Super cute book with a super relatable premise! The two main characters meet while taking a much needed break from work. While trying to find balance Finn and Sasha find themselves bonding in the place they both came as children.

I loved the main characters and many of the side characters and even loved their connection and eventual relationship, however, the plot didn’t feel grab my attention as much as the characters did.

Overall, very cute, and very lovable characters.

My love for Sophie Kinsella books started with the Shopaholic series and has only grown over the years as I’ve continued to read and enjoy many of her stand-alone romcoms. They never cease to put me in a “giggling as I kick my feet” kind of mood.

The Burnout is no exception. The only way this novel differed was that in addition to those happy vibes, it also had me pondering life and–I’ll admit it right now–tearing up a couple of times too. I wasn’t expecting the level of depth that was woven into this book, but it was truly the most pleasant surprise. I absolutely love learning from romance novels, just as much as I love experiencing the cute and cheery elements.

This book starts out in a manner that had me laughing so hard I almost peed myself. No joke! Not only did I totally associate with Sasha’s work predicament (I think we’ve nearly all been in positions where our jobs become overwhelming to the point of brain melt), but I could practically feel her frustration in my very bones. The way that it all led up to her eventual burnout breakdown was hilariously relatable. I also completely understood why she’d want to fully escape to a place that reminded her of happier times in her life.

Of course, that “escape” would lead to yet another bizarre encounter and experience, which–while predictable–was equally amusing. I could vividly picture the resort in my mind and see what it might have once been and also what it had become. The author did a phenomenal job painting a very detailed image of everything Sasha was encountering. This includes her very entertaining run-in with Finn.

The romance in this book is so much fun! It’s filled with flirty banter that had me laughing aloud while simultaneously swooning just a little bit. While these two start off in opposition (not quite enemies, but certainly not on even ground), their growth over the course of the story is really precious. In fact, the ending took me by surprise (in a good way)!

I really liked how the author gave each of them time to sort through their mutual and separate struggles, endearing them to each other while also giving them the opportunity to bloom due to the influence they had on one another. It made their relationship even more charming and it also made them incredibly easy to root for.

I would absolutely read this book again. I picked it up at a time in my life when I was personally going through a lot of really challenging things and it was just the mood boost I needed. I can see myself gravitating towards it again in the future when I’m craving an extra dose of cheer. It’s very comforting, cute, and clever!

[CW: (Major) Dementia, (Moderate) Sexual content and Grief, (Minor) Emotional abuse]

3.5 this was cute, don’t get me wrong. but i really struggled to feel the characters and the relationships. sometimes it felt like it was dragging too much, but it was quirky and cute.

This was so heartwarming and funny! I loved the characters and the premise really resonated with me. From the very first page, I was laughing along with the main character’s quirky life as she tries anything and everything to overcome burnout and stress. The enemies to lovers, slow burn romance along with the coastal beach town hotel and surf shop sub plots created the perfect feel good rom com vibes!

Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published October 10, 2023.

The first few chapters were laugh out loud funny. I loved it!

Then the next 80% was very boring. I really didn’t care about Sasha or Finn, the resort or their work-related burnout.

But then it picked up at about the 85%! mark with a scene that reminded me of Jerry McGuire, when Sasha’s exit interview goes viral. The rest of the book was fine.

At 416 pages this was just way too long and way too boring for me.

This is such a soulful, funny yet heartwarming story from Kinsella. I've always loved her books, but this one shines. It's not just the main characters, but each and every person at Rilston or the town or even the nun back in the city are unique in their own special way.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this gem!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sophie Kinsella always performs! Love her and her books. Her real life style of writing is entertaining and addicting. Teaching all they are not so strange. And yes life is funny tragic and survivable when you add some humor in.

I love Sophie Kinsella. Her books are always funny, always feel-good. This is the story of Sasha, a 30-something who is completely stressed out at her job. In fact, life in general is getting her down. So when she has a "bit of a meltdown", the doctor writes her off work and Sasha heads to Rilston Bay, where her family used to vacation before her father passed away.
Sasha ends up meeting Finn, and after a rocky start, realizes she knew him as a child as well. Finn is also in Rilston Bay to relax and he and Sasha end up commiserating and falling for each other.
You know what else happens in Sophie Kinsella books? Life! You can almost picture these characters and their issues and their humor and their zest for surfing. A wonderful light-hearted novel.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and The Dial Press for this e-arc.*

Thank you to Dial Press & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

It’s been a couple years since I’ve read a Sophie Kinsella novel, and I’m so glad I picked this one. Full of her trademark wittiness, it did not disappoint.

Sasha is completely and totally burnt out, from covering so many different roles at her job. And one day she decides she’s had enough, and a little “incident” occurs with her and a coworker. After a quick trip to the hospital, the Doctor recommends she takes some time off of work to decompress.

She decides to head to the beach in Rilston bay, where she spent so many of her childhood summers. Here she has plans to complete the twenty steps of her new wellness app. But all her plans go up in smoke when she discovers she doesn’t have the beach to herself.

Finn is also in Rilston bay seeking refuge for what he calls a case of work burnout as well. These two butt heads from the beginning, but the more time they spend together surfing, and sightseeing they go from enemies to friends, to lovers. But Rilston bay isn’t forever, and how will they decide what happens when they leave town to head back to their normal lives?

Their time in Rilston bay is always entertaining with the quirky staff of the hotel. (Herbert was my fave). And they also reconnect with many locals whom they spent time with as children, including Terry the surf instructor. (Have your tissues ready).

This story was funny, sweet, and dug deep to hit the emotion’s . Although technically a sweet love story, I would say this story is also the tale of finding yourself, and digging deep to find out what you truly desire. So much growth happened individually between Sasha & Finn, so it was that much more rewarding to see them as a couple.

In Sophie Kinsella's trademark style, this is a fun and witty story about a woman who has reached her limit in her job. She heads back to her childhood vacation spot and discovers a great deal about herself and those around her. It's a lovely story about self-awareness, memories, and found family and I thoroughly enjoyed it (especially the huge event at the end!). Thanks to Netgalley and Random House/The Dial Press for the advance digital copy!

Sophie Kinsella has been a sure thing for me ever since her very first book. I go into all her books blindly because why do I need a description I know it will be amazing. The Burnout is no exception. It was a fabulous book! The Burnout was so relatable. At times I felt like Sophie was writing about me. While reading The Burnout I literally wanted to pack and bags and plop my butt on a beach are read! My only complaint about this book is that I am done reading and have to wait for another Sophie Kinsella book!

Sophie Kinsella's books are always fun - filled with humor. I've read many of her books and always enjoy the experience.

Description:
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 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 ( manifesting, wild swimming; 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?

My Thoughts:
Loved the banter and the push and pull between Sasha and Finn. Sasha's endeavors to follow her list was hilarious. I liked the enemies to friends type plot. The book kept my attention and provided a light read with a lot of laughs. I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a fun book.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group/Dial Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on October 10, 2023.

I don't think there is anything more that can be said about Sophie Kinsella. Every single book is a gem. It is the highlight of my reading year when a new book comes from her. And like every other book, this one did not disappoint. I could picture myself with the characters every step of the way. This book is hopeful, heartwarming, and classic Sophie Kinsella.

I think we can all relate to this subject matter at some point in our lives. It made me want to visit a nearby beach and do nothing. Cute romance story.

Sasha has had it. She cannot bring herself to respond to another inane, “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?

Personally, this felt a little too long for me. I definitely could see a couple less plot points in the book. I found it a little hard to read about a burnt out character in the beginning but I liked seeing the steps she took to get out of it. It took me a little bit to get into it but by the last 25% I couldn't put it down. The ending was so sweet and cute. I loved that there was an open ended ending and not everything was written out directly. Some tropes we see include grumpy/sunshine (enemies, to friends to lovers), and close proximity romance. The story is packed with humor even in the uncomfortable places.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 10/10

I was a little out of my element here, because I usually don’t enjoy cheesy romances. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, so I requested an ARC, not expecting my request to get approved—but it did. I’m quite glad that it was, because this book surpassed my expectations and made me realize that expanding my literary horizons was actually a <i>good</i> thing for once. I enjoyed this book, so much more than I thought I would.

Firstly, I thought that the characters were really realistic; they were relatable enough to make me believe it as a story but quirky enough to be memorable. I especially really liked the way that the main character was written in this book; Sasha was a hilariously relatable woman that I found myself looking up to by the end of the novel. I think most people have been in her shoes before; feeling burned out because of their work and not knowing how to fix it. Her little outbursts and reactions were endearing and made me smile, and I can totally understand why Finn fell for her so quickly. Unfortunately, a lot of romance novels I’ve attempted to enjoy stray from this trope, and make their female leads unbearable, usually due to suffering from a bad case of internalized misogyny—usually a projection from the author. It’s a refreshing thing to see a funny and original character that didn’t make me want to rip out my own hair. The same goes for Finn—nothing angers me more than seeing women romanticize toxic behavior that’s displayed in many romance novels. I’m pleased to report that Finn is a wonderful example of how one can write about an introverted/grumpy man without making him irrevocably toxic and nasty. I liked seeing him warm up to Sasha and change the audience’s perspective on him.

The side characters were wonderful as well, which I appreciated. Oftentimes side characters are treated badly and are underdeveloped and badly written, which deteriorates the entire story. Here, the side characters enhance and finesse the story. Sasha’s family felt very real and very sweet, as did her co-workers (mostly real rather than sweet for her co-workers). The characters at the Rilston had louder personalities, more of a caricature, but still realistic and lovely. I found myself smiling at the antics they got up to at times.

I have to say that the characters were the best part of this book. The plot itself was great in the beginning, but it fell off towards the middle and it lost me at the end. That’s why my rating dropped to three stars; prior to that I was hoping for a new five star read, and a romance at that!

I think that the worst part was the romance—which is kind of detrimental, since this is a romance book. I was pleased when Sasha and Finn parted as friends, and thoroughly disappointed when there was a time skip and they seemed to be forced together romantically in the last twenty pages or so. It felt rushed and fake. The whole thing about Sasha obsessing over his social media and his ex girlfriend was also kind of unnecessary and a bit weird too, though it was relatable to an extent. It didn’t really have an impact on the ending, so it just didn’t seem necessary.

Though this was an issue, everything else about the book was so redeeming that I couldn’t give it a bad rating in the end. As much as I dislike the ending and the romance, it was still an enjoyable read. The wording and imagery was beautiful, and it felt very realistic and nostalgic. I love when stories are told so respectfully and in such detail that I can picture it in my head, and as someone who tends to think on words rather than images this is very important to me.

In the end, I’m very glad that I chose to request this ARC, and I was very honored to read it. This makes me want to expand further and read more romance, something that no other recently read romance book has made me want to actively do. And lastly, as a girl who’s currently burned out from school already, I again have to commend the characterization in Sasha—I can only hope to solve my writer’s block and mental state half as well as she did.

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

I was really disappointed by The Burnout. I am a big Sophie Kinsella fan but this book just didn't work for me. I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion. I couldn't make myself like the characters, Sasha and Finn didn't seem like people I would enjoy being around. The banter and wit that I have come to expect from this author seemed rude and mean spirited instead of funny. I will continue to read books by Sophie Kinsella, Sadly, this won't be one I recommend.

The Burnout delivers all of Sophie Kinsella's standard wit and charm. She is an automatic read for me every time! The Burnout feels really relatable because the characters are so burnt out on work and just need a break. I think most people have teetered on the edge of a burnout at some point. The characters were likable and I loved the invisible string that tied Sasha and Finn together from childhood.

As a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella, and especially the Shopaholic series, I was eagerly anticipating her latest novel, The Burnout. While the main character, Sasha, is nowhere near as funny and zany as Becky Bloomwood (the aforementioned shopaholic), she is just as endearing and lovable. To see her transformation from an absolute rock-bottom burned-out mess to a strong, independent and resilient young professional is an absolute delight. The cast of characters she encounters along the way are equally as charming. All in all, this book is fun, fast-paced and enjoyable throughout.

Charming, delightful and funny! When I read a Sophie Kinsella novel, I know I'm going to laugh and this book was no different. The story was relatable (burnout is real!) but also had just the right amount of hijinks to set it apart from other books. I loved the side characters, especially Terry and the hotel employees. Sasha and Finn were great too, although I didn't quite buy the attraction 100%. Some parts in the middle of the book dragged, but the middle was bookended by a hilarious scene (Sasha's escape) and touching conclusion. Overall I liked this book for what it was (but I do like some of Sophie's other books better).

Thank you for the ARC!