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Sophie Kinsella’s novel Shopaholic & Baby (2007) became a pick of mine during a book club discussion years ago. Meanwhile, her other book (given away by someone to me), Wedding Night (2013), is still sitting on one of my shelves, waiting to be delved into. When there’s too many books and little to no space, you just don’t know which one to read next. Ah, the life of a bookworm.

In Malaysia, her books are enjoyed by readers and/or speakers of the English language, especially if they grew up in English-speaking homes. Notably, her books are classified as contemporary romance and romantic comedy for young women, otherwise known as chick lit.

The news of her passing on the morning of 10 December 2025 (UK time) has shaken fans of her work, particularly the well-loved Shopaholic series. Beyond that, different authors and actors have taken to social media to express how deeply affected they feel about the passing, especially when Kinsella’s work have all helped influenced and shaped their perspectives and writing, even if they may be writing in different genres.

Other than Christmas Shopaholic (2019), the final one in the Shopaholic series, she also wrote standalone novels including: My Not So Perfect Life (2017), Love Your Life (2020), The Party Crasher (2021) and The Burnout (2023).

Madeleine Sophie Wickham, who had been using a pseudonym for a certain period, had been diagnosed with an aggressive and rare form of brain cancer, glioblastoma in late 2022. Wanting privacy, she only announced her diagnosis publicly in 2024. This experience, in turn, became a fictionalised page-turner in the form of a novella, What Does it Feel Like (2024), also her final book before her demise.

Prior to her days of being known as Sophie Kinsella, she was using her given name as well as her husband’s family name. Kinsella’s novels then were more serious and darker in tone, compared to the witty and humourous chick lit Shopaholic series. She had a total of seven novels bearing the name Madeleine Wickham, including Swimming Pool Sunday, Gatecrasher, and Cocktails for Three.

Her book Confessions of a Shopaholic has been adapted for the big screen, released in 2009. Following success, her other novels, Can You Keep a Secret and Remember Me, have also been made into films.

Kinsella leaves behind a quintet of children and her husband, along with her unforgettable novels.