British author Sophie Kinsella, known for her popular “Shopaholic” series, has passed away at 55 following a battle with brain cancer, her family reported on Wednesday.
“We’re devastated to share that our beloved Sophie passed away this morning,” her family posted on Instagram.
Madeleine Sophie Wickham, who wrote under the pen name Sophie Kinsella, disclosed last year that she was undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy for a severe form of brain cancer.
“Sophie felt truly blessed to have such wonderful family and friends, and to enjoy the incredible success of her writing career,” her family noted.
Stay informed with the latest updates. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Her novels have sold approximately 50 million copies and been translated into over 40 languages, according to her website biography.
The first two books of her “Shopaholic” series were adapted into the 2009 film “Confessions of a Shopaholic” starring Isla Fisher.
The story follows Becky Bloomwood, a financial journalist who struggles with her shopping addiction and financial management.
Kinsella penned her debut novel “The Tennis Party” at 24 while working as a financial journalist.
Her recent works include “The Burnout” (2023) and “What Does it Feel Like?” (2024).
The latter is a semi-fictional narrative of her cancer experience, which reached several bestseller lists.
In the book’s introduction, Kinsella expressed, “I’ve always processed my life through writing.”
“By hiding behind my fictional characters, I’ve always turned my life into a story. It’s my form of therapy, perhaps.”
