Bestselling author Sophie Kinsella has died at 55 after battling glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer diagnosed in 2022. Her family said she passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
Kinsella, born Madeleine Wickham, became world-famous for her Shopaholic series, which sold over 45 million copies and inspired the film Confessions of a Shopaholic. Her final book, What Does It Feel Like? (2024), was inspired by her own illness.
She revealed her diagnosis publicly in April 2024, explaining she wanted time for her children to adjust. Her early symptoms included stumbling, severe headaches, and confusion.
Kinsella is survived by her husband, Henry, and their five children. Her publishers praised her unique voice and ability to create characters who connected with millions.
Before writing full-time, she studied at Oxford and worked as a financial journalist. Even in her final year, she focused on hope, saying her “happy ending” would be knowing her family would be okay.