace from your favourite person to seek comfort and solace from after experiencing a difficult day. This was a sweet and deeply reflective tale centring around two people who have had opposing experiences with love being forced to work together to save their careers whilst finding their ideals challenged along the way. I adore the concept of a corporate company in the business of love with ‘Cupid’ at the helm of it all. That little sprinkle of magic added so much whimsy and hope into the story without suspending in disbelief by pulling away from the reality of human life and love in all of its complexities. Love is well and truly alive in a way that can feel at times both blissful and isolating depending on the circumstances. Romantic, familial, friendship and companionship are some of the many ways that love can be present within our lives and I enjoyed getting to experience this distinction throughout The Unrequited Love Department. The letter entries being placed at the beginning of a new chapter felt like an effortless and ingenuous method to allow the reader to evaluate the writer’s plea and make up their own mind on how you think the characters should proceed. This was a wonderful story that felt rich in incorporating an immersive experience alongside the tentative budding romance between our two main characters. This was my first book by Forest and it will most definitely not be my last… and I already cannot wait to go back and experience the magic of her other works.

Joy Hart is aptly named in the way that she seeks to imbue her joy and warmth into every aspect of her life. As a true believer and hopeless romantic at heart, Joy is understandably going through the movements of everyday life whilst actively waiting for the moment that she finds her ‘person’ and meant to be lifelong partner that she believes is fated to be hers. She not only deeply believes in the magic of love for herself, but also for everybody that finds the courage to write and post a letter that she and her team inevitably end up reading. I adored being within Joy’s narrative as the care for friends and strangers alike shone through the page with her determination to help as many people as possible. Her commitment to her role was commendable and I held a huge respect for her ability to advocate for her team regardless of how intimidated she felt in asking for help. Joy is far from perfect and can sometimes be seen to let her emotions just the best of her which result in a reactive response without thinking. However there’s no denying that Joy’s intentions were pure of heart… and I just had the best time getting to follow her journey towards advocating for love whilst finding her own in the most unlikely circumstances.

Charles Hayes is the complete opposite with his cynical mentality and determination to prove that long-lasting love is not only unrealistic, but also a fantastical and naive viewpoint to carry. Charles is deeply jaded and harbouring a private hurt after circumstances within his past that are explored as his story continues to progress which helped me to understand him better. I really felt for his character and found it really interesting to follow the narrative of a man working for a company whose entire business is to do with love and the way he navigated those feelings in practice. I loved getting to explore Charles outside of his negativity as his softer side slowly began to make its appearance with time and patience. Despite some grumbling and complaining, Charles never fails to jump in assistance to his colleagues across all departments the moment they need help. His capacity for kindness and growth felt wonderfully executed and I adored getting to witness Charles begin to soften and trust in the positive attributes to being in love. Seeing him open himself up to vulnerable and difficult conversations with a person that made him feel safe felt earned in its significance and I loved how important communication becomes for both him and Joy. Charles truly undergoes an impactful and reflective journey as he comes to terms with the events of his past and accepts that he doesn’t need to let them impact his chances at a happy future. I loved getting to see his willingness to seek therapy and receive the proper tools that he needs to be the best partner that he can be… and overall it was beautiful to see his evolvement as his connection with Joy continued to grow.

The Unrequited Love Department is the perfect love story to read in any season throughout the year that I highly recommend for all lovers of the Romance genre. This was so wholesome and filled with hope to the point that my face started to hurt from how often I was smiling at my kindle. This is a story written with a lot of heart in its ability to navigate difficult topics with ease and apparent care. It was entertaining, filled with humour and relatively low-angst so definitely make sure to add it to your 2027 TBR.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞.

[Lindsey]

release date: 1/5/27

read this if you enjoy...
♡ magical realism
♡ grumpy x sunshine

This was cute and would be a perfect Valentine's Day read - so keep an eye out for its release next year!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

[mackenzie]

a kristina book written for hopeless romantics? obviously it was going to be a hit from page one!!!

the banter between joy and charles had me giggling like a maniac, and i was just totally sat for every single moment that they spent together. well, and the moments they were apart, because i adored both of their characters sm. but the chemistry!!!!

i need an i heart kristina forest tshirt to live in at this point because she never misses. i can't wait to maybe even reread this when the physical book comes out <3

thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an arc! all opinions are my own <3

[Mesembryanthemum]

I will buy ANYTHING that Kristina Forest writes. Even a grocery list. I'm in a fever of impatience for this book.

[Lauren Rose]

Thanks NetGalley, Atria Books, and Kristina Forest for this eARC!— Joy works in the Unrequited Love Department for Cupid & Associates sorting through the unanswered love letters of America’s lovelorn. Unlucky in love herself, and in her feelings, Joy mistakenly leaks confidential unrequited letters, putting the magic behind Cupid’s company at risk. She must team up with Charles from the Solutions Department to retrieve everyone one of the leaked letters. This proves to be a challenge for them both, as Joy believes in love with her whole heart, and Charles believes maybe love will never be in the cards for him. As they travel across the Northeast reclaim each letter one by one, their opposite outlook on love puts their already fraught relationship to the test.

I wish there were more dialogue, and I feel like the story would’ve been better served in a 1st person POV. It felt like I was being told about the characters rather than the characters showing me who they are at their core. Because of that, the relationship between the characters seemed rushed, and the subsequent spice kind of surprising. I was intrigued by the description of this ARC, and I liked the story overall. It was light, and definitely something cute to read around Valentine’s Day!

[Julianne Harkleroad]

A magic lite, enemies-to-lovers, grumpy v. sunshine, spicy slow burn!

He's a pessimist. She's eternal sunshine. Naturally, they're pretty much enemies. Thankfully, while they work at the same company, Cupid & Associates, she only needs to see him when they run into each other or when she needs help from the Solutions Department. Unfortunately for Joy Hart, she messed up and needs Charles to fix-it.  

Joy loves love. She works in the Unrequited Love Department and is surrounded by bleeding hearts, poured out onto letter after letter without hope in sight and a backlog longer than they can process. At the end of her patience and brimming with unrealized love, Joy thinks she knows better than Cupid. She wouldn't *say* that, but when her optimism goes a little too far and heartbreak makes her a little manic, Joy finds herself in a pickle than can get her fired from this dream job. Honestly, Charles is the last person she would pick to help her out of this jam. She certainly isn't going to tell him the truth while begging for his help. But Charles is a company man through and through and wants the upcoming promotion badly. He'll do anything to prove he has what it takes to run the Solutions department- even a weeklong road trip with the literal embodiment of joy. 

Cupid is a sneaky little guy.... 

Most of The Unrequited Love Department is the hilarious road trip to get the miss sent letters back before the company's privacy is exposed. With the help of Cupid's memory dust, Joy and Charles slowly let their walls down and actually get to know the soul beneath their assumptions. I loved hearing how their pasts shaped who they are today— why Charles is cynical, how Joy stays so happy even after her own heartbreak, and the hope they both still have for their futures. Do they have more in common than they originally thought? When tensions flare, will they turn away from each other again or toward one another for a change? If they do, will that spark burn them?

"Noah what?" 💖 My favorite line of the whole book! My mouth literally dropped and I think I was blushing 😉

Tropes: Pessimist MMC, Sunshine FMC, enemies to lovers, she needs him, road trip, forced proximity, one bed, slow burn, workplace romance, character growth, HEA
Spice: 4/5  🌶
Language: 4/5  👀
Gore: 0/5 🩸
Triggers: 

This ARC was provided by Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to both companies and the humans that run them!

[inmyreadingera321]

So, SO cute!!! It honestly felt like Good Spirits meets TATBILB, with a little of Not That Kind of Proposal thrown in for vibes, and I mean all of that in the best way possible. The premise was fun and interesting, with the Unrequited Love Department and general C&A corporate life, and I loved how we had that classic hopeless romantic x cynic love story to root for.

Joy was so romcom-coded, the kind of FMC we all see ourselves in a little bit. She believes in love for love’s sake, and something about that is so beautiful. Charles is her complete opposite — he’s seen love devolve and has chosen to distance himself from it… but he can’t quite keep his distance from this girl while they road trip across the country collecting mistakenly-sent letters and inadvertently helping people with their own love stories.

I honestly had such a fun time with this book and really only wanted more. More time with the characters, more pages to read, and more of the C&A life. I think it would have been great to get to know Joy and Charles even more, especially through more road trip shenanigans. In some ways, if there were fewer stops on their road trip, I think we could have gotten some deeper moments on each stop rather than getting through so many so speedily.

I think, in the end, the thing that pushed this from a 3/3.5 to a 3.5/4 for me was, truly, the last little glimpse of Joy and Charles we get. Seeing Charles do a full 180 and realizing he doesn’t just need love but actually wants it was so great. He deserves love and happiness, and he finally gets it — and believes it will last. :’)

———————————————

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the ARC!

[Azvelyn]

I received an eARC of The Unrequited Love Department by Kristina Forest from NetGalley, and I really enjoyed this one. Charles & Joy’s relationship was definitely a slow burn, but I loved watching them grow individually and together. Getting to learn about their childhoods and seeing how those experiences shaped the people they were becoming added so much depth to their story.

And Charles… 🥹 This man had me with this quote:

“I let my fears get in the way for so long, and I’m nowhere near perfect, and perfect is what you deserve. But I’m also desperate. I’m desperate for you, Joy. I want to be the person you fall for. I want to be better for you. I don’t want to miss out on you.”

WHEW. 🥹

What I appreciated most was how real this story felt. It wasn’t wrapped up in a perfectly cutesy little bow where everything magically worked out. We got to see the challenges, the fears, the miscommunication, and the work it took for Charles and Joy to overcome those things together. The Magic dust was a cute touch.

I really loved watching their growth and seeing how their pasts influenced their present. This was a beautiful reminder that love isn’t always perfect or easy—but sometimes it’s about choosing each other and being willing to grow together.

Definitely one I’m glad I picked up. 💖

[reese b]

this book should be a movie. It played in my head so beautifully and I love the concept of this book.

Imagine Cupid (yes the cherub arrow guy) started a company. Dating apps, weddings, books, movies all centered on love. The heart of the company (located in the basement) is the Unrequited Love Department. Our main character Joy is the manager of the department. Their job is to read letters from collection boxes all over the world full of longing, love, pleas for forgiveness, yearns for love in return. Due to being very overworked, an issue happens with the letter that threatens to expose the company, Cupid, and the unrequited love department. Enter Charles, our resident realist who is Mr. Fix it. He, a member of the solutions department, is paired with Joy to fix the letter fiasco. Joy, a girl who loves love. Charles, a man who believes love is a fantasy. Roadtrip!!


THIS BOOK WAS SO CUTE! I truly could picture every moment and I felt like the concept was unlike anything I have read before! I would not be surprised if this was made into a movie one day! I also love books that show emotional maturity in both characters like this one did!

Thank you Netgalley, Kristina Forest, and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Mrz. McCane]

Thank you to Kristina Forest, NetGalley, and Atria Books for the ARC!

This was a cute romance with some magical realism mixed in, which I enjoyed. It was definitely a slow burn, but I didn’t mind too much.

We follow Joy, who believes in love until something happens that breaks her heart and leads her to make a mistake that could cost her job. Then there’s Charles, who helps fix other people’s love problems but doesn’t believe in love himself. He’s assigned to help Joy, and we get to watch as the two slowly start getting drawn to each other.

I actually liked that their relationship wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. We got fear, miscommunication, baggage from the past, and basically all the things that can make relationships complicated in real life.

I also enjoyed seeing them grow throughout the story. Love isn’t always easy or perfect. Sometimes you have to work through your own stuff, figure things out, and make the choice to choose each other.

This was just a cute, easy read for me. Nothing too heavy or that I had to overthink. Just a book I could pick up, read, and enjoy.

[Martina]

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the gifted ARC!

4.5 stars rounded up. After reading Summer Girlfriend earlier this year, I knew I had to get my hands on this one ASAP. I’m such a sucker for magical romances, and the whole idea of a department dedicated to unrequited love was such a cute and unique concept.

This was such a fast-paced read, and even though the romance was a major slow burn, I never felt like the story was dragging. The road trip shenanigans kept me fully invested, and I loved watching Joy and Charles slowly start to see each other differently. Their banter and chemistry were so much fun, especially as Charles slowly started letting his guard down.

I also really loved the unrequited love letters throughout the story. They each showed such different sides of love, and I thought they added something really special to the story without taking away from Joy and Charles. Joy was such a lovable character, and I really liked the contrast between her belief in love and Charles being so much more guarded because of his past. Watching them both work through their own feelings about love made their relationship feel even more meaningful.

I absolutely loved this one! It was funny, magical, romantic, and kept me fully invested from beginning to end. If you love magical realism, slow-burn romance, forced proximity, and a little road trip chaos, definitely add this one to your TBR.

[Aamira]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I will never miss an opportunity to snatch up a Kristina Forest book. Her novels are filled with earnest characters, swoony romances, and engaging plots. When I saw this come up on Netgalley, I knew I had to grab it.

Joy and Charles work for C&A, a company that sells love. Joy works in the unrequited love department where she and her staff read the love letters of those harboring feelings unknown to their love interest. After a mix up that involves 6 letters getting mailed out to their intended recipients, Joy must ask Charles for help in order to keep her job.

Charles is no stranger to fixing problems. As a member of the Solutions team, his coworkers come to him whenever there’s something that’s gone wrong. He’s vying for a promotion and sees Joy’s problem as an opportunity to highlight his skills. Together they embark on a road trip to intercept the letters before the intended recipients have a chance to read them.

I really enjoyed the imaginary world that Forest created. It was unique and whimsical. I loved the idea of collection boxes where people could send off letters asking for romantic help. The dynamic between Joy and Charles was really fun. Their meet cute gets thwarted by Charles’s cynical outlook on love and so the two become sort of enemies. Charles’s view on love makes sense. He had a tumultuous childhood and after years of arguments, his parents divorce when he’s quite young. On top of that, he grew up watching his mother jump from marriage to marriage in the hope of finding her HEA. So it’s understandable that he would have a jaded view. I sympathized with him. Despite this, he’s a kind and warm man. He goes out of his way to help others and his banter with Joy is never cruel.

Joy is a hopeless romantic who’s looking for her person. I appreciate that she doesn’t fall blindly in love and can reflect on her past relationships to see what it is she’s really looking for in a partner. I did get frustrated with her at times when she tried to force her POV onto Charles. It felt like she wasn’t hearing him. Once he lets his guard down and she gets a better understanding into him, she’s not as pushy.

I liked their romance and the slow build towards their relationship. Both are incredibly earnest and honest with each other. There’s no miscommunication here. Each is clear about their wants and their fears. It was a pleasure to watch them together as they take this roadtrip and try to fix Joy’s mistake. This is a fun, low angst novel perfect for a cozy read.

[Ashley]

Tropes: Grumpy Sunshine · Workplace Romance · Forced Proximity · Magical Realism
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

So this book doesn’t come out until January 2027, and honestly it feels like the perfect little Valentine’s‑season read. It’s sweet, it’s predictable in that comforting way, and it leans into grumpy sunshine with its whole chest which sometimes is exactly what you need.

Joy works in the Unrequited Love Department at Cupid & Associates, sorting through secret love letters from people all over the world. And she does it with this incurable optimism that is both adorable and occasionally had me thinking, Joy girl… please bring it down ten notches. But also? I loved that about her. She believes in love so deeply and so stubbornly, and sometimes you really do need a character who reminds you that choosing hope is valid AF 😂.

And then there’s Charles her coworker from the Solutions Department who is basically the human embodiment of love is a scam😂. He’s cautious, guarded, and absolutely not here for Joy’s sunshine. So of course they get paired together to fix the very big, very messy problem she accidentally creates. And so they end up on a road trip. Ans the forced proximity pops off and we get to see what Charles has been hiding behind. Watching him soften around her slowly, reluctantly, was cute.

Their dynamic is the epitome of grumpy‑sunshine. Joy loves love, and Charles… does not. Her name says it all, and I loved that she kind of met her match but not really, because he’s still fighting it the whole way. Their chemistry is sweet and giggle‑inducing, and I definitely kicked my feet more than once.

The magical realism is light but really charming. I loved the idea that there’s a whole place where our unspoken love letters go, and someone behind the scenes trying to help them find their way. It adds this dreamy shimmer to the story without ever taking over.

And so yes, the book is predictable. And yes, you know exactly where Joy and Charles are headed. But that’s the point it’s cozy, it’s hopeful, and it’s low‑stress in a way that makes you feel good while you’re reading it. It’s the kind of romance you pick up when you want something soft and sweet and a little magical.

Also, I have to mention say: the physical book is absolutely gorgeous. The sprayed edges? Stunning. The cover? Adorable. This is one of those books you’re going to want to display on your shelf because how could you not.

[Kailey]

The Unrequited Love Department is an absolute KNOCKOUT. A six-star read! If I had to describe it in three words, I would say: unputdownable, charming, and tender.

Joy, the newly appointed manager of Cupid & Associates' The Unrequited Love Department, has the loaded job of going through C&A's Unrequited Love mail full of secret admirings and pent-up feelings. Feeling annoyed at the current state of love in her life, Joy accidentally mails confidential letters to their recipients (without Cupid's approval). So, begrudingly, she enlists the help of her grumpy, love-hating coworker Charles from the Solutions Department with the "serious" job. But as they go on a trek across the Northeast to retrieve the letters, using some of Cupid's magic in the process, their uneasy allyship begins to bud into something...more.

This book surprised me in every way, and Kristina Forest is a fantastic voice in romance. Her characters feel so earnest and human, and I just inhaled this book in a few hours. Our main characters, Joy and Charles, were ADORABLE. Joy was so sweet, and I loved reading about her bubbly personality. Even with her trauma, she still had such a bright and optimistic outlook on life and love. I think we all (and this is especially a note for me, most of all) need to be more like her. And while I thought Joy's outlook on life was so beautiful to read, I really found myself relating to Charles and all of the walls he has up. But most of all, I loved how being around Joy softened him, and she slowly began to knock down his walls. They gave me inescapable butterflies and left a mark on my heart I won't be able to forget for a long, long time.

Kristina Forest's writing is so inviting and lovely, and the way that she wrote about love, specifically unrequited love, in this book will make your perspective on life and love change; I guarantee it! Forest has created an absolutely delicious world with C&A, and I truly cannot wait to see where she takes it in future books (hopefully!). The Unrequited Love Department could warm even the frostiest, most love-averse heart. Preorder this book NOW so we can match!

Thank you so much to the lovely people at Atria for this eARC via NetGalley; I'm beyond honored and grateful to have read this story and fallen in love with Joy and Charles.

[•୨୧ brianna grace ୨୧•]

⤷⊹started: august 17th, 2026
- finished: august 21st, 2026

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, Kristina Forest for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

RATING: 4 stars

When I first saw people talking about this book, I just knew I had to read it. I'm a sucker for any type of rom-com story, whether that be movie or literature, but the original premise was what really got me. Romance novels today are often reused trope-reliant stories that we have all heard before, and while this does use some tropes, The Unrequited Love Department is built off worldbuilding and whimsical things that we haven't seen in other books yet. If you love Lynn Painter's writing style, I would definitely recommend checking out this book!

── ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✦ :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧ ───

PLOT:

This dual POV novel follows Joy who works as a manager for The Unrequited Love Department at Cupid & Associates, where her job is to literally sort through love letters and help people fall in love. All is well until a reckless work mistake, requiring Joy and her work enemy, Charles, to fix it before it's too late. Forced to travel around the country to help couples fall in or out of love, they realize that despite their contrasting beliefs about love, maybe they are more alike than they thought.

CHARACTERS:

Joy:
Joy is your classic sunshine, hopeless romantic character. I admired her passion to advocate for all the couples to make sure they got the right ending, whether that be love or not. She cared so much about others and was always so kind. She reminds me a bit of Liz from Better Than The Movies, but much more mature and slightly more realistic.

Charles:
Charles is one of the best examples of the so-called "grumpy" characters who are actually well-written. Even from early on in the book, it was clear he cared a lot for others, not just Joy, no matter how nonchalant he tried to act. Given his past, his beliefs about love make sense rather than being a generic cycnic who hates love for the sake of doing so. Another great thing about him is that he never failed to admit when he was wrong and he was incredibly open with Joy.

── ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✦ :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧ ───
✦ pre-read ✦

oml im SO happy I got this arc! i've heard sooo many good things about it and we all know how much i adore romcom novels. the premise is very original and I can't wait to see how it plays out!

[Chanel]

The Unrequited Love Department 💌📪
By: Kristina Forest
Story: ✨✨ ✨3.8/5
Narration: N/A

🫖 Spoiler-Free Tea:

Joy believes in love.

Like, really believes in love.

Which is pretty fitting considering she works at Cupid & Associates - a company whose entire business revolves around helping people find theirs.

But not everyone at Cupid & Associates is a hopeless romantic.

Enter Charles.

Charles has worked on the Solutions Team for years and while he may be good at his job, he finds the entire concept of the company a little…mmm well, cynical. Still, he takes his work seriously and has his sights set on becoming Director.

But when a major problem threatens to jeopardize everything, Joy and Charles are sent in to fix it.

The problem?

They couldn’t have more different views on love.

Or maybe those differences are exactly what bring them closer together? Find out more in The Unrequited Love Department.

🧋 The Final Sip:

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for this e-ARC. The beginning of this one immediately gave me A Cinderella Story vibes.

You know the one with Hilary Duff? 👑

It had that modern-day fairytale feeling. Like you’re watching pieces of a classic love story play out in a world that feels much more familiar and current. And I actually really enjoyed that about it.

I also appreciated that the plot felt different from the typical romance storyline we often tend to get. The whole concept of Cupid & Associates, Joy’s unwavering belief in love and Charles’s very different perspective made for an interesting setup.

There was also an underlying message about love that I thought was really well done and gave the story a little more depth beyond the romance itself.

Overall, I thought this was a great love story. I enjoyed it, I liked the concept and I appreciated the way it blended that nostalgic fairytale feeling with a modern setting.

Was it memorable enough to earn four or five stars from me?

Not quite.

But it was definitely a sweet and enjoyable read.

☕ Sipping Mood: 🥰➡️🤔➡️😌

[Kelsey]

💌🏹💋💗

Joy loves love! She is a hopeless romantic who works in the Unrequited Love Department at C & A. Her job is to read and sort through the secret letters of those who long for love. Charles doesn’t seek out love. He works in the Solution’s Department where it gives him the opportunity to fix everyone else’s problems and avoid his own. Joy accidentally ends up having six of these letters sent out. The magic behind C & A’s unrequited love department is at risk and Joy’s job. Joy and Charles have always been on the wrong foot with each other since they met. Cupid (the boss) sends Joy and Charles on a trip to retrieve the letters and bring them back before they’re read. Joy is optimistic that everyone has a person. She grew up with great examples of love and continues to be surrounded by it. Charles is skeptical to love because his parents got a divorce when he was young and he doesn’t want that to happen to him. As they collect the letters, a connection starts to bloom between them. Joy is able to open herself up and give all of her pure love. Charles walls start to come down and he starts to believe that he can have a good love. Joy and Charles are successful on their trip and return back to New York City with a new outlook, connection, longing, and love!

Cupid would say this book is perfect for Valentine’s Day. It’s light hearted, whimsical, and full of romance. I really enjoyed the entire idea of the unrequited love department. I think Joy is a ray of sunshine, she has such a radiant view of what love is to her and dreams of having that to herself. Charles definitely was guarded at first, but as we got to know more about him it made sense as to why he is the way he is. I appreciated both sides because they balanced each other out. I liked the banter between them and the way they interacted with everyone. This book is memorable and a love story you’ll be thinking about!

Thank you to Kristina Forest and Netgalley for the early read!

[Kara Sabbagh]

The Unrequited Love Department is an absolute blast! As a first time reader of Kristina Forest, I loved every second of it. The gorgeous cover and whimsical sprayed edges really lived up to their hype!!! The speculative nature of this story makes it perfect for fans of Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka. Cupid being a real life character, in a classic office environment romance, offers the same excitement of their books Seeing Other People (ghosts 👀) and Just in Time (time travel of course!). While this read is perfect TBR add for fans of those books, I really appreciated how much of a wholly unique premise this story was. Additionally, while this fun and silly idea soared, the author also really dissects the idea of love between family, friends, coworkers, and more. It explores these beautiful black relationships between romantic partners, intergenerational neighbors, old friends, and new. I really loved the authentic feel these characters had. They felt REAL. This story stands ten toes down on business rather than falling flat on redundant tropes like another romance might. Everything felt FRESH. From the excitement around the climax, to every other step of the journey. The misunderstandings between this couple were realistic and readers are offered the opportunity to grow and learn along with them. I also can’t help but love the queer rep throughout. Overall, once again… this book ROCKS and I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on it! Many more thoughts that I could discuss with other lovers all day. Charles giving lowkey neurodivergent? 🤣 That first elevator interaction? My man has a plan and is ready to share and maximize with ya girl !!!

For those whom this matters to, not a ton of sexual scenes, the focus is really more heavily geared towards the characters’ interiorities and budding trust forming between each other.

[Alani Nycole]

Thank you to Netgalley for this complimentary copy of The Unrequited Love Department!! All opinions are my own.

The Unrequited Love Department was such a sweet read that was definitely made for hopeless romantics and those who lost hope in finding love. I absolutely loved the concept of a company dedicated to love but also was so cool with the magic aspect. They are complete opposites! Joy wholeheartedly believes in love while Charles is completely different because of what has happened in his past. I felt like these differences allowed their relationship to really unfold in a different way.

The road trip Joy and Charles took was fun and had forced proximity. I do wish we got more from the trip but it was definitely fun. The banter, the chemistry, and the slow burn had me giggling and kicking my feet, and I loved watching Charles slowly soften around Joy. One of my favorite things is seeing an MMC becoming vulnerable throughout a story because of his feelings toward the FMC. I’ll say that both characters had their own individual growth, especially Charles once he started to believe that he deserved a happy future.

This was such a comforting and enjoyable read. It was one that I read in a single sitting and just loved the vibes!!! It kind of reminded me of Good Spirits or You’ll be the Death of Me with the whole people working behind the scenes in real people’s lives that they aren’t aware of. It’s a pretty fun concept that I enjoy.

Their relationship definitely has those tough conversations, fears, and issues which allowed their growth and connection to feel so real and natural. The writing was endearing, the concept was creative, and I found myself constantly smiling.

Overall, I’d give this book a 4 stars!! Definitely that heartwarming, cozy vibe that just makes you so happy!!

[Giulia]

2.5

Well. It was a wild ride.
The beginning was bad. It was kinda cringe and set off my second-hand embarrassment. The use of the “loneliness epidemic” and the way it made me feel as if the author actually believes in it baffled me as it’s a misogynistic concept created by incels to justify their hate for women.
I liked the middle of the book, it managed to make me forget my first (bad) impressions of the book. I liked seeing the characters get closer, Charles opening himself to love, and Joy explaining her way of seeing love, not making her as delusional as she seemed to be.
The ending though, omg, the third act conflict ruined the book for me. This woman’s relationship went south because she LIED to him, then just decided that she just didn’t know how to choose a partner and love wasn’t for her… maybe just don’t lie to your partner and trust him idk ? - The woman who I thought had evolved actually didn’t at all. She acted stupidly and proved herself to be a delusional CHILD. This character was so childish I put my kindle down multiple times just to roll my eyes.
I hated that the author made the choice to show a character development from the MMC but not from the FMC, as if she was absolutely flawless but damn I couldn’t stand her when she was “ok I lied to him and betrayed him BUT see, he doesn’t believe in love like I do so ofc it would’ve never worked and it’s all his fault”. Girl. You’ve been actively hanging out with this man for JUST A WEEK and went past his boundaries when he told you NO.
I couldn’t get into the book enough to like it because of the FMC. She pissed me off way too much sorry. It’s sad because it had great potential but hell no 😭

[Morchaal.03]

I love romance books with magical realism. So, my hopes were high with this one.

The whole concept of Cupid & Associates was really interesting. A trip together to retrieve six love letters seemed like a great plot too. However, as book progressed with little or no development in Joy and Charles bond, I lost interest. Yes, they kind of got into a relationship and Charles seems to reflect on his opinions too. It did not change the fact every time Joy and Charles disagree over anything it leads back to "You are delusional" and "You are cynic" They have been arguing over the same thing from Joy's first day to dispute over Luna.

I thought it was a little insensitive of Joy to ask Charles to talk to Luna because his parents got divorced too. His reaction to revelation about letters was annoying too. "She did not trust me." She trusted her team and told them about it instantly. You had to earn that trust. Also, the way Cupid had a whole breakdown over letters dispatch, a little concern was justified. Joy's constant speech about, Love, annoyed me. Why are you picturing marrying a guy you met in an elevator. We all would appreciate a partner but let's learn to hold the horse. The whole confrontation with Cupid felt out of place after the wholesome conversation between Cupid and Charles. I wish department issue resolution was given more space.

Micah-Levi wedding was wholesome. Luna plot was also good so was Charles love letter.

P.S. Why are we validating loneliness epidemic by mentioning it in a book?

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author for providing me with the digital arc.

[Alison]

I love reading Kristina Forest's love stories! This one is very different from her other romances, but I enjoyed it just as much with a speculative twist thrown in. In a world where Cupid is real and hides his magic behind a giant corporation that has its hands in most things having to do with love, there is a underfunded basement team called the unrequited love department. This rag-tag team is held together with tape and glue, and their job is to answer letters send to a mailbox for cupid to help them with their crushes. Joy is a true believer in love that just can seem to find it for herself. Upset about a recent breakup and more funding challenges for her department, five of the letters she's supposed to file get sent to the crushes instead. And in order to keep the magical side of Cupid and Associates a secret, she has to set off on a road trip Charles from the solutions department. Charles is not a believer in love, especially not after growing up with divorced parents. He is practical, fastidious, and also very handsome. This trip is a chance for him to show Cupid that it's time to give him the promotion he's been working so hard for. So this grumpy/sunshine pair sets off, armed with some magic forgetting dust from Cupid, to retrieve the missing love letters. Only, Joy can't help wanting to play match maker along the way. And despite being opposites and work enemies, she and Charles might have the best chemistry of all!

Thanks to Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for this honest review!

[Lani Bausewein]

A Stain to Keep
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.25
Reading Method: 📚
Length: 320 pages
Genre: Romance

“Tender, funny, and full of heart, The Unrequited Love Department is a magical workplace romance about taking risks, letting go of the past, and believing that love—when it finally arrives—might just be worth everything.”

A company based on love with divisions in dating apps, wedding planning, and everything in between, Joy works in the “Unrequited Love” department, helping peoples fix their love lives. Whether it’s to reunite with a long-lost love, or to help stop a divorce, she fields the letters people submit and ensures Cupid reads them, bestowing his magic on deserving couples. Charles is basically the office manager, solving everyone’s problems at the office. Joy and Charles have a love/hate relationship where they love to hate each other and do all they can to get under the other’s skin. When Joy has made a mistake, Charles is tasked to help fix it. They are off on a snowy adventure through the NE, and the grump and the sunshine must find a way to work together.

This was a very cute story, and I enjoyed the banter between the characters. There were two spicy scenes that didn’t need to be there. They were very short, a paragraph or two each, and seemed thrown in there just for the sake of it. The story didn’t need a peek behind the door, it was a very sweet story without it, and it was a bit out of place.

The Unrequited Love Department is a cute story and a fantastic pallet cleanser.

[Rita Cortez]

Arc review - thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books and, the author, Kristina Forest, for providing this arc.

A premissa deste livro é tão original, foi sem dúvida o que me chamou a atenção. O plot à volta das cartas foi super divertido de seguir, um dos highlights do livro.

O romance tão foi muito bem feito. Gostei bastante do banter deles no início, gostava que tivesse continuado mesmo quando eles já estavam interessados um no outro. Gostei que a progressão entre conhecidos, amigos e namorados tenha sido natural, nada forçada.

Não gostei do quão pouco vimos deles juntos - o third act conflict aconteceu logo a seguir ao primeiro beijo deles, e depois só tivemos dois capítulos deles no final.

A escrita da Kristina Forest é super agradável, o livro passou a voar.

4,25 ⭐️

English version:

The premise of this book is so original, and it was definitely what caught my attention. The plot surrounding the letters was super fun to follow and was definitely one of the highlights of the book.

The romance was also really well done. I really enjoyed their banter at the beginning, and I wish it had continued even once they started developing feelings for each other. I also liked that the progression from acquaintances, to friends, to dating felt natural and never forced.

I didn’t love how little we got to see of them together, though. The third-act conflict happened almost immediately after their first kiss, and then we only got two chapters of them together at the end.

Kristina Forest’s writing is really enjoyable, and the book absolutely flew by.

4.25 ⭐️

[Em]

Such a cute premise! It’s my first time reading Kristina Forest and I was excited to read this. I liked the pop culture references early on and that it’s in dual point of view. But the third person narration felt a little detached and...the writing of Joy and Charles falling in love is very on the nose. It started to feel trite by the halfway point and I started losing interest. The narrative didn’t stall, but the wedding chapters took up more time in the story than I preferred. Then again, if they brazenly yanked the letter back and relied on the memory dust every time, this book would become incredibly short.

I wanted to fully embrace Joy’s optimism, but instead, became irritated with her. You’re worried about your job and your team, but then take up so much extra time that isn’t related to the needed task? You really can’t give Charles more grace when he doesn't fully believe two people getting married the day of their reconciliation, after one of them purposefully abandoned and disappeared, is a great idea? Especially after he opened up and shared how his mother’s approach to marriage negatively impacted his view of love? The stream of cliches had already dulled the fun premise, and Joy's behavior in the second half of the book brought this down to a story I enjoyed for a short while and likely won't re-read again.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Kristina Forest for this ARC.

[Jennifer]

Beginning to realize that ~*~magical~*~ romcoms are a thing I’m into. We already know BK Borison is the queen with the Good Spirits series (yes, I am just assuming that the second one coming next month is going to be more amazing than the first… she’s a grim reaper how can it not be?). And in this one, we have Cupid & Associates, a company that deals in romance issues.

Including the Unrequited Love Department, which handles letters from people pining for another person. You write a letter to the object of your affection, you put it in the company’s mailbox, and maybe Cupid selects it to work his magic and couple you up.

Joy works in that department and after an oopsie that sees the letters get mailed directly to the objects of affection, she has to work with Charles to fix it. And to fix it, they have to road-trip to intercept the letters. I wonder if there will ever be Only One Bed on this road trip?

This was my first book from this author. It was pretty mid. Like, it was alright and I really liked the setup. There was just so much about the couples writing the letters and not enough about the couple this was allegedly actually about. I still put the one from earlier this year on hold at the library… we’ll see if I get to it.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[aayat]

a workplace romance + sunshine x grumpy + she believes in love while he absolutely does not? yeah, i was seated.

the first 30% was a little slow for me, though. i kept waiting for the story to actually start because i wasn’t really sure what was supposed to be interesting or where we were going with it 😭 but once charles and joy went on their little trip to retrieve the letters, the book picked up SO much for me. their dynamic started to really shine, and i loved watching all that grumpy x sunshine tension slowly turn into something softer.

also, i genuinely did not know this book had a little bit of magic in it? so that was a fun surprise. it added this slightly whimsical quality to the story that i wasn’t expecting.

and charles!! watching a grumpy man who apparently has sworn off love slowly become completely soft for his sunshine is one of my favourite things ever. i eat that trope up every single time. 😭

and that ending letter from charles to joy? oh. 🥹 it was genuinely so touching and such a beautiful way to bring everything together. after watching him be so resistant to love for the entire book, seeing him finally put all of those feelings into words was probably my favourite part.

overall, a cute and surprisingly magical workplace romance that took a little while to win me over, but once it did, i was invested 💌❄️