I am thankful to have gotten the eARC for free from Netgalley and Random House so I can leave my voluntary and honest review.

Wow, I had no idea what I was getting into with this one. I must have been sidetracked and read a different description to another book that I attributed to this one. I thought I was getting a fun romance and what I got was a unique reading experience that made me get weepy.

This is technically a work of fiction but it is based off the authors experience with much of it having happened to her. It’s heart wrenching on one hand but inspirational on the other. I love the unique style of it almost being a journal of sorts with different excerpts from her life going on in addition to the 1 person narrative.

While one needs to be in the right headspace to read this due to the heavy topic of Cancer, I highly recommend putting this quick but poinant read on your TRB for when it comes out October 8th 2024

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

It's tough to review Sophie Kinsella’s latest autobiographical book without feeling as though daggers are stabbing into your heart, with tears streaming down your cheeks, and barely holding yourself back from choking up.

What surprised me, however, was that despite honestly fictionalizing her own life story and changing some sequences of events, she never loses her positive outlook. This has always made me adore her novels, along with her amazingly unique sense of humor. There were several times when I laughed so hard I nearly fell off the couch and peed myself (which is why I always wear adult diapers before starting her books, just in case).

The chapters about her eight-hour brain surgery after being diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, dealing with short-term amnesia, learning to talk again, and using a Zimmer frame to walk without falling are hard to absorb. Yet, her uplifting writing tone—accepting things she cannot change and infusing them with honesty, optimism, and sarcasm—shows how incredible a writer she is. One particularly memorable moment is when the doctor asked her who the president was, and she jokingly replied, "Hugh Grant," before correcting herself to say he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, which made me literally guffaw.

Two of my favorite chapters include the family Scrabble gathering and her early morning conversations with her husband.

Initially, I hesitated to start this book, fearing it would break my heart and devastate me as I read the fictionalized journey of author Eve, based on Kinsella’s own battle with a brain tumor and terminal cancer, including the entire radiotherapy and chemotherapy process. But after reading the book, I realized how wrong I was. My respect and devotion to the author only grew as I witnessed her bravery, power, and brilliant mind. Additionally, the book gave me so much hope and inspiration. I wished the author all the happy endings she highly deserves after giving her fans so many great laughs, happy tears, and immense hope that encourages them to trust themselves, believe that positive things happen, and overcome bad luck in their lives.

Her bravery and honesty inspire you to change your own life, starting with your perception. The universe needs more authors like Kinsella, who change our worlds by delivering humor and warming our hearts with full of positive possibilities. Her books have vividly colored my life with her humorous vision for the past 20 years. I love her works, adore her courage, and applaud her for doing the toughest thing: facing her fears, sharing her most private challenging moments, and pouring those feelings into her writing.

We need her words, her power of comedy, and the hope she delivers through her characters to help us keep going and embrace happiness.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/The Dial Press for sharing this meaningful journey’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. Millions of thanks to Sophie Kinsella for bravely sharing this meaningful journey with us.

I didn’t realize that this is basically an autobiography but am honored to have been able to read a review copy of Sophie’s story. Sophie is a wonderful story teller and great at keeping even the hardest topics light.

Wow! This is more like a very short story read time was about 2 hours. It was not written in the typical Sophia Kinsella style, and had a MAJOR curveball throuwn at the reader. If you are an avid reader of Sophie Kinsella you will be shocked!

A poignant account of a year in the life of a young novelist with a devastating illness, this short novel will captivate you.

This short autobiographical novella describes the life of a best-selling author after she is diagnosed with brain cancer. Like all of Kinsella’s work, this book is witty and quick; I finished it in one sitting. It is also a really deft handling of a difficult topic.

A very informative shocking novel and autobiographical unfortunately. Wow! Leave it to Sophie to describe her life in such expressive, honest lingo too. Loved it but was saddened at the same time.

My heart is breaking reading Kinsella's fictional account of her own battle. What started as the author's trademark cheeky prose turned into Eve's worst nightmare. As a writer, she's lost her words and struggles to pen her thoughts Unknowingly, I was reading Kinsella's story and I'm keeping her family in my prayers.

I've been a fan of Kinsella's since her Shopaholic novels and was stunned to find out she's undergoing brain cancer. Her bravery telling this story and the wit she displayed is a testament to the author's character. Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #WhatDoesItFeelLike in exchange for an honest review. At times, it was difficult to read but you'll count your blessings and hold your family close upon its completion.

The only criticism I have of this book is that it was too short. I read it in one sitting and wanted more. Bravo to Kinsella for sharing such a brave and heartfelt semi-autobiographical tale.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Eve is a successful writer who wakes up in a hospital bed after brain surgery. In What Does It Feel Like? Sophie Kinsella describes the ups and downs of Eve’s recovery. She has a very supportive husband and five children. The detail in this short novel is very insightful because Kinsella is writing from personal experience with glioblastoma surgery. It was a quick read. I really enjoyed it but because I have loved all of Kinsella’s other books it saddened me to hear the news of her illness. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Well I guess I need to start off by saying I knew nothing about this book expect I’ve loved every book she’s written so I jumped right in. At first I was a little confused because my time left in the book was so short so I looked into and quickly realized this was not her normal book. What a powerful short story that I believe all should read! Well done ❤️

It's hard to write this because it is somewhat of her memoir, and that's terrible, but the whole thing felt rushed. It was like the writing version of skimming a book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! What would you do? By Sophia Kinsella is an autobiographical work of fiction. When Eve, a writer, wakes up in a hospital bed, she is unaware of the significance that her husband, Nick, has to inform over and over again that she had a brain tumour and that they were able to remove it but that, unfortunately, it is a rare form of cancer that, in general, is incurable. I, while reading, felt both sadness but, in her typical way, the lighthearted, funny style of Sophia’s writing was also uplifting and made the diagnosis, treatment and funeral planning that much less somber. Eve’s outlook on life was nothing short of inspirational. Having not read the synopsis, I was a caught off guard at the nature of the storyline. It was much different than anything she’s ever written. However, upon reading the author’s note at the end of the novel, I was stunned to learn of it’s autobiographical nature and was awed by the author’s own inspirational and positive outlook on life. Overall, a short, bittersweet novel that I would recommend to others who enjoy her style.

I have been a HUGE fan of Sophie Kinsella since the very first Shopaholic book! Becky Bloomwood was one of the most hilarious yet utterly relatable characters ever created and for that Kinsella will forever be remembered.

Sadly this most deeply personal and autobiographical story about a woman who gets diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor is based on real events in her recent life. This was a raw but hopeful read, particularly poignant for me as someone who is also a brain tumor survivor.

But as Eve in this book always says, "It could be worse" - it could ALWAYS be worse and LUCKILY (iykyk), my brain tumor was benign and I am a 26 year survivor. While my life hasn't been perfect or without challenges, I am so grateful to have had so many years. Books like this one are what drive me and feed my soul and I wish Sophie many good days to come too!!

HUGE thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy of this story. It is one I will never forget and hit so close to home for me. I hope readers enjoy it as much as I have and am so grateful the author was able to find the energy and courage to share her story with the world.

Sophia Kinsella is one of my favorite authors, so I was honored when I was chosen to review her book early. I was devastated to read about her cancer diagnosis but grateful to hear she is on the mend. She writes this book as an autobiography in a sense through the fictional character of Eve and her journey of cancer. Though this novel is short, I was instantly rooting for Eve and her family.

I’ve been a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella since her first Shopaholic novel. I was shocked and so sad to learn about her troubles with a brain tumor and rough recovery. This reader is grateful she was able to share her scary experiences with her fans who are desperately hoping for her happy ending in real life.

Writing a review for this book is difficult. Not because it wasn't a great book, but because it's so heartbreaking and admittedly (from the author) to be semi-autobiographical. However it is beautifully written and should be read. I've read many Sophie Kinsella books for many years now and this is very different from her norm. This is about an author who is living her dream...until they find a brain tumor. We follow her through her recovery from surgery, short term memory loss, and then regaining a normal life. The writing is done so well that you feel the frustration the main character, Eve, feels when she can't remember a Christmas carol or if her kids came to visit. You also feel the sadness when she learns again, for who knows how many times, that it's cancer, from her loving husband. But you also feel the optimism as she makes progress.

Everyone should read this book. It's quick, maybe an hour to read. It has so many sad moments, but so many uplifting ones too. Even if you've never read a book by Kinsella before, give this one a go. There's been plenty of stories of taken care of an ill loved one, but very few from this point of view. I would not recommend reading it at work though, as there will be tears.

This review will be posted on Goodreads at the link provided, published as of 7/18, as this is submitted. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a beautiful story. Like everyone else, I have been a fan of Sophie Kinsella since her Shopaholic series and have read everything she ever wrote. This sparked my love of reading again. When I read about her health struggles, I felt as though it was happening to a family member and felt awful for her and her family. I am so happy to hear she is better and wanted to share her story with the readers. Just like all her other stories, this was beautiful and hope her health continues to improve always.

Oh this just broke my heart. I have been reading Sophie’s books since college (I’m 41 now) and the thought of her going through this journey is devastating. This is definitely worth the read if you can handle how sad it is.

A very quick but deep read. I think Sophie was brave to write about her diagnosis and cancer treatment through the character of Eve. I commend her for giving her readers this story and a glance into her illness.