Author of Shopaholic series of novels dies aged 55

Sophie Kinsella, author of the bestselling Shopaholic novel series, has died at the age of 55, her family announced.

Author whose real name is Madeleine Sophie Wickham I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer In 2022.

A statement posted on social media accounts on Wednesday read: “We are so sorry to announce that our beloved Sophie (aka Maddy, aka Mummy) passed away this morning.

“He died peacefully, his final days filled with his true loves: family, music, warmth, Christmas and joy.”

Kinsella’s books have sold more than 50 million copies in more than 60 countries and have been translated into more than 40 languages.

Tributes poured in from across the literary world, including her agent and publisher, as well as her fellow writers.

Kinsella announced in 2024 that he had been diagnosed with glioblastoma two years earlier.

The family added in a statement: “We can’t imagine what life would be like without her radiance and love of life.

“Despite her illness, which she endured with unimaginable courage, Sophie considered herself truly lucky to have such wonderful family and friends and to have achieved extraordinary success in her writing career.

“He never took anything for granted and is forever grateful for the love he received. He will be missed so much our hearts are breaking.”

His longtime publisher at Transworld, Bill Scott-Kerr, described Kinsella as “our writer, our cheerleader, our fellow plotter and our friend.”

He added: “Maddy leaves behind a magnificent and indelible legacy, a unique voice, an irrepressible spirit, good will and a body of work that, like so many of her characters, will continue to inspire us to reach higher and be better.”

British romantic comedy writer Jill Mansell suggested: “Maddy was a wonderful writer, but more importantly, she was a truly lovely person.

“She brought so much joy to the world on both counts.”

Kinsella was born in London in 1969 and studied music at New College, Oxford, before switching to philosophy, politics and economics.

She wrote her first novel, The Tennis Party, at the age of 24, while working as a financial journalist under her married name, Madeleine Wickham.

“My main concern was that I hadn’t written an autobiographical first novel,” he told the Guardian in 2012. “I was very, very determined not to write about a 24-year-old journalist.

“There would be male characters and middle-aged people, so I could say, look, I’m not just writing about my life, I’m a real writer.”

The book was critically acclaimed and became a top 10 bestseller. She published six more novels under the name Madeleine Wickham.

Five years later, writing as Sophie Kinsella, she published The Secret Dream World of a Shopaholic, also known as Confessions of a Shopaholic.

It introduced readers to Becky Bloomwood, a financial journalist who was a serial shopper and hopeless when it came to her own finances, often buying new clothes or shoes with a credit card rather than saving her money.

“I thought, wait a minute, shopping has become the national pastime and nobody’s written anything about it,” Kinsella said of her best-selling series.

The first two novels of the series were adapted into the 2009 film Confessions of a Shopaholic, starring Isla Fisher.

Following her huge success, Kinsella went on to write a total of 18 more books, including eight Shopaholic novels and one short story, as well as a young adult novel and four children’s books.

Kinsella’s other works include Can You Keep a Secret? and Untamed Goddess.

His books were sometimes called “chick lit”; This was a description he did not fully approve of.

“When I hear the term ‘asshole,’ I feel not discomfort but a slight resignation,” he told the Daily Mail in 2018. “‘Oh, this again…’

“I’ve never had anyone say to my face, ‘Your books are poor quality,’ but if people say, ‘Your books are beach reads,’ I say, ‘Yeah, that’s fine with me. Read them on the beach!’ “I say.”

Kinsella’s most recent novel, What Does It Look Like?, published in October 2024, was a semi-fictional account of her cancer diagnosis that she wrote after undergoing surgery.

In the book’s introduction, Kinsella said that she has “always made my life work through writing.”

“I’ve always turned my own life into a narrative by hiding behind my fictional characters. This is maybe my version of therapy.”

Kinsella’s publicist said he “defined and elevated the romantic comedy by imbuing his stories with real-life problems that combine wit, emotional depth, and social insight.”

The author’s representatives, Araminta Whitley and Marina de Pass, described her as “an intelligent, creative, loving and irreverent woman who values ​​the profoundly unifying power of fiction.”

“He had a rare ability to create emotionally resonant heroes and stories that appealed to and entertained readers wherever they were in the world and whatever the challenges they faced.”

They added: “He also had a unique wit and talent for finding the funny side.

“Comedy was both an art form and an intellectual pursuit for him, and he instinctively understood that it was often a tightrope movement to balance light with darkness.”

Kinsella is survived by her husband, Henry, and their five children.

Glioblastomas are the deadliest and most aggressive type of brain cancer.

Around 3,200 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma each year in the UK. Of these, only 160 survive five years or longer.

It is a rapidly growing type of cancer; Glioblastomas are likely to spread within the brain and come back even after removal.

Symptoms vary but may include headaches, personality changes, and memory problems caused by pressure buildup. People may also have difficulty speaking or experience extreme fatigue, depression, seizures, and vision problems.

Common treatments include chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or if the patient is well enough, the surgeon will try to remove as much cancer as possible during surgery.