Bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, known for her “Shopaholic” book series, has passed away at the age of 55, reports Baltimore Chronicle.
Her family shared the news on Instagram, stating, “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.”
Kinsella publicly revealed in April 2024 that she had been diagnosed in 2022 with glioblastoma, an aggressive and fast-growing brain tumor. According to the U.S. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, fewer than 50,000 people in the United States are living with glioblastoma, which can cause symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness at any stage of life.
Despite her illness, the family said she felt “truly blessed – to have such wonderful family and friends, and to have had the extraordinary success of her writing career.”
Madeleine Sophie Wickham, Kinsella’s real name, was born on December 12, 1969. She worked as a financial journalist before becoming a bestselling author, selling millions of books worldwide over two decades. Her “Shopaholic” series, including The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic (2000) and Shopaholic Abroad (2001), was adapted into the 2009 movie Confessions of a Shopaholic, starring Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy. The film was produced by Touchstone Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
Over her career, Kinsella wrote 36 books, including children’s titles, the young adult novel Finding Audrey, and several short stories. Her early works were published under her birth name, Madeleine Wickham. Her most recent book, What Does It Feel Like?, was released in October 2024. The novella tells the story of a novelist named Eve who wakes up in a hospital bed to learn she has a brain tumor, described by Kinsella as her “most autobiographical work to date.”
In July 2024, Kinsella spoke with Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts about her illness and the book. She shared, “I just thought people might be curious to know what it feels like to go through this. It’s funny in parts, it’s sad in parts but I hope it’s full of optimism and love most of all.”
Kinsella first noticed concerning symptoms with her legs, stumbling and tripping, alongside severe headaches and confusion. She underwent surgery for a grade 4 glioblastoma, describing the operation as a “triumph,” though she experienced memory and mobility challenges afterward. She also received multiple rounds of radiation and chemotherapy.
Kinsella lived in London with her husband Henry Wickham, whom she called her “hero,” and their five children. Reflecting on her wishes for a happy ending, she said, “My happy ending is that whatever happens to me, my family is OK. I think that’s my happy ending. Because that’s what I care about.”
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