[Review] The Burnout - Sophie Kinsella

Summary: Sasha has had it. She cannot bring herself to respond to another inane, “urgent” (but obviously not at all urgent) email or participate in the corporate employee joyfulness program. She hasn’t seen her friends in months. Sex? Seems like a lot of effort. Even cooking dinner takes far too much planning. Sasha has hit a wall.

Armed with good intentions to drink kale smoothies, try yoga, and find peace, she heads to the seaside resort she loved as a child. But it’s the off season, the hotel is in a dilapidated shambles, and she has to share the beach with the only other occupant: a grumpy guy named Finn, who seems as stressed as Sasha. How can she commune with nature when he’s sitting on her favorite rock, watching her? Nor can they agree on how best to alleviate their burnout (Sasha: manifesting, wild swimming; Finn: drinking whisky, getting pizza delivered to the beach).

When curious messages, seemingly addressed to Sasha and Finn, begin to appear on the beach, the two are forced to talk—about everything. How did they get so burned out? Can either of them remember something they used to love? (Answer: surfing!) And the question they try and fail to ignore: what does the energy between them—flaring even in the face of their bone-deep exhaustion—signify? (Pub Date: Oct 10 2023)

 

Half this book is super funny and solid 4-star worth, the second half, however... I didn't go back to check, but I feel I've said the same thing of another Kinsella book before... Anyway, doing the Math, I'd say this is a 3.5, rounded up to 4 anyway because it's not like the second half ruined all the good the beginning had built.

Sasha needs to go on a wellness break after realizing she's suffering from burnout thanks to the horrible work environment her boss has created. Her mother sends her to the place where she spent most summers growing up, this time she'll get to stay at the luxurious hotel so she can follow the 20 steps to recovery from the app her mother found. Getting there, the hotel is not as prestigious anymore, and she needs to share the beach with a cranky guy who she's seen make a child cry. Also how can she swim when the water is so cold?

I laughed so many times in the beginning. The staff of the hotel don't sound very real, but you don't really mind it, because it's all hilarious. But it's right around the 50% mark that this 'surrealness' of the story start bothering you. Not because of the staff, mind you, they're still too precious for me to find fault there. It's hard to explain without giving spoilers, but let's say the development and conclusion were a little too dreamy for me to buy it. 

The romance was okay at least. There also some key there that turns to suddenly when we were in a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers speed, but I can see why they needed to move on to the next step quickly. A lot happens after that, and that made them an interesting couple, in a way I hadn't expected. Not the best, not the most memorable, but it made sense.

It's a quick read, with lovable characters, funny situations, coming from a place most readers will be able to identify if not from having gone through it themselves, from friends who have. It's not my favorite Kinsella, but it's among the good ones.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Rating: 4 out of 5.