Our main character, Sasha, is a character I 100% related to and in today's fast-paced work environments, I feel like many readers would feel the same way.  This book was a quick, easy, fun read with quirky and likeable characters in a whimsical setting --- and it had a message that is so important for us all to remember; the importance of self-care.  Self-care is a buzz-word that is often dismissed as being overly-indulgent but it's so important to look after ourselves in the basic arenas of sleep, companionship, nutrition, joy, sex, and boundaries on our time.  This important message was delivered within Kinsella's trademark writing style of swoony romance, charming storyline, and laugh-out-loud moments.  

I recommend this for fans of: 
* entertaining rom-coms
* vacation romance
* childhood nostalgia
* stories that discuss self-care and self-discovery
* forced proximity
* enemies-to-lovers
* closed-door/fade-to-black

I received a review copy from the publishers. All opinions are my own.

How can you not just love books by Sophie Kinsella? Relaxing with a novel by this author is such a treat, and I have never been disappointed with her stories! The Burnout is her latest and if you are a fan, you’re going to love it like I did.

Here is the plot:

Sasha has had it. She cannot bring herself to respond to another inane, “urgent” (but obviously not at all urgent) email or participate in the corporate employee joyfulness program. She hasn’t seen her friends in months. Sex? Seems like a lot of effort. Even cooking dinner takes far too much planning. Sasha has hit a wall.

Armed with good intentions to drink kale smoothies, try yoga, and find peace, she heads to the seaside resort she loved as a child. But it’s the off season, the hotel is in a dilapidated shambles, and she has to share the beach with the only other occupant: a grumpy guy named Finn, who seems as stressed as Sasha. How can she commune with nature when he’s sitting on her favorite rock, watching her? Nor can they agree on how best to alleviate their burnout (Sasha: manifesting, wild swimming; Finn: drinking whisky, getting pizza delivered to the beach).

When curious messages, seemingly addressed to Sasha and Finn, begin to appear on the beach, the two are forced to talk—about everything. How did they get so burned out? Can either of them remember something they used to love? (Answer: surfing!) And the question they try and fail to ignore: what does the energy between them—flaring even in the face of their bone-deep exhaustion—signify?

Its funny, cute, and the perfect antidote if you are feeling burnt out on suspense, thrillers, and dark twisty stories!

Out now!

I really enjoyed this! Loved the conversations about burnout, being overworked, and mental health. I wasn’t so sure about the romance at first, but they had me rooting for them!

I have always loved Sophie Kinsella’s books, and this one was no different. Sasha and Finn are lovable, even when they weren’t at their best. This was a love story of youth, a special beach, and life lessons from Terry. Sasha and Finn experience great growth and transformation as they try to recover from burnout, but the story is so much more than that. The characters and their experiences were relatable, and the story kept me interested throughout.

I really enjoy Kinsella's books, and this one was no exception! The first couple chapters were SO relatable. I loved the seaside setting and the fun cast of characters--there were lots of laugh out loud moments. I loved Sasha and Finn. But my favorite character, without a doubt, was Terry, the surfing teacher. Terry had my heart and I smiled through a few tears.

"The ride is IT."

Cut romance. Loved the quirky twin characters. Gave a bit of a Gilmore’s Girl’s vibe, but with more romance.

I enjoyed this book. At times.

It was funny and parts were charming BUT I think it was a bit much on the hot mess/chaotic character. I think in real life this character would have a hard go at real life. While I do believe her situation is something we all go through she was just a bit much about it in a way we mostly can't just afford to be in order to survive.

I think the book has potential and a great plot just slightly more realistic outcomes and choices could have been made.

This was a really cute read! I feel like we can all relate to burnout, and this over exaggerated experience told through Sasha's eyes was so relatable and fun to read! I enjoyed the bit of mystery, the very slow burn love story, and the pacing of the story. the book totally lived up to what I thought it would be- a fun easy read with some substance!

Thanks to Netgalley for the Advanced Copy to read!

Who doesn't love a Sophie Kinsella book? And this one did not disappoint. These characters are wildly relatable, and very honest. I felt called out by my own burnout, and was inspired to do some new things (take a new class!). I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I recommend it to anyone who wants a cute story (and you can relate to burnout). Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book.

What a whimsical novel about finding yourself after burning out, and the friends we meet along the way. I really enjoyed the wacky journey of self discovery. When you read a Sophie Kinsella book, you know that the scenarios the characters face are a bit over exaggerated or sensational.

I could relate to Sasha’s frustration at work, and the subsequent burnout related to the issues she faced. I found the events leading up to her vacation amusing, I couldn’t help but sit with my mouth agape while reading. Once she was on vacation, I enjoyed the interactions between Sasha and Finn when they first met and then started to spend time together, but would have loved to see more development of their friendship since it felt glossed over. They were cute together and I enjoyed the banter, so I wanted more on screen (book?) interactions of their growth.

Sasha’s attempt at wellness was comical, especially because she isn’t used to trying yoga or communing with nature. The side characters were eccentric but lovable. I even enjoyed the surfing references and scenes, even though I’ve never surfed or had the desire to. I still felt like I was at an English beach (brr). I loved the ending scene, it warmed my heart.

Thank you Sophie Kinsella, Random House, and NetGalley for the ARC! "The ride is it."

Spoilers

Spoilers

Spoilers

Spoilers:
I didn’t like how Sasha wouldn’t stand up for herself with the hotel staff after her mother called the hotel pretending to be Sasha’s assistant and asking the staff to get Sasha tons of healthy foods that Sasha didn’t like, which forced Sasha to go out, buy, and hide all the unhealthy foods she wanted to eat.
I also didn’t like the insta-love Sasha felt for Finn after spending such little time together.
Despite this I loved how Sasha and Finn changed their manifestation of each other's happiness to just each other, and how they revealed their papers at the end. It was really heart melting.

I love Sophie Kinsella books and this was another enjoyable read. Sasha is burned out from work and just life in general and ends up taking a mental health break to the seashore where she used to go with her family. The mental health struggles and transition to a more healthy way of thinking and living was really well portrayed and not silly or overwrought. There were a lot of relatable moments, and interesting minor characters, including Terry, her former surf instructor. Overall it was a light read with an important message. Thank you NetGalley for my advance copy.

Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite authors (Can You Keep a Secret being a book I have read many, many times), and this book did not disappoint. Sasha is a very relatable character that I rooted for throughout the book. Many of the scenarios she got herself into had me laughing out loud (her mother and the special food requests). This was such a cute, enjoyable read that I would not hesitate to recommend to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

Sophie Kinsella has done it again! If you are looking for an author who does a perfect balance of silliness and seriousness, check her out! She somehow makes me snort laugh one second and the next all teary. Our main couple, Sasha and Finn, meet during a time when they both are struggling with burnout. They cross paths as they escape to a seaside resort that happens to hold special childhood memories for them both. However, the once majestic building is now falling apart while a cast of quirky characters are trying to keep everything afloat. The side characters are just as great as our main pair.

There are hilarious hijinks, slow burn romance, mystery, emotional highs and lows and the sweet, happily ever after. I am still smiling...

4 stars

I have been a Sophie Kinsella fan for almost two decades and this felt like a return to form for her. I loved the Shopaholic series but never really connected with her standalone books, The Burnout felt like the charm and magic that made me fall in love with her writing originally. I loved the characters and the theme of burnout felt so real and relatable (a little TOO relatable at first, because the beginning had be STRESSED!). Sasha's journey and growth (and self love!) was so fun to read.

I have to be honest. When I started this, I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy it. The plot felt campy and over done. But man, was I wrong! The characters were authentic and when they started becoming more vulnerable I was completely hooked! Reading through their relationship timeline, seeing the walls come down and the vulnerabilities come out , then seeing them become their true selves together was breathtaking. Was it campy? Yes. Was it fun? Yes. Was it sincere and emotional? YES. This one surprised me, in the best way possible.

“ᴡʜᴀᴛ’s sᴏ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ sᴇx? ɪ ᴍᴇᴀɴ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ, ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪs sᴇx? ɪᴛ’s...ɪᴛ’s...” ɪ ᴄᴀsᴛ ᴡɪʟᴅʟʏ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ. “ɪᴛ’s ɢᴇɴɪᴛᴀʟs ʀᴜʙʙɪɴɢ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ. ɪ ᴍᴇᴀɴ, ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ?”

QOTD? Have you ever experienced burnout at work?

I have! I am quite burned out at the moment and so I felt for Sasha the entire time I was reading this book!

Sasha has hit her limit at her work. Flooded with thousands of “high priority” emails, management dropping by her desk to quiz her on her joyfulness, and her manager giving her more work because one of her co-workers has quit. It is all just too much. Hilarity ensues when Sasha finally hits the wall, she causes a scene in the Pret A Manger when a man asks her on a date, and the following day she walks out of the office to try and join a nunnery. Clearly she needs a break, so her mum and sister pack her off to the seaside resort they always vacationed at when she was a child. There she meets grumpy Finn, who is just as stressed and burned out as she is. After several interactions mysterious messages begin to appear on the beach and suddenly Sasha and Finn are talking. The bond is created and we get to watch these two experience moments of personal growth together and apart.

This book is the best of Sophie Kinsella, and is exactly why I love her writing. It is funny, engaging, heartwarming, and feels so real that at times I felt like I could have been Sasha. She was neurotic in exactly the way only a truly over-worked and overburdened person can be. The side characters of course were just as important, we have Finn who despite his grumpy nature is incredibly sweet. And then there was Terry. Terry was the standout of this book, he was an absolute delight and his words of wisdom were felt deep in my soul. Pick up this book if you love rom-coms, chick-lit, and sweet but wise side characters!

The Burnout is available now!

"The Burnout" is the perfect 'escape' novel: a great storyline, with a relatable FMC, and some laughs along the way. Sasha's portrayal as a woman on the brink of burnout is both relatable and comically exaggerated, mirroring the exhaustion many of us feel after a long day at work and home. Where are my 30-something readers at?

While the book is marketed as a romance, it takes a contemporary approach to mental health and self-care, all while maintaining a romantic undercurrent. The dynamic between Sasha and Finn is beautifully portrayed, with both characters on journeys of self-discovery. What's refreshing is that they complement each other without sacrificing their individuality for the sake of their budding romance. The slow-burning chemistry between them adds depth to the story, even though the romance takes a back seat at times.

Unexpectedly, there's a touch of mystery woven into the narrative, which, while surprising, doesn't feel out of place. It injects a unique quirkiness into this contemporary romance, although some readers may find it a tad excessive. Despite this, it doesn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.

"The Burnout" is a charming read that imparts valuable wisdom about living life to the fullest and prioritizing one's well-being. While the mystery element may not resonate with everyone, the humor, relatability, and lovable characters make this a worthwhile read. Sophie Kinsella's storytelling prowess shines through.

Thank you to Sophie Kinsella, Netgalley and Random House for providing us with an early copy. Our thoughts are our own!

I've been a Kinsella fan for years, and this one is no exception. She earns the title of Chick-lit Queen! Sasha is burned out, which will likely resonate with many readers. So she hopes a trip to a childhood vacation location will help. That leads to a secondary story line with her former surf instructor, Terry, who now has dementia. It's such a heartwarming storyline. And of course, there's a bit of a romance angle (with Finn). All three parts are blended to make a well-rounded, engaging tale that allows the reader to escape from their own reality, at least momentarily, and sit on the beach with Sasha and Finn. There's also a small mystery involved, and it's fun to try and figure that out with Sasha and Finn. Themes of finding balance and self-care are key and relatable.

sophie kinsella does it again! i adore her books. they are like a warm comfy hug. the writing is familiar but not stale, the characters likable and realistic, everything is delightful and hilarious but there's also some thought provoking serious moments handled really well. can't wait for her next one!

Relatable!

As someone who is experiencing a form of burnout myself, I could relate to Sasha's dilemma. She is trapped by the huge workload in her marketing job at Zoose, feels un-heard by management and unappreciated in general. And the emails, so many emails! Finally one day it all became too much, and Sasha ran away! Right into a brick wall, then a convent, yup, it went as you'd expect.

With some time off, Sasha decides to travel to one of the last places her family enjoyed, Rilston Bay. And since she's an adult, she books in at the ritzy Rilston Bay hotel, a place her family only saw from the distance while enjoying the beach. But she was up for many surprises on arrival, including the presence of a not-so-friendly guy she saw on the train, turns out his name is Finn, also escaping from his job.

The rest of the book focuses on the issues that Sasha and Finn have had, their building attraction, and an unknown link to each other from the past. The story does meander a bit, no real highs or lows, and a bit long. Maybe not one of this author's best, but not terrible, either.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.