5 Of The Best Sophie Kinsella Books, Based On Reviews

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December 10, 2025, will be remembered as a heartbreaking day for the literary world, as Madeleine Sophie Wickham, best known by her pen name Sophie Kinsella, passed away. The writer, often referred to as one of the defining voices of chick lit, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer in 2022 and ultimately lost her battle.

While the loss of an amazing writer like Kinsella is tragic, the beautiful thing about being a creative is that their work will live on, carrying their voice and legacy long after they're gone. Kinsella, who was originally a journalist and never intended to become a published novelist, is best known for her beloved Shopaholic series, particularly the first book, "Confessions of a Shopaholic." The 2001 book was adapted into a film starring Isla Fisher in 2009. But the Shopaholic series is far from her only success, as Kinsella has written countless novels that became reader favorites in their own right.

To celebrate her life and honor the talented author's knack for blending humor and heartfelt storytelling, we thought it would be fitting to introduce our readers to some of the author's best books, according to reviews. And while we'll be introducing her best books for adult readers, she also wrote the loveliest books for children, like Fairy Mom and Me, which is a delightful read for young readers.

If you simply can't get into chick lit, but are curious about the kind of writer Sophie Kinsella was, "Finding Audrey" is a much more tender and emotionally resonant read. Although it's a YA novel, it's one that even adults can enjoy. Unlike her usual rom-coms, while there are components of comedy, this 2015 novel leans into a much more introspective tone centered on teen mental health and recovery.

After a while of her room being her entire world, Audrey begins preparing to step back into the actual one with real people in it. What follows is a compassionate journey shaped by support from loved ones and new faces, and just how special even the smallest steps can be.

The book is an Amazon Editors' pick for best young adult books, and more than 45% of Amazon reviewers have given the book five stars. Reviewers deemed the book an accurate portrait of teen mental health, noting that even adults should give it a read to be able to understand and support the younger generation better. One Amazon reviewer wrote a detailed and candid review, saying, "I'll admit I teared up a few times reading Audrey's irrational (but very real) anxieties, as well as her conversations with her therapist, because it was almost like reliving parts of my own life."

Published in 2012, "I've Got Your Number" is another book favored by many loyal Sophie Kinsella fans. A Goodreads review with more than 450 likes said, "I just read this book in one sitting because Sophie Kinsella is a hilarious and engaging author!" They especially appreciated the fact that it wasn't the typical "fairytale" ending you'd expect in a rom-com.

It's another book in which Kinsella's British humor really shines, blending razor-sharp wit with heartfelt moments to tell a realistic love story that feels grounded, rather than too good to be true. This was another standout read from Kinsella for our writer, who appreciated it as a fun read, and while the plot was easy to follow, she never had a clue how the story would actually end. It's great for when you don't want to sit and invest too much time analyzing everything that's going on in the story. It's about two people and a lost phone that unexpectedly brings them together. 

The book received a 5-star review by more than 50% of Amazon reviewers. Another reviewer shared just how pleasantly surprised they were with the book, writing, "This novel fizzed and bubbled with little twists and turns, and although I did suspect the way the romance would end, I had no idea how it was all going to be pulled together."

Often deemed the Sophie Kinsella fan favorite, "The Undomestic Goddess" is a book that hooked many readers on the author's signature blend of humor, heartfelt storytelling, and quotes that feel applicable to everyday life. On a Reddit thread discussing her passing, countless readers singled out the novel as one of her books that stood out to and resonated with them most. A Redditor even shared that their favorite quote from the novel became a personal mantra, writing, "I actually made this quote my wallpaper for a long time, just to remind me to breathe whenever I had really anxious days." 

A Goodreads reviewer simply felt this just might be Kinsella's best work and gave the book five stars as they wrote, "It's simply hilarious. Smart, witty, and romantic ... In the plot there's also a hidden agenda that our heroine has to uncover and that keeps the reader on edge." Countless reviews made it clear that the book seemed to easily become a go-to cozy comfort read that's perfect when they need to tune out the world and enjoy a good laugh.

The story is about a work-obsessed lawyer who makes a career-ending mistake and feels as if she has no choice but to get as far away as possible. When she does, everything seems to be going wrong at first, but the serious detour and being mistaken for someone she's not may turn out to be just what she needed.

"Can You Keep a Secret?" is another Sophie Kinsella book that became a film released in 2019 and starred Alexandra Daddario, who has undergone a full transformation over the years. While the movie helped draw attention to Kinsella's book, many readers, including our writer, felt the film seriously failed to capture Kinsella's charming storytelling and humor. However, the movie is great to watch before reading if you're more of a visual person and want to picture the story as you go.

At its core, the novel is a lighthearted romantic comedy with great pacing. And, we promise Kinsella's humor will have you laughing. This book is a great entry point to Kinsella's writing and just the general chick lit genre as a whole. If you've been wary of diving in, it's the perfect book to give it a go. One reader even admitted the book took a few chapters to win them over, but said it was ultimately worth the read as they experienced a "snorting, choking, oh-my-god I'm dying laughter."

The story follows Emma, who bravely decides to share her deepest secrets with the stranger seated next to her on a flight, but it just may turn out to be the worst decision of her life. It's a fun, fast-paced read, an easy story to follow, and it's filled with humor that'll have you laughing out loud.

Perhaps the work she's best known for, "Confessions of a Shopaholic," is the first book of a 9-part Shopaholic series. It's the book with the highest number of ratings on Goodreads, with more than 800,000 reviews and more than 50% of raters giving the book four stars or more. Many readers may recognize the story from its 2009 film adaptation, but we have to admit it may be one of the adaptations that blew up in everyone's faces, as long-time fans of the book have mentioned that Kinsella's book far surpasses the movie. 

One Amazon reviewer noted, "I had seen the movie starring Isla Fisher, but that was nothing compared to this first book in this series." Another said, "I watched the movie and was very disappointed! It is [nowhere] near as good as the book." Kinsella tells the story of Becky, who lives for fashion, anything glamorous, a good shopping spree, and living life like she's on autopilot, except she's not. When she's forced to deal with the financial reality she's ignored for as long as possible, Becky must face the consequences and start taking some accountability. 

While the series may not boast major literary awards, Kinsella's Shopaholic series has earned something just as meaningful: loyal fans who love to revisit the book. An Amazon reviewer gave "Confessions of a Shopaholic" a 5-star rating and said, "I love all of the Shopaholic books ... [Kinsella] knows how to convey romance without being ridiculously graphic and is also good with subtle humor.