Sophie Kinsellabestselling British author whose Shopaholic series of novels was the basis for the 2009 film. Confession of a shopaholicdied at the age of 55.
The author, who also wrote under her real name Madeleine Wickham, suffered from a rare form of aggressive brain cancer. She passed away this morning, her family wrote in a post on their Instagram account.
“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Sophie (aka Maddie, aka Mom) this morning. She died peacefully and her last days were filled with her true love: family, music, warmth, Christmas and joy.”
Last year, Kinsella announced that she had been battling glioblastoma for two years. Despite the operation, doctors declared the cancer incurable. Kinsella wrote a book about her experience.
“Despite the illness, which she endured with unimaginable courage, Sophie considered herself truly lucky to have such wonderful family and friends and to have achieved extraordinary success in her writing career,” her family wrote. “She took nothing for granted and was always grateful for the love she received. We will miss her so much it breaks our hearts.”
Kinsella began her writing career at the age of 24 with A Tennis Journey under her real name and would write six more before she began using a pseudonym. Her powerful Confessions series of novels, about a financial journalist in deep debt because of her own money problems, began with 2000's The Secret World of a Shopaholic's Dreams.
This book and a second, Shopaholic Abroad, were later the basis for Disney's 2009 rom-com. Confession of a shopaholicstarring Isla Fisher and Hugh Darcy. Her 2003 book Can You Keep a Secret? also received a film adaptation, becoming an indie rom-com starring Alexandra Daddario and Tyler Hoechlin. Peter Hutchings adapted it.
Kinsella's latest book, What's It Like? was a semi-fictional story about her experience living with cancer.
Her agents, Araminta Wheatley and Marina de Passe, called her “a once-in-a-lifetime writer and friend,” adding, “She had a rare gift for creating emotionally resonant protagonists and stories that spoke to and entertained readers no matter where they were in the world and no matter what issues they faced.”
She is survived by her husband Henry and five children.
