[4][5][1] Smale learned she was autistic at the age of 39[6] and subsequently was diagnosed with developmental coordination disorder.

[7] She has also mentioned having synesthesia, which in her case involves processing emotions as colours,[8] dyscalculia, hyperlexia, coeliac disease and endometriosis.

[11] The humorous fiction follows the life of Harriet Manners, a nerdy 15-year-old girl who tries out modelling to "reinvent herself".

Following her own diagnoses of autism and dyspraxia after the series concluded, Smale has retroactively described Harriet as having both conditions as well.

[18] In February 2019 Smale published Happy Girl Lucky, the first in a new series called The Valentines, about three sisters and a brother.