Sophie Kinsella, the author of the bestselling Shopaholic series of novels, has died aged 55 after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer, her family have said.
A statement posted to the English author's 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."
Author Jenny Colgan was among those paying tribute to her fellow writer, describing Kinsella as a "joy in life".
In a statement shared with the Press Association, Colgan said: "Every one of Sophie's 40 million readers knew how funny and smart she was on the page. She was the same in real life, except even kinder, even smarter, and modest to a totally ridiculous degree.
"She was a joy in life, she brought that joy to her work, and her friends adored her as much as her readers do. She was our Beth, and we are inconsolable."
Writer Jodi Picoult commented on Kinsella’s Instagram post: "Sending love to Sophie’s family. She will be missed greatly."
Author Adele Parks added: "What a wonderful warm woman, Maddy brought so much joy to the world. She’ll be missed so much but celebrated too and will live on in millions of minds and hearts. Sending love and deepest condolences to her family and friends."
Madeleine Sophie Wickham, who wrote under the pen name Sophie Kinsella, announced in April 2024 that she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.
She wrote on Instagram at the time: "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'."
She released The Burnout in October 2023, and her other best-selling books include Can You Keep a Secret? and The Undomestic Goddess.
Her novels have sold more than 45 million copies in more than 60 countries and have been translated into more than 40 languages.
The first two works in her hit eight-book Shopaholic series, The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Abroad, were adapted into the 2009 film Confessions of a Shopaholic, starring Isla Fisher.
Source: Press Association
