Sophie Kinsella, 'Shopaholic' Author, Dies at 55

Sophie Kinsella, the beloved author behind the global "Shopaholic" book series, has died at age 55. She had been diagnosed with a form of brain cancer, glioblastoma, in the summer of 2022. Her family confirmed her death in a statement on Friday. They said she died "peacefully at home" in the United Kingdom. Kinsella, whose real name was Madeleine Wickham, wrote more than 25 books. She was best known for her humorous "Shopaholic" novels. The series follows the adventures of Becky Bloomwood, a financial journalist with a serious spending habit. The first book, "Confessions of a Shopaholic," became an international publishing phenomenon. It was later adapted into a major Hollywood film. Her family shared that her final months were private. They said she focused on time with her loved ones. "She spent a joyful Christmas with her family," the statement noted. Kinsella's books have sold over 45 million copies in more than 60 countries. Readers and fellow authors worldwide are paying tribute to her work and her legacy.