Writer Sophie Kinsella: ‘I have brain cancer, I’m having chemo’

The English writer Sophie Kinsella has brain cancer, has undergone surgery and is undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy. She announced it herself with a message on social media. «I have wanted to share a health update with you for a long time – writes the author of many best sellers – and I was waiting for the strength to do so. In late 2022, I was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of aggressive brain cancer. I didn’t share this before because I wanted to make sure my children were able to hear and process the news in privacy and adjust to our new normal.”

The profiled writer, whose real name is Madeleine Sophie Wickham and is 54 years old, addresses her “dear readers and followers” directly, explaining that she is being treated at University College Hospital in London. «At the moment everything is stable and in general I feel very well – she writes – although I feel very tired and my memory is even worse than before! I am so grateful to my family and closest friends who have been so supportive, as well as the wonderful doctors and nurses who cared for me. I am also very grateful to my readers for their constant support. The wonderful response to the novel The Burnout has really encouraged me, at a difficult time.” Kinsella also addresses all those suffering from cancer in any form: «I send them love and best wishes, as well as those who support them. Having a difficult diagnosis can make you feel very alone and scared and the support and care of those around you means more than words can say.” Sophie Kinsella, you graduated in economics from Oxford and worked briefly as a financial journalist before turning to fiction. After publishing some popular romance novels under her real name, she won the hearts of the general public in 2000 with I Love Shopping, which was made into a film combining this book and the subsequent I Love Shopping in New York (2002). The series that tells the reckless adventures of Becky Bloomwood (published in Italy by Mondadori) continues with I love shopping in white (2003), I love shopping with my sister (2004), I love shopping for the baby (2007), I love mini shopping (2010) and I love shopping in Hollywood (2014). Among her other books Can you keep a secret? (2003), The Queen of the House (2005), Do You Remember Me? (2008), Ghost Girl (2009), I’ve Got Your Number (2011), Stop the Grooms! (2013) Where has Audrey gone?! (2015), My Not-So-Perfect Life (2017), Surprise Me! (2018), Family First of All (2019), I love shopping at Christmas (2019), I love my life (2020) and I’m exhausted (2023) all published by Mondadori.