I can trace my love of Sophie Kinsella all the way back to my high school days. I remember loving her Confessions of a Shopaholic series and her other previous works. I have always found her books uplifting, hilarious, and a good time. So when I saw what this was about, I was intrigued. Not her usual type of book but why not? This is a short read but man does it pack an emotional gut punch. I found myself tearing up towards then end of the short novel. I found it so moving, so real, so terrifying. Then the author’s note at the end truly wrecked me. 5⭐️

This book broke my heart. For so long, Sophie Kinsella has been one of my favorite authors. Several times, I ended up in tears and needed to take a break. What an awful experience.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was so surprising. I did not know it was autobiographical when I first requested, but this story took my breath away. Reading about healing from a brain tumor in the first person was unique and completely eye-opening. My only complaint was that it was too short. I think this book would be so helpful to someone going through something similar!

Thank you again for the ARC!

An open and honest journey through a life with cancer. What does it feel like? isn't your normal Sophia Kinsella novel. But you will find Kinsella's genuine voice in her autobiography-turned-fiction story.

Imagine waking up in the hospital without knowing how you got there - only to find your world turned upside down. A seemingly ideal life, flipped around and now just taking things day by day, breathe by breathe.

Inspirational and at times hard to read, but worth every word.

When Sophie Kinsella sent out a newsletter about her cancer journey, I was devastated for her. Being a cancer survivor myself, I know how hard the entire process can be. When I saw that she had written a novella about her story, I requested an ARC right away.

What Does It Feel Like by Sophie Kinsella is about Eve and her diagnosis of a malignant brain tumor. This short novella follows a format different from Sophie’s usual books and is written in short vignettes.

I very much enjoyed this quick read and sincerely wish it was longer. I am happy to see Sophie Kinsella is doing well after her cancer journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC. And a huge thank you to Sophie Kinsella for sharing your very personal story with us.

This short book is a stunner. Grab a box of tissues and pick up a copy! While Sophie Kinsella is known for her Confessions of a Shopaholic series and other romcoms with happily ever afters, this book is a beautiful and tragic deviation. She has promo’ed this as largely autobiographical (and even details that in the afterward author’s note), which makes it even more powerful and stinging. In this book author Eve finds a great dress, has a loving family and attends a premiere before her world comes crashing down and she wakes up in the hospital with essentially no short term memory and a bandage on her head. Her loving husband Nick tells her anew everyday that she just had a glioblastoma resected, and she goes through the grief of this diagnosis while physically recovering in anticipation of returning home to her five children. While this sobering book brought me to tears, it also gave me hope. The love story between husband and wife is so pure and true- I just loved it. I read this ebook as an ARC from NetGalley and may also revisit it when the audiobook is released. I’ve already talked about the impact of this book with others and it will stay with me for a long time.

Verrrrrry different from all the other books I have read. The others were all Rom-Com, cute beach reads. This starts off like that, but then... what?

Picture a mom of five who is an author. Hubby actually takes them all out for the day so she can write. I know, we are all thinking right....... like that would happen to us in similar situations. sound of snorting laughter here. Of course the silence is too much and she decides to go to the coffee shop, but on the way a dress calls to her from a store window. Once she sees it, she knows she has to have it and she will figure out where to wear it later.

Everything after this is spoiler alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Newsflash! The story she had been carrying around in her head flew out and a brand new idea flew in! It worked! Sold millions and made into a movie and she gets to wear the dress!

Next thing we know, she is waking up in a hospital bed with no clue as to why she is there. She feels her head wrapped in gauze and learns she had a brain tumor removed. She has intermittent memory issues during the recovery from the surgery and then from the radiation and chemo treatments. Does it work? Read it and see.

Given the heavy subject matter, I still say thank you NetGalley for and advance reader copy. Honest opinions expressed here are my own and are freely given..

I was attracted by this book because it was from Sophie Kinsella. I had no idea what she has been through this last two years... It's very well written. I know a little bit about waking up in a hospital and it resonated deeply with me. It resonates also because more and more people are living with stage 4 cancer not knowing when it will kill them and wondering if they are gonna be above or under the average prognostic. So it's a sad book but a beautiful testimonial and reminder that we only have the present moment.

I adored this book/novella. It felt so honest and raw, and as a fellow cancer survivor/fighter I really identified with a lot of this book. It was so brave of Sophie Kinsella to write something so autobiographical and I think anyone who reads this book is a better human being for it. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I have no words that can adequately describe my feelings. That she put her story out there in the form of a fictional character was mind-blowing and beautiful. To go from having no idea what Sophie was going through, to reading this completely vulnerable book was such an honor. I can't wait for others to dive in and get lost in this sweet and powerful novella.

Sophie, your strength is so evident and awe-inspiring. I'm so grateful that you are not only thriving, but that you bravely put this out into the world. This sweet glimpse into your life is one that I will remember always.

Thank you also, to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC of this beautiful story.

I was in grade eight the first time I picked up a @sophiekinsellawriter book. It was The Undomestic Goddess and I remember getting in a tiny bit of trouble for laughing out loud when I was reading it in science class. She has been a favourite of mine ever since. This is the second book of hers I have been able to review. To say it’s both an honour and a privilege is an understatement.
This is a fictionalized autobiographical piece, about a best selling author who’s life is forever altered by incurable brain cancer. This is the story of her recovery from surgery, her connections with her husband and children, and facing her diagnosis. This book is unlike any of her other works and unlike any other book I have read. She has laid her heart and her life out for her readers. October 8 2024 this one will be available for purchase. An immense thank you to @thedialpress and @netgalley for letting me review #whatdoesitfeellike
#bookstagram #bookreview #booklover #bookworm #sophiekinsella #cancersucks👎 #bookrecommendations #readforlife #reader #readersofinstagram #reading #readersofig #readersofinsta #readmorebooks #booksthatmatter #booklovers #bookcommunity #bookblogger

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. What Does It Feel Like by Sophie Kinsella. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this advanced reader copy. This very short novel brings us on the emotional journey of a super successful young author and mother of five as she grapples with a horrible diagnosis. Eve goes from walking the red carpet at a movie premiere to awakening in the hospital with an unreliable memory and bandages wrapped around her head. Her loving husband stays with her constantly and slowly Eve embraces her new normal. Life has slowed down a lot, and maybe that in itself is a gift. Apparently, Sophie Kinsella (author of the Shopaholic series) herself had a tough health battle and this book is semi-autobiographical. Quick read! Thumbs up! #books #bookstagram #reading #sophiekinsella #whatiread #bookgram #netgalley #shopaholic #bookworm #goodreads #libbyapp #whatsinyourbeachbag

The reason I initially became interested in the book was because I am a major fan of Sophie Kinsella. I've read a lot of her books, and unlike the others, this one is not your normal romantic comedy.

Through the fictional character of Eve and her journey with cancer, Sophie writes this book in a way that is somewhat autobiographical. I find the idea of writing a fictional autobiography fascinating, and I was moved by the author's own upbeat and uplifting view on life. This provided the author with a comfortable means of telling her narrative to the public.

Due to Kinsella's firsthand experience with glioblastoma surgery, the information in this short story is extremely insightful. There are a lot of depressing and happy moments in this novel. This book has parts that will make you want to laugh out loud and others that will make you want to wipe tears from your eyes.

This was a brief yet strong book that is well worth reading, especially for Sophie fans.

Welp. I cried the entire time. But it was beautiful and I'm glad I read it. I can't imagine the bravery it took to write this.

This was a beautiful novella. I've read all of Sophie Kinsella's books - she's the one author who's an auto-buy for me. I was very saddened to hear about her cancer diagnosis. I really appreciated learning Eve/Sophie's story and gaining insight as to what life has been like for her, both before and after the diagnosis, and all of the complex feelings that go along with it. It was an honor to be able to read this story.

I was not aware prior to reading the author’s note that the story was about Sophie. This was such a touching story on the steps and struggles one goes through when battling cancer.

An absolute must-read for everyone who has ever read and loved a book by Sophie Kinsella. Apparently it is based on the author's real life experience of having a brain tumor, then going through the long and difficult process of rehabilitation (learning to talk and walk again, for example) and facing what is almost certainly a grim future prognosis. All that makes it sound like a dark and sad book, but it's not -- it is full of humor, uplifting, engaging and inspiring. Sophie Kinsella will please her loyal readers, and with this heartfelt, honest book, she will surely gain many, many more.

What does it feel like? is a short story, based on Sophie Kinsella's own life, who was recently diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of agressive brain cancer.

This is unlike any of her Shopaholic series, as it's tightly based on her own experiences, but in this case the main character Eve writes novels called Big Spender, also has five kids and a loving husband, and is fighting for her life in every sense of the word.

A short, but sweet novel about life and living as if literally, everyday is your last. Do wish it was a bit longer, but the point gets across.

Knowing what the author has gone through in the past few years, makes this book very real and special. I loved the quick views into her life. I was confused at some parts and then realized this is what it is/was like for her. I wish her well and hope she gets everything she dreams of.

This book is very different from her other novels and I really enjoyed reading because it gave readers a glimpse into what her life has been like since Kinsella’s cancer diagnosis. This autobiographical novella does have names and some events changed to make it more fictionalized. It was clear while reading that it was still a deeply personal story. The chapters were creative snippets of what life looks like dealing with cancer which made the book more beautiful, heartbreaking, humorous and raw. For example, one chapter is all the kind emails Eve receives from friends while another is a one-sided conservation about how she doesn’t need a carer. This was a touching book and there were many moments while reading that I teared up. Kinsella stills manages even with a heavy topic to write with her trademark humor and heart. I hope to read more books from her in the future.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for ARC!