This is a lovely, thoughtful, heart tugging novella.

Sophie Kinsella’s What Does it Feel Like, a fictional account of her own struggle with brain cancer, centers on Eve Monroe a successful author that one day wakes up in the hospital to learn that she has glioblastoma, a malignant, cancerous tumor with a median life expectancy of fourteen months post diagnosis. She has no idea what has happened to her, what symptoms she’s shown, no memory of being in the hospital or the eight hour surgery to remove the tumor. She has to learn how to walk and talk again and continually struggles with basic tasks and her short term memory. Above all else she and her family have to adjust to this new reality: how your whole world changes when faced with a serious health condition.

I really enjoyed What Does it Feel Like? Kinsella’s book is an honest, unflinching portrait of a woman diagnosed with a terminal illness as she struggles with diagnosis, grief and acceptance and yet it is filled with such joy.

I love that Eve (and one can look at Kinsella’s social media and posit the same goes for the author herself) has been able to infuse moments of silliness and light in between the gravity of grappling with serious illness. As some who live with multiple chronic illnesses herself, I understand the wisdom and necessity in this choice. Through the use of texts, emails from friends and a series of articles Eve writes to her readers, Sophie Kinsella communicates the minutiae of being sick and infuses it with humor and grace. I recommend this quick read wholeheartedly.

I received this free advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

I requested this book based on the author, but didn't read the synopsis. I was surprised to see a semi-autobiographical story about her recent cancer diagnosis. It was full of Kinsella's usual charm, but the fear she must have felt was also woven through. If you have a loved one dealing with cancer, maybe skip it, but it was a lovely book that let me imagine how my loved ones might have felt during their battles.

Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite authors and i read everything she writes. This book was a glimpse into what she has been dealing with. The only downside to this book, was it was too short. I wanted more!!! I hope she improves and continues to write more books.

Sophie Kinsella is a successful writer of novels, and even though What Does it Feel Like is a novel, it mirrors Sophie's real-life experiences two years ago through a devastating and challenging diagnosis of glioblastoma brain cancer and subsequent surgery and therapy. The character in the novel, Eve, also undergoes chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and struggles to adapt to her major life changes. Reading about Eve is heartbreaking and sad, but her fighting spirit gives the reader hope as she deals with her five children and a husband who is very supportive of her. This autobiographic novel allowed Kinsella a chance to tell her story in an honest manner with her optimism and challenges while facing a serious diagnosis. It is raw, but positive and inspires hope and recovery for the future.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy for a review.

A terrific title for a complex prognosis that would surely accompany a complex variety of answers .
Sophie Kinsella is a go-to author for lovely, slap-sticky , unputdownable , happy-ending novels. This semi-autobiographic novella is more serious by shear subject matter but the writing is undeniably Sophie. She beautifully manages to weave in dry and kind of dark humor into a humorless health crisis as a coping mechanism.
Kinsella, a fairly private yet well-known author, opens up to her readers through her love and her amazing ability to put thought and feeling into print. She writes about her diagnosis of stage 4 glioblastoma, an incurable - cancerous brain tumor. Sophie chose to change the names of herself and her family members in order to give herself the freedom she felt she attained by writing from a fictional character's point of view. What does it feel like, a perfect question for anyone who is / has experienced a traumatic health crisis ; whether themselves, a family member or close friend. The answers would probably be as varied as the people being asked..
If honest, I have a hunch most of us with no experience which such a life situation would truly want to understand what that type of ordeal feels like, from a place of compassion. Kinsella allows the reader to understand a sliver of what it feels like.
Big hugs and prayers to Sophie & fam. KEEP ON GOING!
Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I am in awe and so deeply moved by this story and how brave and graceful Sophie Kinsella is in telling it. This is a fictionalized novella of Sophie's own experience being diagnosed with a very aggressive and particularly scary form of brain cancer. I was sobbing one minute and giggling with tears in my eyes the next. I want to thank Sophie for sharing her story with us especially in such a gorgeous and hopefully way. This book was SO real and raw and heartbreaking, but it was infused with so much warmth and optimism and joy and pure love. I don't know how it's possible to write so beautifully about something so difficult and painful especially when she's in the midst of dealing with it. Like I said, I am in awe. Sophie Kinsella will forever be my favorite author and I hope and pray that the world will get many many many more new books from her for years to come.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a “fictionalized” autobiographical novella. Ms. Kinsella tells her story with some fiction thrown in. The book flows quickly and easily. The author is known for her Shopaholic books and ties it to the protagonist in this book. The center of the book is before and after she is diagnosed with a brain tumor, which Ms. Kinsella is still battling in her life. The book shares what life is like when everything is going great and when a turning point occurs with a life-shattering diagnosis. The impact to herself and to each member of the family. Be ready for some challenging insights.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Thanks to the publisher, The Dial Press, An Imprint of Random House, and the author for the privilege to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was so different than Sophie Kinsellas other books, obviously. As heartbreaking as the story is, I couldn’t put it down. Being able to read the POV of someone with a brain tumor seems like a rare insight and I’m so glad she wrote this story.

Sad and beautiful novella from Sophie Kinsella. I've read every one of her books, whether in the pen name or Madeline Wickham. I was so floored when I heard about her brain tumor. How brave of her to give us this fictionalized window into her experience. Cancer is a universal truth. We all deal with it personally or in our family. I appreciated the humor in the honesty of this novella. I know it can help people feel less alone. I can definitely recommend it as a therapist. No one knows how to grieve, and we often do so before the main event. I am grateful to have read this book.

Thanks to Dial Press and Net Galley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. 4.5 stars

Sophie Kinsella has been one of my favorite authors since I was young and I was devastated to learn of her diagnosis. As a Medical Social Worker who worked with patients in Rehab following surgeries, wow, this brought me right back to working with patients like Eve/Sophie. The fact that she wrote something so raw and real is beautiful.

This was an incredibly quick, heart wrenching story. I appreciate the author’s vulnerability in sharing a piece of her life with the world in this way..

SYNOPSIS
- Eve is a successful writer with a husband & five kids.
- One day, she finds herself recovering from brain surgery & a cancer diagnosis.

MY THOUGHTS
- Very short read.
- Well written.
- Fictionalized version of the author’s actual battle with glioblastoma. Heart-wrenching & could really feel her feelings as she navigated various emotions & stages of her journey.
- Devastating mixed with humor and hope.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️⭐️very short but moving book + fictionalized version of the author’s actual battle with glioblastoma.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group | The Dial Press and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchanges for an honest review. This book will be published on October 8, 2024.

I often don’t read the synopsis of books from authors I love. This was the case for this book and I didn’t realize it would break my heart and destroy me. This is a very short little book but so incredibly impactful. I applaud Sophie for writing about something so deeply personal. It was incredibly sad but extremely enlightening read about cancer. Knowing it is fictional but based on true events in her life is heartbreaking.

Eve has it all. A great husband, family, and career. She wakes up and can't remember how she ended up in the hospital. The book is a gut wrenching read. I laughed and cried my way through it. The family struggles are true to life in dealing with a terminal diagnosis. One of my favorite books this year. Faith and love are a powerful thing

I didn’t read much about this before starting it. I have read every Sophie Kinsella and Madeleine Wickham novel. Therefore I got a gut punch when I realized this was sort of autobiographical and it was heart breaking. I am so happy that she is still with us and still writing such witty dialogue, and so very British. The husband should be winning awards for being the best man ever and I really hope the character (Nick) takes after her husband.
This was a short read, and obviously slightly different from her previous novels. Yet, the humor, the optimism and the realism are still very much in the vein of Sophie Kinsella.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Ive read most of Kinsella's books and have admired her humor and thoughtful ease in relationships. This book was breathtaking and allowed me to know Kinsella better. The book is heartbreaking, sweet, and still filled with lightness. This is a tough book to review but I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to know kinsella better.

It's been years since I last picked up a Sophie Kinsella novel. I'm very glad to have had the opportunity to read an advance copy of What Does It Feel Like?. This is a short (read in one sitting) novel, both heart-wrenching and full of hope. TW: cancer.

Post-read: Beautifully painful. Painfully beautiful. All I can say is thank you for allowing everyone the opportunity to see you.

Pre read: reading the description for this book gives me chills. My heart has been out to Sophie Kinsella ever since I saw she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma. Cannot wait to read this.

Sophie Kinsella always knows how to write the most darling books!! I just absolutely melted with this book. The story was beautiful! Well done!

There was a lot packed into this little book, and I thought it was so heartfelt and beautifully written. I appreciate the humor in the story, and that it was written with such honesty, and also hope.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early chance to read and review.