I can't believe how completely captivated I was from the very beginning! This story is exquisite! Ros's list is brilliant and such a fun prise for a book. Charlie is such a fantastic flawed hero! His character arc is so much fun to follow with him on his journey! But what is truly captivating is their joint character arc and how they grow and heal each other! Truly stunningly beautiful! Well done!

I received a copy of the book for review purposes, but all thoughts are my own and I was not required or even pressed to give a good review.

Miss Newbury’s List is an utterly lovely read from start to finish. Megan Walker manages to write within the regency romance genre in such a unique way - it reads both exactly like what you crave when picking up a regency romance and like an imaginative new angle on regency romance. I have no idea how she manages this, but I absolutely love the end result!

Miss Rosalind Newbury is a compelling protagonist. Her quest for self-knowledge and lapses in self-understanding are relatable. I think each of us, at some point in young adulthood, have a bit of a crisis of identity, a “Who am I really and can I live as the person I am?” moment. Rosalind is so sure she knows what she wants - and just like in reality, life checks in to let her know that she’s still learning what she wants and needs. Her journey to find herself more fully (via her titular list) makes it easy to invest in the book!

Rosalind’s relationships are heartwarming. While certainly not perfect, her relationships with her parents and her present brother, Ben, are full of love and kindness and a clear commitment to each other. Her relationship with her best friend, Liza, carries all the love, exasperation, understanding, insight, and frustration of real-life friendships, and it is absolutely endearing,

Of course, one cannot review a regency romance without mentioning the romantic hero. Walker does the contrary meet-cute moment so well, and Charlie and Rosalind’s first encounter is exactly that. Charlie was a refreshingly different regency hero - he’s much different than the stereotypical hero and Walker writes him so well. His struggles and challenges are relatable to a modern reader, and his flaws the redeemable sort that make a hero so compelling to read.

Solid 5 stars from me! I’ll definitely be recommend this book to fans of the regency genre!

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The story line of this book was so unique- I loved the whole bucket list idea.
There was lots of humor and plenty of unexpected twists. I also enjoyed learning a few historical facts I didn’t know- it was well researched.
I felt like a big theme I. This book was how a family should stick together and be loving, supportive and loyal to each other. It was refreshing to see in a regency book- usually the families are awful to each other.
I loved the book and would recommend it!

Be still my heart...? This was a confusingly good time? Here: was is great? Not so much. Did I have a great time reading it? Absolutely. This is a lovely story of unlikely allies growing into cautious lovers (PG love all around) as they both struggle with knowing themselves, their worth, and their place in the world. Ros and Charlie are entirely loveable down to their (likely historically inaccurate) lack of propriety and reluctance to accept what's staring them in the face. I loved watching them realize their feelings and sitting back with a sigh and a quasi parental "finally!" when they worked it all out (it's clean historical romance, it's not a spoiler that there's a happy ending). If you are looking for a cozy clean romance between an unlikely pair, Walker's book is the perfect choice.

**Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the eARC**

This was such a sweet surprise and a great way to end my 2022 reading year!

Megan Walker is back with another book full of fun banter, and heart filled moments that got better with each turn of the page.

This is a book that is about defying familial expectations/legacy, making lists and following your heart. Its full of friendship and sibling bonds but mostly it’s about learning how to navigate that sticky road between pleasing family and making sure you’re not sacrificing what makes you brave and special. It’s flirtatious and has unique plot points that give it a fun premise to build on.

At first I wasn’t sure about the fulfillment of a list made at 12 years of age…I don’t even want to read my Facebook posts from high school… BUT it was surprisingly sweet and lead to a lot of fun and romantic moments where our main couple gets to know and tease one another.

One scene after another slowly cemented my enjoyment of this couple and the finish was just really sweet and completely satisfying and put a smile on my face!

I hope we get more books with some of the side characters! A wonderful story about the power of second chances, and finding the person you don’t have to put walls up around.

WOW! This book is PHENOMENAL! It is sweet, romantic, endearing, full of heart, witty, heart-wrenching, full of love, and so much more! Whenever I picked up "Miss Newbury's List", I was whisked back in time, and went on such an emotional journey with this beautiful story!

Megan Walker is such a fantastic author! Her writing style is visceral, vivid, detailed, descriptive, full of emotion, and her passion for storytelling and the world she has created is so clear. From the very first page, as the reader, I felt pulled into the story and so pulling for the main characters to find happiness and love.

Rosalind is engaged to the Duke of Marlow, a match which, on paper, seems perfect. However, beneath that exterior, Rosalind understandably has many doubts and fears about her upcoming marriage, as she barely knows the man and wonders what his true intentions are. She is inspired by her Aunt Alice to create a list of things she wants to do before she is wed, and sets her mind to completing that list! With the help of her friend Liza, who is like a sister to her, and Liza's cousin Charlie, Rosalind begins to check items off of that list. Never could she have imagined how this will change her life in more ways than she could have expected, and how she will come to find the happiness she knows in her heart that she truly longs to have.

(Possible Spoilers!):
OH MY GOSH! Rosalind and Charlie are simply perfect together. They bring out the best and challenge one another, and are able to truly understand each other in such a powerful and stunning way. Both are so strong, brave, caring, and truly have hearts of gold. Their journey to happily-ever-after is full of adventure, hope, heart, and moments that will have you on the edge of your seat holding your breath, and I hope we see these two again in a future novel. Moreover, I would love to see Liza and Ben again too!

If you enjoy Regency Romance, I highly recommend this book! I may have stayed up until 4am to finish it, and OH MY GOODNESS, I simply can't wait to read what Ms. Walker writes next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the e-ARC of this book, and to Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending me a physical ARC as well, it is incredible! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

“Miss Newberry’s List” was a delightful regency read. I loved the idea of a list for Rosalind to accomplish before marrying her intended. What was meant to help her live a little and provide a few adventures ended up with Ros discovering herself and love in Charlie. I recommend this novel to any clean, regency romance lovers who want to enjoy a fun, lighthearted love story.

Megan Walker has done it again! Miss Newbury's List is a Proper Romance book not to be missed when it releases on February 7th! I stayed up way too late reading this phenomenal book! The chemistry between Rosalind and Charlie was very well written. I mean, that's what to expect when reading a romance by Megan. This book had so many elements of Megan's writing that I LOVE! The banter between her two characters in her books is one of my favorite things about her writing.

Rosalind has a list of things she'd like to accomplish before she gets married to a Duke. With only 3 weeks until the big day Ros enlists the help of her friend Liz and her cousin Charlie to help her out.

I absolutely loved Charlie the moment Rosalind met him! He was such a fun mysterious character with a tainted past and you can't help loving him!

I loved that this wasn't just a romance story. It's a story about redemption and choosing your own path in life.

I loved the friendships and family relationships that were put into this amazing story!

I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. What's not to love about a Proper Romance book?! Another 5 ⭐️ read for me!

If you like:

-action and adventure
-swoon worthy romances
-strong female leads
-strong family bonds
-forced proximity

Then read this book, please! ❤️

In Miss Newbury's List, Megan Walker has crafted a beautiful tale of Regency romance, childhood dreams, true friendship, family loyalty, and even a bit of adventure. The book synopsis appealed to my Jane Austen sensibilities and delivered on that appeal from beginning to end. I became completely engrossed in the atmosphere of the English countryside setting and fully invested in the relationship between Rosalind and Charlie that develops slowly through their quest to complete Rosalind's list. Miss Newbury's List is an absolutely delightful and charming historical romance. I am grateful to Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending me an advance copy ahead of publication. I highly recommend this lovely novel for fans of historical romance and Austen inspired novels.

"I did not believe him, but I wanted to. I wanted to prove I was as brave as he thought I was. I wanted to be the woman Charlie saw when he looked at me."

Rosalind has a list of items she has resolved to finish before she marries—an event that is a mere three weeks away, and to a duke. Her resolve wavers until she enlists the help of her best friend, Liza, and her roguish pugilist cousin, Charlie. Together they start checking items of Rosalind's list, and with each item completed, Charlie takes a piece of Rosalind's heart. When it comes to duty or love, which will win out?

This book was beautiful, and I loved almost every second of it. I may or may not have read this book in a single day because I was so enthralled by this story and these characters. Megan Walker is a master at crafting beautiful, heartfelt romance that is entrancing and utterly delightful.

Ros is a fun heroine, and I appreciated so many parts of her personality. Her determination to complete her list, her devotion to her family, and her sweet friendship and connection with Liza were all things that made her feel real. Her developing relationship with Charlie was absolutely everything you want from a swoony Regency romance.

Charlie. All the heart eyes for Charlie. He is the embodiment of the "gentle giant" and I loved him so much. I would be lying if I said he wasn't my favorite character. He was just such a lovely person, and I felt like we got to see so much of his personality through Ros's eyes, and he just had a depth to him that made me feel as though he could walk into a room and I'd immediately recognize him and we would be friends.

Beyond the romance, though, was woven this beautiful tapestry of family and what it means to be there for the people you love. The strength of love and connection that can be found in a family that cares for each other is incredible. Forgiveness and hope are built into the foundation of this story, and it made the entire book feel light and good and leaves you feeling better than you were before.

The only thing I wanted more of from this book was for the antagonists to be more . . . antagonistic. The big "twist" at the end fell a little flat for me, and it felt like some strings were tied up too quickly. That being said, this disappointment really is only a speck in the ocean of all the things I LOVED about this book.

Also, the kissing scenes were absolutely worth the wait. Megan Walker definitely knows how to write the perfect amount of swoon into her books.

4.33 stars—I would absolutely recommend this book if you are a Regency romance fan.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for the complimentary digital copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

From the publisher: Before Rosalind weds, she wants to experience ten things. Meeting Charlie wasn’t on her list.

Miss Newbury’s List by Megan Walker is a clean romance set in the Regency period from Shadow Mountain Publishing’s Proper Romance line. A happily ever after is assured, and behavior will be more or less appropriate to the times.

The story is narrated by Rosalind, who has agreed to marry a duke in order to bring a title to her family. He is marrying her to recover a plot of land sold to her family years ago. They have literally no feelings for one another – good or bad.

Years ago, inspired by her aunt’s wedding, Rosalind made a list of ten things to do before she marries. Although the wedding is fast approaching, she has done none of them. So she enlists her best friend Liza and Liza’s ne’er-do-well cousin to help her to truly enjoy her final days before becoming a duchess. But participating in a set of adventures with an attractive man is not necessarily the safest way to arrive successfully at one’s wedding day to a groom one does not love.

Previously I read Walker’s book Lakeshire Park, and the author’s writing has matured since that book. There is humor (like her best friend’s footman refusing to allow Rosalind into their home) and genuine feeling between characters. It is neither a series of misunderstandings nor refusal to have frank conversations that keeps the lovers apart, but the genuine obstacle of being already engaged. I do still think Walker’s stories could benefit from being written in third person instead of first.

This book has an absolutely gorgeous cover. There is a whole host of side characters, including the disappointed duke, who could receive books of their own if the author decides to make this the first in a series. I definitely consider Megan Walker a Regency romance author to watch.

I read an advance reader copy of Miss Newbury’s List from Netgalley. The book is scheduled to be published on February 7, and the Galesburg Public Library will own it. We also own Walker’s book Lakeshire Park.

Rosalind Newbury is about to marry the Duke of Marlow which will insure her family a title in exchange for the parcel of land the Duke would gain and her, of course. She has made a list of things to do before she marries. The list was made when she was 12…Enter Charles Winston…her neighbor and best friend, Liz Ollerton’s cousin…a bit of a rogue, rough around the edges. The further she gets into fulfilling this list, the more tempestuous the shenanigans!

This story begs for these two to be together. I didn’t know how they would get there, the journey was a bit treacherous with an added dose of scandal but in the end this book earns a sigh and a smile.

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rosalind is engaged to be married to the Duke of Marlowe. She only has three weeks to finish the things on 'THE LIST' before she gets married. She is trying to get her best friend and neighbour, Liza, to help her. Unfortunately, Liza is entrusted with keeping her visiting cousin, Charlie, from trouble. Charlie is sent to the country to rusticate as he was involved in an altercation with a peer. He is also a pugilist. Ros will also need to apply to Charlie for help if Liza is to help her. Would Ros be able to finish all the items on the list before the wedding and learn what it means to follow her heart?

Ros and Charlie were super sweet together. It was fantastic to see how they slowly fell for each other. The banters were a lot of fun, too.

Ms Walker wrote this book solely from Ros's point of view. She has a lovely writing style; easy to read and rich in historical details. The central theme of the book is about satisfying familial expectations. Ros accepted the Duke of Marlowe's marriage offer because her family wanted a title. The Duke wanted the marriage because of a piece of land that was part of her dowry. Charlie went a bit wild and ran off to London when his brother, the heir, died. Instead of living up to his family's expectations, he did the opposite and became a pugilist.

I thought the author did very well in laying out the story. There wasn't anything particularly scandalous on the list by today's standards (learn how to swim, change someone's life, etc.), but the adventures were fun to read.

I simply loved the chemistry between Ros and Charlie. Ros started not really liking Charlie since she thought he was a troublemaker. Charlie is a really decent guy who somehow lost his way. Ros helped him find his way again; in return, he gave her the courage to be true to herself. A lovely story all around. I had a sappy smile by the end of the book. One of the main reasons I read would be escapism, and this book offers escapism at its best. I'll be looking out for this author's other works.

Steam factor: Nil. Kisses only.

In a nutshell, Ros is engaged to be married to a man she doesn't know well enough to know if she'd like to marry him or not but he's got a title and that seems like a good enough reason to get married. But before she says I do, Ros has a list of things to complete; things that might make her life feel more fulfilled before she becomes an old married woman. Some of the things are silly, some commonplace, and some might just change her life...

The first half was okay, but verged more on the silly side and wasn't very compelling. The writing also seemed less polished and more cringey. Just around 50% of the way through is where it picked up steam and I started to really enjoy it. The story and the romance, I think, lend itself much more to a YA audience than an adult one. The Proper Romance label never really has very inappropriate content but this one as a whole package felt YA, maybe because Ros and Charlie seem (and are, I guess) pretty young. That being said, the romance/kissing scenes were maybe a little more spicy than in some of this series, just an a heads up for those familiar with this label.

**Contains Spoilers**

3.7 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining; a comfort read

1820, England
Rosalind Newbury is engaged to marry a duke even without having a season. Her family sees it as an opportunity to increase their reach. Rosalind agrees to make her family happy. As the wedding date gets closer, she cannot help but feel suffocated and uncomfortable. She barely knows the duke and hasn’t had a chance to live life the way she wanted.
Rosalind digs out a list from her childhood and is determined to complete it before the wedding. She thinks it’ll make her ready for the marriage. She seeks help from her dearest friend Liza. But Liza’s cousin Charlie also joins the gang. After all, a gentleman-turned-wayward boxer needs something to keep him entertained.
As Ros ticks off each item on the list, she realizes more about her suppressed self. But with the wedding fast approaching, can she make a decision that’s right for her and her family? Is there a place for love and happy ever after?
The story comes from Rosalind’s first-person POV.

What I Like:
This is a straightforward historical romance. It was rather a relief to read something simple and sweet. This is a clean romance, too (not that I mind some steam).
The pacing is steady. I could finish the book in two days and didn’t have to speed-read either.
The characters are neither too deep nor shallow. They have the right amount of depth to keep the whole thing light and easy on the mind.
Rosalind, Charlie, Liza, and Ben are easy to like. They have their flaws but are loving, witty, and family-oriented. Ros can be a little childish, but she isn’t even eighteen, so that’s understandable.
The banter between Ros and Charlie is fun to read. Some of it is silly, while some of their conversations are thoughtful and heartwarming.
The secondary characters are also sweet and warm. They don’t get much space, but I can see the potential to turn this into a standalone series. There definitely is a track ready for the next book.
It has HEA, which is always welcome (with exceptions). We know what will happen. It’s the how that matters, and this was entertaining pretty much throughout.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
I’ll put these in spoilers as these issues can be easily edited in the final manuscript (the release is two months away).
The climax and resolution were too simple and flat. A little more tension would have made the ending much better.
Though the book is from Rosalind’s perspective, it was still jarring to see her mother accept her decision (or the change of her decision) and even support it. A scene earlier in the book to link to this change will make the transition smoother.
Rosalind’s father and the duke have very limited roles. A scene between Rosalind and her father would also make the climax more believable.
We don’t see the duke until toward the end. By then, we already have our loyalties towards another character. The duke has to be live in action early in the book to build a case. It seems unfair that this happens to him (and a couple of dialogues don’t justify it enough).
Rosalind doesn’t even think of updating her list. It seems odd that she’d only want to tick off something she wrote as a child. Maybe have her ponder over the items a little more, delete a couple, and add them back again.

To summarize, Miss Newbury's List is a sweet regency romance with pretty likable characters and lighthearted banter. It works great as a breather or a comfort read.
Thank you, NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#MissNewburysList #NetGalley
***********
I have removed the spoilers from my blog post and hid them on Goodreads and Storygraph.

Miss Newbury's List is a great book. I enjoyed how Rosalind and Charlie meet. I laughed out loud at some of the ways the three friends complete things on Rosalind's list. I am always wary of when the main character is engaged and falls in love with someone else but this was written very well. I loved the way the family members reacted to Charlie's change and Rosalind's news. Well written and beautiful.

Ros and Charlie, Charlie and Ros. Two kindred spirits that find that they want more out if life than what life is giving them.
Charlie second guesses himself and his position and is meandering through life without a goal or a purpose (other than to box his way through his problems).
Ros has it all, literally. But does she want it? Sure, or maybe not…… indecision is a foul thing. Especially when it is your heart and your family’s future in play.

Can Charlie do what needs to be done, to become the man he was truly meant to be?

Can Ros live her life HER way, does she choose Duty or her heart?

Megan Walker outdid herself with this amazing book. It is now another favorite for me.

*I received a copy of this book as an ARC reviewer, but a positive review wasn’t required. All thoughts are solely what I personally thought of this beautiful book.

Did I stay up until the wee hours of the morning finishing this book? Absolutely yes. And I have no regrets. This story was incredible. 🥹🤍 I was swept away from the very beginning and knew I was going to fall in love with Charlie the second Rosalind met him.

The themes of redemption and freedom to choose one’s own path were done so well. The conflicts were unique for a Regency romance and I really enjoyed that.

The slow burn cooked me like a perfect Sunday roast and I was undone by the alcove scene 😮‍💨🥲 Iykyk

If you like:

- character A has a list of things to accomplish and character b helps them finish it trope (that’s a thing right? 😂)
- forbidden love
- a sort of forced proximity
- a handsome, rugged, but gentle underdog hero
- a strong FMC who follows her dreams
- very likable side characters
- strong familial bonds
- redemption and forgiveness
- unconditional love
- Swoony kiss scenes 🥰
- a fair bit of action and adventure 🥳


I love this story and I absolutely will be rereading it in the new year. 😍

So so good! I loved this story about Rosalind!

Rosalind is engaged to a Duke for the same of earning her family a title and securing their future. But she’s not happy. She believes the reason for her unhappiness is that she just hasn’t lived enough yet, so she’s out to accomplish a small list of tasks before the end of her engagement. What she didn’t expect was to meet Charlie along the way.

This story is the ultimate forbidden romance. The kind where your brain says “there is literally no way for these two people yo end up together.” But watching their relationship blossom was so rewarding!
If you enjoy regency romance, this isn’t one to miss!

Miss Newbury’s List is about as sweet as it gets! If you like your historical romances wholesome with the feel of a Hallmark film (but set in Regency times), this pure romance is for you. It’s like Bridgerton without the explicit content and an easy, enjoyable read from start to finish.

The story is fun (using the bucket list angle to connect the two main characters, Ros and Charlie), the characters are likable, and the romance is swoon-worthy.

Ros does feel a bit younger than 20, so this should also appeal to teen readers and adults.

I enjoyed reading Megan Walker’s new book, and I recommend it to readers looking for something sweet and satisfying.

Adaptation Recommendation:

Miss Newbury’s List would be a delightful period drama movie – made for streaming.

Overall Rating: 3 1/2 (rounded up for Goodreads)
Romance Rating: 4

(Note: I will be posting my review to my next book reviews roundup post at silverpetticoatreview.com.)

Disclosure: I received a digital copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.