I probably should have read the description before reading this book. A beautiful love story based on Sophie Kinsella’s own story. My only critique is that it was too short. I read it all in one sitting and it moved me to tears.

First I would like to thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC of this novel.

I went completely into this book blind only knowing that I have loved so many of Sophia Kinsella’s books before. I didn’t even know it was a novella. It hit me so hard and I found this book sad, beautiful and positive all at the same time. It made me both smile and cry in the short time it took me to read it.

I don’t know how you rate it anything but 5/5 considering so much of it is autobiographical.

Sophie Kinsella's latest auto-biographical novel is deeply moving and takes you through so many different emotions. I actually didn't know it was her own story until I finished and was reading the author's notes at the end. She brings a sense of humor to the most difficult of situations and maintains a sense of hope. I am praying for and rooting for this talented author and amazing human. Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the ARC!

Review: What Does it Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella’s books, since I discovered them in university, have been an auto read for me. The heroines feel real. They bumbled through life with humorous and positive thoughts despite often dealing with very real issues — burnout, family drama, grief, and others.

Kinsella’s What Does it Feel Like? is different than her previous, but with just as much heart. The topic, cancer, is explored with an autobiographical feel —she admits that it is in the postscript— which takes the reader on the life-changing journey with the protagonist, Eve. However, much like Kinsella’s other novels, hope, positivity, community, and love shine through the dark moments of confusion and memory snippets. This short novel draws you in from the very start and is written with an insight and depth that allows the reader to, even in a small way, walk alongside Eve’s experience.

A truly beautiful rendering of Kinsella’s experience with her open and welcoming prose. Thank you to Random House Canada and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is my first Sophie Kinsella book and now I want to read more of her books. I didn’t know it’s a novella but I loved it. It’s heartbreaking, humorous, and beautiful all at the same time. If you read it, make sure to read the author’s note at the end. She is so brave and her optimism is infectious.

Sophie was one of this first authors as an adult reader that grabbed my attention. I love her witty and beautiful stories. She is truly an amazing writer.

This novella is beautifully sad, informative, and little funny at times and heartbreaking. This book may be fiction, but it is loosely autobiographical of Sophie Kinsella’s life. To be diagnosed with an incurable cancer and the ins and outs of how to navigate it. The treatments, telling your five children and family and friends.

This book follows Eve who wakes up in a hospital bed not remembering where she is, after having a brain tumor removed. It navigates the ups and downs of her cancer diagnosis of glioblastoma and having to learn how to do everything again, treatments and figuring out life with an incurable cancer.

I give praise to Sophie Kinsella for telling this story. I pray that she is more than the percentage that doctors put on paper and that she continues to have good days.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing - The Dial Press for this eARC. It was truly an honor to get to read this book and review it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy of What does it feel like? While this is fiction, it’s loosely based on Sophie’s real life experiences. And for that, it’s one of my favourite pieces from her. We meet Eve, a patient, waking up in the hospital without any recollection of why she’s there. Follow her story as she navigates her life, from learning to walk, talk, and live again. Eve’s story is one many can find relatable, even if cancer isn’t something you or a loved one has experienced. Read as she and her family do their best to find their way through the most uncertain of time. Through love, humour and emotion we find our way through grief that comes with such a change as Eve and her family have experienced. Definitely worth a read, Kinsella fan or not.

*** Book Review ***

This one is tough to rate because while it is fiction it is also one the author claims as the most autobiographical book she’s written.

Going through medical hurdles is in every sense of the word, hard. I’m lucky in the way that I can’t relate to the depth in the scenario in the book but have enough experience of my own to be sympathetic and understanding of all the emotions, grief, worry and healing all going on at once. I love the the author chose to share it albeit fictionalized to a degree.

As for the story, I felt parts could have been expanded, especially the beginning portion. I think more details leading up to the diagnosis would have set the stage more completely allowing for a more drastic shift from pre and post diagnosis storytelling. The choppiness and the vignettes of the post diagnosis portion make sense. It’s very reminiscent of life amongst medical chaos.

Overall, it was a quick read yet impactful, brave, and emotional all in one go. Thank you NetGalley, Dial Press and the author for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for a review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

#netgalley
#whatdoesitfeellike
#sophiekinsella

4 🌟

This novella was heartbreakingly beautiful.

As someone who has read all of Sophie's books, I went into this book blind, not realizing it was about her own cancer journey. Imagine my surprise when I found myself 😭 instead of 🤭 like normal. I thought this was such a good way for Kinsella to take her story and put her 😘 on it, like the amazing author she is.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

I love Sophie Kinsella so when I saw a new book was releasing I immediately wanted to read it and didn't even read the description until I was ready to start reading it. It's a different type of book, but so fantastic!

After we are introduced to Eve as a successful writer who has a family that is made up of her husband and 5 children, we quickly get immersed in her world of confusion when she wakes up in the hospital with a bandage on her head. We then continue through her progression of going through speech and physical therapy and manage all the well-wishes from her social circle while trying to still be there for her family.

Given that it was such a personal story for Kinsella, she did an incredible job really putting me as the reader in her shoes. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an copy of the the ebook!

A fictional story, yet somewhat based on true life. This story was gut-wrenching and made me so sad to see what the MC Eve went through. It was nice to see what support she had from family and friends. I truly encourage anyone who has dealt with cancer to read this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. I love Sophie Kinsella books and couldn’t wait to read this one. Fair warning… this is not a shopaholic type book. This is very different from her usual light hearted fare. I had no idea the health struggles she has faced and I think this book did a great job of seeing it through her eyes. Honestly, a little sad and hard to read at times. However, I recommend it to all of her fans.

A very short read. I had no idea of this authors struggles and I wish her all positive thoughts and healing. This was a great insight into her struggles. So impressed with her tenacity and endurance, and writing!

A fictional story based on real life events, I can’t say this is what I was expecting. The book makes you feel like you’re dropped in on intimate moments, but ultimately lacked depth.

Este no es un libro, es un relato de lo que Sophie ha estado pasando desde que fue diagnosticada con glioblastoma de grado 4 en el 2022. Es corto, pero desgarrador, doloroso, inspirador y esperanzador.


Sophie, gracias por compartir tu experiencia y de todo corazón espero que todo salga bien para ti, para tu esposo y tus hijos. Eres una mujer increíble.




Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, The Dial Press, and Sophie Kinsella for an advanced copy of What Does It Feel Like? in an exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was truly honored to have been selected as a reviewer for this one.

Even though I mostly enjoy horror and thriller novels, anything Sophie Kinsella writes will always hold a special place in my heart. I've been following her work since I first read Confessions of a Shopaholic back when I was in high school (which was roughly 20 years ago now), whether it's following the shenanigans of Becky Bloomwood or any of the characters from her numerous standalone novels. Somehow, each book arrives at a time in my life when I need a laugh or a character that I can relate to with the struggles that I'm going through. This novella was no different, even though I knew this one was going to be vastly different from her others, rawer and more personal. Somehow, I was still able to relate to her struggles and find comfort in her words.

Without reading the author's note at the end, I knew this was going to be more autobiographical. From the reference to "writing what you know," the nod to her Confessions of a Shopaholic series, to her diagnosis/surgery/chemo/recovery (based on interviews), it was obvious that this was not her usual lighthearted fiction novel. I really appreciated her vulnerability, and I admire her even more for her courage and optimism through it all. The way she still found a way to inspire others, and still have a happy ending full of hope despite how difficult things had gotten is nothing short of miraculous. She beat the odds to write another book when most people wouldn't be able to, and she was able to still be her hopeful/positive self and spread that positivity to everyone else.

This novella was truly special, and once again I was blown away. I read this in one sitting. I laughed at the jokes. I sobbed. I'm forever grateful to Sophie for giving us another inspirational, comforting story. This novella will be one that I will reread when I'm going through difficult times, because it will remind me that by taking things one day at a time and having hope, I can still have my happy ending.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC of this title.

Beautiful. Inspiring. Insightful. Sophie Kinsella amazed me with this book. First, it is a short story...less than 150 pages....but the characters were incredible. The author mentioned how closely this book followed her own path and I definitely think that added to the beauty of it. The layout made for a fast, amazing read. I don't give out 5 stars but well done, Sophie Kinsella, and you deserve my five stars!

Based on the author's battle with brain cancer, this novel tugs at the heartstrings while being interwoven with Kinsella's witty brand of humor that is purely her own.

Wow, what an inspiring & beautiful, somewhat autobiographical novella by Sophie. I want to preface by saying Sophie is by far one of my most favorite authors. I have been reading her books for years, and every time a new book comes out it is an automatic buy for me. I had read about Sophie’s cancer in a People magazine article and immediately began to cry. I couldn’t imagine a world without her words and “happy endings.” I was so happy to receive this book and read her story. I am in awe at her bravery and optimism and sharing it with us, her readers. This book will have you in tears and reminds you everyday is a gift. It is such a good reminder to stay positive throughout any obstacle you face in life. It was (as all her books) written so beautifully, sarcastically and heartfelt. My thoughts and prayers go out to Sophie. Just thank you for sharing your amazing journey!
Thank you to Netgallery and Random House Publishing Group for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A quick read. This book is written in a different style of writing than a traditional novel. Instead of a fluid story that follows a chronological storyline, it’s snapshots of moments remembered. The style seems fitting as the main character Eve wakes up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. She later finds out that she has had surgery to remove a cancerous brain tumor. Eve struggles with her short term memory as well as the tension between grief and hope. This book reminds me that there can still be moments of laughter and joy in the midst of hard things. And there is always place for optimism.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.