Mrs Abse's husband, writer Dannie Abse, was injured in the accident
Mrs Abse, 78, and her husband, poet Dannie Abse, were returning home after attending a poetry reading in Porthcawl on Monday evening.
Mr Abse suffered broken ribs in the crash and is recovering at the family home in Ogmore with his children.
Joan Abse's most recent book was an anthology of letters written from Wales over the last 800 years.
Her publisher Cary Archard said Joan, who was originally from Lancashire, was a noted art critic and had published a number of books on art and galleries.
"She was a lovely, intelligent, compassionate woman," he said.
"She seemed to be ego-less, she always had time for you.
"She was a true scholar, and her husband Dannie would have been a different writer if it wasn't for her." South Wales Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which happened between Pyle and Bridgend, to contact the Roads Policing Unit on 01656 655555.
Welsh poet Dannie Abse (81) and his wife Joan (78) were involved in a car crash while driving from Golders Green to their holiday home in Ogmore-by-Sea, South Wales.  Mrs. Abse died instantly; Mr Abse suffered a broken rib.  The driver of the other vehicle was unhurt. The couple was returning from a poetry reading that they both had given.

Dannie Abse is an esteemed Jewish writer who lives in Glamorgan, South Wales. Joan Abse, his wife, was an art historian and writer. Dannie Abse is well-known for being a poet and a medical doctor. Abse, in fact, was a specialist at a chest clinic for over thirty years. But Abse is best known for his writings and has received numerous literary awards and fellowships. In 1989, he received an honorary doctorate from the Universities of Wales. 

The couple worked together editing two books in the 1980s.

Joan Abse leaves behind her husband, a son, and two daughters.