4⭐️ no spice
WOW! this 144 page fictional (yet partly nonfiction) memoir/short story about an author and mother navigating a terminal illness was so moving for such a short novel! I finished this in just over 1 hour. This author is very talented to fit many months of story into such a short read.
Wholesome, raw, and fresh.

content: chronic illness, terminal illness, cancer.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book.

I've always been a fan of Sophie Kinsella's works. This novella is labeled fiction but mostly an autobiographical work of Sophie's own experience with cancer. From her point of view we learn the realistic struggles and affects on loved ones. It was incredibly gripping. I was able to complete it within an hour and did not want to put it down. It made me appreciate Sophie Kinsella and her talent even more than I already did!

Very powerful, really makes you think about what is important. Thank you to Sophie Kinsella for letting us into her experiences and life.

Sophie Kinsella latest novella was so sad, but so inspirational to read. The book is about her own real life journey with brain cancer and how she dealt with it. She did change the parts that she couldn't remember due to short term memory loss and changed names to portect people. It was a quick, short read, but so worth it!

This was beautifully written but really heavy! It took a long time for me to read because of that. I would only reccomend this for people who are okay with hard subjects in women's fiction.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. What Does it Feel Like is a departure from Kinsella's other books, but this story is so touching and real. Eve's responses are true and show the ups and downs of dealing with this disease. One of my friends is also going through this and her blogs remind me of this book. Some funny, some sad, all a journey with no spoilers.

This short novel was a well written and powerful story of the impact of illness on a writer and her family. It is difficult to be anything but grateful to the author for sharing this autobiographical telling of her own life experience. At the end, the author does share her life experience and motivation for creating and sharing this novel.

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella is a short, heartfelt story about a woman who starts asking people a simple but powerful question: “What does it feel like?” As she listens to the honest, sometimes surprising answers from strangers and loved ones, she begins to see the world—and herself—differently. The story is warm, reflective, and quietly moving, reminding us how important it is to really understand and connect with others. It’s a gentle nudge to slow down, be curious, and care a little more. A quick but meaningful read that leaves you thinking long after it’s over. Highly recommend!

I had no idea that this was a novella, but I’m glad it was. Because I don’t think my heart could have taken a full length novel.
There is an authors note at the end and I didn’t know Sophie herself went through some of the same health problems as Eve. It made the book all that more relatable.

This "novel" by Sophia Kinsella was short and sweet and truly packed an emotional punch. Living with a parent who was diagnosed with stage 3 inoperable cancer, this book hit home for me personally, but I would recommend this short read to anyone. Cancer is a journey that nobody prepares for but Sophie Kinsella showed how supportive communities surrounding the sick person really do provide great comfort and care and reason for fighting on.

Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite authors. From her Becky Bloomwood Shopaholic series to her stand-alone novels, her books always allow me to escape reality, smile, root for the heroine, and cheer when there is a happy ending, even if the resolution is not as anticipated. When I heard she was seriously ill with a devastating diagnosis, my heart broke a little. As we are of similar ages with families in comparable stages of life, I cannot imagine what she is facing. I am in awe that she sat down to invite her fans in and let us know.

"What Does It Feel Like?" by Sophie Kinsella is a poignant and deeply moving book that, while fictional, draws heavily from the author's own experiences. It's a story that explores life in the face of a serious illness, and it does so with a remarkable blend of honesty, vulnerability, and even humor at times.

The book centers on Eve, a successful novelist whose life is irrevocably changed by a devastating diagnosis. As Eve navigates the challenges of her new reality, Kinsella delves into the complex emotions and practical difficulties that accompany such a journey. There's a rawness to the narrative, a sense of unfiltered truth, that resonates deeply.

What makes this book so powerful is Kinsella's ability to balance the nature of the subject matter with moments of lightness and even wit. She doesn't shy away from the difficult questions and painful realities, but she also finds room for hope and love, reminding the reader to appreciate the small joys that still exist even in the darkest times. The book is ultimately a celebration of life, a reminder of what truly matters: connection, family, and the courage to face each day with as much strength and grace as possible.

"What Does It Feel Like?" is not always an easy read, and certainly lacks her usual happy ending with complete resolution, but it's an important one. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've finished it, prompting reflection on the fragility of life and the enduring power of the human spirit. It is, in short, a testament to the resilience of the human heart.

Keeping the author in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of the novel. I am happy to share an honest review.

What Does it Feel Like was both beautiful and heartbreaking. This short story (audiobook is less than 2 hours) brings out the raw journey of Eve who is diagnosed with a stage 4 Glioblastoma. Each chapter goes through Eve's difficult recovery and the effect her diagnosis has on herself and her family.
After reading the author's notes, I found that this was almost an autobiography of Sophie Kinsella's journey into her own cancer diagnosis and her personal journey shows in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to review What Does it Feel Like? All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Semi autobiographical book from Sophie Kineslla told in vignettes about brain cancer experiences. ARC from NetGalley.

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella follows Eve, a successful writer attending the movie premier of one of her novels. Everything is going great for her, but the next thing she knows, she is waking up in a hospital bed, groggy, disoriented and not sure what has happened. We, along with Eve, learn that she has advanced brain cancer and has underwent an operation to try to remove it. We follow Eve as she tries to relearn how to walk, talk, and remember the things she loves in life, like family game night and holding her husband's hand.

Sophia Kinsella knows how to write a heart wrenching short story. This novel was inspiring as she Eve and her family never lost her hope or positive outlook on life, despite facing one of the toughest types of cancer out there. She ties in humor in with cancer to bring light to a dark situation. This short story was so touching, especially after learning that the author wrote about her experiences.

The only disappointing fact about this book is that it was not longer. I would have loved to read more about Eve's career, the diagnosis and all between the jump we encountered early on.

I would highly recommend this to just about anyone. It was very quick to read and addictive.

This was a lovely but sad book. I really enjoyed it on audio- the narration was excellent. I liked the short chapters and the story told from the sick person's perspective.

What a fantastic book! I was taken on the emotional journey of the life of Eve, a successful novelist grappling with a devastating diagnosis. The story weaves humor, hope, and heartbreak into a beautiful story. This book has lingered with me.
Many thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion

I have not read Kinsella in a while as her books became a little trite and repetitive. So, when I picked this up to try and read, I was pleasantly shocked by how entertaining and hopeful this story was about how Eve has to recreate her life all over again after getting amnesia. It was a pleasant change of pace for Kinsella fans alike who have missed some of her old works that this story likens to.

This was a good, short read. The story was sad, but I’m glad it ended with the main character better. I hate that the story is what Sophie Kinsella went through too, and I’m glad she’s still here!

Eve knows she's lucky. She's a successful author with movies made of her work, has a wonderful husband and five children who love her, and she's on top of the world. Until she wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there and finds out that cancer is attacking her brain. She must relearn to do everything, including talking and retaining information. Through it all, she has her loving family and a team of cheerleading professionals to help her succeed.
We experience doubt, fear, and surprising optimism right along with Eve in a semibiographical novel that feels intensely personal. The warmth and humor I've always associated with a Sophie Kinsella novel are there, enhanced by a very human connection to what she's going through. Kinsella doesn't shy away from all the scary bits, but she puts all the emphasis on the positive moments and little wins that show there's always hope. I really appreciated that.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the touching read!

I loved this book! This story was full of hope, love and tears. As someone who recently lost a family member to cancer this story was at times hard to listen to, but the humor and hope in the story was just what I needed. It was just a beautiful story.