"What Does It Feel Like?" is a poignant novella by Sophie Kinsella, published in 2024, that draws from her own battle with brain cancer.

Plot Overview

The story centers on Eve, a successful novelist, wife, and mother who wakes up in a hospital after surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor, facing memory loss and the need to relearn basic skills like walking, talking, and writing. She grapples with her terminal diagnosis, deciding how to tell her children, while cherishing simple family moments like walks with her devoted husband and game nights. The narrative unfolds in short, reflective vignettes blending sorrow with Kinsella's signature humor and optimism.

Themes and Style

Kinsella infuses the tale with warmth, resilience, and wit, reflecting her real-life experiences with glioblastoma, chemotherapy, and recovery. Despite the heartbreak, Eve rediscovers joy in everyday life, culminating in a hopeful family charity walk 14 months post-diagnosis. Reviewers praise its emotional depth and brevity at around 144 pages, calling it quieter yet profoundly personal.