Sophie Kinsella

Beloved British novelist Sophie Kinsella, the pen name of Madeleine Sophie Wickham, died peacefully December 19, 2025, at her home in Dorset, England at the age of 55. She died after a fight with glioblastoma.

Born Madeleine Sophie Townley on December 12, 1969, in London, she attended Putney High School. Later, she studied at New College, Oxford — initially Music, then switching to Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

After graduating, she worked as a financial journalist. It was during her commute that she began writing fiction. Her first novel, the best-selling "The Tennis Party," was published under her real name when she was just 26.

In 2000, writing under the pseudonym Sophie Kinsella, she published "The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic," released in the U.S. as "Confessions of a Shopaholic." That book launched the iconic “Shopaholic” series, featuring the endearingly flawed but lovable Becky Bloomwood.

The “Shopaholic” books became a global phenomenon, selling millions of copies worldwide in dozens of languages. The first two novels were adapted into the 2009 feature film "Confessions of a Shopaholic," starring Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy.

Beyond “Shopaholic,” Kinsella wrote many other novels, including such standalone novels as "Can You Keep a Secret?" and "The Undomestic Goddess," young adult books like "Finding Audrey," and a children’s series, "Mummy Fairy and Me."

Her most recent works included "The Burnout" (2023) and "What Does It Feel Like?" (2024), a powerful, semi-autobiographical piece inspired by her illness.

At the end of 2022, Kinsella was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

She revealed the diagnosis publicly in April 2024, explaining she had kept it private initially to allow her children time to adjust. She underwent surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy under the care of a London hospital.

Kinsella married Henry Wickham in 1991, whom she met at Oxford. Together they had four sons and a daughter. Her husband also managed her literary affairs during her career, and stood by her as she faced illness.

By Legacy News Staff

(Image: Awakening/Getty Images)