Celebrated author Sophie Kinsella, who penned worldwide hit Confessions Of A Shopaholic, has died aged 55 following a three-year battle with brain cancer.
The writer, whose real name is Madeleine Sophie Wickham, received the devastating diagnosis of glioblastoma in 2022.
A statement posted to her Instagram account today 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 first two works in her hit eight-book Shopaholic series, The Secret Dreamworld Of A Shopaholic and Shopaholic Abroad, were adapted into the 2009 film Confessions Of A Shopaholic, starring Isla Fisher.
Confessions of a Shopaholic author Sophie Kinsella has died at the age of 55
Sophie Kinsella was best known for her hit series of Shopaholic novels, starting in 2010
Tributes have been paid to Sophie Kinsella, real name Madeleine Sophie Wickham – she is seen here at a photocall for the movie adaptation Can You Keep A Secret? in Rome in October 2019
Last year, she wrote What Does It Feel Like – a semi-autobiographical book exploring her battle with cancer.
The author announced in April 2024 she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.
She wrote on Instagram at the time: ‘At the end of 2022 I was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of aggressive brain cancer.
‘I did not share this before because I wanted to make sure that my children were able to hear and process the news in privacy and adapt to our “new normal”.’
She said in the post that she has been receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
She released The Burnout in October 2023 and her other bestselling books include Can You Keep A Secret? and The Undomestic Goddess.
Her novels have sold more than 45million copies in more than 60 countries, and have been translated into more than 40 languages.
Fellow writers having been paying tribute today, with Jill Mansell writing: ‘This is the saddest news. Maddy was a brilliant writer but more importantly a truly lovely person.
Novels written by Sophie Kinsella (pictured in March 2018) have sold more than 45million copies in more than 60 countries, and have been translated into more than 40 languages
Sophie Kinsella documented her battle after being diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2022
Isla Fisher starred in the 2009 movie version of Sophie Kinsella’s Confessions Of A Shopaholic
‘In both respects she brought so much joy to the world. Life is unfair. Sending love to her family and all who will miss her so much.’
Daisy Buchanan posted: ‘This is devastating. I don’t have the words – I send so much love to everyone who knew her, I’m so so grateful for all of the joy she brought me, it’s been the greatest privilege to be a reader and a fan.’
Another author Joanna Miller said: ‘The saddest possible news – Sophie was a wonderful writer and a huge, huge inspiration.’
Julia Raeside added: ‘Such awful, awful news. All the love to her family and friends. What a legacy she leaves.’
Last year Kinsella revealed her husband had to remind her of her incurable brain tumour diagnosis every day after surgery resulted in short term memory loss.
The mother-of-five told ITV’s Lorraine show in October last year how she lost her memory after undergoing a gruelling eight-hour surgery to remove the brain tumour.
She said: ‘He (her husband Henry) had to tell me more than once, over and over, this bad news, “You’ve got cancer and it’s incurable”. I don’t know how he did it. I think that’s where he showed his greatest love for me.’
She also told how her five children had coped, saying: ‘We have really focused in on the days that we have and not thinking happy ever after but thinking happy now, happy today.’
She previously paid tribute to the ‘greatest love’ shown her by husband Henry
Sophie also told how her five children had coped, saying: ‘We have really focused in on the days that we have and not thinking happy ever after but thinking happy now, happy today’
She had first noticed something was wrong when she started tripping and losing her balance, before getting severe headaches and later began tipping over in her chair and went to the doctors.
It was then doctors discovered an ‘aggressive and fast-growing tumour’ in her brain and 10 days later, Sophie had an eight-hour operation that saw doctors remove the tumour.
However when she awoke from surgery, she had absolutely no memory of what had happened – not her diagnosis or that she had undergone such gruelling surgery.
She told Lorraine Kelly: ‘It was absolutely bizarre.
‘That’s in the book as well, what it’s like to lose your memory. I lost my short term memory.
‘So I would be told what had happened and I’d be like, “Oh, yes, I understand that now” and the next day I’d forgotten.’
Of her husband’s dedication, the author said: ‘Honestly I couldn’t have survived [without him] but it was hard for him. It’s really hard to tell someone bad news.’
Speaking more about her children, she said: ‘We have this little ritual before we go to bed we go over the events of the day.
‘I have to be honest, this first began because I would forget the events of the day. But it’s actually a really good little bedtime routine.
‘You just say well we had this lovely meal, we saw this friend, we went for a walk and we saw that lovely view, or even just we got this lovely email.
‘Just remember what happened, register it, and it makes you feel really good about the day.’
