Anytime you pick up a book by Sophie Kinsella, you know you're in for a fun romp of a read. The Burnout is absolutely that.
Sasha has had enough of her job and her life. When she "burns out" in a most spectacular way, she knows she needs to make a change. But how?
Finn has his own set of problems, not the least of which is that he is angry - all the time.
Join these two together and BOOM! It is the collision of the century. The Rilston Bay is seaside resort that had been visited by both during childhood. Each had chosen this place to take time to reflect on what brought them to this point and how they can move forward. But neither Sasha nor Finn were prepared for the Rilston's disrepair, nor did they wish to share their "sacred space" with the other. It is the perfect storm for a perfectly wonderful read.
This book is hilarious. A dilapidated hotel, an ancient bellman, an overly apologetic hotel manager, kale smoothies and cold rainy weather join to make the perfect backdrop for this story that is funny, odd, and sweet. While I admit that there were times that I was basically yelling at one character or another for making a boneheaded decision, I mostly just loved the book. If you are looking for a fun way to spend a few hours, look no further than The Burnout.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Dial Press for granting me the opportunity to read an ARC of this fantastic book.

The Burnout is at times laugh out loud funny! The characters (especially the side characters like the hotel staff) are so quirky, it’s easy to find them so lovable. Sasha is so burnt out it’s almost driving her mad, and she acts so outrageous it’s laughable. Kinsella puts into words how so many people are feeling as of late - burnt out from her job and too mentally/physically exhausted to do anything about it after work! It was sooo relatable.

I feel like this book is less of a romance and more of a contemporary take on mental health / taking care of oneself with a romantic air to it? But I liked the two main characters together! Both Sasha and Finn have things to work out on their own and it’s nice seeing them complement each other without giving up parts of themselves for the sake of being together. Again, I really feel like the romance was more of a side plot (on top of being a slow burn), which was something I wasn’t expecting walking into this book based on the description.

There’s also a small mystery element to this book?? Which was very unexpected hahaha, but not unnecessarily unwelcome! I just feel like on top of the drama going on in both of Sasha’s and Finn’s respective lives, adding that tinge of mystery to the book felt over the top. But it added a lot of quirk to this contemporary romance. I think that bit probably knocked this book down a star, but I don’t regret reading this at all. It had a lot of wise words to say about living life to the fullest and making sure you’re prioritizing your own well-being. Overall, I think the characters were funny enough and I’ll definitely look into Sophia Kinsella’s other books!

I couldn't put this book down while on my flight! This was a very cute, quick read from Sophie Kinsella. I have read many of her books over the years, and can still count on them to make me smile, laugh, and fall for the characters. This one has a host of fun, quirky side characters and a sweet side plot involving an old surf instructor. The workers at the hotel provide lots of entertainment too. This is a lighthearted read with fun tropes, enemies to friends to lovers and small town charm. I found this to be an adorable slow burn rom com.

How to describe job burnout? When you are so stressed at work that you run out of the office and try to join a peaceful, quiet convent. Or when you flee, chased by a nun and run into a brick wall? How about threatening to take a chainsaw to the office ficus plant? Punching a vending machine? These are just a few of the things that bring Sasha Worth and Finn Birchall to the formerly grand, luxury seafront hotel of their childhood, the Rilston. Neither wants anything to do with the other (hint: you know that won’t last). In fact, Sasha’s mother has requested a special wellness regime for her. But the sea works its magic, helped by the quirky hotel employees who remain on duty, and soon both are trying to solve the mystery that haunted their childhoods.

The Burnout is Sophie Kinsella at her best. Characters you want to read more about, scenes that are funny and sad at the same time and snappy dialogue make this a fast read that you won’t want to end. And, I promise, Terry and the surfers will make you cry. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Sophie Kinsella for this ARC.

Kinsella is on the list of authors I read every single time they publish a new book! This story was great. A quick book to get through in traditional Sophie style! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I was entertained from beginning to end.

Sophie Kinsella’s latest tells the story of Sacha, who is so burned out with her job she tries to join a convent and runs into a brick wall. In order to recover, she heads to the seaside resort she went to as a child. It is the middle of winter, but she must nonetheless share the beach with a surly man, who claims he is also burned out. Moments in this story made me laugh out loud, and I breezed through it.

3.75 stars rounding up

As someone who has experienced burnout (I mean... haven't we all??), there was a lot that I could relate to during this book. The lack of wanting to do anything, not taking care of yourself, letting your life pass you by while you hyperfixate on one thing. It's a viscous cycle that's easy to be sucked into. I enjoyed that this book painted that picture.

The story picked up around the 30% mark. Before then, it felt manic and rushed, and every character was just OUT THERE. They all felt like too much. Once Finn was introduced, I got sucked in. I literally read almost all of it in one sitting from that point on. I enjoyed his character so much, because he was a refreshing change from everyone else.

There were some funny moments, like Sasha wanting to join a convent, that made me crack up and helped lighten the mood. It was an enjoyable read. Especially if you feel like work is becoming a little too much.

*This review has been posted on Goodreads on 8/19.*

This light-hearted enemies-to-lovers romance is perfect for a beach read, or sitting by a cozy fireplace as the weather gets cooler.
Sasha and Finn both fondly remember their summers at Rilston beach as children, even if they never met each other then. Fast forward 20 years and both of them are burned out from overwork in London and find themselves back at Rilston in an attempt to rekindle the joy and relaxation that time at the beach had created before. Except the fancy hotel they remember is much more tired and shabby than it was then, and it's February, and when they do meet, they are too cranky and tired and end up detesting each other. Until time at the beach does start to work its magic, and they discover so much that they have in common--like taking surfing lessons from the same inspirational teacher way back then--as well as the chemistry that happens once they are less stressed.
Unfortunately, most of the other characters in the story are pretty much one dimensional in order to shine a better light on both Sasha and Finn, but on the whole, there are some laugh-out-loud moments, and it is a fun book to read.

This was so much fun!

There were so many things I enjoyed about The Burnout:
- The humour
- How relatable the main character is
- The quirky, hilarious, and ultimately loveable secondary characters
- The touching and inspiring addition of a beloved surfing instructor
- The funny, awkward, heartwarming transition from enemies to lovers
- The excellent banter
- The tongue-in-cheek look at wellness/personal improvement schemes
- The return to a special place from childhood

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to immerse myself in this delightful mental vacation. I'll be recommending The Burnout widely.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Pub date October 2023

Sasha is very likable. Anyone working in the past few years can relate to the burnout she is experiencing. And Kineslla with her trademark humor finds the perfect derelict hotel for Sasha to escape to for recovery. (Plus a handsome love interest).

This was super cute. A mishmash of grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, and forced proximity romance tropes. While reading this I initially hoped this was satire on burn out, but unfortunately it is rather accurate just slightly exaggerated for comedic effect. There was also really sweet side plots sprinkled throughout the book that I found just as enjoyable as the plot between Sasha and Finn. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars was because the mystery element was a little lack luster for me.

This is a great book for anyone in the mood for a light read or someone who enjoys rom com books with very mild spice.

I love this book, it had it's grip on me from the first chapter! Definitely bound to be a big hit.

Thank you Random House publising and NetGalley for the chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was such a cute romance that I couldn't put down. The overall story was cute and I would recommend to a friend

I’ve been a fan of Kinsella for the past 15 years and she always knows how to deliver some solid chick-lit. I can always count on a charming, witty read by her. The Burnout was classic Kinsella. A main character going through a life crisis, a closed-off love interest working through his own issues, and a lovable cast of hilarious side characters. Check, check, and check. I especially loved the idyllic small-town setting and returning to a place you treasured in your childhood. The little mystery was fun and interesting. Above everything else, I really loved how relatable and thought-provoking this read was. Burnout is a very real issue that I know a lot of my fellow millennials go through and it was well-captured here, as well as working through it in a healthy manner and coming out the other side stronger. If you’re a fan of women’s fiction with a side of enemies to lovers, vacation romance then I highly recommend.

I absolutely loved this book!! I couldn’t put it down.
I just loved all the characters. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the advanced copy of The Burnout. I thoroughly enjoyed this quirky, feel-good novel by Sophie Kinsella. This book was hilarious and reminded me of the humor of earlier Kinsella novels like 'Can You Keep a Secret?' I found myself laughing out loud at the ridiculous circumstances that Sasha finds herself in, as well as the bizarre hotel staff.

Despite the humor, this book also offers a great, heartfelt story about a woman who is burnt out trying to keep up with all the modern demands of being a corporate woman. She is signed off work for a wellness break and heads back to the place her family loved to vacation when she was a child. In the process, she meets a grumpy man who doesn't like anyone or anything (or so she thinks) and forms a unique relationship. However, this is much more than just your typical "lost woman trying to find herself" or "enemies to lovers" trope. I wouldn't call this your typical romance novel because the characters (all of them) form meaningful friendships as they begin to understand each other and the little romantic touches are just a bonus (read: if you're looking for a steamy romance, this isn't it).

Overall, I ended up really enjoying this read and would recommend to anyone looking for a quick, meaningful, and often funny novel! 4 stars.

Sasha is a relatable character and her burnout is so real right now. I felt it in my core. The emails! I enjoyed the beach and her relationship with Finn and the family nostalgia. And Terry! Kinsella does it again. Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC.

4 stars. It was kind of funny and cute at times - definitely chaotic characters. But I was frustrated with the fmc for like half the book. She was just stressing me out and her life was giving me second hand stress so I guess good job portraying burnout/stressful situations and feelings.

In Kinsella's typical smart writing style, the characters are funny, quirky, and going through growing pains. A little slow to start read with relatable characters that are burnt out with life and the stress at work. This book has a enemy to lovers chick lit romcom

I feel like I was experiencing burnout along with our main character. (I mean this in a good way.)

This was a very honest, vulnerable take on life. I loved how amusing the undertones were, and how we got a good mix of funny situations with some raw-felt emotions. I felt so much empathy for Sasha and Finn, and I liked that we got to see the different ways in which burnout can affect people. Their personalities, reactions, and mannerisms felt so real given their situations and feelings, and I liked that Kinsella didn't shy away from showing us every side of them. It really made seeing them heal and reclaim themselves that much more satisfying in the end.

But while I enjoyed and liked the story, it stayed pretty level throughout. A lot of times, I rate books depending on the emotions they emit from me, and while this one didn't land flat for me, I also didn't feel the strongest attachment toward it. So I'm giving 3 stars not in any kind of negative way, just in a, this was a great story, but I didn't necessarily receive any strong emotions from it. That's not to say that I didn't feel the character's emotions and burnout through the pages, because I did, and Kinsella does a stellar job at showing these things!

I still recommend checking this one out in a few months. I see so many reviewers love it, and I just know that it's going to resonate with loads of people!!

Thank you Random House and The Dial Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! Can't wait to read more of Sophie Kinsella's stories in the future!