The Burnout Paperback – June 20, 2024

Sasha Worth is in a serious funk. She's so bogged down by her job that she can barely function. Making dinner seems like an insurmountable task, she has no energy for friends, and the only thing that comforts her is watching Legally Blonde. So when a cashier asks her out, she tells him she's not interested in sex because it's just "genitals rubbing together." (14) Pretty cringe, right? But also hilarious and charming and stranger-than-fiction real. Because this is Sophie Kinsella and her second-latest book, The Burnout.That said, it's bizarre but not surprising when Sasha tears out of her office in a burst of can't-take-it-anymore anxiety and runs into a brick wall. Emotionally spent, she takes a leave of absence and holes up at the seaside resort where she vacationed as a kid. All Sasha wants is to be left alone. But the universe has other plans. Soon she befriends the quirky hotel staff, delves into a twenty-year-old mystery, and asks herself what she really wants. And she does it all with a man who seemed awful but turns out to be just what she needs.Every time Sasha stumbles or has a wish-the-earth-would-swallow-her moment, I feel like it's happening to me, and I bet other readers do too. That's the magic of Kinsella. She shows us the dark in the light and the light in the dark through the eyes of relatable heroines. In a world where self care is often just a buzz word, Sasha asserts her worth and puts herself first, making The Burnout a standout.So thank you, Sophie Kinsella, for giving us yet another wonderful read. There's no one I'd rather have a breakdown -- er, burnout -- with.

This book resonated with me on so many levels. I fully identify with Sasha & her burnout. Sophie Kinsella was writing directly to me/about me when describing Sasha’s state of mind about work & how it was affecting her mental health & personal life. Have I tried to join a convent & run into a brick wall while escaping my horrible office & coworkers? No, no I haven’t. But the landslide of emails, the constant inescapable workload & the irritation with useless colleagues/upper management? Yup. The lack of desire to cook, see friends & have fun? Yes, 100%. Nail on the head. On top of all that, the beach is my happy place, so right off the bat I thought this was going to be a 5-star read. Come on, reading about how work can overtake your life, ruin it, chew you up & spit you out? And then going to the beach to recuperate & heal? SIGN. ME. UP. And this was a 5-star read, until about the 85% mark.Now, don’t get me wrong, I still loved it. Finn was adorable & lovable & the perfect MMC for this story. The mystery of the messages left on the beach, Terry & his wisdom, & the side characters at the hotel. All perfection. I laughed out loud, I cried, and then I laughed again through tears.So why wasn’t it 5 stars? The ending. I expected the 3rd act breakup. My heart was prepared. And sure, Sasha & Finn got their HEA. And I am nothing if not a HEA girl. But their reconciliation felt rushed, and then the book just ended. On a fantastic callback line, I might add. But I wanted more Finn & Sophie. I needed a hefty, happy epilogue, or a couple more chapters about them reuniting & their life together after burnout.The whole book felt like eating a delicious ice cream sundae with all my favorite toppings. Then right at the end, I was left with nothing but excess hot fudge & nuts at the bottom of an empty bowl. The ratio was wrong. I needed one more bite of ice cream to balance everything out & make it perfect.I guess I’m nitpicking though. I’ll definitely read this book again to be reminded of Terry’s infinite & awesome wisdom about surfing, which somehow relates wholly to everything in life.

I LOVE SOPHIE KINSELLA’S BOOKS!🩷

A sweet, fun read. I love this author and though this wasn’t my favorite book of hers, it was a nice story. I loved the characters and the ending.

Enjoyed the descriptions of the Rilston and its adorable staff, and of course the beach and waves. The slow buildup of the Finn Sasha relationship was at times frustrating (did this have to be a 400;page novel?) but very engaging characters. Lots of chuckles reading it.Will recommend to girlfriends for a light summer read

Burnout is relatable and the story is cute ❤️ I like the main characters and how funny the setting is.

I loved this story- it was very relatable to someone who is in her 30s, going through burnout herself and trying to find herself and zest for life. I loved meeting the secondary characters and seeing everyone’s transformation.

What can I say, the title seemed appropriate enough… This was my first time reading one of her books and it was a fast, light read with a “workaholic takes a vacation destination and falls in love” plot line.