Honestly, if you haven’t read Lisa Kleypas, you’re missing out on the person who basically redefined the "self-made man" trope in historical romance. She doesn't just write about dukes with massive estates and perfect jawlines. She writes about the guys who actually built the world—the ones with dirt under their fingernails and enough money to buy the dukes twice over.
Secrets of a Summer Night is the book that kicked off the legendary Wallflowers series. It’s set in 1843, a time when the British aristocracy was starting to realize that having a fancy title didn't pay the butcher's bill. Ironically, the hero of this story, Simon Hunt, is actually the son of a butcher.
What Actually Happens in Secrets of a Summer Night
The story follows Annabelle Peyton. She’s beautiful, she’s well-born, and she’s flat broke.
Her father is dead, and her family is living in a house where they can barely afford to keep the lights on. She’s on her fourth "Season" in London, which in 1840s terms means she’s basically a dinosaur. If she doesn’t land a rich husband soon, her younger brother has to drop out of school and her mother might have to resort to some pretty dark things to keep them off the streets.
Enter the Wallflowers.
Annabelle teams up with three other "misfits" who are tired of being ignored at balls:
- Lillian and Daisy Bowman: Rich American sisters who are too loud and "unrefined" for the British snobs.
- Evie Jenner: A shy girl with a stutter and a truly nightmare family.
They make a pact. They’re going to help each other find husbands, by any means necessary. No more sitting on the sidelines. No more waiting to be picked. It’s a bit of a "heist" vibe, but the prize is a wedding ring and financial security.
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The Simon Hunt Problem
Simon Hunt has been watching Annabelle for years. He’s a wealthy industrialist who made his fortune in the booming railway business. He’s blunt, he’s arrogant, and he has zero interest in being a "gentleman."
He doesn't want to marry Annabelle. He wants her to be his mistress.
It’s a gritty starting point for a romance. He knows she’s desperate, and he’s essentially waiting for her to run out of options so she’ll come to him. It’s kinda predatory, honestly, but Kleypas writes it with this intense, simmering tension that makes you realize he’s actually completely obsessed with her.
The Controversy: Original vs. Revised Editions
If you go to buy a copy of Secrets of a Summer Night today, you’re probably going to get the 2021 revised edition.
You might want to hunt down an old copy instead.
Lisa Kleypas recently went through her backlist and edited several books to remove "problematic" elements, mostly regarding consent and aggressive behavior. In this book, she significantly changed a scene at a country house party involving a linen closet and some heavy-duty seduction.
- The Original: Simon is much more aggressive. It’s high-heat, high-friction, and shows the raw, almost desperate nature of their attraction.
- The Revised: It’s "softer." Simon is more polite. The scene is shorter.
Many long-time fans feel like the revisions gutted the character development. In the original, Simon’s transformation from a guy who just wants a mistress to a man who realizes he can't live without a wife feels earned because of that raw intensity. In the new version, some readers feel the connection is a bit more superficial. If you want the full, unadulterated Simon Hunt experience, look for a paperback published before 2021.
Why This Book Still Matters in 2026
We’re living in a world where "bridging the gap" between different social classes is still a massive theme in media. Think Bridgerton, but with more logic and fewer neon colors.
Annabelle has to unlearn a lifetime of snobbery. She’s been taught that a "commoner" like Simon is beneath her, even though he’s the only one actually offering her a future. Watching her realize that a title is just a piece of paper while Simon is a man of substance is the real heart of the book.
Key Locations and Moments to Look For:
- The Rounders Game: The scene where the Wallflowers play a game of rounders in their undergarments (knickers!) is iconic. It’s the moment their friendship solidifies and the guys realize these women are more than just wallflowers.
- Stony Cross Park: The country estate of Marcus, Lord Westcliff. This is where most of the drama happens.
- The Honeymoon in Paris: It’s a rare treat in historical romance to see the couple actually after the wedding. Their trip to Paris shows Annabelle finally seeing the world through Simon's eyes—and it’s beautiful.
Actionable Insights for Readers
If you're planning to dive into the world of the Wallflowers, here is the best way to handle it:
- Check the Copyright Page: If you want the original "gritty" version, look for an ISBN like 0060091290 or any edition from the mid-2000s.
- Don't Stop Here: While Secrets of a Summer Night is the first book, the third book, Devil in Winter, is widely considered the "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time) of historical romance. You need to read Annabelle’s story to understand the setup for the others.
- Pay Attention to the Prequel: There is a prequel called Again the Magic. It’s about other characters (Gideon and Olivia), but they show up in Secrets, and it adds a lot of depth to the world-building.
The beauty of this book is that it’s not just a romance; it’s a story about four women who refuse to let society tell them they aren't enough. It’s about finding power in the corners of the ballroom.
Next Steps for Your Reading Journey:
Start by tracking down a copy of the original text if you can, then move immediately into It Happened One Autumn. The character growth of the four friends is best experienced in a binge-read format. If you find yourself enjoying the "industrialist vs. aristocrat" dynamic, look into Kleypas's later series, The Ravenels, which doubles down on these themes.