Home / Arts and Entertainment / Romantic Comedy Queen Loses Battle with Cancer
Romantic Comedy Queen Loses Battle with Cancer
10 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Author Madeleine Wickham, known as Sophie Kinsella, died at age 55.
- She was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer in late 2022.
- Wickham penned over 30 books, selling more than 45 million copies worldwide.
Madeleine Wickham, renowned author who wrote as Sophie Kinsella, has died at the age of 55, approximately 18 months after revealing her glioblastoma diagnosis. Wickham, hailed as the "queen of romantic comedy," penned over 30 books for various age groups, achieving worldwide sales of more than 45 million copies.
Her literary journey began with novels under her real name, including "The Tennis Party." However, she gained international fame with the "Shopaholic" series, featuring the financially challenged Becky Bloomwood. This series, beginning with "The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic," was adapted into successful films, cementing her status in popular literature.
Wickham also authored standalone bestsellers like "Can You Keep a Secret?" and her most recent novel, "The Burnout," inspired by personal experience. Her work, often classified as "chick lit," explored multifaceted female characters with intelligence and humor. She is survived by her husband and five children.
