Man. This book is very short, very well written, but brutal when you realize it's basically stolen from real life. Sophie and Eve both have five kids, a husband, are writers. And both have brain cancer. It ends hopefully, but man - life is short and this novel/novella illustrates that really well. Four stars.

“What Does it Feel Like?” is a beautiful novella by Sophie Kinsella. I was nervous to read this one. I actually didn’t realize it was a novella till I started reading and I finished it in literally one sitting. It is hard to really rate such a personal story as it is inspired by the author’s own experience with brain cancer. The vignettes tell short and poignant moments in Eve’s experience before and after her cancer diagnosis. Some are funny and some are sad. It is not a complete story because it is only highlights of what this experience is like. As I read, I kept thinking of friends and family who have had similar experiences with their own health. I think everyone will find connection. I especially loved the chapter on happy endings, it truly is a sad irony, even if Eve and Sophie both want to stay positive and keep going.

This was a wonderful and truly inspiring read. Knowing this is an autobiographical novella adds to the layers of awe. Thank you for writing and sharing your heartbreaking yet empowering story!

What Does it Feel Like by Sophie Kinsella might be the most raw and authentic book I've read in a long time. Although it’s fiction, it is deeply autobiographical.

The story centers on Eve, a successful novelist who wakes up in a hospital with no memory of what’s happened. Her husband reveals that a large tumor was removed from her brain, leaving Eve to grapple with the diagnosis and the memory loss that follows.

The short chapters explore profound, almost unanswerable questions, making it a poignant read for anyone facing similar struggles.

Kinsella’s trademark humor and heart are present, but this book goes much deeper, offering a powerful reflection on life’s fragility. I genuinely hope writing this was cathartic for her, and I highly recommend it.

The Shopaholic series got me hooked on Sophie Kinsella, and her books are always a no-questions-asked purchase. I wasn't too sure what I was getting into when I started What Does It Feel Like?, aside from the fact that the book promised to give a glimpse into the author's life in a fictionalized autobiography. What followed was a devastatingly brave, beautifully written account of her experience with a cancerous brain tumor that took so much from her. Sophie writes the book from the perspective of Eve, a successful novelist, who wakes up one day in a hospital bed without her memory. The story is told through snippets of life as she relearns the basics of who she is, how to walk/talk/eat, and how to navigate such a scary diagnosis with the family that loves her. Prepare to have your heart broken and then warmed in this really special novel.

Eve Monroe is a successful author, beloved wife, and loving mother of 5 children; she had no doubt that life has treated her well until one day she wakes up in the hospital with no memory of how she got there. Her devoted husband is left to explain that she had a procedure to remove a large, malignant brain tumor. Told in a series of short vignettes, the reader walks alongside Eve as she relearns how to walk, grapples with memory loss, wrestles with the gravity of her diagnosis, and learns how to live with the grief it brings.

I think many readers my age can remember reading Confessions of a Shopaholic and falling in love with Sophie Kinsella's writing. I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I first opened it, but from the very first chapter Sophie's writing quickly pulled me in once more! Simply put, this is a beautifully written, poignant, and powerful autobiographical fiction. This short novel will both break your heart and warm it right back up with Sophie's impeccable balance of grief and humor. It's a true celebration of life, specifically the life of an author we all love so much! Thank you, Sophie, for your bravery in sharing your story with us all. Your optimism in the face of your diagnosis is inspiring and a reminder to live life "normal plus" every day.

A special thank you to NetGalley, Random House, Dial Press, and especially to Sophie Kinsella for the honor of reading this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest, thoughtful review. 🤍

I've never read a book that broke my heart quite like What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella. This is an autobiographical novel about Eve, an author and mother of five who is diagnosed with glioblastoma. Shortly after walking the red carpet for the movie adaptation of one of her bestsellers, Eve finds herself in the hospital with little memory of what brought her there. Her patient and adoring husband answers her questions daily, explaining that she had a tumor removed from her brain. Although the surgery was successful, the prognosis is alarming. Together they have honest, devastating discussions with their children... and they somehow manage to infuse these conversations with so much humor and hope that you can picture yourself at their table, in front of their Scrabble board, smiling through your tears.

I'm beyond grateful to NetGalley and to Sophie Kinsella, who has been one of my favorite authors for decades, for sharing her story with such bravery and grace.

I was excited to receive an ARC from NetGalley to review "What Does It Feel Like?" by Sophie Kinsella but I was unprepared for the emotional rollercoaster it took me on. This is a short story sort of in the memoir theme of the author's experience with a cancerous brain tumor. The author does a great job at taking a first person narrative at describing her highest high ( writing her bestseller "Shopaholic" and having it turned into a major motion picture) to her lowest low of getting the dreadful cancer diagnosis. This book makes you feel all the feels and empathize with her.

I’ve grown up reading Sophie Kinsella’s books. Her characters are always funny and I always finish her books with a smile on my face. This book is more autobiographical in nature and more like smaller stories telling a fictionalized account of brain cancer. It’s well written and I was on the verge of tears the entire time I was reading it. It has a lovely optimistic ending. I have her and her family in my thoughts and prayers.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars

What Does it Feel Like by Sophie Kinsella is a short story of hope about a woman being diagnosed with and going through treatment of Glioblastoma. While fiction, there are many similarities to the realities the author has faced and is current facing. It’s a glimpse into the life of a brain cancer patient and covers a multitude of emotions from sadness, to humor, to hope.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced digital copy! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Gripping, emotional, heart-wrenching, and thankfully hopeful. Inspired by a difficult time in the author's life, this novella shares the feelings and fear associated with the life of a cancer patient. Told in a humorous fashion, readers will despair and rejoice in the Hemingway-esque vignettes that comprise the ups and downs of what it means to live an uncertain life.

I love Sophia Kinsella, so hearing about her diagnosis I was devastated for her and her family. The fact that she was able to create a fiction book that is so raw, and personal I think is a beautiful thing. It gives a glimpse into the world of someone dealing with knowing each day could be their last and having to relearn that daily. This book is poignant, honest, and beautiful. I especially enjoyed the part where Eve sits down to write a bucket list. This book is different from any of Sophia’s other books, but I loved that it was. It had to be to deliver the message in such a wonderful way.
Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group, Dial Press, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

More of a novella, this story was based on recent events that took place in the authors life. While the story was both tragic and uplifting, it didn't feel like a complete story to me. I love everything that Sophie Kinsella has done and can't imagine what she must have gone through during this time but this felt like it should be a short story in a magazine, not a book,

The last thing Eve remembers before waking in the hospital is walking the red carpet.

What I’d first like to say is that I walked into this book completely blind. I requested this book from NetGalley because I’ve always found Sophie’s books to be lighthearted and fun and didn’t even bother to read the synopsis.
This book is not like her others.

This is an autobiographical novella that is heartbreaking and raw. This gives you a glimpse of what it must feel like to have to retrain your brain and body, to recover from short term memory loss and to come to terms with a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this advanced ebook in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to Sophie Kinsella for writing this book.

This (somewhat) autobiographical telling of Sophie Kinsella's struggles with brain cancer is beautiful. Heart-breakingly sad at points and funny at others (only Kinsella can make brain cancer funny), What Does It Feel Like? is the story of Kinsella's cancer diagnosis and her attempts to rebuild her life. Told in Kinsella's unique voice, this book will have you feeling all the feels and smiling through your tears. A must read!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

It had been a while since I’ve read any Sophie Kinsella books so I was immediately drawn to this when I saw it. As soon as opened the book, I was immediately hooked. I didn’t realize that I would be going through so many emotions in the one hour that it took me to read this book. It’s so well-written and very highly recommended.

Short but powerful! Eva is learning to relearn pretty much everything and rebuild her life after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Heartfelt and moving.

I made the mistake of picking this up while at work. I had to fight back tears reading this raw, devastating and beautiful book. It was so relatable with my own five kids and recently going through health issues of my own. Five stars from me and would definitely recommend…just not while at work 😆

I enjoyed What Does It Feel Like?, even when it was making me cry. Author Sophie Kinsella has written, basically an autobiographical novel about her cancer experience. Kinsella is one of my favorite authors and I have read many of her novels under this pen name and her real name, Madeleine Wickham.
Fictional character, Eve, an author with five children, wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. Eve has a glioblastoma brain tumor, which has been removed, and starts her recovery journey. She is scared, but with her husband, Nick, and her kids, she learns to cope by taking each day as it comes and find humor as much as possible. I laughed and cried while reading it.
I probably cried more than others because my nephew passed away in 2014, at the age of 36, from an inoperable glioblastoma tumor on his brain stem. According to this novel, most people only survive 14 months after diagnosis. Sophie has survived longer than that already, and I am rooting for her to beat the odds. Thank you to #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishing for an advance copy ebook to review.

It has been years since I read a book by Kinsella. And this one was heartbreaking & heartwarming all wrapped up in one. Finding out it was autobiographical fiction, brought tears to my eyes. Well done.