Sasha is burned out from work at her understaffed tech startup. At her mother’s suggestion she takes a trip to the English seashore which she visited on family vacations twenty years earlier. The once-stately hotel has fallen on hard times and is now rundown, falling apart in places. Pretending to be her PA, Sasha’s mom gives the hotel staff as series of food requests which make Sasha appear to be quite health conscientious. This presents some humorous anecdotes when she searches the town for chips, cookies, and wine. Though she is trying to follow a twenty-step reset, she is hitting roadblocks at every turn. One of these is the handsome Finn who is also taking time away from work due to stress. Their relationship is a bit predictable. I generally love Sophie Kinsella’s books but this one fell short for me. Some aspects like the healthy food were presented in funny situations. Sasha’s lack of sex drive, however, seemed to be overemphasized for no reason. There were some charming situations, especially at the end of the book, but overall not a lot happens. I thank NetGalley and the Dial Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for this advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review. The Burnout is about a woman experiencing exactly that— Sasha Worth is nearly at her wits end in her current job and after finally being forced to take some time away, she travels to a beach town that she used to frequent as a child in an effort to relax and recoup. She goes with the best of wellness intentions but, she experiences a wealth of comedic ups and downs, especially with her attractive neighbor, Finn!


I really liked this book and found it to be a fun, quick read! I’ve been a fan of Sophie Kinsella since her Shopaholic days and I always read her books when I’m in need of something lighthearted that I know will make me feel good. There were many kooky characters in this book and lots of harebrained schemes/activities but, it reminded me of the good natured Becky Bloomfield from the Shopaholic books! While the characters silliness might feel like a bit much at times, it is great if you let yourself just go along with it.


Overall, I found the characters to be endearing and while I knew where the story would eventually end up, I thoroughly enjoyed being along for the ride. I also very much appreciated the authors discussion on the topic of burnout and just how debilitating that truly feels; in modern society, this feeling is all too common and reading about it here made me feel like someone out there has understood what I’ve personally experienced, while simultaneously giving me a fun story to laugh along to. Finally, I enjoyed the romance in this story, it didn’t feel rushed and I could feel the chemistry between Sasha and Finn.


I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a feel good rom-com and to any fans of the authors previous books!

Look, when picking up a book by Sophie Kinsella, you know exactly what to expect. A woman who is a little wild, but lovable. Someone who has a vague career is seemingly attractive and has a family who loves and supports them in some ways. Basically....it's nothing new. THAT SAID, sometimes, it's what you want to read.

Sasha works as a tech company and is burnt out. The company is understaffed and overworked. In a last-ditch effort to escape, she tries to join the convent across the street. She's rejected.

She then takes a three-week journey to the seaside of her childhood, visiting the hotel that always seemed so glamorous. The hotel has lost is luster and is falling into disrepair and Sasha finds she's one of just a few guests. As luck would have it, one of the other guests is the handsome Finn.

Without spoiling the rest of the plot, this is a quick read with the typical Kinsella plotlines of nostalgia and romance. Enjoyable and fun.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella about 15 years ago. After awhile there were just too many Shopaholic sequels for the material to be fresh anymore, so I stopped reading every book that she churned out. I have enjoyed some of her other books such as The Undomestic Goddess and My Not So Perfect Life. However so many of her recent books no longer resonate with me, and I realize it's because it seems the same formula is always being used, and I am just over it. Maybe I have aged out of her books. Even though there are plenty of new authors I enjoy reading, this one just felt like it was little bits of all her other books put together, in order to churn out something new, quickly.

And I am so over the 'flighty' heroine. Is this really the type of character women want as their main character in books? Why not strong women? I am all for books as escapism, but this just isn't cool anymore.

Maybe this is best for younger audiences.

This was my first read by Sophie Kinsella. I’ve heard a lot about her and her books so i was very excited to read this. It took me a bit to get into it but once I did I really enjoyed it.
The character is really funny and super enjoyable to read. The book feels very relatable also which i enjoyed a lot. I would definitely encourage people to read this when it comes out!!!

Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite authors. I love the first-person narrative and things are always complicated for her protagonist in a dramatic and humorous way. In this book, Sasha takes time off from work to revisit a beach and stay in a posh hotel from her childhood. Only the hotel is no longer posh and it is the off season so the hotel and beach are relatively deserted which is just fine for her wellness break. Just as she is concentrating on herself, another person appears at the hotel, also on a break from his job. The situations that occur during their romance are hilarious. This was such a fun story to read. Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.

I enjoyed this read. At first I wasnt sure, but it truly picks up after a bit and kept my interest. The burnout feeling is also highly relateable. Loved the whole love interest thing. Main character was relatable. The only reason I took off a star was due to the ending, it felt rushed and abrupt. I was left with more questions than answers. Overall this was an easy, enjoyable read.

I received this ARC from NetGalley to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

Synopsis: A man and a woman separately retreat to a hotel they visited as children after being burnt out at work, only to find the hotel is not quite how they remember.
Pros: Sophie Kinsella was my favorite author of my early 20s. Her books are light and silly, easy reads. the Undomestic Goddess was always my favorite.
Cons: I’m not sure why, but this story didn’t do it for me, at all. I’m not sure if I’m just in a different phase of what type of books I enjoy but this plot fell flat. It was very boring, with poor pacing and long chapters, and I had to skim to get through it. After reading so many of her books I find that her female leads are all the same- flighty.
I was planning on rereading The Undomestic Goddess this year because it’s been over a decade, but now I’m scared I won’t enjoy one of my previously favorite books!
Nonetheless I am not done with Sophie Kinsella and hope this was a blip for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the early copy. Check it out when it’s released next week!

Ahh this book is classic Sophie Kinsella. You begin the book cringing for the main character. It’s a laughable, almost painful experience of watching a quirky character stumble though disaster after disaster. But sure enough you laugh your way through it, your heart grows a couple sizes and you finish the book with a smile on your face. I loved the back story of Terry and the community behind him. The oddities of the hotel & the staff were a hilarious delight to read. It has its bumps but all wraps up in a perfect way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts are my very own.

Sophie Kinsella has always been a one click author for me ever since the Shopaholic series. “The Burnout” is a fun, quirky and relatable book about being burned out from the day to day of life and taking the much needed time to find yourself again.

Sasha is at her wit’s end. Her job is going in circles and so is her life. She’s not inspired anymore and she’s hit a wall, literally. When her mom suggests that she goes back to their old vacation spot, Rilston Bay. There she is going to work on her selfcare and get back to the normal ways. But she runs into Finn, a fellow burnout grump who is there for the same reasons. But when mysterious messages are left on the beach, they are forced to talk and work on things together.

This books hits so many relatable points and that is one of my favorite things about it. After how things have been the last few years, being burnt out is real. And this book brings it to light with the quirky rom-com Sophie Kinsella is known for. Sasha is so relatable in all aspects in this book. Tired of work, the day to day and even having a love life seems like it’s too much work at this point. Everyone could use a visit to Rilston Bay for some R&R. The quaint beachside town sounds so lovely. And the residents are endearing and people I would like to know. Finn is a classic grump who’s just over everything too and is trying to find his way again. Sasha and Finn had a cute friendship and they developed into something more naturally. This was a great read and I enjoyed getting to know all the characters. As always, I always look forward to more from Sophie Kinsella.

This book is a laugh out loud romance with a bit of a fun mystery. The trope is enemies to lovers and forced close proximity. The romance is light which is always my preference. The main character Sasha is very relatable. The story highlights mental health awareness and prioritizing yourself. I love how the author used nostalgia and Sasha and Finn returning to a place with great childhood memories in order to unwind and destress. I would highly recommend this funny and heart warming story.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, The Dial Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When Sasha has a breakdown at work and is required to take a three week mental health break, her mom books her into the seaside resort Sasha loved as a child, and finds an app for a twenty-step wellness plan for her to try while she is there. At first, it takes her awhile before she is even able to relax and unwind. Her mind won't stop spinning with all of the things she hates about her job. The hotel is in shambles - it is being renovated, and it has a skeleton staff and most of the furniture is being sold off. Oh, and what is the deal with this other guest at the hotel named Finn? Apparently he had a meltdown at work like she did and is also being forced to take some time off, but does he have to be so grumpy? Thanks to Sasha's mom calling the hotel pretending to be her assistant, and making requests, the staff is now under the assumption that she is some sort of wellness guru, and she is stuck drinking nasty kale smoothies, eating melon plates, wild swimming in the ocean - no cross that off, it is too cold, yoga on the beach, meditating, and sneaking into town trying to find a place to buy something unhealthy and filling to eat. Meanwhile, Finn keeps sitting on HER rock, eating pizza and drinking whisky in front of her, and laughing at all of her "wellness" attempts. 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?

I have loved every one of this author's books, and this is definitely one of my favorites. I lost track of how many times I laughed out loud. There was so much to laugh about - every staff member at the hotel provided laughs at every turn, there were the Etsy thongs that the front desk person was making in her spare time at the hotel, Sasha's breaking point at work and what she did next, the bell hop at the hotel, Sasha trying to find somewhere to get something unhealthy to eat, the unveiling of the Titan statue, and so much more. If you are in need of a good laugh, then this is the perfect book for you. I highly recommend it!

Fans of Sophie Kinsella will love her latest book, The Burnout! Lots of humor and romance, a great rom com!

This was a delightful, quick read for me. I do love Sophie Kinsella's books for that - the settings may change and the characters are tweaked but they are always good for a comfort read. Sasha and Finn's journeys are relatable and enjoyable and the setting of an out of season sea-side resort makes me want to find one and curl up with books and commune with the ocean. Nothing fancy here but just some feel good hours spent with a book.

Another winner from Sophie Kinsella - I am always excited to pick up Kinsella's books as they tend to be comfort reads and I always know exactly what I am in for - in the best way possible. The Burnout did not disappoint and I adored how Kinsella addressed the impacts of being overworked as well.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Random House for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

How does Sophie Kinsella continue to be so funny in each book she writes, it manages to make her main characters so different at the same time? If you’re a fan, this one won’t disappoint, and if you’re new to Kinsella, it’s a great one to start with! Prepare to be sucked in and smile into your pillow .

I have been a fan of Sophie Kinsella since her Shopaholic days, but somehow she fell off of my radar. I was delighted to get the chance to read this story and see if the magic was still there. I was not disappointed! Maybe it's because I've been there with burnout too, but I absolutely adored the story of Sasha and Finn escaping to the seaside to nurse their burnout wounds and instead falling for each other. This book is classic Sophie Kinsella: heartfelt, charming and hilarious. The setting of The Rilston became a character itself, and the ensemble cast of Rilston employees and neighbors was so incredibly endearing. After a bit of a reading slump, this book was exactly what I needed. I literally laughed out loud several times and just didn't want it to end. Bravo!

This story was fine but seemed to lack some of Kinsella's typical trademark humor. Also the storyline topic and characters just fell a bit flat for me. By the end I didn't care much and was just ready for it to be over. Good but not great.

This book seems to have it all! It's comical, has a relatable aspect (as a college student and someone who lived through 2020, I understand burnout...), has a slow burn romance, AND has mysterious elements about anonymous beach messages + why Finn is suffering from burnout (and is he really?👀)!
I wouldn't go into this book looking for IN YOUR FACE romance from the start! The main focus of this book is the female main character, Sasha, and her experience with burnout and trying to recover. It takes us a SECOND to meet the MMC and see the two main characters interact. This is not a super uncommon thing for Sophie Kinsella novels, so if you already love her, you'll be grand and enjoy this book as much as I did!
The setting of the book, Rilston Bay, has all of the best small town, beach vibes! The side characters are SO top tier and bring so much comedy! By the end of the book, you wish there was a whole series about Rilston Bay because you do not want to leave! I also loved that I never really knew how this book was going to end! There were so many mysterious and things that I wasn't sure about that getting to the ending needed to happen FAST! I loved seeing everything fall into place and wish there was even more!
A super fun read and is definitely another hit from Sophie Kinsella!

Sophie Kinsella you beautiful, beautiful woman. I’m trying to figure out how she manages to write so many books that make me laugh and cry at the same time.

This book. Wow, just wow. I was absolutely so touched by the end, my heart felt so full. The way Kinsella is able to write such relatable characters and create a storyline that’s so captivating you feel like you’re a part of it, is insane. This book was pure magic. I loved it so much, which I can only expect now when reading one of her books.

The Burnout was a mix of hilarious, touching, and relatable. The way the characters really turn their lives around is so inspirational. Not to mention all the staff at the hotel had me laughing out loud. I loved them so much.

The romance, as always, was incredibly well done. It’s the flirty banter that gets me in the end. It’s just so funny and the chemistry leaps off the page!

Kinsella introduced me to my love of romance and I have to say she continues to deliver. One of my all time favorite authors.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. This book comes out October 10th!