Sophie Kinsella, the bestselling creator behind the Shopaholic sequence, has died at 55 after residing with glioblastoma for practically three years. Her household shared the information in an announcement posted to her Instagram, writing, “We’re heartbroken to announce the passing this morning of our beloved Sophie (aka Maddy, aka Mummy). She died peacefully, together with her closing days stuffed together with her true loves: household and music and heat and Christmas and pleasure. We will’t think about what life can be like with out her radiance and love of life.”
The assertion continued, “Regardless of her sickness, which she bore with unimaginable braveness, Sophie counted herself actually blessed – to have such great household and mates, and to have had the extraordinary success of her writing profession. She took nothing without any consideration and was ceaselessly grateful for the love she acquired. She can be missed a lot our hearts are breaking.”
Amid the information of her demise, be taught extra about her under.
She Was the Bestselling Creator Behind the “Shopaholic” Sequence
Kinsella grew to become a worldwide sensation together with her Shopaholic sequence, which launched readers to the charming and chaotic Becky Bloomwood. The books bought hundreds of thousands of copies, had been translated into quite a few languages, and helped outline early-2000s romantic comedy fiction. Kinsella’s reputation grew even additional when Confessions of a Shopaholic grew to become a 2009 movie starring Isla Fisher.
She Wrote Beneath a Pen Title
Though finest often called Sophie Kinsella, she was born Madeleine Sophie Townley and printed her earliest work underneath her given identify. She first used the Sophie Kinsella pen identify when submitting The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic anonymously, selecting a pseudonym that blended private and artistic components to tell apart her comedic fiction from her earlier novels.
She Studied Music and Philosophy Earlier than Turning into an Creator
Kinsella attended New School, Oxford, the place she first studied music earlier than switching her focus to Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
After graduating, she labored as a monetary journalist in London, a background that influenced each her early profession and a few of her most iconic fictional settings earlier than she turned to writing full-time.
She Was Married and Had 5 Youngsters
Kinsella married Henry Wickham, whom she met on her first night time at Oxford, in 1991. The couple lived in Dorset and London and raised 5 kids — Freddy, Hugo, Oscar, Rex, and Saffron — collectively.
All through her profession, Kinsella saved her household life comparatively non-public, however she usually spoke about how her family members grounded and impressed her. In a put up on social media, Kinsella wrote, “My husband Henry has been my rock all through this complete time and I’m very fortunate to have him. Simply needed to say that. ❤️”
She Died at Age 55 After Battling Mind Most cancers
Kinsella died on December 10, 2025, at age 55, after a virtually three-year battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive type of mind most cancers first identified in late 2022. She revealed her well being situation publicly in 2024 to permit her kids time to course of the information privately.

