English writer, Sophie Kinsella, best known for her bestselling Shopaholic novel series, has died at the age of 55, her family has announced. The author, whose real name is Madeleine Sophie Wickham, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer, a glioblastoma (GBM), in 2022, which she later revealed to her readers in 2024.
A statement from her family posted to her social media accounts, on Wednesday 10th December, confirmed her death this week.
The statement read: “We are heartbroken to announce the passing this morning of our beloved Sophie (aka Maddy, aka Mummy). She died peacefully, with her final days filled with her true loves: family and music and warmth and Christmas and joy.
“We can’t imagine what life will be like without her radiance and love of life.
“Despite her illness, which she bore with unimaginable courage, Sophie counted herself truly blessed – to have such wonderful family and friends, and to have had the extraordinary success of her writing career. She took nothing for granted and was forever grateful for the love she received. She will be missed so much our hearts are breaking.”
The author wrote her first novel at the age of 24, which was published when she was 26; first writing under the name Madeleine Wickham. She went on to publish six more novels under that name before going on to use the pen name Sophie Kinsella, taken from her middle name and her mother’s maiden name.
Kinsella is best remembered for writing the Shopaholic series of romantic comedy novels, which focus on the misadventures of uncontrollable shopper, Becky Bloomwood, a financial journalist who cannot manage her own finances. Kinsella herself was working as a financial journalist when she wrote her first novel, The Tennis Party. The first book in the Shopaholic series was published in 2000, and was followed by a further 9 installments in the series, including a short story and a festive novel.
The first two books in the series, The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic (also titled Confessions of a Shopaholic) and Shopaholic Abroad (also titled Shopaholic Takes Manhattan) were adapted into the film ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’ in 2009, starring Isla Fisher in the lead role.
Her most recent novella, What Does It Feel Like?, published in October 2024, was a semi-fictional account of her cancer diagnosis, written after she had surgery. In an introduction to the book, Kinsella explained that she “always processed my life through writing”.
Across her two pen names, Sophie wrote over 30 novels including a YA novel, Finding Audrey (2015), as well as an illustrated series for younger readers, Mummy Fairy and Me (2018). Her books have sold over 50 million copies in more than 60 countries, and have been translated into more than 40 languages.
Kinsella’s publisher said she “defined and elevated romantic comedy by populating her stories with real-life issues that combined wit, emotional depth and societal insight”.
The author’s agents Araminta Whitley and Marina de Pass added: “She had a rare gift for creating emotionally resonant protagonists and stories that spoke to, and entertained, readers wherever they were in the world and whatever challenges they faced.”
Kinsella is survived by her husband Henry and their five children.
