British author Sophie Kinsella dies aged 55 after battle with brain cancer.
In a shocking turn of events, Madeleine Wickham, the pen name behind bestselling novel Confessions of a Shopaholic, has passed away at the age of 55. The renowned author, often referred to as "the queen of romantic comedy," was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer, in December 2022.
Born in London in 1969, Wickham's journey into writing began during her studies at New College, Oxford. She initially pursued a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics before switching to music, only to find that journalism was not for her. Instead, she found solace in reading paperbacks by notable authors such as Mary Wesley and Joanna Trollope.
Wickham's breakthrough came when she penned The Tennis Party at the age of 24, a novel about a group of friends participating in a weekend tennis tournament. She wrote several more novels under her real name before adopting the pen name Sophie Kinsella.
The Madeleine Wickham books differ from Sophie Kinsella's later works, which are often classified as "chick lit." Wickham considered this term to be more accurately representing humorous third-person contemporary novels that feature intelligent and complex female characters. Her novels have sold over 45 million copies worldwide, cementing her status as a beloved author.
The Confessions of a Shopaholic series followed the misadventures of Becky Bloomwood, a financial journalist with a spending problem, which was first published in 2000. The book's success led to several film adaptations, including the 2009 movie starring Isla Fisher.
In recent years, Wickham has expanded her literary range by publishing standalone novels as Sophie Kinsella and children's books under her own name. Her most recent novel, The Burnout, was published in 2023 and explores themes of burnout and recovery.
Wickham is survived by her husband, Henry Wickham, whom she met at Oxford University, and their five children.
In a shocking turn of events, Madeleine Wickham, the pen name behind bestselling novel Confessions of a Shopaholic, has passed away at the age of 55. The renowned author, often referred to as "the queen of romantic comedy," was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer, in December 2022.
Born in London in 1969, Wickham's journey into writing began during her studies at New College, Oxford. She initially pursued a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics before switching to music, only to find that journalism was not for her. Instead, she found solace in reading paperbacks by notable authors such as Mary Wesley and Joanna Trollope.
Wickham's breakthrough came when she penned The Tennis Party at the age of 24, a novel about a group of friends participating in a weekend tennis tournament. She wrote several more novels under her real name before adopting the pen name Sophie Kinsella.
The Madeleine Wickham books differ from Sophie Kinsella's later works, which are often classified as "chick lit." Wickham considered this term to be more accurately representing humorous third-person contemporary novels that feature intelligent and complex female characters. Her novels have sold over 45 million copies worldwide, cementing her status as a beloved author.
The Confessions of a Shopaholic series followed the misadventures of Becky Bloomwood, a financial journalist with a spending problem, which was first published in 2000. The book's success led to several film adaptations, including the 2009 movie starring Isla Fisher.
In recent years, Wickham has expanded her literary range by publishing standalone novels as Sophie Kinsella and children's books under her own name. Her most recent novel, The Burnout, was published in 2023 and explores themes of burnout and recovery.
Wickham is survived by her husband, Henry Wickham, whom she met at Oxford University, and their five children.
losing someone as iconic as Sophie Kinsella is like watching a chapter of your life come to an end 
. it's a harsh reminder that our time on this earth is limited 
. what we do with those 55+ years though matters 
. remember, writing her novels was just one part of Sophie's journey - she had music, journalism, and family too 
. the lesson here? don't put all your eggs in one basket 
. diversify, explore, and love every moment of life 
. also, cherish those close to you more often 
. Sophie's books may be fiction, but her story is a reminder that our stories are what make us who we are 
.
. I mean, she was just a part of my life for so long, you know? Reading her books was always a guilty pleasure, but in a good way 
. Those Confessions of a Shopaholic novels are still one of my faves to this day... Becky Bloomwood's struggles with spending and relationships were so relatable 
. I loved how she tackled real issues in a fun and lighthearted way 
. It's crazy that her books have sold over 45 million copies worldwide - that's just insane! 
Rest in peace, Sophie... you'll be missed 
. She'll always be remembered as the queen of romantic comedies, and I think her fans will continue to cherish her books for years to come 
.
i mean, i loved reading her books especially confessions of a shopaholic, who wouldn't relate to becky bloomwood's shopping addiction lol... but seriously, 45 million copies sold? that's crazy talk 
. She may be gone too soon, but her legacy will live on through her incredible body of work 
. RIP Sophie Kinsella 
so sad to hear about Sophie Kinsella's passing 
rest in peace Sophie Kinsella, you'll be deeply missed by so many fans 
just heard about Sophie Kinsella's passing... what a sad loss for literature fans everywhere. her books were always so light & fun, but also had some depth to them. i loved how she wrote about women navigating life's complexities with humor & wit. anyway, it's crazy to think that glioblastoma was the culprit behind her untimely demise 
just saw the news about Sophie Kinsella... feels like we're losing another iconic author too soon 
sources would be great to learn more about her struggles with the illness and how it affected her work 
? Seriously though, 55 is way too young to go... glioblastoma is no joke 
. May she rest in peace 
Sophie Kinsella was an iconic author who brought so much joy to our lives with her hilarious and relatable stories 
. Her legacy will live on through the millions of readers she touched 
. My heart goes out to her loved ones, especially her family 
. She may be gone too soon, but her books will continue to make us laugh, cry, and feel seen 
my mom was always reading her books and loved Becky Bloomwood, she must be really sad now 