Sophie Kinsella is an absolute delight. The Burnout - filled with a super relatable character and hilarious moments - is my idea of a perfect romantic comedy.

There are so many true LOL IRL moments that I lost track, as the main character finds herself in precarious situations. These funny moments offer a great contrast to what otherwise might be a very serious topic (burnout).

To start with our main character, Sasha, what I appreciated most about her is her relatability. I think we’ve all had those moments where life feels like it’s gone bottom up and we wish we could run away or reinvent ourselves completely. To see that reflected was so endearing.

The romance between Sasha and Finn? Heartwarming, sweet, and likely to make you cry happy tears by the end. I loved that both characters found each other at a moment in life where they were both at their wits end. By returning to their childhood vacation spot, they heal and grow together from the strains of working life.

GOSH! Not to mention the entire cast of characters is a delight. There are so many scenes with supporting characters that either had me tearing up with sentimental feels, or tearing up from laughing so hard.

Can’t say enough great things about The Burnout. Indeed, you could say it’s a fantastical, feel-good escape from the pressures of your own 9-5. Bottom line, if you love romantic comedies, you need to read this. ESPECIALLY if you've ever experienced burnout yourself!

My thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Sophie Kinsella for the ARC! A full review will be published on my blog on or before 10/3/23, and I'll edit to provide a link once available.

What I appreciated most about the book was how relatable the main character, Sasha, was. In today's world, where stress and economic struggles are all too common, it was refreshing to see a character who focused on the importance of self-care. The book had a great mix of humor and relatable topics that made it easy to fall in love with Sasha's character. One thing I particularly enjoyed was the way the author described the town of Rilston Bay – I could almost feel the chilly air on my face, just like Sasha did. The only downside to the book was Sasha's relationship with Finn. I didn't feel like their connection was authentic, and something felt off about it. Despite that, I still thought it was a charming story overall.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Random House, The Dial Press and NetGalley for letting me read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have always loved Kinsella's books, but this one? Had me rolling with laughter with every passing page. I loved the simple misunderstandings that become inside jokes, I loved how the community came together and I loved the realistic expectations of working on loving yourself before loving someone else. Five stars, oh my goodness, five stars.

This book was a balm to my tired soul. I wasn't expecting a Kinsella book to hit me so hard, but I related to Sasha in so many ways. Too tired at the end of the day to do anything useful? Check. Overwhelmed by all the tasks of the day? Check. Feeling like I can't drop my own worries and anxieties? Check. The scene on the beach, when Sasha went from feeling free and back to feeling like she was at work all over again in the space of a few seconds, hit so close to home for me.

One thing I consistently love about Kinsella's books is that they always make me laugh, even when the issues characters are struggling with are tough and real. The scene when Sasha is on the beach writing her manifestations about sex made me laugh so hard. There were other scenes when I laughed, too, but that one was my favorite by far. Adding a good dose of humor to a heavy topic like burnout makes it easier for people going through hard times to handle. I know, when I feel stressed and burned out, reading a hard-hitting book is the last thing I want to do. If the book can make me laugh, though, I'll love it!

This book made me feel so happy, seen, and comforted. I loved absolutely everything about it. It's definitely one of my new favorite Kinsella books, right up there with Wedding Night and What's Your Number? I recommend this to anyone stressed about work or life, or anyone who just wants a laugh while reading a cute, wholesome romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for my free ARC. All opinions are my own.

I have not read anything from Sophia Kinsella since high school, and this book reminded me why I enjoyed reading her books. The Burnout is a very hilarious and heartfelt book about two burnout people who went to seek solace in their favorite childhood vacation spot to find happiness again. I loved the chaotic nature of the first few chapters. It constantly made me laugh out loud and made the setup great. I also loved the quirkiness of the Ritson Bay Hotel workers and their hilariously funny notifications in their hotel app. They helped make the book funnier. The relationship between Sasha and Finn was heartfelt. Both of them had to do some personal growth to become willing to start a relationship, and I loved that their shared experiences of burnout and childhood memories helped them connect. It was also fun figuring out who left the messages on the beach.

Thank you to NetGallery and to Random House Publishing for giving me a copy of the book.

When Sasha reaches the end of her rope at work she decides to escape and take a break for a few weeks at the beach. While on her break she discovers her life can hold so much more than it did.

Overall I would give this book 3.5 stars. It started a little slowly and was a little redundant, but then before the halfway mark it picks up and the story takes shape. The characters have great growth and personality and it was fun to go on their journey with them.

A pretty quick read once you get into it I would recommend this book.

I enjoyed this quick read from Sophie Kinsella. There were many laugh out loud moments and I enjoyed meeting the staff of the hotel. The end was cute and predictable and really felt all wrapped up in a bow.

Sasha is burnt out! After finally realizing it and being turned down to join the convent, she goes to the seaside where her family vacationed. Full of humor, heart, quirky characters and a little bit of a mystery, this is a hit!

Fun and relatable! I found myself nodding along while reading and could identify with so many parts of this book. What a fun, laugh out loud funny ride of a novel!

“How am I suppose to write down my aspirations when my only aspiration is stay on top of life and I’m failing at that?”

I could not stop laughing! This book was everything for me!

Sasha is just completely burned out and over it all. So she takes a trip to the beach in the winter and runs into Finn who is also burned out as well.

The hotel crew really added to the book and I could not stop reading. The comedy was 🔥, romance even better and seeing how everything turned around for Sasha was heart warming.

This is a great book to read anytime if you need a good pick me up, if you just want to laugh or if you want some romance.


Thank you, Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the EARC! As always, my review is my opinion and thoughts.

After Sasha has a meltdown at work and tries to become a nun she is sent on a mandatory break. She returns to where her family used to go when she was a child but she hasn’t been there in over 20 years. However, February on the England coast tends to be very quiet except for the other three guests staying at the Rilston hotel, a couple and another single man, Finn, escaping from his burnout.

With her mom (PA) controlling her wellness regimen, a host of quirky employees, and a hotel that’s falling apart at the seams Sasha doesn’t know how she’s going to recover from her episode. That is until her and Finn, start finding mysterious messages at the beach. Uncovering the source of these messages brings them close together and starts to heal them both!

What I loved:
- the setting! I loved picturing the quaint English town. It was the perfect setting for this book.
- The hotel employees. Wow were they quirky which made them so much fun! I loved seeing all their little mannerisms throughout the book.
- The closed door romance. This was the perfect amount of steamy without being uncomfortable.
- The surfing! Between the descriptions of surfing and Terry the instructor this was such a powerful story line.
- The character development. Sasha at the beginning of the book was so frustrating, but Sasha at the end of the book was the best!

What I didn’t like as much:
- there were so many plot lines running at once. The author did a pretty good job at writing so I didn’t get confused, but I wish she cut one or two out to go deeper into the main storyline
- The name of Sasha’s company. I know this is such a small thing but it really annoyed me
- Finn yelling at a kid on the train. I felt like this was a little too far to be redemptive, I looked past it but it was hard to believe someone else would be able to.

(3.5 rounded up). As a dedicated fan of Sophie Kinsella's work, the kind who preorders the new book the moment of its announcement, I have read my share of her best books as well as her worst, but never had I read a book of hers and simply labelled it *gasp* - bland.

The central theme of the story, revolving around Sasha's struggle with burnout caused by her dysfunctional workplace, initially intrigued me. Having experienced burnout myself, I was eager to see how Kinsella would approach this timely and relatable topic. The excessive focus on Sasha's libido (or lack thereof) was oftentimes cringy and detracted from the book's potential depth. Furthermore, the insta-love between Sasha and Finn left me unimpressed. Their romantic connection lacked the necessary chemistry and felt forced, taking away from what could have been a more profound journey of self-discovery and empowerment for Sasha. I found myself uninvested in many of the described events, namely, the revelations surrounding the kayak accident and the mysterious messages on the beach. It was also, unfortunately, sorely missing Kinsella's trademark wit and humor.

To its credit, Burnout did manage to deliver a few redeeming qualities. The use of surfing as a metaphor for embracing life's ups and downs was a clever touch, providing a sense of meaning to the otherwise lukewarm narrative. Additionally, the setting and the quirky side characters at the Rilston hotel added some color to the otherwise lackluster story.

The Burnout had potential to be a charming and sweet light read that delved into pertinent issues like burnout and self-care. However, it failed to fully capitalize on these themes, instead opting for a lackluster romance and shallow nostalgic elements. I can't help but feel that this book falls short of her usual brilliance.

I have always loved Sophie Kinsella’s books, especially the Shopaholic series. The Burnout definitely followed along with those books for me. I laughed quite a few times, and oh man, was I rooting for Sasha and Finn.

I really liked Sasha as a main character. Both she and Finn ended up at a run-down motel from their childhood vacations, and both have essentially been forced to take a mental health break from their jobs and lives. It was evident right away what would happen, but with the way the chemistry was written, I certainly didn’t mind!

I definitely recommend reading this one!

From the first pages of the book, and the words “employee-joyfullness program” I understood that Sophie Kinsella had done a magnificent work with this book 😂.

As a corporate girly I have had both positive and negative job experiences. There have been times when I felt overwhelmed, with emails piling up in my inbox, and the satisfaction of reaching "0 new emails" always eluding me. There were periods when I would go to bed without the gratification of having accomplished everything. Hopefully these periods were always short-lived for me! However, for Sasha, the main female character, she has been feeling like this since she started her new position as the head of special promotions at Zoose, a travel app. Her team is understaffed, and her management doesn't listen to her. She finds herself in a downward spiral where even the thought of cooking a meal feels like too much. When her happiness officer announces that another member of her team has resigned and she will have to take on more projects, she finally snaps.
Following her mother's advice, Sasha decides to take a health break in the seaside town of Rilston Bay, where she used to vacation with her family as a child. She plans to follow an app that promises to transform her into a better person in 20 steps and stay at what used to be the town's most luxurious hotel. However, upon her arrival, she realizes the hotel is run down, it's the middle of February, and she certainly doesn't feel like the fit, healthy girl portrayed in her app. She is welcomed by a quirky hotel crew, which reminded me so much of characters that could be in "Gilmore Girls." : from Cassidy, the receptionist, who embroiders thongs for her Etsy shop; Herbert, the 100-year-old butler, who dozes off in the lobby, and the General Manager who is perpetually "deeply mortified.".
We follow Sasha on her journey to recovery, surrounded by these comical yet endearing characters, and witness her encounters with Finn, a management consultant who has also experienced a meltdown at work, eventually becoming her "burnout buddy."

Did I relate to Sasha a little too much? Absolutely! "The Burnout" served as a great reminder that there is a life beyond the corporate world, and if you don't establish boundaries, no one else will do it for you. "Infinite waves. Infinite opportunities!"

I truly adored this book, not only because the story is heartwarming and relatable, but also because it was incredibly funny. The nun-chasing meltdown, Sacha’s mom addressing the hotel as her PA, and every character in the book made me laugh out loud. Sophie Kinsella skillfully crafted a sweet story while exploring themes of failure, resilience, grief, and self-love.

One thing I would have loved is if the book had included chapters from Finn's perspective, offering a dual point of view. After all, we don't know much about his struggles and I felt like the story just ends a little too fast for me.

Many thanks Netgalley and Penguin Randomn House for the advance reader copy, I had a blast 🫶

Oh how I enjoy a Sophie Kinsella book! Always light, sweet, fun, funny, & slightly unrealistic, and I devour them every time!

I liked how this book had a different setting than a usual SK book - a floundering hotel along the sea, with some surfing thrown in. I want to go check in (after construction, though), and ponder life while watching the water from my lodge. There were some things that happened a little too easily and a few lucky coincidences, but the heart of this book was relatable, and I liked all the characters - I hope we’ll all hang out during my visit. ◡̈

A delightful novel, and I kind of want a second book in a couple of years to see what everyone is up to.

{This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.}

Sophia Kinsella was my gateway to the Brit Chick Lit movement in the early 2000s. Relatable and adorable heroine? Check. Broody but kind hero? Check. Quirky situations and side characters that add warmth to the plot, along with humor? Check and Check. The Burnout brings together Sasha and Finn, who have both been forced to take a holiday to help cure their burnouts, and as it happens, the two have more of a shared history than either would have believed. Their romance is secondary to their journeys in self care, and while the ending could've used a bit more swoon, this newest installment is classic Kinsella, so give this one a chance in October!

Saving a resort hotel is the setting for this fun escapist novel. With Kiinsella's quick wit, the pages fly by and you are totally immersed. A quick lighthearted enjoyable read!

2.75/5 rounded up.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Truthfully, I’m not 100% sure on why I didn’t love this book. A likeable main, a nice romance, focus on wellbeing, and quirky characters, all things that I generally love! Maybe it was the writing around sexual desire? I’m not going to lie, it did rub me the wrong way how people described sexless lives as sad or how our main described herself as “normal” after experiencing desire again - BUT also, that’s gotta be distressing for someone who’s lost their libido and that’s normal for /them/ so I got that too, but the general way it was spoken about didn’t particularly vibe with me, maybe? The constant miscommunications - between Finn, Sasha, the staff - got to me as well. I spent the latter half of the book feeling incredibly frustrated. The hotel staff is supposed to be fun and quirky and unconventional but I couldn’t find it in me to like any of them, and I didn’t particularly care about the subplot from when they were kids, which was a bummer.

That being said, I think I’ll definitely be in the minority with this, and I struggled so much with this rating because I think it was generally written well - I can’t definitively pinpoint if the above reasons are really what threw me off. I did really like our main character though, especially about her feelings for burnout - it was incredibly relatable. The romance isn’t front and center either, and we get to follow our main more as a person, which is great. I think the vast majority of people who read this will enjoy the book; it seems like a book I just unfortunately didn’t mesh well with but hey, it happens.

Sophie Kinsella has knocked this out of the park with the telling of a story that a lot of people are facing at the moment. Burnout. The dread of going to your job, doing your job, having to make too many decisions, never being "off", and always worrying about the number of emails in your inbox. Decision fatigue is a real thing and Sasha has it. She's working in a thankless job that doesn't appreciate her, everything is too much, she purchases the same meals over and over again because she can't stand to make one more decision and then she snaps in a hilarious way. Her mother convinces her to take a holiday and find some peace, and maybe follow the advice of an article that tells her step by step how to achieve a better life. She tries, but some of these things are just not meant to be, and then she meets Finn, a grumpy guy that has his own reasons for being on the beach in the winter. The two keep getting thrown together and together they're forced to talk about their issues and maybe the flames that are happening between them will grow instead of burnout? I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it hit so close to home and made me reflect on my own choices in life and how I combat burnout. I definitely don't do it with the style that Sasha and Finn do, but it still works.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to preview this title.

Fun, frothy novel from Sophie Kinsella. In Kinsella's typical smart writing style, the characters are funny, quirky, and going through life growing pains. Sasha needs to get away from her life, and decides to take a vacation to the beachside town she vacationed at as a child. It's 20 years later, and this time, it's winter, and the once grand hotel there is a faded, rundown version of what it once was. As she heals, she meets and gets to know the quirky hotel employees, and another hotel guest who needed to escape his life as well.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, The Dial Press for the ARC!