What an incredibly moving way for Sophie to share her life for the past couple of years with her readers. She has said that while this is not an autobiography, it definitely has close ties to her own personal story, and that was apparent from page one. Eve getting the idea for Hey Big Spender made me smile, knowing this was a reference to one of my favorite series EVER.

I loved the format of this novella. How the story came in snippets and burns, texts and conversations. It felt fitting for the subject matter, and was a beautiful way to ease the reader in to a difficult moment in someone’s life. Kinsella’s unwavering honesty, bravery, and openness will undoubtedly help readers who may be struggling with something of their own, and I am so happy that she is currently stable and will hopefully be writing books for years to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the arc. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC. A heartfelt and poignant novella about receiving life's worst news, and the denial, turmoil, fear, bravery, love and hope that comes with that journey. I’ve been a fan of Sophie Kinsella’s books for over ten years and, while this is certainly a more serious and autobiographical work of fiction than her previous novels, it still had Kinsella’s signature British wit and silly style of storytelling that I’ve always enjoyed. Even with the subject matter, I found myself laughing at some parts. As a friend of someone with cancer, I appreciated the raw vulnerability and honest look at what the diagnosis, chemo and rehab part of treatment is like. I enjoyed breaking up the story with vignettes as a way of moving the timeline along or zooming out of the story to hear from Eve’s loved ones during her recovery. I also loved the author's note at the end as a peak into what events in the book actually happened. I requested this ARC after seeing an interview with Sophie Kinsella and her husband on Night Line and their marriage was clearly an inspiration for Eve and Nick’s relationship. Big thank you to Kinsella for sharing such a raw part of herself with her readers.

Sophia Kinsella has been a long time favorite author of mine and this latest book, What Does It Feel Like, is the most honest, raw book I think she has ever written. I knew before I started the book that I had read online that she has undergone a brain tumor removal and this book is basically based around her experience with living a glorious, blessed life and then being handed unimaginable news. Having a front row seat to this exact type of brain tumor when a close aunt of mine passed several years ago, I can only imagine how hard it was for Sophie to open up her heart and soul and put these thoughts and feelings on paper for the world to see. The book itself was a fast and easy read which is usually the case for her books although it was in a slightly different format than I've used to. To say I enjoyed the book seems to trivial. I laughed and cried and read it in only a few hours.... the whole time, having immense admiration that Sophie could write this story from such a place of love, happiness and positivity. Thank you, Netgalley, for letting me read an advanced copy of this book and thank you, Sophie, for being so brave and putting your story of hope and love out there for others.

This book is a quick read. But it will make you feel so much. It is a hard book to read. I want to cry for the author and her family. I am so thankful that her condition is currently stable!

What Does It Feel Like' is an amazing but tough read that delves into the emotional journey of a woman who wakes up in the hospital and discovers she has cancer. The novella captures her experiences as she navigates the diagnosis and the profound impact it has on her and her family. Knowing that this is also Sophie Kinsella's own story adds an extra layer of depth and poignancy. It's a powerful, deeply personal read that resonates long after you finish it.

This story is about a woman who’s a novelist. She wakes up one day in the hospital and doesn’t know what brought her there. She finds out she had surgery on a tumor in her brain and it was cancerous. She talks about leaving behind her 5 kids and her husband and different ways to cope with radiation and chemo. It’s an autobiographical novel, as the author went through some of the same things the woman in the book did when she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma tumor. This one was hard for me to rate. I went into it blind and didn’t realize it was only 150 pages long. This made it hard to get really attached to the characters. I also didn’t realize it was autobiographical until the end. It’s touching & inspiring but hard for me to read. Reading about cancer gives me anxiety & I didn’t realize it was about all the author’s feelings surrounding her diagnosis. Overall I’m glad I read it and think the author was really brave to share her feelings about this very difficult subject. Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy. 3 1/2 stars rounded up.

Whew! Did not expect this at all.I was definitely cutting onions as I read this short book.So very different from her usual writing.Will definitely encourage someone going through cancer.
Thankyou Netgalley and Sophie Kinsella for this ARC

An amazing novella that had me sobbing yet filled with hope. I love Sophie Kinsella's books and I really hope she gets her happy ending. This book is based on her life yet it is fiction. However as a reader you can sympathize with what she really must be going through based on Eve's life. My own father died of cancer and this book really resonated with me. If you have ever read any Sophie Kinsella book, you have to read this book. I will warn you though bring the Kleenex but know that as heartbreaking as it is, it is filled with hope, strength, and love.

Thank you to Dial Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Sophie Kinsella, and Random House for providing me with a copy of this heartwarming, poignant, life-affirming book. I’ve been a fan of Kinsella’s books for many years, and while this story is a departure from her usual lighthearted fare, it is deeply poignant. The book, which has a semi-autobiographical touch, mirrors Kinsella's own experience with an incurable brain tumor and the challenges of relearning basic skills.
Kinsella's bravery in sharing such a personal and painful journey is truly admirable. It’s a privilege how she shares insight into her fierce battle with cancer through her writing with her readers. The courage it takes to create such a work while prioritizing your health and family is immense, and it evokes deep respect for her resilience. Reading it brought to mind Princess Catherine and Celine Dion singing at The Olympics after revealing their private health battles. This book, infused with humor yet carrying a profound message, reminds us to embrace life fully and hold onto hope despite the uncertainties of tomorrow.
As author Kinsella writes, “Fate’s the boss. And there are no teasers. All we can do is wait and see what happens.”
I sincerely hope Sophie Kinsella feels the immense love and support from her readers. Her stories have brought so much joy into our lives. As a grateful reader, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to her. I have laughed and cried with her, and I wish her nothing but healing energy and peace. I encourage everyone to read this book; it will inspire you to cherish and make the most of the life you have. 4.5/5

Wow. The amount of emotion Sophie pulled out of me in 144 pages is wild. Reading this disjointed storyline made me so frustrated for Eve - the thought of having to have your husband tell you your terminal diagnosis over and over because you can’t remember? Just rip my heart out first.

Knowing how autobiographical this was made it harder for me to read. She fictionalized parts of it, but the general story is her own. The ending gave me hope and I think that’s what she was going for. I hope she can continue to write because I find her books so comforting.

This one was not comforting but I HIGHLY recommend it. I read it in one sitting and it brings you insight into her mind as she went thru the hardest time in her life. I think it’s a story everyone should read.

How do you rate somebody’s autobiography?? although Sophie Consella uses fictional characters, this is her story. And it’s heartbreaking. I loved everything about this book and I was sobbing at the end. Thank you Sophie, for allowing us to know what you went through and sharing this season of life with us.

Raw and honest! I'm so happy that it's a happy ending. This is her autobiography in many forms. It's a short but powerful read.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Random House Publishing Group - Random House and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review

How did I nor realize how short What Does It Feel Like? would be?? Eve is a character that I want to spend more time with. As with all of Kinsella's characters (which given that she admits this is her most autobiographical work to-date...is Eve really even a "character"?), Eve is laugh-out-loud funny and brought many smiles to my face despite the serious subject matter. I loved how it was written in snippets, because it reminds me of how my brain works and how I write things down. My only complaint is that it was too short!!!

Thank you to Sophie for writing this book. It’s raw and inspiring and beautiful. Sharing and describing an absolutely devastating experience with grace and humor.

Total honesty - I love Sophie Kinsella's books and because of that I didn't really read what this novel was about. I just jumped right in and started reading and then realized that this book was very different then her normal books. However, major applause and admiration to Sophie Kinsella for her bravery and ability to share such a raw, powerful and deeply emotional time in her life. I loved the book. Its a quick read and worth every minute of it.

Another great SK book! This one was especially interesting (and heartbreaking) knowing it was based on Sophie's real life experience. So glad she's ok, and so thankful she let us in to this part of her life.

I love Sophie Kinsella, and this is a very personal, hopeful book. I enjoyed reading it immensely, and I was shocked that the author had gone through so much.

While a very serious subject, Kinsella makes most things easily readable with her light-hearted deft touch. I would recommend this title.

Story of Eve, a successful author, her daily struggles of her life changing diagnosis. What struck me is no matter how hard, how insanely difficult it is to overcome , she still has a sense of humor. The little bits of silliness, turning a struggle into a funny situation. We get a glimpse of her internal struggles and the private break downs. This is not a story of fiction but an autobiography of Sophie Kinsella and her way of telling her own story. Hard to read but appreciate the way she told it. Highly recommend!

Sophie Kinsella has written a humorous, heartbreaking novel. What Does It Feel Like? contains some of her classic humor and positivity, but also has an overwhelming theme of handling grief. This one really hits home as I've dealt with a cancer death within my family. This novella is so touching while also heartbreaking. It makes me contemplate my own life and the legacy I want to leave behind. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers for the free advanced reader's copy. All opinions are honest and mine alone. Thank you to Sophie Kinsella for adding humor, love, positivity to my life through your novels, and for sharing your creativity and bravery with us.

What a lovely, poignant novella. Kinsella gave the world a gift by letting us have this story, which feels incredibly personal to what she has shared with readers about her own experiences.