'Shopaholic' Author Sophie Kinsella Passes Away at 55

The literary world is in mourning after the passing of Sophie Kinsella — the beloved author behind the millions-selling “Shopaholic” series — who died at 55. Her family announced she passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, love, and music. 

Born Madeleine Sophie Wickham, Kinsella first made her name as a financial journalist. She later adopted her pen name and burst into prominence with the 2000 release of The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic (known in the U.S. as Confessions of a Shopaholic), introducing readers to the endearingly flawed, fashion-obsessed Becky Bloomwood. 

What followed was an enduring legacy: over 10 “Shopaholic” novels, along with numerous standalone and young-adult titles. Her books sold more than 45 million copies worldwide, reaching readers in dozens of languages and resonating across generations. The first two Shopaholic books were adapted into the 2009 film Confessions of a Shopaholic — a testament to the global appeal of her work. 

In April 2024, Kinsella revealed she had been privately battling a diagnosis of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer first identified in late 2022. Despite the diagnosis, she continued to write — her last novel, The Burnout, was published in 2023, followed by a deeply personal novella, What Does It Feel Like?, exploring life under illness. 

In their statement, her family described her final days as filled with “family and music and warmth and Christmas and joy.” They added, “We can’t imagine what life will be like without her radiance and love of life.” 

Sophie Kinsella leaves behind a body of work that redefined early-2000s “chick-lit,” offering humor, heart, and a voice for women navigating life, love, and the modern world. Her characters — especially Becky Bloomwood — will continue to enchant readers, and her books will remain a source of laughter and comfort across the world.