Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.
This story was heart breaking, beautiful, raw, poignant, powerful, and an inspirational story. This is an autobiographical novella although some events and facts were changed by the author. I really enjoy Sophie Kinsella's books and had no idea she has cancer.
This was a very well written story.

I have been a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella since her Shopaholic series. She has written books I come back to time and time again. This book was a completely different style of writing and tone but the beauty of her ability to weave a story shone through.

This was a semi autobiographical book and it made the story that much more poignant and heartbreakingly beautiful. Eve as a character made me laugh, made me cry and made me feel every ounce of the emotions she was running through. Her relationships with her husband and children were so well written. I wanted every bit of happiness for the family as they navigated their way through.

This book is an absolute must read but could be very triggering depending on a persons experiences. The topics within it are handled with such grace and care but the realities are never ignored.

I absolutely recommend this book and it has further cemented my love of Sophie Kinsella in all that she is.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC of this amazing book.

What Does it Feel Like is a wonderful mix of the fun and light style any fan of Kinsella’s expects and a raw look at how a medical diagnosis can change your life.

Eve is a successful writer at the top of her game. Her latest book, a huge success, is becoming a movie. She, along with her husband and five children are basking in the glow of the spotlight and feel like they are riding a magic carpet through life.

Everything is humming along when Eve wakes one morning in a hospital bed with a bandaged head she cannot explain and a cancer diagnosis she cannot remember. Told from Eve’s perspective, Kinsella easily captures and conveys the physical and emotional rollercoaster of the disease and its effects on all the lives touched by Eve.

Kinsella admits the book is autobiographical exemplifying her courage and talent in sharing her real story,

Wow. So Sophie Kinsella is a formative author for me, I’ve been reading her books since highschool and they are so fun. In light of her medical diagnosis this one hit extremely hard.

This semi-autobiographical novella made me cry. A lot. It’s short but it packs a punch. The callbacks to her earlier work, the way she describes Eve’s pain, memory loss and road to rehabilitation - all of it was so meaningful. She brings the reader right there in her head and I really felt those moments of grief and confusion. This is Kinsella’s most serious work but she still found a place for her charming humor and I’m thankful I got to laugh a little among the tears.

This story was beautifully sad, and I applaud the author for having the strength to write it at the time that she did. Easy five stars.

This novella is very different from her other books and had me in floods of tears. I’m such a fan of Sophie Kinsella, I love her books, but I’m especially glad she wrote this one. I’m sorry she is in the position that she had to, but I’m glad she did—so real, so heartfelt, so genuine, so sweet. I hope she’ gets her happy ending.

I initially requested this book from NetGalley expecting a typical Sophie Kinsella romcom. However, when I discovered it was autobiographical fiction, I paused because I wasn't emotionally prepared for such a personal subject. This book hits too close to home for me; I usually read to escape, and I knew this would be painful.

Despite my initial hesitation, I’m so glad I finished it (actually in one sitting). It is beautifully written, and Kinsella manages to bring humor even to the heavy topic of cancer. Reading it has given me a more positive perspective.

Read this book if you:

- Want a good cry
- Need inspiration during tough times
- Appreciate supportive families

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this copy. And thank you, thank you, thank you, Sophie Kinsella, for sharing your story with us. I feel truly honored to have read it. Hugs from a devoted fan. To everyone reading this who is either suffering or supporting someone who is, our hearts are with you💕

This was a very personal novella by Kinsella. She has Glioastoma and she shares her experiences. My best friend died of this cancer 10 years ago and I still feel pretty raw from it. I sincerely hope she makes it, a cure is found. I enjoyed reading this novella, it was a quick one and am easy read.

For Kinsella's fans who might expect her latest book to be like her others, this novella will surprise but not disappoint. The protagonist is Eve, whom we first encounter when she has a stroke of insight that cures her of her writer's block. She feels extremely lucky when she goes on to become popular and successful as a well-known author with a doting husband and supportive community of friends. Fast forward several years, when she realizes that she is extremely unlucky, diagnosed with a serious cancer that carries a grim prognosis. Following her cancer symptoms and treatment becomes immersive for the reader, thanks to Kinsella's skill at finding a balance of emotion and straightforward narration. This affecting story can be consumed in one sitting but leave a lasting impression.

It was tough to follow at times, given the format but I commend her for sticking with such positivity while going through such a life altering diagnosis AND since it is based on her own life. In her authors note, she mentions she wanted to write something to give others going through the same thing something to relate to; and to have even that positivity from someone that “gets it” can be major.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author + Random House for my DRC. I wish all the best to the author.

Wowowow what a book! So emotional and well written. I couldn't put it down! So glad that I got to read this early. Amazing writing!

Thank you NetGalley and Sophie Kinsella!

This is an autobiographical book about Sophie Kinsella's journey with brain cancer (Glioblastoma), but it is written as a short novel with Eve as the main character.

I lost a good friend to Glioblastoma in 2008. I read this book in memory of her, as a tribute to her.

Ms Kinsella does not pull any punches, she tells it like it is. She inserts dark humour into the story to throw in some balance. How ironic, as balance was one of her issues. I believe that writing this book was a means of coping.

I wish Sophie/Eve sunshine and comfort going forward.

I wish I hadn't read it but I’m glad I did. How contradictory!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

What Does It Feel Like, Sophie Kinsella
I've been reading Sophie Kinsella for over 20 years (author of The Shopaholic series). Her wit and banter in books are laugh-out-loud and funny. However, this new short novel is really not that.
Eve, a young mother of 5 children, is recovering from brain tumor surgery. She's lost most of her short-term memory, can't recall most things, and needs a lot of help with just about everything.
Eve's story is really Sophie Kinsella's story! I had no idea she was sick or had been through quite so much. This book is nothing short of a true example of bravery and helps us all to take a closer look at what's really important in life.
Luckily, I received an early copy of this book. Thank you, Netgalley and Random House!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sophie Kinsella has been a favorite author of mine for many years and reading this story was both heartbreaking and interesting as she chose to fictionalize the events from her own life, likely in hopes of continue to process what she was (and is) going through.

Only Sophie Kinsella could turn a true story about an author getting a devastating cancer diagnosis into a story filled with sadness, grief and anxiety and still make me laugh and smile.

Thank you, Sophie for sharing What Does It Feel Like. I’ve been a reader of yours since the early 2000s and your books have brought so much joy into my life. Thank you for sharing your story through Eve and giving us readers a glimpse in to your own story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, The Dial Press for an advanced copy of this book!

This is the first novel I have read by Sophie Kinsella, and I feel privileged to have gotten such an intimate look at the trials she has endured over the past few years.

This story was written in a series of vignettes about the fictional character Eve's diagnosis and recovery from a brain tumor and cancer. It is in good part autobiographical, as the author noted that her story is Eve's story, just with minor fictional adjustments.

She did a great job painting the picture of a cancer diagnosis with all its shades of despair and hope, and there were some truly beautiful moments throughout this book. It was a quick read, but it was also very impactful.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Eve, an author, has brain surgery because of a tumor. The book opens with Eve awakening after an eight-hour surgery to remove a glioblastoma. The book takes the reader through Eve's recovery. As the story progresses, the reader follows Eve as she recovers. From catheters, walking devices, the reader follows Eve and her family during her healing. Although, a serious subject theory is told with both humor and compasion. My favorite chapter was I Don't Need A Carer. As a brain injury survivor, it was totally relatable. It was both tender and humorous.
This is a story that needs to be read.

See my full review at http://michelleardillo.com/2024/09/10/book-review-what-does-it-feel-like-by-sophie-kinsella/.

Five kids is a lot, but Eve is lucky to have a wonderful husband who shares the work, allowing her the flexibility needed to write. As an award winning novelist Eve often imagines her life is simply too good to be true. Until one day she awakens in the hospital feeling very confused. With Nick at her bedside Eve can barely form the words floating through her mind. Slowly she learns that she has survived an intensive eight hour brain surgery to remove a malignant tumor, stage 4 glioblastoma. As Eve struggles to put her life back together she endures endless hours of therapy relearning basic tasks while her short term memory damage leaves her repeating the same questions over and over. Determined to fully get her life back, Eve remains hopeful, accepting help from her support team of professionals, family and friends. Learning to manage endless physical difficulties while suffering the emotional rollercoaster of cancer, Eve lives honestly and openly, accepting every moment as a blessing. Normally an author of light, fun comedies, this autobiographical fiction is quite different for author Sophie Kinsella, a beautiful soul who remains positive, gracefully sharing the most terrifying story of her life.

For as long as I can remember, Sophie Kinsella has been one of my favorite Authors. When I started getting into reading again as an adult, her Shopaholic series were some of the first books I read. I’ve always enjoyed her writing so much. She has this way of pulling at your heartstrings while making you laugh out loud, that I just adore.

When I found out Sophie was battling Glioblastoma earlier this year, I felt as though my heart broke. I knew that when she announced her new novel, I would have to read it. What Does it Feel Like is Sophie’s autobiographical story told through Eve, a successful Author diagnosed with Stage 4 Glioblastoma, a terminal form of brain cancer.

The story starts where we meet Eve Monroe, who has just written another hugely successful novel that has been made into a motion picture. Eve’s last sense if normalcy is a night of glitz & glamour walking the Red Carpet with her family. Some time later the “After” portion of her story starts and so her cancer journey begins.

This book filled me with so many layers of emotion. Having been there for my Father in Laws cancer journey, I’ve read my fair share of articles, essays, and books on this difficult topic. But nothing truly prepared me for this book. It has to be one of the most honest and brave accounts of what it feels like to have cancer that I’ve ever read. And knowing that this is how one of my most very favorite Authors is feeling, is devastating.

If you have been a longtime Sophie fan, What Does it Feel Like is a must-read for you. Not because it’s a feel-good story, but because it’s Sophie’s story. She was so very brave to put all of her heart and soul into this book, and I feel honored to have read it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and The Dial Press for allowing me to review an ARC of What Does it Feel Like. Wishing Sophie and her beautiful family all my best!

I am a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella. I love all of her books, especially the Shopaholic series. This short autobiographical book was difficult (but important) to read. Five stars.