Sophie Kinsella, best known for writing the beloved Shopaholic book series, has died aged 55, just two days before her birthday.
The author, whose real name was Madeleine Sophie Wickham, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in 2022.
A statement posted to her Instagram account 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.’
Kinsella wrote eight books in the Shopaholic series and sold over 45 million copies across 60 countries in more than 40 languages.
In 2009, her first two books — The Secret Dreamworld Of A Shopaholic and Shopaholic Abroad — were adapted into a film starring Isla Fisher titled Confessions Of A Shopaholic.
Her last book, The Burnout, was released in October 2023 and she had other successful novels outside the franchise, such as Can You Keep A Secret?
Last year, Kinsella revealed that she had been diagnosed with brain cancer and was receiving chemotherapy and radiation.
At the time, on Instagram, she wrote: ‘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.”‘
