This was my first book by Kinsella and I liked it. Sasha is experiencing some serious burnout at her job in marketing. There aren't enough staff and the higher ups don't really seem to care. One day she leaves the office and decides maybe she will be a nun...after being chased down by a co-worker (who had previously scolded her for not participating in the health and wellness parts of the job) she runs into a pole. This is when she decides she need a break.

Thankfully her mom is more than willing to help and decides to book her an extended vacation at Rilston, a place she used to spend time at before her father passed away.. She remembers it in all its glory and is looking forward to a view of the sea. Unfortunately, the hotel is run down and her rooms view is boarded up. In turn she is offered use of one of the Villas - buildings located right on the beach where years ago only the wealthy stayed. She thinks, 'how bad can it be'? That is until she runs into the crabby man that she encountered on the train - Finn. He seems as stressed out as she is, and they are only 2 of 4 guests staying here...this could make for a really long and unrelaxing stay.

This was an enjoyable read and I did enjoy how Finn and Sasha's relationship unfolded. It was a little slow moving at times though and rushed at others. Still, an overall good read and I will continue to read more by this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

What a fun book! Sophie Kinsella does it again with this heartwarming read!

Between work and life, Sasha is burntout! She escapes to a small seaside town from her childhood. At the resort she is staying at, she meets Finn, the surfer who is burnt out too.

I loved reading her journey to finding balance in a stressed out life. I loved the chemistry between Sasha and Finn and loved that they understood what the other one was going through. The side characters were great as well! This book was equal parts charming and hilarious! I love Sophie’s books and can’t wait to read what she writes next!!


📘: The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella
🗓️: October 10, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Kinsella, and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC!

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

*Reviewed on NetGalley and Goodreads.

This took me soooo long to read. I really liked the first part and found Sasha relatable and funny. But then it got silly and I found it boring. I didn't really love either character and the whole thing with Finn and his "twist" made no sense to me at all. I also couldn't fall in love with Terry and didn't get the scandal with him and the kayak.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a perfectly enjoyable romp of a book. I don't think it had anything particularly insightful to say about burnout or work culture, but it was a pleasant way to spend a rainy afternoon.

The side characters who work at the inn were super annoying at first and only got marginally better as the book went on. I wouldn't suggest seeking this out but if the opportunity presents itself, then go for it.

The premise of this book is that Sasha is at the end of her rope, and her doctor gives her a leave of absence from her job. What might be left out, is that she ran into a nunnery and tried to join the convent, and when her HR manager came looking for her, she ran away, down the street, straight into a brick wall.

Her mother books her a holiday at a resort they used to go to on the coast of Devon, in the middle of February, because they both had fond memories of the place, when they used to go there every year, in the summer.

Finn has also gotten burned out at work, and is sent away. He too has fond memories of the place, and brings his surf board, despite it being the middle of winter.

And the hotel has fallen into disrepair.

This is a fun book, because we all know about being burnt out and under appreciated at work. And being out on the beach in the winter is a whole nother kind of vibe. And while this is labled a romance, it is not hot and heavy in that department. It is more romcom light. And the hotel staff is like a Marx Brother’s movie.

Fun to read, and satisfying ending.

This book came out in October of 2023, and is probably available everywhere. Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

I wanted to like this book, but I found that it was very all over the place. Part self-improvement, part romance, part mystery (for some reason), I think it was just trying to do too much. The final conflict was a little weird for me, with Finn's girlfriend kind of being the problem but kind of not? I just found that it wasn't entirely cohesive.

The setting was fun, and I think that Kinsella painted a great picture of the beach town during the off season, and the two main characters definitely had chemistry, but I just found that too much was going on and there wasn't enough cohesion.

2.75 stars rounded up

Sophie Kinsella sets you in an idyllic costal small town that you can imagine spending your summers in as a child. Her explanations allow you to feel the waves and she tells her story. Burnout is a real this and the way that Sasha and Finn tell their stories and lean on one another reminds you that there are people around you that WANT to support you, WANT to see you do well and WANT you in their life. The way that Sophie sneaks in the past without changing the view point was amazing, as it didn’t cause the reader to have to remember 2 separate storylines. The Rilston Hotel and the employees should be featured on a new show, with the antics they portray throughout the book. I want to get a wet suit, rent a surf board and “go get it” with Terry.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

Friends to lovers, quirky beach town, grumpy x sunshine, closed door romance.

When Sasha is suffering from severe burnout and heads to the seaside to the beach town she visited as a child she finds grumpy Finn in a very similar situation to her own. Together they navigate finding their passions & happiness again at a quirky little hotel that really kept surprisingly them as well as myself.

This was such a sweet story of not only finding love, but finding yourself and finding your center when you've neglected yourself for far too long. Burnout is so easy to ignore and being able to set boundaries and ground yourself is so key. I really did love this one.

I absolutely adore all of Sophie Kinsella's romance novels and can't wait to read what comes next.

Thank you to Netgalley & Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I've been obsessed with Sophie Kinsella since her Shopaholic days, and she just. keeps. getting. better!

In The Burnout, Sasha hits a wall. "Urgent" emails pile up and work-life balance is non-existent. When her attempt at running away to join a nunnery ends in failure, she decides to go back to one of the places that made her truly happy as a child— Rilston Bay. If you've ever returned to a place from childhood, you know it's never quite what you expect. And in a Sophie Kinsella novel, it's even wilder than you can imagine. 

While there, she meets grumpy, mysterious Finn, who always seems to be exactly where Sasha wants to be. The two embark on parallel healing journeys and a quest to rediscover their zest for life. Will they find their way to love as they reconnect with their inner selves? 

As usual, the characters are zany, loveable, and evoke many laughs (and maybe an emotional tear or two) throughout the book.

I think we can all admit that to some degree we have all felt pulled in a million different directions, overwhelmed, and exhausted from time to time. Well, if anyone can take a trying time and turn it into an entertaining read, it’s Sophie Kinsella.

Sasha Worth was definitely at the end of her rope. She was overworked, unfulfilled, and not living her life to the fullest. Unfortunately, this seems to be an all-too-common problem in today’s society, or at least we hear about it more often. Well, Sophie Kinsella took this issue and turned it into a captivating, lighthearted reading experience that was filled with a likable, eccentric cast of characters.

When Sasha finally came to the conclusion that something had to change in her life, well, she snapped. Yes, I found myself laughing during her struggle, but in my defense, I am certain that that was the intention. When she agrees to take a leave of absence from work to focus on herself, she goes back to Rilston Bay, a holiday destination that held some of her most treasured memories. Rest, relaxation, and the beach, what could be better than that.

Perhaps things had changed in Rilston Bay since her childhood, but she was there to unwind and be healthy, and the staff at the Rilston Bay Hotel were there to provide that very experience for her. Mmhmm. I adored the staff at the Rilston Bay Hotel. Their scenes ended up being some of my favorite moments spent within the pages of this book. There was also another guest staying there who didn’t exactly keep Sasha in a calm, cool, and collected manner, but for a reader, this was just the right amount of push and pull that added to the story.

The Burnout had everything that I have come to expect from a book by Sophie Kinsella. It was filled with plenty of heart, humor, wonderful characters, and a dash of romance. This was another enjoyable read from one of my favorite authors.

*4.5 Stars

Unfortunately my experience with this book sort of matched the title. I was hooked at first, laughing along with Sophie Kinsella’s trademark humor and ridiculous situations. As the book went on though, I started slogging through it and finding less to love.

The unique cast of characters were certainly intriguing, but I didn't fall in love with the main character as much as I have with other Sophie Kinsella novels.

Very cute, fun story about two people, Sasha and Finn, who meet during an enforced holiday after working themselves to a burnout. Lots of will they or won’t they, laced with a light mystery throughout the story. Funny, engaging easy read with memorable characters.

I continue to be a die-hard Sophie Kinsella fan and reader. It's a joy how consistently she's able to take the story of a woman pushed past her breaking point and rebuilding her life and turn it into an empoweringly fun tale. I loved every single page of this book.
Sasha has a rather extreme breakdown at work after months of too much work, no support, and an overtaxed brain. When she's given health leave, her mom talks her into going to the resort town they used to visit when she was a little girl even though it's still winter. Shasha arrives armed with a list of welfare steps and a desire to stay at the fancies resort in the little beach town. Except the resort is dilapidated and her mom's directives have her on a healthy diet that's starving her. Along the way, she meets fellow burnout, Finn, in the beginning of a contentious relationship that starts out full of animosity but slowly grows into something so much more.
It's full of laugh-out-loud moments that are only outshined by the genuine emotion that the characters display. You grow to love the characters and the little beach resort they're living in. Every single character gets their chance to shine, and even better, Kinsella puts a light on their eccentricities that shows that's what's lovable about them.

Massive thanks to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the delightful read!

I love Sophie Kinsella. She was definitely my gateway author into chick lit and romcom. In the case of The Burnout, it was definitely hilarious. But there was something that fell a little flat for me. I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe it was the MC—someone I should be able to relate to but just couldn’t. Either way, this was still a fun read and I do recommend it.

As a working mom to a young child with a million responsibilities who is constantly fighting burn out I was immediately drawn to this and it did not disappoint! This enemies to lovers, rom-com, self discovery story was refreshingly fun and real. The characters were relatable in a way that made you cheer for them on their rollercoaster of a journey.

The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella was so much fun to read and hit home for me a little too much! Sasha was over-worked, over-stimulated, and over everything. After she has a melt down, her mom signs her up for a stay at a beloved hotel they stayed at as a family when she was young. Sasha needs a reset. Sasha arrives to find the resort a little less than spectacular but the staff is so happy to have her! They have all of her mother's requests ready to go for her. Kale smoothies, Noni juice, beach yoga... all the things to help Sasha's life more balanced and happier. Until Finn arrives for a stay; the grumpiest man Sasha has ever met. He keeps showing up everywhere she goes. And that stress her out more than anything. How is she supposed to de-stress and re-balance if he just keeps showing up and ruining everything for her?!
Sophie Kinsella is back at it and winning with this book. A great story that is relatable in so many ways. If you haven't read anything by Kinsella, start here. I will always read anything Kinsella writes and will always recommend her works to others. Special thanks to NetGalley, Sophie Kinsella, and Random House Publishing Group - The Dial Press for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. #TheBurnout #NetGalley

For a quick, feel-good read, Sophie Kinsella reigns. It’s been years since I’ve read one of her books (she wrote the Shopaholic series), but I’ve never been disappointed. Sophie has a gift for developing characters with honest thoughts and insights that are always simple but profound. My new goal is to manifest because this book makes me believe in the power of positive thinking. Docking a star because although the characters were charming and believable, the plot was so far-fetched I probably made audible noises while reading the improbable outcomes.

Quick recap without spoilers:
Sasha is burnt out. Of her job, her life, and the stress that accompanies both. She has even realized that her libido no longer exists. After a comical breakdown that leaves her in the hospital, Sasha is forced to take a holiday, and her mom books her at a seaside hotel she used to visit in her youth. Equipped with her app on 20 steps to wellness, Sasha attempts to put herself back together begrudgingly with the help of a curmudgeonly, attractive man named Finn.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the characters were very relatable. The storyline was unique and flowed well. There were a couple of times where I felt we dwelled a little too long on some things and there were some hokey parts, but overall it was good.

I have a genuine love for Sophie Kinsella books. She is great at writing a fun romcom. She provides beautiful imagery with complicated, funny characters. Her protagonist is always surrounded by people who are kind and quirky. It’s not hard to find yourself lost in one of her books.

There were moments reading this where the main character, Sasha, strongly resembled Kinsella’s Becky from her Shopaholic series. So if you’ve been a fan of those books, you’re sure to be a fan of Sasha Worth. Sasha is burned out from work having completely lost herself to her job. Everything in her life is on autopilot until she reaches a breaking point. Sasha finds herself (figuratively and literally) back at her childhood vacation spot, Rilston Beach. Along for her journey are the Rilston Beach residents and a man who also spent the same summers at the beach as Sasha.

There’s a formula to these books. I find it so comforting to know that I’m going to get a great will they/won’t they story with genuine laugh out loud moments. Sophie Kinsella delivers once again. And as usual, just when I think I’ve got it all figured out, she surprises me. While I did feel the book got a little drawn out in some areas, it wasn’t hard to fall in love with the variety of characters. I’d love to see Sophie Kinsella write a book devoted to updates in Rilston Bay with the townspeople.

I love that Sophie Kinsella writes relatable characters and gives the reader a heartwarming story. She always leaves you wanting a sequel and giving you a smile at the end.

Thank you to Random House for this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie Kinsella is the author of the first book I ever bought with my own paycheck. I have been reading Sophie's books for years, and I've adored them all. This one may be my favorite (outside of Twenties Girl because that book is perfection). I was cackling from the first few pages, and I was instantly transported to the shack by the sea. I loved the to do list Sasha attempted, and felt a kinship with her as she justified her actions to check items off the list. Been there, done that. I've already purchased this for my mom and I'm sure I will be buying it for several others this holiday season.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.