Sophie Kinsella 1969-2025 Why her passing affects writers

I’m writing the first draft of this on the day I found out Sophie Kinsella died. This was her pen name. She also wrote under her actual name, but I didn’t read those books. The passing of Sophie Kinsella actually got to me today. Sophie may not have been her real name, but I’d like to believe it was really her with a protective shield.

Sophie wrote very funny stories. She wrote topical stories so some books are dated. I’m a guy. I shouldn’t be one of her followers but I can admire her.

Back in the 1930s and early 1940s, Hollywood hired male and female writers to write for actors. Many movies had women with witty lines and snappy comebacks. Gotta love Myrna Loy!

Sophie wrote what was called “chick lit” about couples and strong women. Here is what made her so good. The men weren’t stupid or cheaters or less than. She wrote strong characters for both sexes. Both sexes had witty lines and both sexes had reasons for their actions. No one was stupid (I mean the ex-boyfriend was stupid, but that’s fine). She wrote equal partners.

I’m a guy and I looked forward to her books because these couples were even matched. Maybe the women started feeling less than but they found their voice. Not because of a guy. Because they found their voice.

So some high-brow book critics may not think Sophie Kinsella is not proper literature. But if you want people and real relationships, read Sophie Kinsella. She could write real people and create a motive for all of them. She understood people. She understood and related to everyone.

There have been authors on social media expressing their sorrow for losing her. Why? Because she was a writer like anyone else. She never sounded above anyone. I would bet that if I met her and said I self published books, she would congratulate me on being an author. No pretense. No superiority.

I don’t know her but I’m going to miss seeing a new book from her. I will miss her on media.

Sophie Kinsella. Madeline Wickham.