Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The international literary world has been gripped by the passing of renowned author Sophie Kinsella.
The British author, best known for her novel series, "Confessions of a Shopaholic," passed away on December 10, 2025, just two days before her 56th birthday.
Advertisement
Sophie Kinsella, whose real name was Madeleine Sophie Wickham, passed away after battling glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer had been diagnosed in late 2022, and she publicly announced her condition in April 2024.
Kinsella's family announced the sad news via her official Instagram account, stating that she passed away peacefully.
The family also noted that her final days were filled with love, music, warmth, and the spirit of Christmas and happiness.
A Brief Author Profile
Sophie Kinsella was born Madeleine Sophie Townley on December 12, 1969, in Wandsworth, London, England.
She later became known by the pen name Sophie Kinsella, a combination of her middle name and her mother's maiden name.
Kinsella attended several prestigious institutions, including Putney High School and New College, Oxford in Music before later switched to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE), earning a BA.
Before fully delving into fiction writing, Kinsella worked as a financial journalist.
She worked for publications such as Pensions World, which gave her valuable experience understanding the financial world, which later indirectly influenced one of her most famous characters, Rebecca Bloomwood.
Sophie Kinsella's Phenomenal Work
Sophie Kinsella's writing career began under her real name, Madeleine Wickham.
Her first novel, "The Tennis Party," was written at the age of 24 and published two years later.
Under the name Madeleine Wickham, she published a total of seven novels before switching to her more well-known pen name.
Kinsella's big breakthrough came in 2000 with the Shopaholic series, beginning with "The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic."
This series, which follows the adventures of Rebecca Bloomwood, a financial journalist with a shopping addiction, quickly became a global phenomenon.
The first two novels were even adapted into the 2009 film "Confessions of a Shopaholic."
In addition to the "Shopaholic" series, Sophie Kinsella has also had success with numerous bestselling standalone novels, such as "Can You Keep a Secret?" and "The Undomestic Goddess."
She also wrote the young adult novel "Finding Audrey" and the children's book series "Mummy Fairy and Me."
Her works have sold over 50 million copies in over 60 countries and been translated into over 40 languages, demonstrating her extraordinary global reach.
One of her final works, "What Does It Feel Like?" (2024), is a semi-autobiographical novella, follows a renowned writer facing a cancer diagnosis, reflecting Kinsella's own personal experiences.
It was selected as one of The New York Times' 100 Notable Books of the Year in 2024.
Personal Life and Awards
In her personal life, Sophie Kinsella married in 1991 with Henry Wickham, a school principal who also manages Kinsella's business affairs.
The couple have four sons and one daughter, forming a large and harmonious family.
Sophie Kinsella's dedication and contribution to the world of literature have not gone unnoticed and was shortlisted for "Author of the Year" at the 2025 British Book Awards.
Furthermore, her deeply personal and touching novel, "What Does It Feel Like?", has also received high praise and included in The New York Times' list of the 100 Greatest Books of the Year in 2024.