Sophie Kinsella, best-selling author

Sophie Kinsella, author of “Confessions of a Shopaholic” and a series of million-selling sequels, has died, her family reported on social media.

Kinsella, whose real name was Madeleine Wickham, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in late 2022. announced the diagnosis in April 2024. He said at the time that he delayed the announcement to allow his children to adjust to their new normal. Kinsella also said he underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy to treat the disease.

“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, music, warmth, Christmas and joy,” Kinsella’s family wrote on Instagram. “We can’t imagine what life would be like without his radiance and love of life.”

Kinsella published 10 “shopaholic” novels, beginning with “Confessions of a shopaholic” in 2000. The first two “Shopaholic” books were adapted into the 2009 film “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” starring Isla Fisher.

His 2024 novel “How Does It Feel?” was a semi-fictional account of his cancer diagnosis, according to News themezone partner BBC News. In an introduction to the book, Kinsella said that he had “always processed my life through writing.”

“Hiding behind my fictional characters, I have always turned my own life into a narrative. Perhaps it is my version of therapy,” Kinsella wrote, according to the BBC.

Kinsella also published books, including his first novel, under his real name. In total, she wrote 28 books, including 10 “shopaholic” novels, one young adult novel and four children’s books, according to the BBC. His books have sold more than 45 million copies worldwide and have been translated into dozens of languages.

“Despite her illness, which she endured with unimaginable courage, Sophie considered herself truly blessed to have such wonderful family and friends and to have had the extraordinary success of her writing career,” her family said on social media. “She took nothing for granted and was always grateful for the love she received.”

Kinsella is survived by her husband Henry Wickham, whom she married in 1991, and their five children.

In 2014, Kinsella told “News Mornings” how readers’ responses fueled his writing.

“You’re sitting alone in your room and you tap and you hope people enjoy your book and then you’re done,” he said. “But then someone comes along and says, ‘Well, you know what? I read your book in the middle of the night when I was recovering from surgery and it helped me get through it.’ I mean, how can you do better in life than that?”