Sophie Kinsella, ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’ author, dead at 55
Madeleine Wickham, the author of the bestselling novel Confessions of a Shopaholic, written under her pen name Sophie Kinsella, has died at 55.
The author, who wrote over 30 books for adults, teenagers and children, announced in April 2024 that she had been diagnosed with glioblastoma at the end of 2022.
Glioblastoma is an aggressive kind of brain cancer that can invade healthy tissue, aiding rapid growth. At the time, she revealed that she had undergone radiotherapy and chemotherapy after surgery.
The news of her passing was announced via a statement posted to her Instagram account, which reads: “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.”
The statement continued, “We can’t imagine what life will be like without her radiance and love of life.”
It then read, “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.”
Her books have sold over 45 million copies around the world. They have been translated into over 40 languages and have been adapted for film and theatre. Most famously, Confessions of a Shopaholic was adapted into a big-screen hit featuring Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy.
The author grew up in London. She studied politics, philosophy and economics at New College, Oxford, before working as a financial journalist. Eventually, she pivoted into the world of the “funny and ridiculous” stories she was most familiar with.
She is survived by her husband and their five children.
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