Valerie Frankel

  • 11

    Catalog books

  • 7

    Works

  • 1994 to 2008

    Strongest span

Who This Author Is

Valerie Frankel writes with wry compassion about relationships and reinvention. Hex and the Single Girl blends romantic comedy and supernatural mischief as a woman navigates love and selfhood, while Heartbreak Handbook offers practical, honest guidance on surviving a breakup without sentimentality.

Across these two books Frankel balances humor with clear-eyed advice, pairing relatable prose with actionable insight. Readers who want both levity and useful strategies for dating and recovery will find practical warmth and a steady voice throughout her work.

Best Place To Start

Hex and the Single Girl

Harpercollins • 2006 • standard commitment

It helps anchor a specific period of this author’s publishing run instead of blending into the undated shelf clutter.

Author At A Glance

Best known for: rom-com relationships • modern dating mishaps • witty, voice-driven narration

Genres and themes: romantic comedy • contemporary women's fiction • dating and self-discovery

Who this author is best for: Great for readers who enjoy laugh-out-loud romantic comedies with honest takes on modern dating and personal growth.

Start with Hex and the Single Girl for a humorous spin on dating, then try Heartbreak Handbook for a moodier, reflective follow-up.

Top Books To Start With

  1. Hex and the Single Girl

    Harpercollins • 2006 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2006 • 290 pages.

  2. heartbreak handbook

    Fawcett/Columbine • 1994 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1994 • 225 pages.

  3. I Take This Man

    Harpercollins • 2007 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2007 • 320 pages.

  4. The Girlfriend Curse

    Harpercollins • 2005 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2005 • 292 pages.

  5. The Not-So-Perfect Man

    Harpercollins • 2004 • longer commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2004 • 352 pages.

  6. The Accidental Virgin

    Harpercollins • 2003 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2003 • 277 pages.

  7. Smart Vs. Pretty

    Harpercollins • 2000 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2000 • 288 pages.

  8. Fringe benefits

    NAL Jam • 2008 • commitment varies by edition

    UPB note: year signal: 2008.

  9. Thin is the new happy

    St. Martin's Press • 2008 • commitment varies by edition

    readers who want one of the clearer starting points on this page

  10. Girlfriend Curse

    HarperCollins Publishers • 2006 • commitment varies by edition

    UPB note: year signal: 2006.

How The Picks Compare

  • heartbreak handbook is the easier short commitment, while Hex and the Single Girl asks for more reading time up front.
  • heartbreak handbook gives you an earlier look at this author’s shelf, while Hex and the Single Girl leans later in the catalog.

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