It was incredibly sad learning of the death of author Jilly Cooper today. Jilly has always been one of my favourite authors and a huge inspiration. I first read her book Imogen in my early teens and found it excitingly sexy and outrageous.

Jilly’s books are full of wit and emotion and fun and scandal. They’re also very intelligently written – Jilly herself was a journalist by background and an extremely talented writer of non-fiction as well as her novels.

My favourite novel of hers is the “bonkbuster” Rivals – recently made into a wonderful television series – though the book is even better. I’ve read it multiple times.

Of her longer novels, I also love The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous. And I adore all of the “name” novels – Emily, Prudence, Imogen, Octavia etc – the early editions of which featured Jilly herself on the cover in different looks.

This week I’ll be re-reading Imogen as part of my 52 books a year challenge.

RIP Jilly Cooper – gone, but immortalised by her pen.