'Shopaholic' Author Sophie Kinsella Dies – Family Shares a Statement

"Despite her illness, which she bore with unimaginable courage, Sophie counted herself truly blessed," her family wrote in announcing the loss of one of Britain's most cherished authors.

"Shopaholic" author Sophie Kinsella has died, her family has announced.

The family's tribute now sets the tone for a deeply personal reflection on Sophie's resilience, her joy in life, and the illness she faced with extraordinary strength.

"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 […] She will be missed so much our hearts are breaking💔💔💔," the family wrote.

"We can't imagine what life will be like without her radiance and love of life. 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," the statement added.

Before her death, Kinsella herself revealed in February 2024 that she had been privately battling glioblastoma since 2022, telling fans in a post on Instagram that she waited to speak publicly so her children could "hear and process the news in privacy."

"At the end of 2022 I was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of aggressive brain cancer," Sophie wrote. "I have been under the care of the excellent team at University College Hospital in London and have had successful surgery and subsequent radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which is still ongoing."

"At the moment all is stable and I am feeling generally very well, though I get very tired and my memory is even worse than it was before!" she added, expressing gratitude for her readers' support and sending "love and best wishes" to others facing cancer.

During a candid interview with Good Morning America, Sophie called her husband a "hero" and praised his devotion during her treatment. She said:

"He has just been such a hero. He stayed with me in the hospital the whole time. I once said to him, I got very teary at one stage and I said, 'oh my god, you didn't sign up for this.' Do you know what he said? He said, 'yes, I did, in sickness and in health.'"

In addition to her husband, Sophie is survived by the couple's five children. In an interview with The Independent, she shared that she had "five children, four boys and a girl," noting that the eldest was in university while the youngest was six. "'They are spread out over many years. I don't literally have five toddlers. I couldn't cope with that,'" she said. "'We took our time.'"

Her passing marks the loss of one of Britain's most cherished authors, remembered not only for her wit but for her radiance, resilience, and love of life.