I'm so used to Sophie Kinsella making me laugh with her always hilarious romcoms that I was not prepared for how hard hitting her personal and emotional story would be. It was a hard read because it's so raw and vulnerable at times, but at the same time, it was just so incredibly moving and uplifting, and yes, it still has Kinsella's signature humor shining through.

This was a tough read and even more difficult to review without spoiling the story. Let me say that descriptions that come to mind are confusing, seemingly disjointed, shocking, and incredibly romantic. That's all I can say besides this book was worth the effort and you will feel better for having read it. Truly one of the best books that I have read this year!

What Does It Feel Like? is a short, but poignant book written by Sophie Kinsella regarding her experience with cancer. I’m really grateful for this book and the profound perspective it offers the world.

What Does It Feel Like? is an absolutely beautiful gut-punch of a story. So much is packed into its 144 pages- and then to find out it’s based on the author’s own story? I was so moved by this tale, and hope that Sophie Kinsella can provide us with much more of her beautiful writing in the years to come.

Thank you Sophie Kinsella, The Dial Press, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sophie Kinsella’s latest autobiographical work is a deeply moving and unexpectedly uplifting journey through her personal battle with terminal illness. Written with the same humor and positivity that have always defined her novels, Kinsella’s account of surviving stage 4 glioblastoma and undergoing brain surgery is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Despite the severity of her diagnosis and the challenges she faced, including short-term amnesia and relearning basic skills like speaking and walking, Kinsella maintains her signature light-hearted tone throughout. Her ability to find humor in the darkest moments—such as her hilarious response to a doctor's question about the president—demonstrates her remarkable resilience and sharp wit.

What makes this book so special is the balance Kinsella strikes between raw vulnerability and uplifting optimism. She shares deeply personal experiences, such as family gatherings and tender moments with her husband, with an openness that resonates with readers. Rather than focusing on the sadness of her journey, Kinsella infuses her writing with a sense of hope, humor, and gratitude that makes the story feel empowering. Though the book addresses difficult topics, including chemotherapy and the emotional toll of her illness, Kinsella’s courage and humor shine through, offering readers not just a glimpse into her life but a message of strength and perseverance. This memoir is a testament to her enduring spirit and a reminder of the power of humor and positivity, even in the most challenging times.

What Does It Feel Like? is a fictional short story based on the author's real life brain cancer diagnosis. It's both heartbreaking and inspiring I applaud the author for her bravery in sharing this deeply personal story.

this was a lovely book but I wasn't sure what I was getting into with it but very emotional for the author to write I'm sure.

I feel like giving this book any type of rating would be unfair because it's so deeply personal to where Kinsella is in her life right now. I've been such a huge fan of her writing for years and was so sad for her when she initially announced her diagnosis. <i>What Does it Feel Like</i> is a fictional retelling of Kinsella's brain cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment. The novella is so moving, and I really just wish her and her family all the best as she deals with her treatment.

This is a short, sweet, and moving novella from the author of the beloved Shopaholic series and last year’s The Burnout. This is also a deeply personal one. In 2022, Sophie Kinsella was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. While this is a work of fiction, she has said that this is her most autobiographical work to date. While this was heart wrenching at times, it is also full of her signature humor and hope.

4⭐️

A poignant, funny, and heartbreaking short story based upon the author's real-life experiences. I enjoyed the writing style that dropped the reader right into the ways Eve is processing her diagnosis. This wonderful and brave book will stay with me.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.

This is nothing like any other Sophie Kinsella that I have read. It is a novella loosely based on the real-life experiences of Sophia Kinsella, herself. I had absolutely no clue that this was something that Sophie went through and it was raw and emotional and incredible to immerse myself in. We follow a best selling author and her family through the good and the bad. She has an incredibly successful book and is living the life in "Before" and we are struggling through the "After" with her recovery from an unexpected medical issue. This was emotional, heartbreaking, and a wonderful way for Sophie Kinsella to share her story with her readers.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, The dial Press and Sophie Kinsella for the eARC of What Does It Feel Like? in exchange for an honest review. Publication date for What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella was 08 October 2024.

Loved this book! I was heart broken knowing what the author had gone through in her life. Hoping she will be able to write many more books. Sophia has always been my favorite author.

✨ Publication date: October 8, 2024✨

What does it feel like? Is the latest from author Sophie Kinsella. If you’ve read her books, you know what to expect…..a delightful rom-com with a happily ever after. This is not what I expected.

This is a novella loosely based on the authors own experience. I had no idea that Sophie Kinsella went through this journey and encourage you all to read about it.

As we follow a fictional author and her family through immense success and a medical journey she was never expected to survive.

This is an incredibly heartbreaking and inspiring recount in a fictionalized way. The author used her platform to share her experiences and hopefully help others in the future.

This is a 4 star read for me! I enjoyed the book and it was definitely an emotional read.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #sophiekinsella #whatdoesitfeellike

A beautiful novella that is heart-wrenching and moving. A fictional account of her own experience being diagnosed with brain cancer, Sophie Kinsella deftly unpacks the experience of facing a devastating diagnosis through the eyes of successful novelist Eve, as we follow the mom of five through her surgeries and treatment. The structure is incredibly well-laid out, dropping readers right into the experience—from how her loved ones rally around her to how the cancer upends her entire life—from her short-term memory loss forcing her to relearn her diagnosis over and over again to trying to give her family young children a semblance of normalcy amid a heartbreaking prognosis. I was gutted to hear about Sophie's diagnosis and she has truly channeled it into a compelling, must-read.

This is a difficult book to review, as it’s such a personal one for the author. Sophie Kinsella has essentially written a fictionalized version of her own story. In “What Does It Feel Like?” Eve is a successful writer, happily married with children, when she is diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. This disease is a terrible one. It took my own mother as well as a good friend. So it took a bit of courage for me to even open the book. But I’m glad I did. Somehow Kinsella manages to keep an upbeat tone throughout. Her descriptions of her amnesia, her efforts at relearning how to walk, and so forth were heartbreaking but again, somehow Kinsella made it all bearable to read about.

Thank you to The Dial Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Raw and real, the struggle and holding pattern people experience when going through health issues. I appreciated kinsella’s honesty and upbeat perspective through your fictional but mostly autobiographical character. Very brave book! I hope the story remains upbeat and she gets her happy ending!

As an occupational therapist, I could gain some
Patient perspective on our roles in people’s recovery and healing. Thank you for sharing

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Sophie kinsella for the ARC copy for my honest review. 4.25 stars, and a worthwhile read!

This novella was absolutely heartbreaking but also full of hope. I was feeling ALL the feelings while reading this and cried several times. You could feel the rawness of this story and I think that the author’s choice of writing style was perfect for this type of story. It really put things into perspective for me and left me with a renewed dedication to live life to the fullest.
I would recommend this quick but important read to anyone.

A heartbreaking and hopeful story that takes place in two parts. The first part is brief: an author at the height of her career. Her personal and professional lives are thriving. In part two, she wakes up in the hospital with no memory of how she got there. Many years have past and her memory is not only foggy, but she has clearly suffered something traumatic. This short read is a beautiful examination of love, family, and hope.

I requested this book blindly because Sophie Kinsella has created fun work that I’ve enjoyed over the decades. This one was different- a fictionalized story of Kinsella’s glioblastoma battle. It’s raw, sad, and a gut punch that really hits home. Thank you for sharing such a personal story with us, Ms. Kinsella. Like you said, I hope we ALL have that happy ending. 4 stars ⭐️. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy for review.

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite authors, and this novella holds a deeply personal and emotional story. It’s a fictionalized account of her own journey after being diagnosed with brain cancer—a brave and heartbreaking reflection on her experiences.

The story follows Eve, a successful novelist (a stand-in for Sophie herself), as she undergoes surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor and navigates the emotional and physical challenges that come with it.

Though it’s a quick read, it’s packed with emotion. I felt so much for Eve throughout her journey—it’s raw, poignant, and beautifully told.

I deeply admire Sophie Kinsella for sharing such a vulnerable story, and I send my heartfelt wishes to her and her family. Knowing that her condition is now stable brings so much relief, and I’m grateful she felt strong enough to share this part of her life with her readers.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review.