What a moving and interesting way for Sophie Kinsella to tell her story in a fiction novel. She is such an optimistic and inspiring person. Hope she has continued positive scans and keeps sharing stories.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely.

Having recently gone through a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, I was a little fearful of reading Sophie Kinsella’s autobiographical novella of her own brain cancer diagnosis. Instead of triggering fear and panic this beautifully written story of Eve, a writer diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma, is heartbreaking but also honest, hopeful and uplifting. Through the fear of her diagnosis and difficult rehabilitation, Eve faces her circumstances with resilience, positivity and a wonderful sense of humour. As a longtime fan of Sophie Kinsella’s books, I am humbled by her strength and courage and wish her many healthy years, to enjoy doing the things she loves surrounded by her loving and supportive family.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group (The Dial Press).

In the first quarter of the book, we live Eve’s charmed life with her. She’s a successful author, married to a wonderful man and the mother of five children. Her latest book has been made into a movie and she’s had her own red carpet experience. But Eve’s life undergoes a major change when she’s diagnosed with stage. 4 glioblastoma, and she’s now focused on the day-to-day challenges involved with fighting her cancer. She takes us along with her on this new journey.
What Does It Feel Like is infused with Ms. Kinsella’s trademark positive attitude and humor in what was undoubtedly a very challenging book to write. The novella features short chapters, with the focus in the After section on an element of the illness or treatment. It’s poignant, heartbreaking, but also with funny moments.
Jodi Picoult calls this “the bravest book you’ll read all year” and I totally agree with her. In her author’s note, Ms. Kinsella wishes everyone a happy ending and I send the wish back to her.
Thanks to Netgalley and Dial Press/Random House for the opportunity to read What Does It Feel Like in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this one blind, thinking it was going to be a lighthearted fun read, and BOY was I wrong! Part fiction, but also autobiographical - this was a departure in terms of story line. It’s short, but packs a gut punch. Def check trigger warnings.

As a longtime reader of Sophie Kinsella, I was excited to discover her new autobiographical novella. It’s extremely moving and I devoured it in one sitting. I wish Ms. Kinsella the best and I hope she gets better soon!

Oh man did this novella make me emotional!! Sophie Kinsella took her real life cancer diagnosis and just absolutely broke my heart with a semi-autobiographical story told in vignettes of regaining memories and bodily functions. This is a completely new territory for her, so completely emotional and personal, and she smashed it out of the park! There are really no words other than thank you to Sophie for being brave enough to put this out into the world and share how it made her feel through the lens of a character very similar to herself.

Thank you so much to Sophie Kinsella and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella is a very highly recommended, heartbreaking, fictionalized, powerful account of the author's real life brain cancer diagnosis. Sophie Kinsella writes that the book "is fiction, but it is my most autobiographical work to date. Eve’s story is my story."

Eve is a successful author, married to Nick, and mother to five children. The novel opens showing her success as an author, and then, abruptly, has Eve waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. Her patient, loving husband is always there to explain what happened and encourage her. She learns, and needs to be told this repeatedly, that she was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma which is a cancerous brain tumor and had an eight hour long operation to remove the large, malignant tumor growing in her brain. The narrative then follows Eve learning walk, talk, and write again, as well as explaining her illness to her children.

After the operation, the story is told through brief chapters. As Eve can't remember anything due to the loss of her short term memory, she must have everything repeated, everyday. Her determination and bravery is shown as she as she learns to walk and talk again, along with doing the most basic things. Her husband is admirably ever patient with her. She even has humorous passages among the heartbreaking ones. The fact that this is based on her real life experiences make it even more compelling, poignant and powerful.

Sophie Kinsella writes, "Why did I write such a personal book? I have always processed my life through writing. Hiding behind my fictional characters, I have always turned my own life into a narrative. It is my version of therapy, maybe. Writing is my happy place, and writing this book, although tough going at times, was immensely satisfying and therapeutic for me."

What Does It Feel Like? is an excellent, heartrending book. Tears are going to fall while reading, but it is definitely worth reading. Thanks to The Dial Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this arc of What Does it Feel Like by Sophia Kinsella.

This novel truly is unlike any other written by Kinsella; but it is equally as heartfelt and enjoyable. As an avid reader of Kinsella I’m used to over the top characters with over the top lives and self created issues. All of these things work out on the end because we all love the happily ever after in a novel and Kinsella is known for her feel good writing.

Eve, an author, is on top of the world. She has a great career, a loving husband, 5 adoring children, a movie deal, and a red carpet walk under her belt. She has proclaimed herself lucky but understands luck will inevitably run out.

After waking up in hospital with her head wrapped in bandages and experiencing short term memory loss she continues to live life on repeat like ground hog day. She’s turned into a version of 50 First Dates. Having been diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor and low odds of survival she realizes her luck maybe running out after all. With time, therapy, and support Eve learns to walk again, regains her recall, and continues to cherish what life has given her not what it’s taken.

Kinsella captures the spirit of illness, recovery, and compassion. The sense of community and gratefulness that comes with sickness and healing. Without giving any spoilers out, I can say even this non traditional novel by Kinsella shows readers the happiness in every ending.

Pub Date: October 8, 2024
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Sophie Kinsella is an auto-read author for me and I couldn't wait to get my hands on her newest book. This is unlike anything else I've read from her yet I was pulled in the second I started reading. It is deeply personal, heartwrenching, and beautifully written. I had no idea it was a fictionalized autobiographical version of her own life until I was a few chapters in and looked up if I had downloaded the book in its entirety or not. It's a short book (only 144 pages) and absolutely worth a read whether you're familiar with the author or not.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely devoured this shorter novel and was blown away by Sophie’s courage to write her own story in fiction.

I clung to every word. Eve, the main character and an author, wakes up in a hospital, remembering nothing of how she got there - and not much else.

Her story shimmers with hope as she figures out what is most important to her and she answers the questions life questions.

Read it in one sitting and recommend it to everyone - with the pub date coming soon!!

All the feels.

Reading “What Does It Feel Like” by Sophie Kinsella felt as impactful as hearing devastating news about a loved one. The way she conveys the raw emotions and frustrations of her brain surgery recovery pulled me in from the very first page. Despite its brevity, the story is so powerful that I found myself finishing it in one sitting.

I had no idea Kinsella was diagnosed with glioblastoma, and discovering that this story was inspired by her own diagnosis made it even more moving. Her honest and heartfelt portrayal of the struggles she faced during her recovery made me deeply appreciate her willingness to share such a personal journey with her readers. I’m grateful she gave us this glimpse into her life and the strength it took to face such an overwhelming challenge.

I was so honored and excited to read this book early. As the main character Eve is a successful writer that is diagnosed with incurable brain cancer, this book is very autobiographical in nature. Kinsella describes the style of this book as vignettes or ‘slices of life’. It is so simply and staggeringly beautiful in its raw, heart-aching, honesty. We are so lucky to live in a world where Sophie Kinsella exists and writes. I hope and pray she’ll get to keep sharing the work of her beautiful brain with us forever.

Thank you to Sophie Kinsella, Dial Press, Random House and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

"What Does it Feel Like?" is a mostly-autobiographical story of the author going from fame and red carpets to learning to live with a terminal cancer diagnosis. Her struggles include short-term memory issues, difficulty walking and talking, anger and depression over her diagnosis, and fear for her family's future without her.

This book was a fast read but quite emotional for anyone who has had a loved one deal with a terminal illness or had to face one on their own. It's a lot of ups and downs, both hopes and fears for the future. A very reflective piece of writing for anyone reflecting on mortality.

*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***

What Does It Feel Like, by Sophie Kinsella, is an absolutely beautiful, heartbreaking, yet hopeful novella!

I read this book without knowing anything about it. The author’s early Shopaholic books were a delight and I remember them getting me through some tough, career building years as a happy escape. I was surprised when this story moved into the main character’s, Eve’s, brain cancer storyline. And I was shocked when I found out at the end that it was autobiographical fiction, based on the author’s own health journey. As hard as the subject is, the author did a beautiful job telling the story in such an honest and hopeful way. I especially loved reading about Eve’s relationship with her husband and her non-bucket list plans. Highly recommend!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy. I loved this one!!

Poignant book though I wish it had been longer - Quick read with all the emotions <3
4 stars
I do miss her earlier works though

Sophie Kinsella tells us the story of Eve. Eve wakes up one day in a hospital with no recollection of her life from the past few weeks. How did she get in the hospital. Eve quickly learns she had a brain tumor that required surgery and will require chemo and radiation in the future.
Sophie uses brief interactions from Eve's net few weeks to tell her story. At the end of Eve's story, you learn this is actually Kinsella's take on her present situation. She herself had surgery, chemo, and radiation due to a brain tumor. I love Kinsella's work and this also doesn't diapooint. Despite being an overall sad book, Sophie fills the book with sweet moments and laughter. She is a gifted story teller. This book is a very quick read but tells a powerful story. Special thanks to NetGalley, Sophie Kinsella, and Random House Publishing Group - The Dial Press for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 4.5 stars for me.
#WhatDoesItFeelLike #NetGalley

Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite authors and I have read most of her books. I absolutely loved What Does It Feel Like, as odd as that sounds. Typically ; I love Kinsella's books for their over the top characters, ridiculous (in a good way) situations and humor this book however is very different. It follows the story of Eve a bestselling author who ends up having brain surgery and after has memory loss. The story follows her struggles and frustrations of not having her memory and having to learn everything over again.

Though this was not only a different than normal Sophie Kinsella book I found myself not being able to put it down at all. I kept cheering for Eve and for "everything to be okay". I absolutely fell in love with Eve's husband and loved reading about how patient and kind he was to her. Though it was an emotional book, I'll definitely keep it on my Nook to read again. I absolutely recommend!

This is a really special book. It is the fictionalized tale of the author’s own experience receiving a terminal brain cancer diagnosis.

From a glimpse at the life of a successful author who seems to “have it all” to a shocking switch to a hospital room where she has no memory of why she’s there, this novella takes us through the stages of life before and after diagnosis. The loving and painful conversations with her husband, tearful discussions and worries with her children, the story is told with humor, some sarcasm, love, and so much grace.

You’ll read this in one sitting and run through all of the emotions in that time. Ultimately we are left with hope for both the fictional and real life author. It was so brave of her to share this story.

This was such a beautiful, poignant book, especially knowing that, while it is fiction, it is based on Sophie's own extremely difficult experience.

This will be so helpful to anyone who wants to understand what a friend or family member is going through when they get a similar diagnosis. I wish I'd been able to read it about six years ago when a friend of mine had glioblastoma.

Thanks very much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the chance to read a digital ARC in advance of publication.

What Does it Feel Like? By Sophie Kinsella

What a beautiful and heartbreaking book. The fictionalized version of the author’s own cancer battle, this is an honest story of the highs and lows of life, family and marriage. It is raw and emotional but still full of humour and love.

I really appreciated the honesty of what it’s like day to day for a caregiver, for the person in treatment and in hospital, and the real moments of support from others.

It’s a thoughtful novella that is sure to increase all our understandings of cancer, and also to connect with all of us who have ever dealt with a sick or injured loved one or been the one in need of help.

Highly recommend this one, unless of course this would hit a little too close to home. It doesn’t hold back and brought me to tears many times.

Thank you to @thedialpress for my @netgalley copy.