The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella

I really wanted to like this book. But I just couldn't. It had some laugh-out-loud moments, but they happened after too many drawn-out and ridiculous moments. Sasha just made me want to literally scream, she didn't come off as completely spineless, so why let things get to the due straits. And really, we didn't get the full explanation on Finns breakdown until the very end. The hotel is not charming, it is a flipping nightmare. I'm pretty sure I'm not connecting with the characters or the campy writing style. If it's your cup of tea, enjoy.

This book was wonderful, exactly what I needed after a long day at work. Kinsella always writes the best dialogue, I can hear it coming from the characters. I laughed out loud at several parts. Our heroine has the usual quirky personality that is determined to do things the right way, even when the universe points her in another direction. This book was worth the wait and I am so happy to have received an ARC from Netgalley and Dial Press.

If you are a fan of Kinsella or if you're intrigued by the book blurb, you will adore this charming story of burnout, determination and humor.

Sasha is tired of work! She is tired of missing out hanging with her friends. She misses dating. She misses cooking.

Sasha decides to take some time to reset and visit the seaside resort in Rilston Bay she went with her family when she was young. It should be relaxing with the waves, a great place for solitude and rejuvenation. It's the offseason, and the hotel is an unloved mess. Plus, she has to share the beach with a grump, Finn. They cannot agree on anything. He sits on her favorite rock.

Random, mysterious messages addressed to Sasha and Finn begin appearing on the beach. The two begin to talk. It starts with the messages, but they begin to discuss their burnout. Sasha and Finn lean on one another to start healthy habits to heal from their burnout. While getting her mojo back, Sasha falls for Finn.

This was a great read, a read in which I could definitely relate. I loved Sasha and Finn's dynamic, and I was excited to see how their story would end.

Thank you to @netgalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Such an enjoyable quick read! I absolutely loved the quirky characters and the setting of this book. The slow burn of enemies to lovers was a good one. I couldn’t put this book down. Looking forward to reading more by Sophie.

I just finished the Burnout by Sophie Kinsella and here is my review.

When Sasha reaches her breaking point, she does it in a spectacular fashion. She quits her job and flees from the office to try and join a Convent. An intervention is needed.

Her mother sends her to a hotel they all used to go to as a child for some much needed R and R.

When she arrives the hotel isn't what she remembers and it's mostly empty due to the fact it is majorly off-season there. Everything is going fine until she has to share the beach with a moody man named Finn.


When weird messages start showing up on the beach, the two of them start to get to know each other and inevitably talk about why they are both so burned out. The chemistry between them starts fizzle and they both remember there is more to life than work.

I am already biased. Sophie Kinsella could rewrite the phone book and I would be first in line to buy it. This book had all the charm and brilliance I know and love from her work. This book pulled me in from the first word and left me with a full heart.

I love Sasha! Her dedication to trying to sort herself out and her super sweet heart… Finn is that grumpy man you can't help but love. I adored how they came together to solve the mystery of the messages on the beach. It was so cute.

The book reminded me that sometimes you have to walk away from something to get some clarity and perspective to be able to come back stronger. Loved the plot and the descriptions of the hotel! It was well paced and I loved every second.

5 stars!!

Thank you @netgalley and @penguinrandomca for my gifted copy

The Burnout is Sophie Kinsella’s newest romantic comedy featuring brand new characters. Kinsella is known for her bestselling Shopaholic series but also writes standalone books.

33-year-old Sasha Worth has had it with her job. Two people in her department have quit and the company hasn’t replaced them, instead adding their responsibilities to her overloaded shoulders. Then she‘s criticized for her lack of participation in the corporate employee joyfulness program. She’s too tired to clean her flat or eat anything other than the same take-out food every day. After she has a meltdown in the convenience store and is chased by the Joyfulness Manager, she sustains a head injury when she runs into a brick wall. The doctor recommends that she take three weeks off work to recuperate, but none of her relatives have room for her at their homes. So her mom books her a stay at the seaside resort they visited annually during her childhood.

The formerly swanky resort hotel is now dilapidated, and the only other occupant is a grumpy guy named Finn. He seems as stressed as Sasha. She plans to eat healthy, practice yoga, swim, and commune with nature. In contrast, Finn sits on her favorite rock and watches her. He also drinks whiskey and has pizza delivered to the beach.

Then curious messages appear on the beach, seemingly directed at Sasha and Finn. They begin talking about how they got so burned out and try to remember activities they used to enjoy. Despite their bone-deep exhaustion, there’s an energy between them and they begin a romantic relationship.
Most people can identify with either Sasha or Finn’s feelings in The Burnout, although it’s funny to read about it when it’s someone else. Sophie Kinsella’s descriptions are so vivid that it’s like watching a movie, and the workplace culture is spot-on. I really enjoyed this story and laughed a lot. I hope that someone makes a movie out of it.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I should probably give the disclaimer that I am a diehard Sophia Kinsella fan, but this book does not disappoint! It has all of the things I love about Kinsella’s novels (including making me actually laugh out loud several times) and she tackles the topic of burnout and depression very well. The ending was rushed and I would’ve loved if it was just a bit longer, but that is a theme I’ve noticed with most of her works. Highly recommend for my fellow burnouts!

From start to finish, "The Burnout" had me laughing out loud. Another delightful read from Sophie Kinsella. If you've ever suffered burn out at work, been employed in the marketing industry or just want a good laugh, this book is for you!

The antics of Sasha and Finn had me constantly chuckling, not to mention Sasha's narration of their stay at the rundown British seaside resort they both find themselves visiting. Rilston Bay was once a glorious part of both characters' childhoods, but has since fallen on hard times. The staff of the hotel is eccentric, to say the least, and add to the hilarity of both Sasha's and Finn's respites from work. While it's obvious the pair is destined to fall in love, their journey isn't so straight and easy, which engaged me even more.

A feel good book all the way through, with a little mystery thrown in. Kinsella never disappoints with her light-hearted tales & "The Burnout" is no exception.

Sasha has hit a brick wall. Literally. In an attempt to escape the oppressive leadership and overwhelming amount of work that is constantly piled on to her, she attempts to escape by any means necessary. Just not necessarily through a wall. However, this event sparks the chain of events that lead to her finally taking a break and focusing on herself. Through the power of WetSuit Girl, friends new and old, and the sea, she is well on her way to finding herself again.

Sophie Kinsella is one of my all-time favorite authors and I seek any and every opportunity to read her latest books. She has a masterful way of combining romance and comedy resulting in a fun read every time! I loved this book and the variety of characters in it. My favorite character is the Surf Instructor, Terry, who is celebrated throughout the story for his sound advice that has applied to more than just surfing over the decades.

The setting of Rilston Bay is a quiet pocket of paradise when in the off-season and perfect for burnout recovery. It is also perfect for solitude and relaxation as the waves seem to have a way of soothing the soul. However, so much time is spent in the plot of going to the beach and finding peace that the pace of the book drastically slowed at times.

For those readers currently experiencing burnout with micromanaging bosses and impossibly heavy workloads, this may be triggering for you. For those readers looking for a spicy romance, this book may not have enough heat for you. However, I would recommend this book for adult readers who have memories of summers spent at a beach town. Many thanks to NetGalley for access to an ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for this gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I haven't read a Sophie Kinsella book in so long, but it was fun to return to her after loving the Shopaholic series. I definitely hold a special place in my heart for that series and I didn't like The Burnout more than those books, but this was still a mostly enjoyable read.

It felt like it took some time for the story to really get going (I mean, we don't meet the love interest until almost 25% of the book is over) and the 'woe is me' narrative got old quick. And that's not to say that I don't understand burnout because I absolutely do, and I appreciated how relatable the storyline of work/life burnout was, but the main character felt a bit whiny at times.

Overall, it was a good read but lacking some spark.

Reviewed on Goodreads:


Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the early copy of this book!

Overall this was a really enjoyable book! I found myself relating to the fmc in many ways. It was a bit slow at first but it helped to develop Sasha’s character and once the story line picked up it was good to have the background for the characters.

There was a great balance of romance and a small town mystery! It felt nostalgic whenever Sasha would go into town and reminisce about her childhood!! Overall, 3 stars and I would recoomend this to anyone who is looking for something other than a typical cute romance and wants something with more layers and more complex characters!!

This was so good! I haven‘t read much by Kinsella and I‘m going to have to remedy that. This was charming, thoughtful, and laugh out loud funny. A woman suffering from major burnout struggles to put her life back together after blowing it up. A return to a beloved childhood vacation spot, a rundown hotel with a quirky staff, unsuccessful self help strategies and a hot stranger encourage her to see her life in a new light. Releases today, highly recommend!

Overwhelmed by the pressures of her job, a failed attempt to join a convent, and literary running into a wall, Sasha Worth realizes she is burnt out. Not just from her job, but from life in general. When her mother suggests taking a break and getting away to Rilston Bay, Sasha jumps at the chance to return to their childhood vacation place, it will be the perfect place for her to unwind and figure things out. While to grand Rilston Hotel isn’t quite what it used be, Sasha decides to just take advantage of the off season and work on bettering herself. Unfortunately things turn sour when another hotel guest, Finn Birchall ruins all her attempts to be at peace.

It's been a while since I've read a novel by Sophie Kinsella. I always enjoyed her hilarious writing style and unique characters. This was a quick, fun read, but not quite up to par with some of her other works. I loved Sasha, she was real, funny, and totally relatable. There is a little added mystery to the book which I found a bit uninteresting and I think the book would have been fine without that bit. Overall it was enjoyable and definitely a great beach read!
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

A romantic comedy with a bit of fun mystery, perfect for fans of Jennifer Crusie. 33 yr old Sasha desperately wants a relaxing vacation, but grumpy guy Finn is ruining it at every turn. When notes appear written to them, they are forced to engage in conversation. I simply adored the staff at the hotel and all their various personalities. Sophie Kinsella writes quirky heroines well, and in The Burnout, she has written a delightful witty book with genuinely fun cast of characters.

I'm going to start by saying that I really enjoyed this book, even though the romance was not the focus of it. The is the story of Sasha, a Director of Special Promotions for a travel app who is in need of a break. She has zero work/life balance. Essentially, as other employees quit the company, their work finds its way to her desk. We meet her at her worst, and follow her on her journey from burnout to her better self.
Man, did I relate to Sasha at the beginning of the story. The burnout was REAL. It was occasionally uncomfortable for me because I really felt like I was reliving my own burnout, but it also connected me to Sasha - we lived through this together.

As I mentioned, the MMC, Finn, is not even introduced until about a quarter into the book. What begins with animosity, turns into friendship and more as they bond through their forced vacations together.

The side characters brought me so much delight. I really loved the surf coach with his affirmations. The Pret-a-Manger guy delivers one of my favourite scenes in the story. And Joanne. I don't exactly know her job title, but we ALL know a Joanne. If you don't have a Joanne in your life to pick you up from the convent you tried to enter, then you need to get one.

Ultimately, this story is not what I was expecting, or what I'm used to, but I can definitely appreciate Sasha's journey. And truthfully - its one of the funniest books I've ever read.

Sophie Kinsella has long been a favorite author of mine, and The Burnout did not disappoint. In true Kinsella fashion, The Burnout is full of humor, heart, and just enough heat to draw the reader in. Add in the super relatable concept of burnout - I'm sold. We are living in an age where we are told to "go, go, go" and don't stop until you're dead... but what happens then? The Burnout is a book about living - and not only that - but ENJOYING life while you're living it. A great read! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, The Dial Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book in 2 words: hysterical & heartwarming.

Sasha realizes that she’s lost herself after being totally burnt out from her job. In an effort to get her spark back, she embarks on an extended “wellness break” to the seaside holiday town of her childhood, where she meets a hilarious and love-able cast of characters as well as a grumpy yet cute surfer guy named Finn, who also happens to be on a burnout break of his own. She and Finn bond over their burnout and love of surfing, and as their unlikely friendship evolves into something more, they help each other heal and rediscover themselves and their joy.

Okay I had *actual* tears from laughing so hard while reading this book at least twice! And can I just say that I am not that easy of a laugh but there's something about Sophie Kinsella's humor that just gets me. There were several amazing side characters in this book that added to the humor and the coziness of this story. I found the romance to be super cute and heartwarming. I love how Sasha can laugh at herself and not take herself too seriously. There were a couple of side plots that I didn't really care about but I didn't mind because I enjoyed the characters and their banter so much.

4.5 stars rounded up! 💫

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie Kinsella writes a fun rom-com novel. Always likeable characters with the standard twists and turns. She never disappoints and I enjoyed reading the book.

Sasha has had it with her job and desperately needs a break. Armed with intentions to drink kale smoothies, try yoga, and find peace, she heads to the seaside resort her family loved as a child. But it’s the off season, the hotel is in shambles, and she has to share the beach with the only other occupant: a grumpy guy named Finn, who seems as stressed as Sasha. 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? And the question they try and fail to ignore: what does the energy between them—flaring even in the face of their exhaustion—signify?

Happy publication day to this cute book, and thank you to @netgalley, @randomhouse, and @sophiekinsellawriter for the ARC! This was a fun book that I think a lot of us career/corporate girlies will be able to relate to. The book had a lot of laugh-out-loud funny moments that really balanced out the stress that Sasha was going through. The humor was also balanced out by the sweet storyline that unfolded in the beach town, brining Sasha’s past memories to the future as she and Finn tried to uncover who the messages on the beach were from. I loved the small beach town and all of the hilarious characters and situations Sasha encountered. I also really appreciated how the situation with Sasha’s job ended up working out and the changes that were implemented when she spoke her truth. Finn and Sasha had a lot in common and I loved their banter and how they were able to open up to each other. Overall this was a hilarious and heartwarming story I definitely recommend.

ROFL and thoughtful

I was very embarrassed at times reading this wonderful book in public, laughing out loud. It is very funny and topical, but makes so many points that we all have to pay attention to. I loved the ending, too. Highly recommended, 6 stars!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time limited e-arc via netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.