[3] Madeleine Sophie Wickham is the eldest sister of fellow writers, Gemma and Abigail Townley.

She graduated from New College, Oxford, where she initially studied Music, but after a year switched to Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE).

The Tennis Party was immediately hailed as a success by critics and the public alike and became a top ten bestseller.

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 (taken from her middle name and her mother's maiden name)[6] was submitted to her publishers anonymously and was enthusiastically received.

[11] A musical adaptation of Kinsella's novel Sleeping Arrangements by Chris Burgess was premiered on 17 April 2013 in London at the Landor Theatre.