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.

Wow, What a great book! This is a work of fiction but is clearly written about the author's own personal life experiences with her battle with cancer. The story is real, raw, and truly inspirational. It is heartfelt and truly a must read. Beware, it will bring out emotions!

This was such an inspirational amazing read. I loved the way it was written to fully explain what the main character was going through. When I got to the author’s note to see this was her story made this even better. This was so well written.

What an incredible story, and Sophie Kinsella does such a great job of telling her story in a way that's thoughtful and engaging. I will be highly recommending this. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

Thank to the the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review; I can feel these pages. You are incredible.

This was definitely a very quick read. This was autobiographical to what the author has went through and was just so heartfelt and touching, There was a lot of vulnerability and honesty in the journey and it was beautiful. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

This novella made me both laugh and cry. Sophie Kinsella is the author that made me fall in love with reading and it is heartbreaking to know that this story is based on her life and journey with brain cancer. I loved the storytelling, anecdotes of Eves husband, and their banter. While this book is not Sophie’s typical rom-com, it is her most romantic book yet. The love between her and her family is shines through in this novella. I found myself so inspired by Eve and the authors resilience throughout this journey. I wish for the best for Sophie and that she can find her own happy ending.

Sophie Kinsella never disappoints for a cute humorous story. It was an enjoyable quick read and I’d recommend!

Sophie Kinsella’s latest book, What Does It Feel Like?, is a deeply personal and autobiographical novel. It follows Eve, a successful novelist facing a brain tumor diagnosis, as she navigates recovery and family life.

The story is told in a first-person perspective, blending humor and heartbreak, making it both poignant and life-affirming. Unlike her typical light-hearted works, this novella is a quick yet emotionally intense read, exploring themes of love, family, and resilience. Kinsella chose fiction over memoir to process her own experiences, making the narrative feel authentic and therapeutic.

This is a heartbreaking and deeply personal departure from her usual lighthearted rom-coms. In this autobiographical novel, Kinsella opens up about her struggles with a neurological disorder that has shaped her life in ways she never imagined. The book is raw, emotional, and beautifully written, offering an intimate look at her journey through fear, resilience, and self-acceptance.

This book was truly a gift and I thank Sophie Kinsella for sharing this personal story with the world.

Slightly different from her other novels, this shorter book took a more serious approach. But I loved it all the same. I highly recommend.