Lisa Kleypas

Lisa Kleypas is an American author widely regarded as one of the leading voices in historical romance, known for meticulously researched Regency and Victorian-era settings paired with emotionally intense, character-driven storytelling. A former Miss Massachusetts USA pageant winner, she published her first novel while still in college and went on to build several major series, including the Wallflowers (starting with Secrets of a Summer Night), the Hathaways, and the Ravenels, each following interconnected families and friend groups through romances that balance wit, social commentary, and genuine emotional depth. She later expanded into contemporary romance with the Friday Harbor series, demonstrating a range beyond her historical roots. Kleypas is frequently cited by fellow romance authors as a formative influence on the genre's modern era, admired for heroines with real interiority and heroes who develop rather than simply charm. New readers are often pointed to Devil in Winter, widely considered a genre-defining book within the Wallflowers series, or Cold-Hearted Rake to start the Ravenels from its first installment. None of her novels have been adapted for film or television to date. She continues to publish new romance novels regularly and remains one of the genre's most consistently bestselling authors.