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.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie Kinsella’s "What Does It Feel Like?" is a profoundly moving exploration of life’s fragility and the power of resilience. In this semi-autobiographical novella, Kinsella delves into her personal experience with brain cancer through the character of Eve, a celebrated novelist who awakens to find herself battling a severe diagnosis. The narrative deftly navigates Eve’s journey through recovery, revealing the intimate struggles and triumphs of regaining normalcy and redefining what truly matters.

Told through a series of poignant anecdotes, the novella juxtaposes heart-wrenching moments with uplifting reflections. Eve’s interactions with her family and the small joys of life such as walks with her husband and family game nights are depicted with warmth and humor, offering a testament to the beauty of everyday experiences even in the face of adversity. This book is not just a recount of illness but a celebration of life’s simple pleasures and the strength found in love and perseverance.

Kinsella’s departure from her usual comedic fiction to this raw and introspective work is both brave and inspiring. "What Does It Feel Like?" is a testament to her ability to translate personal pain into a narrative that resonates deeply with readers, providing both comfort and insight. This novella, though brief, leaves a lasting impression, affirming Kinsella’s skill in capturing the essence of human experience with compassion and honesty.

This book was different from the typical Sophie Kinsella novel. While it had some familiar elements, it ventured into new territory for her. The story gave insight into the emotions someone might experience, but the plot felt disjointed at times, with some abrupt storylines.

Both heartbreaking and heartwarming, this book was written in the style I’ve always loved from Sophie Kinsella, but with a deeper more tragic story at its core. Knowing that the story is based off the authors own makes it even better!

Brilliant, heartbreaking, hilarious, and honestly so many other things. I didn't expect anything less than absolute perfection from Sophie but this story really took ahold of me. I read it easily in one sitting and the emotional rollercoaster it sent me on was like nothing I've experience from a book before. I cannot recommend this story enough and plan to shout it from the rooftops that everyone read this book ASAP

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella is a tender and deeply personal novel that delves into the fragility of life and the power of love and memory. Through the eyes of Eve, a successful novelist recovering from brain surgery, Kinsella offers a poignant exploration of what truly matters when everything else fades away.

The novel is structured around brief, vivid anecdotes, each one a gem that reflects the warmth, humor, and heartbreak of Eve’s journey. As she relearns how to navigate the world—physically, emotionally, and creatively—Eve’s reflections on life’s simple pleasures and deep connections resonate with anyone who has ever faced a profound challenge.

Kinsella’s writing is as engaging as ever, but there’s a depth here that feels new, rooted in her own experiences and emotions. This book is not just a story; it’s a celebration of life’s small, beautiful moments, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.

What Does It Feel Like? will make you laugh, cry, and perhaps most importantly, reflect on your own life and the memories that matter most. It’s a beautifully crafted novel that will break your heart and then gently piece it back together, reminding you of the resilience of the human spirit.

I finished this book in a day. Sophie Kinsella has always been dependable for a fun read with an emotional gut punch at the end, and irritatingly inept but lovable heroines. This book is nothing like her usual fare - but so much more - more poignant, more innovative in its structure, and at it's heart probably her most optimistic book. Reading about a life-changing illness is never fun, but Sophie threads the needle in this almost entirely autobiographical story, presenting a true to life view that retains a space for humor. After reading this book you can't help but hope and pray that a miraculous cure for her cancer appears - not just in her fictional world but in this real one too.

This story is such a testament to Sophie Kinsella’s bravery and resilience. It’s heartbreaking. To be given a glimpse into her diagnosis and struggles the past few years was eye opening, and I applaud her positivity in the face of adversity. I wish there would have been more to the story, but I also understand why this was only written as a novella.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc.

Wow. Just wow. This story was so inspiring, I can NOT imagine going through all of that. I think it’s even more inspiring knowing that it is heavily based on Sophie Kinsella’s actual experience. As far as the writing goes I loved drawing parallels to her life that I was aware of (the parallel to her Shopaholic series). I also really enjoyed the format of this story, I tore through it and didn’t even realize how fast I was reading it until I had finished the story altogether.

When I heard that Sophie Kinsella had written a new book that was her most autobiographical work to date, I knew I had to read it. In What Does It Feel Like?, she is honest and vulnerable as she shares the deeply personal and moving journey of a bestselling author whose glioblastoma diagnosis, surgery, treatment and prognosis mirror her own. Kinsella’s books have always been there for me when I’ve needed a feel-good book to make me laugh, and while obviously this one is much different in tone and subject than her previous novels, she delivers it with humour and grace. While it was a shorter read than I had anticipated, this book was an emotional but beautifully hopeful journey, and I’m grateful to her for sharing it. I hope she and her family continue to feel the huge outpouring of support and love from her fans. My thanks to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love a Sophie Kinsella book and haven't met one I didn't like. I loved this one though - you could really tell that the author put a lot of herself into this book.

Sophie Kinsella’s What Does it Feel Like? was the most devastating and authentic and honest portrayal of life before and during cancer that I’ve read. Kinsella’s portrait of the helplessness cancer evokes and the going through the motions, and drowning while living is hauntingly precise. I worry that any further review I would give would cheapen Kinsella’s narrative. Recommended to everyone. Thank you to The Dial Press and Random House for the DRC. All opinions are my own.
5 stars.

I can trace my love of Sophie Kinsella all the way back to my high school days. I remember loving her Confessions of a Shopaholic series and her other previous works. I have always found her books uplifting, hilarious, and a good time. So when I saw what this was about, I was intrigued. Not her usual type of book but why not? This is a short read but man does it pack an emotional gut punch. I found myself tearing up towards then end of the short novel. I found it so moving, so real, so terrifying. Then the author’s note at the end truly wrecked me. 5⭐️