What Does It Feel Like?

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella
10/8/24; 144 pages
Random House/The Dial Press

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella is a very highly recommended, heartbreaking, fictionalized, powerful account of the author's real life brain cancer diagnosis. Sophie Kinsella writes that the book "is fiction, but it is my most autobiographical work to date. Eve’s story is my story."

Eve is a successful author, married to Nick, and mother to five children. The novel opens showing her success as an author, and then, abruptly, has Eve waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. Her patient, loving husband is always there to explain what happened and encourage her. She learns, and needs to be told this repeatedly, that she was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma which is a cancerous brain tumor and had an eight hour long operation to remove the large, malignant tumor growing in her brain. The narrative then follows Eve learning walk, talk, and write again, as well as explaining her illness to her children.

After the operation, the story is told through brief chapters. As Eve can't remember anything due to the loss of her short term memory, she must have everything repeated, everyday. Her determination and bravery is shown as she as she learns to walk and talk again, along with doing the most basic things. Her husband is admirably ever patient with her. She even has humorous passages among the heartbreaking ones.  The fact that this is based on her real life experiences make it even more compelling, poignant and powerful.

Sophie Kinsella writes, "Why did I write such a personal book? I have always processed my life through writing. Hiding behind my fictional characters, I have always turned my own life into a narrative. It is my version of therapy, maybe. Writing is my happy place, and writing this book, although tough going at times, was immensely satisfying and therapeutic for me."

What Does It Feel Like? is an excellent, heartrending book. Tears are going to fall while reading, but it is definitely worth reading. Thanks to The Dial Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.