This book felt more like women’s fiction than romance. This is not a complaint but a change in expectations. Sasha's growth was more central to the plot.
This is a hilarious read that reminded me of when I started feeling burnt out by my old job. The book tried to inspire me to surf, but it didn’t succeed. This is the only time I’ve thought a third-act breakup was appropriate. As cute as the couple is, they need to work on themselves before getting into a relationship with anyone.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for my honest though

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

"The Burnout" is a delightful contemporary romance that captures the anxieties of modern life with humor and heart. Sophie Kinsella introduces Sasha, a relatable protagonist who is feeling burnt out and desperately needs an escape. When her paths cross with Finn, a fellow city dweller seeking solace at the same idyllic beach town, their connection sparks unexpected sparks.

Kinsella masterfully crafts a charming "grumpy sunshine" romance, with Sasha's vibrant energy contrasting perfectly with Finn's more reserved demeanor. The story explores themes of self-discovery, finding balance, and the importance of embracing joy amidst the chaos of everyday life.

"The Burnout" is a lighthearted and entertaining read that will appeal to fans of contemporary romance and anyone seeking a feel-good escape.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #randomhouse #theburnout #sophiekinsella

This book has been on my Netgalley for a bit and I haven’t picked it up. I haven’t been into romance in a minute, so I’m not the right person to review it anymore.

In a world that prioritizes output and progress, The Burnout shares the challenges of constantly trying to achieve. In order to treat her burnout, Sasha finds herself in a small town filled with nostalgia and a great cast of characters. Here Sasha meets Finn who is also looking to cure his burnout, and the two bond while ignoring the spark between them.
With this story, Kinsella was able to balance both Sasha’s character arc with the romance plot perfectly allowing for the true messages behind the story to really shine through. I really enjoyed this read and will definitely be looking forward to other books from this author.

This book started out stronger than it finished. It had good characters and I laughed aloud more than a few times. It was a quick, enjoyable read.

The Burnout is a romance where two people working through their burnout try to escape to the same seaside retreat. When they keep getting in each other's way to find their peace, they get pushed together by notes they keep finding on the beach. Eventually, they realize they have feelings for each other and must decide what to do with it.

The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella is a fun contemporary romance. Kinsella creates a creative fictional heroine in the character of Sasha who is tired of her job and decides she needs a change of scenery. Finn is as stressed as she is and seeks time at the beach that they both visited as kids. I recommend The Burnout to lovers of grumpy and sunshine romances with a little mystery. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I've been a fan of Sophie Kinsella for years and adore her work!

When I read the summary of "The Burnout", I knew I had to read it, not because Sophie wrote it, but because it resonated with me in that moment. If you've ever felt unsatisfied with your career and overwhelmed to take the next step, this is a must-read. I truly felt every page of this story and wished I could transport myself to Sasha's beachside getaway, imperfections and all.

And if I haven't convinenced you yet, just consider the opening scene: a wild chase down the street by scheming nuns!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

There are some books that come around at the right time, making you reevaluate how YOU live your life.

This was the case for me with The Burnout from Sophie Kinsella. Kinsella is an OG for me, so it was a pleasure to read this timely (in many ways) novel.

Highly recommend!

*The Burnout* by Sophie Kinsella is a witty and heartfelt exploration of modern life’s pressures and the importance of self-care. The story follows a woman, Clara, who finds herself on the brink of burnout after juggling a demanding career, family expectations, and personal stress. Kinsella’s trademark humor and relatable characters shine through as Clara navigates the challenges of finding balance and reclaiming her well-being. The novel delves into themes of mental health, self-worth, and the importance of taking a step back. While Kinsella’s lighthearted writing makes it an easy read, *The Burnout* also offers a meaningful message for readers seeking comfort and reflection.

When her mountain of e-mails and work stress become too much to bear, Sasha Worth runs away and tries to join a convent, only to hit a brick wall--literally. The opening of The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella, which tackles a serious subject with humor, sets the tone for this rejuvenating rom-com.

After the wall incident, Sasha takes temporary leave from her job at a tech company. She travels to Rilston Bay, the seaside resort where she vacationed every year with her family as a child, though she hasn't visited in 20 years. She's now going during the off-season, but she'll have the beach to herself to practice the activities she envisions will make her healthier: yoga, meditating, communing with nature. She's shocked, however, to find her beloved resort is now run-down, with sketchy rooms and furniture. Her plans are further disrupted when the rude man she encountered on the train shows up as a guest at the same hotel. The two keep their distance, until they realize they can help each other heal as well as revitalize the resort itself.

Even when exhausted by life, Sasha is a classic Kinsella (My (Not So) Perfect Life; Finding Audrey; I've Got Your Number) protagonist: quirky, kind, and optimistic. Her relationship with Finn, the grumpy fellow hotel guest, refreshingly takes its time to build, allowing Sasha to find her own strength. Together the two rediscover simple joys like surfing, something they both did as children at Rilston. As their former instructor used to say, "you have to enjoy the ride. The ride is it." Kinsella reminds readers of the same when it comes to life.

I enjoyed this one, it had some great laugh out loud moments! As someone who has experienced burnout, I found that it also hit a little too close to home at times. I found that helped me relate to the main character much more and I understood how she got herself into some of the ridiculous situations. I also really enjoyed the rom com side of this and thought the romance was super cute!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Burnout had several laugh out loud moments. I throughly enjoyed this read and I do believe Finn is my new boyfriend. I loved how he helped Sasha through her burnout and how she brought out his caring loving goodtime self. The ending was very heart felt and I might’ve tested up a little bit. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

The Burnout

by Sophie Kinsella

Sasha is the Director of Special Promotions for Zoose, an app for a travel company. It was her dream job for several years—until it wasn’t. It happened gradually as the creative founder stopped being hands on, delegated a lot of authority to his brother, and the management became top-heavy. Several people quit her department in disgust and were not replaced increasing Sasha’s work load. Sasha’s complaints went unanswered. Her burnout was not pretty, and she ended up with her doctor signing off on a a three week leave. Sophia departs London for the Rilston Hotel on the beach in February. It’s cold and out of season there, and the hotel has gone downhill from the posh remembrances of her childhood, but at least she is separated from an endless parade of emails from all over the world and nonsense from the company’s “empowerment and well-being officer.”

There is a lot of humor as her mother pretends to be her very demanding PA and insists via morning telephone calls to the hotel that the staff provide Sasha with certain items that will help her on her “wellness journey” including kale smoothies and noni juice both of which are disgusting when they finally locate them for her. Her seaside room has boarded up windows, but she can spend her days in a decrepit beachside cottage that is destined to be torn down. The characters working at the lodge are just that—characters. They try so hard to please, but are very quirky. Sasha is too nice to complain or explain that she really would prefer to have crisps and a choc bar.

Sasha is not looking for romance which is good because one of the few guests is Finn, a man who also has burnout. They start not wanting to be anywhere near each other, but then discover that they both were surfing students of Terry back in the day. Everyone loved Terry who was part excellent surfing instructor and part philosopher.

The plot in The Burnout develops nicely with a growing friendship and false starts at a relationship. The pair collaborate to determine who is leaving mysterious messages in the sand. They meet up with their hero Terry again, and they find themselves a part of the small community of the town where everyone knows their business. I enjoyed the eccentric characters and felt like I was joining in on their celebration of Terry. Everyone had “Terry quotes” memorized which related to both surfing and life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Women’s Fiction, Romance

Notes: Some inappropriate language and sexual references in regard to sexual organs and libido, but no open door scenes.

Publication: October 10, 2023—Random House (Dial Press)

Memorable Lines:

Finn feels safe and trustworthy. And most important, he gets it. He knows how I feel. Just to meet someone who’s been through something similar is such a relief.

Infinite waves. Infinite chances. You can’t dwell or think about what might have been. There’s always another wave. Although you have to be looking the right way to see it.

It seems most art experts are happy to spout on endlessly about their own opinion, So my method is: Let them do that while I get on with drinking the free champagne. And when they pause, say, Stunning, isn’t it?

This is a cute read. A little on the long side but I was invested enough in the characters and story to complete it. Had some lol funny parts.

This book started out fairly well for me, but quickly became hard to finish. Sasha is too old to be as whiny as she is in this book and she lets herself be bullied without standing up for herself. While I felt that the workplace burnout was very relatable, it just got too hard to deal with and took me months to finish after picking it up and putting it down multiple times. This book may be good to others and I hope that those who like it appreciate it, but it was personally not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Great Chick Lit. Sophie Kinsella developed an intriguing character many women can relate to being overworked, burn out and finding their rebound in life. Love the focus on self-care.

The book starts out strong. I giggled from the silliness of it all, and the crazy situation the MC got herself into
.
After a while though, the silliness just got silly and it wasn't funny anymore.

I ended up finishing it but it was very just meh for me

I love Sophie Kinsella novels and this one did not disappoint! I loved the addressing of work burnout, because it is REAL. This had some LOL moments and definitely a rom com. I loved the coastal setting and I loved the meet cute of Sasha and Finn. The story did feel a little long, but it didn't hinder my feelings.

I adored this story about the main character, Sasha, taking time away because she's burnt out. She goes to a seaside resort (with less than perfect conditions) and has many adventures while she's there. This book was heartwarming, and made my want to take a weekend (or 3 weeks) at the sea.