Author Sophie Kinsella, who is known for her bestselling Shopaholic book series, has died at the age of 55, her family have confirmed.
A statement posted to her Instagram account read: “We are heartbroken to announce the passing this morning of our beloved Sophie (aka Maddy, aka Mummy). She died peacefully, with her final days filled with her true loves: family and music and warmth and Christmas and joy. We can’t imagine what life will be like without her radiance and love of life."
It continued: “Despite her illness, which she bore with unimaginable courage, Sophie counted herself truly blessed – to have such wonderful family and friends, and to have had the extraordinary success of her writing career. She took nothing for granted and was forever grateful for the love she received.
“She will be missed so much our hearts are breaking.”
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Kinsella, who wrote under a pen name and her real name was Madeleine Sophie Wickham, announced in April 2024 she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.
She wrote on Instagram at the time: "At the end of 2022 I was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of aggressive brain cancer.
"I did not share this before because I wanted to make sure that my children were able to hear and process the news in privacy and adapt to our ‘new normal.'”
She said in the post that she had been receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Kinsella was a household name for many in the UK and around the world, with her Shopaholic series particularly making an impact.
She released 'The Burnout' in October 2023 and her other best-selling books include 'Can You Keep A Secret?' and 'The Undomestic Goddess'.
Her books have sold more than 45 million copies in more than 60 countries, and have been translated into more than 40 languages.
The first two works in her hit eight-book Shopaholic series, The Secret Dreamworld Of A Shopaholic and Shopaholic Abroad, were also adapted into the 2009 film Confessions Of A Shopaholic, starring Isla Fisher.
Her most recent novella, titled 'What Does It Feel Like?' was published in October 2024 and gave an account of her cancer diagnosis which was written after she had surgery.
Kinsella wrote her first novel, 'The Tennis Party', under her real name Madeleine Wickham aged 24, while working as a financial journalist, the BBC reports.
It was acclaimed by critics and quickly became a successful top 10 bestseller - she went on to publish six more novels under her real name before switching to the pen name.
Tributes have been pouring in for the acclaimed author from both those who knew her personally and hardcore fans of her work.
As per Sky News, Bill Scott-Kerr, publisher at Transworld, the publishing home of Kinsella's work for the past three decades, said: "She has been such an unshakeable pillar of our publishing at Transworld for so many years that the thought of a year without a Sophie Kinsella to publish is inconceivable."
He added: "Maddy leaves behind a glorious and indelible legacy: a unique voice, an unquenchable spirit, a goodness of intent and a body of work that will continue to inspire us to reach higher and be better, just like so many of her characters.
"On a personal level Maddy was the embodiment of joy, an extraordinarily clever, funny, sassy, impish, kind and generous collaborator who brought light into our lives. She was as part of this company as anyone, and we will all truly miss her."
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Madison Burgess