I absolutely loved this book! I laughed and cried. Sasha and Finn forever!

The supporting characters are delightful and I would love a spinoff book that focuses on Cassidy and the hopeful return of The Rilston to being a successful, but still kooky, hotel. All the staff are gems.

I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from Random House Publishing Group through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Random House Publishing Group! I will definitely be purchasing a copy for my bookshelf!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This book was really cute. I honestly got a little bored in the beginning because the love interest didn’t even show up until 23% in. Then things started to happen and the story started to move more but it was so slow.

I did feel like there were some plot holes…like what happened between him and Olivia? And the ending was so abrupt I kept trying to turn more pages and realized that was it!

All in all it was very cute but I felt like it was lacking a spark.

The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella is a timely novel about finding yourself again after getting lost under the immense pressures of the modern workplace. A marketing executive at the massively popular travel start-up Zoose, Sasha Worth is drowning under too much work and poor management. She snaps, tries to join a convent, and ends up running into a (literal) brick wall. At the encouragement of her mom and sister, Sasha takes three weeks off work and travels to her childhood holiday destination Rilston Bay.

But Rilston Bay isn't what she remembers, and the once glamourous hotel is falling into disrepair. Not to mention, Sasha's well-meaning mother has posed as her PA and represented that Sasha is a health nut, so she can't even gorge herself on good food & drink while she's there. Her vacation is again thrown into chaos when she finds out a mean-spirited man from the train is one of the very few other guests at the hotel, and he's coopted her rock.

Finn Birchall is also completely burnt out - the circumstances around his mandated break from work are a bit vague, but he seems to be reacting much like Sasha. After a few tense interactions, they broker a peace and decide to explore their old haunts together. The more time they spend together, the more Sasha realizes she's coming alive, and she also starts to fall for Finn.

I like Sophie Kinsella, but I sometimes find her FMC to be a little too quirky and hot mess-ish. That's not the case here. Sasha is a qualified and smart marketing exec who suffers from having completely incompetent superiors. She also doesn't fall into the usual trap of throwing herself at a man who doesn't deserve her. Finn may be a mess, but he's kind and their relationship feels on equal footing on balance.

I quite enjoyed this one. It's not perfect, but for what it is, it's a great read. Anyone looking for an escape from the capitalist nightmare we're all living in will quite enjoy this one. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella is a great contemporary romance that I really enjoyed.

I really enjoyed this opposites attract, coming together, through extenuating circumstances and a similar escape location, from different backgrounds and perspectives. This developing romance between the main two characters was engaging and entertaining.

Sasha and Finn are fun characters with heartfelt, sometimes serious and sometimes humorous, interactions and with the bit of mystery and obstacles tossed their way, find some of the answers they were seeking in the end.

4/5 stars


Thank you NG and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, The Dial Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/10/23.