What Does It Feel Like?
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission.
by Sophie Kinsella
Publication date: October 8, 2024
Publisher: The Dial Press
Hardcover: 144 Pages
Publisher Description
Book Review
In What Does It Feel Like? Sophie Kinsella steps away from her trademark lighthearted rom-coms to deliver a deeply personal, profoundly moving exploration of resilience, love, and the fragility of life. Though rooted in fiction, Kinsella reveals this as her most autobiographical work and that raw authenticity radiates through every page.
The novel opens with Eve, a celebrated author, waking up in a hospital room, dizzy and disoriented. Her husband gently informs her that she has undergone surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor. From this stark moment, Kinsella takes readers on a heartbreaking and life-affirming journey, narrated through Eve’s experiences as she grapples with recovery, her diagnosis, and the delicate balance of honesty and hope when addressing her family.
Kinsella’s structure choice—short, reflective anecdotes—gives the novel an intimate and contemplative feel. These fragmented memories and musings perfectly mirror Eve’s process of piecing her life together. From the tactile joy of holding her husband’s hand on a walk to the bittersweet humor of family game nights, Kinsella reminds readers to savor life’s smallest moments.
Eve’s story isn’t just about facing a devastating diagnosis; it’s about rediscovering what truly matters. Her journey is one of quiet heroism, embracing life not in grand gestures but in everyday acts of love and gratitude. This is definitely a book I would recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Penguin Random House through Edelweiss. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.
About the author
Sophie Kinsella is the #1 bestselling author of Can You Keep a Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me?, Twenties Girl, I’ve Got Your Number, Wedding Night, My Not So Perfect Life, Surprise Me, The Burnout, the hugely popular Shopaholic novels, and the young adult novel Finding Audrey. She lives in the UK with her husband and family.
Read more about Sophie ON HER WEBSITE
Praise
“As writers we are told to write what we know—but there are some things people wish they never had to learn. Such is the case for Sophie Kinsella, whose new novel follows an author whose greatest asset—a creative brain—becomes her biggest liability when it develops a cancerous tumor. Hearing from the point of view of a novelist who has crafted so many stories but doesn’t know how her own will end is raw, humbling, and tender. This is the bravest book you’ll read all year.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult
Read more
“The bravest book you’ll read all year.”—Jodi Picoult
“Soul-stirring, funny, and beautiful. A must-read.”—Zibby Owens, Katie Couric Media
“I laughed. And I cried. And then I thought about the meaning of life. It’s a little jewel of a book.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Jojo Moyes
“Kinsella is a skillful storyteller. She doesn’t front-load the narrative with exposition, instead parceling out information organically. . . . Most resonant is this book’s bravery—and its emotional honesty.”—The Wall Street Journal
“A powerful tale about love, life and grief . . . filled with poignant moments and Kinsella’s signature charm.”—Woman’s World
“Only Sophie Kinsella can make you laugh like this while she’s got you crying. What Does it Feel Like? is daring and original—both a breath of fresh air and a deeply courageous story. This is one of the gutsiest moves I’ve seen from a writer in a long time. I could not put it down.”—Taylor Jenkins Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“What Does It Feel Like? is not the kind of book that uses silliness and joy to divert readers from their lives. But, in a sense, it’s a way for readers who have been rescued by Kinsella to repay her—to witness what she’s gone through as she uses words to process her pain and search for catharsis.”—The Washington Post
“A beautiful love story, and a glowing beacon of hope in the midst of terrible darkness.”—Bestselling author Jenny Colgan