Reviews with content warning for Sexual harassment - Secrets of a Summer Night

Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

21 reviews

allingoodtime's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I was prepared to love all of the women who make up the Wallflowers, but I wasn’t expecting them to have such distinct personalities from the very beginning. Such a wonderful talent to be able to get that across so quickly. While they all have their roadblocks to finding a suitor, it seems Annabelle’s may be the most dire.

Annabelle grew up with privilege and should have been snatched up quickly once she was of age, but her father passed away and the family was quickly plunged into debt. Although she’s beautiful, no man is willing to take on a woman who doesn’t have a dowry and has a mother and young brother that need to be cared for. Especially when she’s known to be strong-willed and the men feel she will eventually have to give in to being a mistress due to her financial situation. In Annabelle’s mind, that is not an option. She will find a way. Hence, the Wallflower’s pact starts with finding Annabelle a suitable match.

For years there has been an undeniable attraction between Annabelle and Simon. He has made his interest evident, although he doesn’t want a wife but a mistress. Annabelle has never admitted her attraction because she doesn’t realize that’s what it is…she doesn’t think of Simon as a suitable match as he is not part of the ton. He is new money and he doesn’t bow to “polite” society’s expectations and she is nothing if not the picture of a proper lady.

These two are so much fun. They are so obviously falling in love with each other yet are in complete denial for different reasons. Even through multiple misunderstandings that would usually cause that bond to break, they keep coming back to each other. It’s amazing.

For all of the angst, heat, and fighting there are also moments of incredible tenderness that had me swooning. The way these two come to be betrothed is delightful while the denials of feelings of love are comical. This book was a lot more fun than I expected.

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ember_eyes_are_for_tigers's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

There is definitely an odd choice in the pacing, that after the first two thirds of the novel changes completely, which could’ve definitely been a stylistic choice from the author. Signifying the slower and calmer approach to life the main character now has that her main goal, that had been driving throughout the entire book, wan now accomplished.
Despite that, I really enjoyed the beginning and the middle of the book, especially the non romantic relationship that the character formed throughout it. However, I do believe that the

the wedding was rushed and, as the author was keen to show us how Annabelle’s life changed now that her social status also changed, I wished we could’ve seen more of it and more in depth.

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hannahitsallfine's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This book is only bearable because of the wallflowers themselves. The hero is infuriating at worst and meh at best. I was so close to DNFing but I managed to at least skim through most of the last third. I’m glad I read the ending if only to see Westcliff have a redemptive moment.

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bella_izzy_gabby's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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madsmcw_reads's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A group of wallflowers band together to find one another husbands and forge a beautiful friendship in the process. Secrets of a Summer night follows Annabelle and Simon and I just loved watching their relationship evolve. The story starts slow because you have to get the backstory on the four women and they need to come together to figure out their plan and set it in motion, but I feel like around the halfway point it really picked up.

Scenes where the hero has to take care of the heroine and she's just completely resistant? *Swoon*. And when Simon said to Annabell, "Sweetheart, I would take you to the ends of the earth if you asked," I literally melted. The end of the book set up the next story perfectly. I've already started it and can't wait to see what happens.

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