Sophie Kinsella Dies: Author Of Book Series Adapted As ‘Confessions Of A Shopaholic’ Film Was 55

Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling British author whose ‘Shopaholic’ novel series became the basis of 2009 film Confessions of a Shopaholic, has died aged 55.

The author, who also wrote under her real name Madeleine Wickham, had been suffering from a rare form of aggressive brain cancer. She passed away this morning, her family wrote in a post on her Instagram account.

“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.”

Kinsella had announced last year that she had been fighting a glioblastoma for two years. Despite surgery, doctors found the cancer to be incurable. Kinsella would go on to write a book about her experience.

“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,” her family wrote. “She took nothing for granted and was forever grateful for the love she received. She will be missed so much our hearts are breaking.”

Kinsella began her writing career at the age of 24 with ‘The Tennis Journey’ under her real name, going to write six more before she began using a pen name. Her chick-lit ‘Confessions’ novel series about a financial journalist in major debt due to her own problems with money began with 2000 book ‘The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic.’

That book and the second, ‘Shopaholic Abroad’ would go on to form Disney’s 2009 rom-com Confessions of a Shopaholic, starring Isla Fisher and Hugh Darcy. Her 2003 book, ‘Can You Keep a Secret?,’ also got the film treatment, becoming an indie rom-com starring Alexandra Daddario and Tyler Hoechlin. Peter Hutchings adapted it.

Kinsella’s final book, ‘What Does It Feel Like?’ was a semi-fictional story her experience living with cancer.

Her agents, Araminta Whitley and Marina de Pass, called her a “once-in-a-lifetime author and friend,” adding: “She had a rare gift for creating emotionally resonant protagonists and stories that spoke to, and entertained, readers wherever they were in the world and whatever challenges they faced.”

She is survived by her husband, Henry, and five children.