Voicemails for Isabelle review – Your new Netflix romcom obsession
Romcoms are back – whether you like it or not. From People We Meet on Vacation to Voicemails for Isabelle, fans are raving about the genre, and for good reason. In the latter movie, we follow a man who falls hopelessly in love with an aspiring chef, despite having never met her.
The movie stars Nick Robinson and Zoey Deutch and arrived on Netflix on June 9, 2026. This film will leave you heartbroken, in awe and falling in love with these two imperfect characters.
Let’s dive into the review.
Rundown of Voicemails for Isabelle– What you need to know:
- Genre: Comedy / Romance / Drama
- Stars: Zoey Deutch, Nick Robinson, Harry Shum Jr.
- Creator: Leah McKendrick
- Runtime: 1 hour 59 minutes
- Release date: 2026
- Where to watch (UK): Netflix
What is Voicemails for Isabelle about?
Our main character, Jill Shaw, has a passion for food and is very close to her sister. However, her sister Isabelle is seriously ill, leaving Jill torn between staying at home to support her and following her dreams in the culinary world.
Despite the challenges of living with her condition, Isabelle convinces Jill to go to San Francisco. But while living there, Jill learns that Isabelle has sadly passed away.
Unable to cope with a world without her beloved sibling, Jill begins leaving messages on Isabelle’s phone. But what she doesn’t know is that the number has been switched to another device and now belongs to real estate agent Wes.
The film explores grief, dating in the digital world, loneliness and the importance of following your dreams.
What I liked about it:
Voicemails for Isabelle is a romantic and emotional film about making the most of your life and following your dreams while you can. Despite the sombre themes, it is both uplifting and full of fun. You’ll instantly fall for the antics between Jill and Wes, while the pop culture references and current song choices make the film a modern romcom.
I loved watching Jill’s progression throughout the film and seeing an empowering woman who isn’t afraid to pursue a casual romantic relationship if it makes her happy. She is fierce and fabulous, with so much to offer as a main character. Multifaceted and full of personality, her dynamic with Wes is much more than romance. She is finding yourself, taking chances and making the most of life.
What I didn’t like about it:
Despite the film being marketed as a romantic comedy-drama, I felt that Jill and Wes’ moments together were quite secondary to the main plot. We only see brief interactions between them after their initial meeting, as the movie focuses mainly on Jill’s world and her relationship with her sister.
While many viewers have said they felt sad over the movie. I felt the beginning was emotional but, after that, the story became about Jill and her journey to a happy ending. For me, it meant the film wasn’t quite the heartbreaking watch as people made it out to be. Meanwhile, the pacing was also a little slow at times.
Overall thoughts:
I think the concept and execution of this film were both really good. Nick Robinson and Zoey Deutch have great on-screen chemistry, playing Jill and Wes believably as two complicated characters who are falling in love. It was both entertaining and inspiring to watch.
