Title: “The Burnout”

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Genre: Romance/Women’s Fiction

Publication Date: October 10, 2023

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

“The Burnout” was my first time reading anything by Sophie Kinsella. I was interested in giving this one a try after reading the description. Anyone who has ever felt undue stress at work, or in life in general, can sympathize with what Sasha is going through in this novel. I knew there would be a love interest, and as this is in the romance genre, I think I expected something from this story that the author didn’t quite deliver. 

I enjoyed the first bit of the book, and then found that, for me, the story lost some appeal around 40% of the way through, and did not pick back up until the last quarter of the story or so. That is a large chunk of time to struggle through. I did enjoy the zany characters working at the run-down hotel Sasha stayed at, the old bellhop in particular. I thought they were very well-written and added a lot of interest to Sasha’s time in Rilston. Terry’s storyline was at once heartbreaking and uplifting, but the romance between Sasha and Finn, and the mysterious beach messages that initially brought them together,  felt really flat to me. I did appreciate the author’s attempts for Sasha to balance what she had come to the resort for with her budding feelings for Finn, but I did not find his character very likable and wasn’t sure why Sasha would be so drawn to someone who was obviously keeping big secrets and refusing to let her in. That sunk the romance angle for me. especially when he still glossed over his former relationship when she finally brought it up. I am not a huge romance reader, but I do dabble, and unfortunately “The Burnout”’ missed the mark for me. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Random House, and The Dial Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.