A review by zeevee93
The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is the third Sophie Kinsella book I’ve read in 2 months and it is by far my favourite. The book feels like a warm hug—the perfect comfort read that’s highly relatable, laugh-out-loud funny while also being caring and compassionate. Kinsella has always had a knack for creating characters that feel so real, but this time, she’s outdone herself.

The story follows Sasha, who’s hit her breaking point and decides to take a much-needed break from her hectic life. As she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, humor, heart, and a touch of romance is expertly woven together into the narrative with Kinsella’s trademark wit shining through on every page.

While some plot points may feel predictable, the warmth and authenticity of the characters more than make up for it. You can’t help but love Sasha because, in truth, there’s a little bit of Sasha in all of us. In today’s world, we’re often pressured to juggle multiple responsibilities, constantly push ourselves to the limit, and wear our stress as a badge of honor. Kinsella does a fantastic job of addressing mental health and the real challenges of recovering from burnout. It’s not as simple as suddenly deciding to drink kale smoothies, do yoga, and manifest a better life!

The thoughtful, compassionate, and accurate handing of dementia was commendable. Anyone who has been affected by the disease will undoubtedly get a tear in their eye and a warmth in their heart while reading this. The way she balances these serious themes without losing the book’s light-hearted tone is truly masterful. The scene in the final chapters had tears rolling down my face but also smiling eye to ear (if you’ve read the book you know the scene!) 

I also really appreciated the attempt at including authentic autistic and ADHD-coded characters, even though they weren’t overtly identified as such. By subtly and respectfully brings these traits into the story, the characters feel even more genuine and relatable. I would have liked them specifically identified but that’s just a personal preference. 

The pacing was a little slow towards the middle, however ai honestly didn’t mind. I was so caught up in the charm of the secondary characters and the little seaside town I wasn’t bored despite the lack of major plot development in parts. 

Sasha’s internal monologue did become somewhat grating and monotonous in parts but only briefly before I was drawn back in to the story.

Overall, The Burnout is a delightful and meaningful read that will leave you smiling and perhaps a little more in tune with what really matters in life. It’s a good reminder that it’s okay to hit pause, take a breath, and rediscover the joys of living.
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