Sophie Kinsella

Madeleine Sophie Wickham, known by her pen name Sophie Kinsella, is an English author. The first two novels in her best-selling Shopaholic series, The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Abroad, were adapted into the film Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009). Her books have sold over 50 million copies in more than 60 countries and have been translated into over 40 languages.^[1]

Sophie Kinsella
Born	Madeleine Sophie Townley (1969-12-12) 12 December 1969 (age 55) Wandsworth, England
Occupation	Novelist
Period	1995–present
Genre	Romantic comedy
Notable works	The Shopaholic series
Spouse	Henry Wickham ​ (m. 1991)​
Website
sophiekinsella.co.uk

Early life

Madeleine Sophie Wickham is the eldest sister of fellow writers, Gemma and Abigail Townley. She was educated at Putney High School, St Mary's School, Shaftesbury and Sherborne School for Girls. She graduated from New College, Oxford, where she initially studied Music, but after a year switched to Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE).^[2] She worked as a financial journalist (including for Pensions World) before turning to writing fiction.^[3]

Life and career

At the age of 24, Kinsella wrote her first novel, which was published when she was 26. The Tennis Party was immediately hailed as a success by critics and the public alike and became a top ten bestseller. She went on to publish six more novels as Madeleine Wickham: A Desirable Residence, Swimming Pool Sunday, The Gatecrasher, The Wedding Girl, Cocktails for Three, and Sleeping Arrangements.

Wickham's first novel under the pseudonym Sophie Kinsella (taken from her middle name and her mother's maiden name)^[4] was submitted to her publishers anonymously and was enthusiastically received. She revealed her real identity for the first time when Can You Keep a Secret? was published in December 2003.^[5]

Kinsella is best known for writing the Shopaholic novels series of chick lit novels, which focus on the misadventures of Becky Bloomwood, a financial journalist who cannot manage her own finances. Becky is also known for her relationship with Luke. The series focuses on her obsession with shopping and its resulting complications for her life. The first two Shopaholic books were adapted into a film and released in February 2009.^[6][7]

"Shopaholic to the Rescue" was released on 22 October 2015; "Christmas Shopaholic" was released in October 2019. Her most recent standalone novels are My Not So Perfect Life (2017), Surprise Me (2018), I Owe You One (Feb 2019), Love Your Life (2020), The Party Crasher (2021), The Burnout (2023), and What Does It Feel Like? (2024).^[8] In 2015, she branched into Young Adult writing with her first YA book, Finding Audrey, published in June 2015.^[9]

A musical adaptation of Kinsella's novel Sleeping Arrangements by Chris Burgess was premiered on 17 April 2013 in London at the Landor Theatre.

Accolades

Kinsella was shortlisted as "Author of the Year" in 2025, by British Book Awards.^[10] In 2024, her novel What Does It Feel Like? was selected as one of The New York Times' 100 Notable Books of the Year.^[11] The novel was also listed as one of the five best of the year by The Guardian.^[12]

Personal life

In 1991, Kinsella married Henry Wickham, whom she had met at Oxford. A schoolmaster, he became head of Lockers Park Preparatory School and now manages her business affairs. They live in Dorset and London and have four sons and a daughter.^[13][14]

In 2024, Kinsella revealed she had glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer with which she was diagnosed in late 2022.^[15]

Bibliography

As Sophie Kinsella

The Shopaholic series

1. The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic (also titled Confessions of a Shopaholic) (2000)
2. Shopaholic Abroad (also titled Shopaholic Takes Manhattan) (2001)
3. Shopaholic Ties The Knot (2001)
4. Shopaholic & Sister (2004)
5. Shopaholic & Baby (2007)
6. Mini Shopaholic (2010)
7. Shopaholic to the Stars (2014)
8. Shopaholic on Honeymoon (2014) — short story
9. Shopaholic to the Rescue (2015)
10. Christmas Shopaholic (2019)

Standalone novels

• Can You Keep a Secret? (2003)
• The Undomestic Goddess (2005)
• Remember Me? (2008)
• Twenties Girl (2009)
• I've Got Your Number (2011)
• Wedding Night (2013)
• My Not So Perfect Life (2017)
• Surprise Me (2018)
• I Owe You One (2019)
• Love Your Life (2020)
• The Party Crasher (2021)
• The Burnout (2023)
• What Does It Feel Like (2024)

Other

• Girls Night In (2004) (an omnibus of novels, along with many authors including Meg Cabot and Jennifer Weiner)
• Finding Audrey (2015) (a young adult novel)
• Mummy Fairy and Me (2018) (an illustrated series for young readers)

As Madeleine Wickham

• The Tennis Party (1995) (re-released as 40 Love in 2011)
• A Desirable Residence (1996)
• Swimming Pool Sunday (1997)
• The Gatecrasher (1998)
• The Wedding Girl (1999)
• Cocktails for Three (2000)
• Sleeping Arrangements (2001)