Gosh this was a tough and emotional read (major TW: cancer). But I appreciated the story and stuck with Eve on her cancer journey. In fact, I couldn’t put it down. It was raw, real, funny, memorable and of course heartbreaking.

I remember when Sophie shared her cancer journey on social media and I cried a little. I’m so thankful she was able to write this, and I hope she continues to be able to write and that she gets her forever happy ending.

What a profoundly personal story. While the work was fictional, the author’s life story inspired the book. This narration was a hard one to get through. Cancer affects every individual, either personally or secondhand. Cancer sucks. And reading a story about someone’s rehabilitation following a tumor removal is brutal. I recommend this book wholeheartedly as it sheds light on the journey of a family dealing with a diagnosis that is nearly 100% terminal. I love that the book was short, not drawing anything out. If you are going through your health journey, this content may be too heavy – but still significant. Thank you to Ms. Kinsella for sharing yourself with your devoted readers!

Quick recap without spoilers:
Eve is a successful novelist and mom of five children. When she wakes up in the hospital with no memory of why she is there, she realizes her short-term memory is gone due to an eight-hour surgery that removed a cancerous brain tumor. Seen through the eyes of Eve, the reader is introduced to the frustrations and setbacks but also the hope and gratitude of someone dealing with brain cancer. While heavy, the story is uplifting and beautiful.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. I will post this review on my Instagram page the day before the book is published.

"What Does It Feel Like? is fiction, but it is my most autobiographical work to date. Eve's story is my story."--Sophie Kinsella. This short book packs a strong punch. I am a HUGE fan of Sophie’s books and when she announced in April that she was diagnosed in 2022 with glioblastoma, a form of aggressive brain cancer, my heart broke for her. While she says she is stable and doing well now, it has taken a toll on her. It’s a beautiful and emotional read, so bring tissues. I wish her all the best and will eagerly read anything she puts out in the future! Thank you NetGalley and The Dial Press for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sophie Kinsella writes a poignant novella based on her real life struggle with a malignant brain tumor. Kinsella has long been an auto read author for me! Told in vignettes and short bursts, we see her beautiful life fade into a struggle to relearn walking and to remember the basics of who she is.

This is a quick read and an interesting, uplifting and hopeful story of a famous author with a beautiful young family and dealing with the fall out of glioblastoma. The intimate conversations with her husband as she was grappling with her condition will stay with me for a long time. It was surprisingly fun and characteristically Kinsella despite the heavy subject matter.

Thank you The Dial Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this title.

I have read everything by Sophie Kinsella and the Shopaholic series was one that made me laugh out loud to the point of tears. It’s devastating that this book was based on her real life events. Although there is an undercurrent of sadness and uncertainty, Kinsella’s writing style still shines through. I applaud her for being so honest and vulnerable in this book. I feel guilty for wishing it were longer, considering she wrote it after having a brain tumor removed. It is a reminder of how quickly life can change and to cherish every moment. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of “What Does it Feel Like?”

“‘Your readers love happy endings.’ ‘Of course they do. I love happy endings myself. So I’ve invented lots of them. But now here’s the irony: I can’t invent a real-life happy ending for myself.’” 🥺

This is a novella that is fiction but also the mostly autobiographical story of Sophie’s actual life. I devoured Kinsella’s Shopaholic series when I was probably in my 20’s. Decades later I still think of those characters and stories fondly. To know that she has been battling a brain tumor diagnosis makes my heart hurt for her and her family.

All The Plastic Chairs is my favorite chapter. It is so very telling, in such a short chapter, of the life lead by anyone requiring consistent medical intervention.

“‘But you’re the one who … if I die … looking after the children …’ She wipes her eyes. ‘I mean, it’ll be easy for me, won’t it? I’ll be dead. You have the hardest side of this.’” 💔

The audiobook is narrated partially by Sophia herself and with one other narrator. It is both emotional and engrossing to listen to this story by an author that has brought me so much joy and laughter over the years. Sending healing thoughts your way Sophie!!

Thanks for the free audiobook @PRHAudio #PRHAudioPartner and to Netgalley, Random House Publishing, and the amazing Sophie Kinsella for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I have been a fan of Sophie Kinsella since I was a teen. I fell in love with her Shopaholic series and since have read every book by her, including under her pen names. It came as an absolute shock to me to hear about her brain diagnosis. It felt like I was hearing this news about a friend - just so surreal, unbelievable and upsetting. Then, when I found out she wrote a book about it, I knew I had to read it. Receiving the approval to read this as an ARC was a big deal for me. I wanted to dive into this story immediately. This novel is not like her others. You must know this going in. It’s also a shorter story, but it packs a punch. It takes you through all of the feelings and questions and whys. Though I shouldn’t be surprised, she wrote this book brilliantly. And I mean this from the standpoint that she’s writing this basically as a true story, her story. A very serious one at that. And yet, it has her traditional light-hearted flare even as her main character is going through the thick of life’s hardest curveballs. The structure of the book in my opinion reads more as a journal - notes and thoughts of her journey. I appreciate that she has taken us along with her and I wish her nothing but good health and happiness from here on out. Thank you for always inspiring us all!

Sophie Kinsella's "What Does It Feel Like?" is a poignant and emotionally resonant novel that delves into themes of love, resilience, and life after a devastating diagnosis. The story follows Eve, a successful novelist who wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there, only to discover she has undergone surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor. As Eve navigates the challenges of relearning basic skills and grappling with her diagnosis, the novel explores the profound impact of facing mortality and the importance of cherishing life's simple joys.

Sophie Kinsella's personal battle with glioblastoma adds a layer of authenticity and poignancy to the story, making it a deeply personal and moving read. I felt a range of emotions, from tears to laughter, as I followed along Eve's journey and through her struggles and triumphs, finding the book both heart-wrenching and hopeful.

The novel delves into themes of living in the face of death, finding joy in small moments, and the strength of family bonds in times of crisis. Despite the heavy subject matter, Kinsella's trademark humor shines through, offering moments of lightness amidst the darkness, and Eve's unwavering optimism serves as an inspiring beacon throughout the narrative.

Sophie Kinsella's departure from her usual lighthearted fare in "What Does It Feel Like?" proves to be a brave and beautiful exploration of life, love, and resilience in the face of adversity. The book is a celebration of the human spirit, a reminder to cherish the present, and a powerful testament to the courage found in confronting one's mortality. Whether you are a longtime fan of Kinsella or new to her work, this novel promises a deeply moving and thought-provoking reading experience.

I love any book by Sophie Kinsella. She is an entertaining author whose characters really stay with you. A book where the main character has lost her memory and has to re-learn how to do everything again, it was heartwarming and cute just as all of Kinsella's books are. I was cheering for Eve. I have read many of her books through the years and enjoyed them. I loved this book and look forward to reading every book by Sophie Kinsella.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC. This is novella about a woman who develops a brain tumor and has to relearn all of the basic functions. Walking, etc. She also has extreme memory loss. It sounds depressing, but it is upbeat and funny at times. It is also based on the author’s real life. The book was shorter than I expected, but I really enjoyed it, and I admire the author for sharing such personal details.

I was blown away by the vignette-style of writing. Almost each chapter is different, and yet fits perfectly to convey Kinsella’s story. I thought I knew the direction her story was headed, and was happy to be wrong in the end. The struggle of identity was heartfelt, as was the strength and love surrounding Eve and her family.

#book #review #arc #sophiekinsella #rare #goodluck #badluck #family #strength #healing

Knowing that this was autobiographical fiction, it had me feeling the emotions intensely. The style made it easy to consume in one sitting with a cup of coffee (and some Kleenex). The short anecdotes almost helped bring some lightness and humor to a really tough situation. It's incredibly brave for Kinsella to tell this story. I have been a fan of her books, but it's been a while since I've picked one up and I'm so happy I read this.

I think this beautifully captures the highs and lows when a family is faced with an illness. There are moments of laugher and often, they are about inappropriate things, but it's a wonderful reminder to live life and search for the simple pleasures. "Normal plus" is the way to do it.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been reading Sophie Kinsella's books for almost twenty years and taking What Does It Feel Like? off my TBR list was an absolute privilege.
This book has everything I'd expect from one of Kinsella's stories: It's funny, sweet, relatable, and emotional. The added bonus? Kinsella uses this autobiographical fiction story to share her recent struggles with readers who absolutely adore her, providing a glimpse into how her life has changed over the last few years.
We follow our main character's story through short snippets of her day-to-day life as she recovers from receiving a life altering diagnosis, one that is taking a physical and mental toll. This means of storytelling works so well with the main character's current cognitive struggles, helping the reader to understand what our character is struggling with and trying to work through.
While this book discusses heavy topics, it has a wonderfully optimistic and uplifting tone. I feel that Kinsella's words are giving such a wonderful voice to those struggling with illness, serving as a useful tool for family, friends, and the general public on how a life changing diagnosis can affect the person who's just realized their future is going to drastically change.
Please read What Does It Feel Like?. It's so well done and will make you fall in love with Sophie Kinsella if you haven't already.

I wasn’t sure what to think when I first picked this up to read. But understanding that this is a semi autobiographical take of something that the author personally went through in her life, hit different. This book is about a woman name Eve, who seemingly has a wonderful life. She has a great husband, five kids, and a wonderful writing career. Then the unthinkable happens and she’s diagnosed with stage four cancer. And we get to feel all of her raw emotions through that. Definitely worth the read.

Sophie Kinsella writes an almost autobiographical novella about an author with stage 4 glioblastoma, an incurable cancer.

This novella was so different than Kinsella’s normal work, but was so good. It was so human describing the complex emotions of living with such a prognosis. It was very emotional, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

What Does It Feel Like? is a semi-autobiographical novel by Sophie Kinsella. While the description gives hints about how this story will go, I did not expect to have so many emotions reading it. This story follows novelist Eve Monroe, who is also a mother of five and wife to a loving husband, Nick. Eve learns that she has been diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor. After an eight-hour long surgery, Eve wakes up and tries to re-learn how to live life again and deal with her diagnosis. Kinsella tells her own story through fiction while keeping it realistic.

There are a ton of emotions in this story as Eve experiences her ups and downs. She goes through everything from forgetting Christmas carols to have glimpses of memories. Words get jumbled and basic life skills are forgotten, which are all amazing to follow. I love the structure of the novel where it is divided into the before and after. Kinsella introduced Eve’s life well with her writing and life as an author to the second part that takes place after her diagnosis and surgery. It gives a great illustration of both sides of a tragedy where life happens suddenly, and life still goes on. Usually, I am not a huge fan of the vignettes, but it did work in this novel as the happy and sad moments are not drawn out too much. Overall, this novel was very well-written and another great read by Kinsella.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, The Dial Press, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

This is a tough read because it is partially autobiographical on the author's part. Also, it happening right before Christmas time makes it doubly sad. I'm glad she decided to share her journey with her readers.

Eve is a successful author who just went to a premiere of her book turned movie Hey Big Spender (which I guessed immediately was based on Kinsella's novel Confessions of a Shopaholic). That was the "before." The "after" is her winding up in the hospital with memory loss due to her recent brain surgery for cancer. A terrible cancer with a poor survival rate. Eve has to learn to walk and do self-tasks that most of us take for granted. Like remembering the words to Christmas carols sung every year and what a shirt is for...

I appreciated the little details of this novella but I want to let the reader explore them for themselves. This was a quick read about a tough subject.

Thank you, Sophie for sharing this with us.

"What Does it Feel Like" is a poignant tale that masterfully balances heartbreak and warmth, drawing heavily from Sophie's personal experiences, which must have been incredibly challenging to endure and subsequently put into words.


The narrative seamlessly shifts between sorrow and humor, infused with hope, making for a bittersweet read that will resonate deeply with fans of Sophie's previous works. As I turned the pages of Eve's story, I found myself laughing and crying, and I wholeheartedly wish Sophie all the best.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.


Another well-written relatable book by Sophie Kinsella. Sadly due the my current circumstances and the book topic it was placed in my finish later pile. I DID read enough to know this is her most relatable book yet, it's her story and one most people can relate to being either the patient or family member of a person with cancer or any other possibly debilitating illness. For myself, the story got too real and I just could not stomach it. For now, I shall buy the novel on the 8th of October and place it on my Sophie Kinsela shelf until I'm ready.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this novella. This story was so raw and real. I can't imagine being strong enough to write something so vulnerable while going through a cancer journey. Kinsella is lovely and brave and I so appreciate this book. Wishing her many more years of clear scans and a happy ending!