Member Reviews

Let me tell you…I devoured this book! I loved Sasha and Finn and all of the other quirky characters! What a great story! Fans of laughter and any type of romance will adore this one!

Was this review helpful?

Cute romance book. A bit predictable and slow at times but I enjoyed the story and the ending. Sasha needs to get away from her stressful job ! She goes to the beach she visited as a child and meets Finn who is also there to get away from work stress. They are enemies at first, until…. Thank you to Netgalley and random house for the arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Well Sophie Kinsella did it again! Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Group-Random House for an advanced reader copy of “The Burnout”. I related so well to the main characters’ burn out and especially to Sasha’s. Like so much of Ms. Kinsella’s writing, it was both hilarious and serious. The backstories on many characters were very developed and I felt I knew them! I didn’t want the story to end.

Sasha is overwhelmed by her job and all of the emails, lack of resources and required joyfulness agendas. After a number of hilarious things go wrong, she takes a few weeks off and heads to a place with fond memories where she and her family visited as a child. The hotel is not as she remembered. She is determined to do a 20 step wellness plan she came across. Staying at the same hotel is a rude man she saw on the train over. From the start they annoy each other, but as they spend more time together they realize they have more in common than they think.

This book will be released October 10th and I highly recommend picking it up! It’s wonderful!

Was this review helpful?

I've been reading Sophie Kinsella for a lifetime and she's still got it! I really enjoyed this not-quite-a-vacation romance between two overworked professionals seeking wellness (in different ways) at a quirkily-staffed beach hotel. Like Finn and Sasha, the hotel and the town have seen better days, but all come together to make those part of the present. A great one-sitting read.

Was this review helpful?

I'd give "The Burnout" by Sophie Kinsella a strong 4-star rating. It's a really engaging book that honestly portrays the challenges of today's busy life. The main character is relatable and funny. While it's not a 5-star book for me, it's well-written and takes you on a journey of self-discovery and growth.

Was this review helpful?

“The Burnout” is a feel-good book that resonates with the importance of caring for one’s mental health. It beautifully illustrates how burnout affects the whole person and explores the healing power of nature, friendship, and self-discovery.

Sasha’s connection to the rundown beach hotel, where she spent summers with her family before her father’s passing, adds a poignant layer to the narrative. It’s a place filled with memories, nostalgia, and a desire to recapture lost happiness. When her mother takes on the role of her personal assistant to ensure Sasha gets only healthy food items, it leads to hilarious concoctions and entertaining conversations with the hotel staff. These moments provide comic relief and add depth to the story.

As Sasha navigates her burnout, she crosses paths with Finn, a fellow sufferer. Finn’s own history of summers at the beach ties their stories together. Their growing connection and shared journey toward better mental health form the emotional core of the novel.

The quirky and lovable hotel staff add charm and warmth to the story, making you wish you could meet them in real life. As a reader, you’ll find it hard to say goodbye to these endearing characters.

In a world where burnout is all too common, “The Burnout” is a reminder of the importance of self-care and the possibility of finding joy even in the midst of exhaustion. Kinsella’s storytelling is both heartwarming and humorous, making it a book you won’t want to end. The journey of Sasha and Finn toward better mental health is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, leaving you with a sense of hope and happiness.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Was this review helpful?

The Burnout centers on Sasha, a woman who is depressed and majorly frazzled from her job and disillusioned with life. She comically escapes her job and heads to an old vacation spot from her childhood, The Rilston. She was not prepared for the craziness that awaited her. With a charming cast of characters, an unforgettable setting, and a plot that captivated my fancies, I couldn’t be more pleased with this book. It was refreshing and life-affirming and I am excited to recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is funny, light, and heartwarming. I really enjoyed it! I loved the quirky side characters, the hilarious LOL moments, and the endearing storyline with Terry. Sasha feels burned out at work and in life, so she escapes to an old familiar place for a much needed break. She meets Finn, who is at the same hotel for the same reason. They discover many connections along the way. I love how it all played out!

Was this review helpful?

I love Sophie Kinsella's writing style, you really feel like you understand the characters and what they are going through. The Burnout was no different. When Sasha was experiencing the effects of burnout I felt my hear accelerate like it was happening to me. The transition and unwind to the Rilston was like a reprieve. There was such a fun cast of supporting characters: Cassidy, Simon, Herbert and especially Terry. The romance was sweet and blossoming but wasn't the full focus of the story and didn't need to be.

Sophie Kinsella is an immediate buy for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I will read anything Sophie Kinsella writes! WHat a story! This was such a great read. Loved it!!! So much fun. Sophie is the best.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Publication: October 10, 2023

Rating: 2 stars

This was my first book by Kinsella and I honestly couldn't get into it. The burnout described at the beginning for Sasha was so spot on! I think anyone within the workforce could relate to that but the plot seemed to drag along after that. I think my biggest problem is that this book couldn't decide what genre to go into which led to me unsure of how to feel towards the book.

Should I laugh at the fact that Sasha is at her wits end and making comments of how she wants it all to end?
Or are we trying to make light of a heavier topic?
Maybe if romance is sprinkled in then readers can root for the relationship?
Or maybe we should have her follow a wellness app to take a much needed break and have her find self discovery?

I don't mind my characters being a little messy because it makes it more relatable for me as a reader. However, this story couldn't seem to fall into a definitive genre with a little bit of sub-genre added in.

Was this review helpful?

Sasha is a marketing professional that is overworked - everyone keeps leaving and no one new is hired and she is suffocating under all their work. When her inquiries to higher ups go unanswered she decides she is just going to become a nun. Which leads to her running into a brick wall.

On a doctor's order stress break she returns to the beach town she spent all her childhood summers at. She hopes the solitude will allow her to heal. But she's not alone. Finn arrives at the same time for the same reason. Together they learn to relax and find happiness again.

The hotel they stay in has a Stars Hollow - Dragon Fly Inn vibe and is full of colorful characters that become invested in their lives.

This book was a fun read and highly relatable regarding work stress. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Was this review helpful?

Sasha is overwhelmed and completely burnt out at work and suffers a breakdown. Her doctor recommends a few weeks off to rest and regroup. So she travels to the beach resort her family visited every summer of her childhood. But the hotel is not so nice and fancy anymore, and there are almost no guests. In fact it’s just her, a couple on the brink of divorce, and Finn, a jerk she met on the train she hoped never to see again. But that would not be the way of a Sophie Kinsella book. No, Finn will be there to disrupt Sasha’s holiday in more ways than one!

I love Sophie Kinsella. Her writing style is fun and quick to read and I always fall in love with her characters. Every book leaves me with a happy heart when I am done reading. This was no exception.

Thank you to the author, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.

5⭐️ Publication date Oct 10, 2023

Was this review helpful?

Sophie Kinsella does it again with another hit! This book is incredibly relatable for the times we are living in. If you aren’t Sasha, then you for sure know a Sasha.

Was this review helpful?

Sasha currently works at Zoose, but she just cannot handle it anymore. It's hard to be motivated and work when your boss could care less about what you're saying because he just wants to be listened to. Sasha gets hit on by a Pret-A-Manger worker and she is sooo put off by sex that she decides that she should become a nun. When she tries to apply to become a nun, she is denied as she doesn't currently belong to any religion.

It is clear that Sasha is burnt out from work and from life. Her mom helps her out by telling her to take a leave of absence from work and to go down to the beach where the family always went before Sasha's father had passed away.

When she goes there to wind down, she notices that things are not the same as they once were when she was younger. She does her best to be mentally stronger and she also meets a very handsome man name Finn, who went to the beach in the summertime too. Sasha doesn't remember him, but her sister does. The two are staying at the same hotel and since it is off-peak season, there really aren't that many guests there, so the two see each other pretty often.

Will Finn and Sasha get along while on this mental break? Will Sasha find peace and be able to go back to work?

I really enjoyed reading this book and it comes at a perfect time for me in life to read this book. It was an easy read with some serious topics without getting TOO serious. It was really funny to read about Sasha's personal assistant, her mom.

Was this review helpful?

"The Burnout" is a delightful rollercoaster of laughs! With a cast of endearing characters, including the wonderfully quirky hotel staff, it's hard not to fall in love with them. 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.

Sophie Kinsella expertly articulates the feelings of burnout that resonate with so many in today's fast-paced world. Sasha's antics, though outrageous, are so relatable that they become laugh-out-loud moments, making her a character readers can't help but root for.

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.

Was this review helpful?

The Burnout is exactly what I needed. I have loved Sophie Kinsella for years. This book did not disappoint.

Sasha has somewhat of a breakdown at work and decides that she needs to get away to regroup. She decides to go back to her childhood holiday spot and stays at a once opulent hotel but has now fallen into somewhat of a disarray.

They say that first impressions are important. Sasha meets another fellow patron named Finn and things do not start off well.

This book has everything. It is lighthearted while also being emotional and thoughtful. Sasha and Finn struggle with anxiety and do not shy away from admitting to that. The characters that we meet along the way are so warm. This found family is one that I could see myself joining.

Thank you so very much to The Fine Press, Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

I love Sophie Kinsella. Her books are always so entertaining and i breeze right through them. This one was no different. 4 star read for me. I had so many laugh out loud moments. I loved the main characters. I loved the ending as well.

Was this review helpful?

Sasha is running herself ragged at her customer service job at a travel website. When a clerk at Pret notices that she has ordered the same items for months, she has finally hit her limit. She runs across the street to join a convent and then runs into a wall. Her family decides she needs a break, and Sasha heads to a seaside resort that she had not been in years. Sasha tries to follow a health app but fails. The resort is not like she remembers, and she is surrounded by quirky characters, including handsome Finn, who is also taking a break from life. After initially hating each other, they become friends and try to work through their issues. A few things come together a bit too conveniently, but overall, I liked Sasha and could relate to the feeling of being overwhelmed and not quite sure how to move forward.

Was this review helpful?

Review: The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella

I am so honoured to read The Burnout as a review copy. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity. All opinions are my own.

I think I’ve read all of Sophie Kinsella’s books from Shopaholic to Twenties Girl to The Party Crasher. The quirky heroines and laugh out loud antics mixed with heartwarming connections give me all the feels and make her books my favourite go-to for a comfort read.

The Burnout echoes these elements in its own unique and beautifully blundering way. Sasha Worth, the protagonist, is burned out and has left work for a reprieve in the seaside town of her childhood summer vacations - in February. What begins as her own personal wellness retreat, complete with a disastrous mix of kale smoothies and wild swimming, becomes a delightful story of Sasha reconnecting with herself and the world around her with the help of the small town’s nosy and caring residents.

This book is so much more than a romance (as many Sophie Kinsella books are), and I don’t want to spoil any of it. The characters are lovable and the small town vibes are perfect. If you’re looking for a boost of vicarious encouragement and a lighthearted read, check out The Burnout in stores on October 10th.

Was this review helpful?