Sophie Kinsella


Madeleine Sophie Townley, 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. Her books have sold over 40 million copies in more than 60 countries, and been translated into over 40 languages.

Early life

Kinsella was born on 12 December 1969, the eldest daughter of David R. and Patricia B. Townley. The eldest sister of fellow writers Gemma and Abigail Townley, she was educated at Putney High School, St Mary's School near Shaftesbury, Sherborne School for Girls, and New College, Oxford, where she initially studied Music, but after a year switched to Politics, Philosophy and Economics. She worked as a financial journalist before turning to fiction.

Life and career

At the age of 24, Kinsella wrote her first novel. The Tennis Party was immediately hailed as a success by critics and the public alike and became a top ten best-seller. 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 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.
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. She 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.
The most recent addition to the Shopaholic series, "Shopaholic to the Rescue" was released on 22 October 2015; "Christmas Shopaholic" was released in October 2019. Her most recent standalone novels are "I Owe You One", My Not So Perfect Life and Surprise Me. In 2015, she branched into Young Adult writing with her first YA book, Finding Audrey, published in June 2015.
A musical adaptation of Kinsella's novel 'Sleeping Arrangements' by Chris Burgess was premiered on 17 April 2013 in London at .

Personal life

Kinsella lives in London with her husband, Henry Wickham, who was previously headmaster of Lockers Park boys preparatory school and now manages her business affairs. They were married in 1991 and have four sons and a daughter.

As Sophie Kinsella

The Shopaholic series
  1. The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic
  2. Shopaholic Abroad
  3. Shopaholic Ties The Knot
  4. Shopaholic on Honeymoon
  5. Shopaholic & Sister
  6. Shopaholic & Baby
  7. Mini Shopaholic
  8. Shopaholic to the Stars
  9. Shopaholic to the Rescue
  10. Christmas Shopaholic

    Standalone novels