The mother of five, who lived between Dorset and North London, was treated at the National Hospital and University College Hospital and died in Camden today, two days before her 56th birthday.
While working as a financial journalist, she wrote her first book The Tennis Party, which was published when she was just 26.
Like her contemporaries and friends, Lisa Jewell, Jenny Colgan and JoJo Moyes, her popular brand of contemporary fiction was often dismissed as ‘chick lit’.
But her romantic comedies, featuring real-life issues that combined wit, emotional depth and social insight, were loved by many and sold 50 million copies worldwide.
Confessions of a Shopaholic featured Becky Bloomwood, a financial journalist with a chronic spending habit, who was played on screen by Isla Fisher.
A statement posted to her social media accounts said: “She died peacefully, with her final days filled with her true loves: family and music and warmth and Christmas and joy.
“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. She will be missed so much our hearts are breaking.”
Sophie – real name Madeleine Sophie Wickham – went public with her illness in 2024 and raised awareness for charities like The National Brain Appeal and The Brain Tumour Charity – writing an autobiographical novella about her illness titled What Does It Feel Like?
She told The Brain Appeal, which raises funds for The National Hospital, that her symptoms began as confusion, headaches and lack of mobility.
She spoke of the “rollercoaster of emotions” following her diagnosis, from tears to “humour love and optimism”.
“One of my early worries was that I wouldn’t be able to write again,” she said.
“The book helped me to process so much of what I’ve been through. It seems to be very common that once you’ve had a diagnosis like glioblastoma your life changes irrevocably, and you have a totally different perspective on life, and everything.”
Posting on Instagram, JoJo Moyes, who lives near Hampstead Heath wrote: “I’m struggling to find the words. Not just one of the greatest friends, but one of the greatest people. More talented, more kind, more fun, more full of grace than anyone I’ve ever met.
“@sophiekinsellawriter was responsible for so much good in my life, including giving me the confidence to write Me Before You at a point when my confidence was low. Everyone who met her loved her. My love and thoughts are with Henry, who could not have loved her more, and with her children, who were her world. I was so lucky to know her and we were all lucky to have her. Darling Maddy x.”
Lisa Jewell, who lives in West Hampstead, wrote: “A beautiful woman, a beautiful soul, a brilliant writer, a wonderful mother, a joyful friend and a perfect wife left this morning, peacefully and surrounded by family and love.
“Maddy, thank you for all the fun and laughter and good times spent together with you, even towards the end. I hope there are designer clothes shops and pianos waiting for you. You deserve the best of everything. Love you always.”
