I had a lot of hopes and expectations for Miss Newbury's List because I LOVED Megan Walker's first book, and let me tell you, she did not disappoint!
This story felt so fresh and original! Not only did this book offer us a beautiful slow-burn romance between Rosalind and Charlie, but we also got a story of Rosalind learning to live out her dreams and finding herself before marriage. And Charlie is THE sweetest and is also working through so many things in his life. Charlie is working to overcome his past while Roz is taking hold of her future! This book was very real and relatable!
I loved the friendship that blossomed between Roz and Charlie and then how it turned to love! Again, very real and heartfelt! I also loved the adventure and suspense at the end of this book! Very gripping and well written!
This book was like the sweetest warm hug and I enjoyed it immensely from beginning to end!

Megan Walker is a wonderful writer, someone I always recommend to my friends just beginning their foray into regency romance. I thought Charles and Ros made a great couple and loved the way they were characterized. Many moments were simply swoon-worthy! I know I will be recommending this book to many of my friends in the coming months.

**Review will be published February 2nd, 2023 on my site and socials**

BEAUTIFUL.

Oh this is one of my favorite regencies of the year!! Just add it to the list now because it is faaaabulous. I LOVED IT SO MUCH.

I tend to struggle if the main character is in a relationship, but somehow Walker plotted this out in the best way possible. I was easily drawn in the right directions. The Duke can GO.

But Charlie? HE CAN STAY. I am smitten with that man. He was utterly adorable, sweet and kind. I loved the addition of pugilists as part of the plot and how committed he was to helping Ros complete her list. All of the antics they got up to just brought a smile to my face. And there’s a BALL. We all know those are my kryptonite.

There was even some intense action!? I was GLUED to my screen, holding my breath waiting for the next moment everything would be okay. I can’t get over how well this story was told. Everything unfolded at the right pace with the scenes lined up exactly as I hoped. Even that ENDING, with her family?! It was such a unique breath of fresh air to the genre where the family members are sometimes the worst. The support and love that Ros was surrounded by definitely brought some tears to my eyes.

READ IT. LOVE IT.

Overall audience notes:

Regency Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: medium
Trigger/Content Warnings: knife violence, loss of a sibling (off screen, recounted), grief

Megan Walker is magic! I had previously read Lakeshire Park, loved it, and was eagerly awaiting another book. Miss Newbury's List did not disappoint! I was immediately sucked in to the story and couldn't put it down. The writing is superb and flows so well. I really appreciated that there is NO choppy conversation, repetitive phrases, unbelievable dialogue, or frustrating miscommunications. The story is touching and sweet. It is of course a clean book, but has all the right chemistry and feels. If I could ask for anything in the future from Megan, it would maybe be a dual point of view book because I was dying to know what was going on in Charlie's head. All in all, I 100% recommend this book to all lovers of regency romance!

I think my expectations were too high going into this book.
Let's be honest, I always have pretty high expectations when I read a regency/period romance.
Because I've read SO many, I'm not usually easy to please.

basically, it had some swoon worthy and lovely moments but nothing that really inspired me.
I can see why a lot of people will love this, but it just fell a little flat for me.

WHAT I LIKED:
-The atmosphere and setting were lovely and well written
-The main characters were lovable and fun.
-It started out strong and I was hooked by the 3rd chapter
-The romance moments were sweet and adorably tender.
-LOVE a good masquerade ball moment.
THESE QUOTES:
"I'm not as good as you.... I'm a mess."
"The sacrifice of integrity for liberation."
"...It is the attempt, the strokes we did not mean to make, that leave us with unexpected beauty."

WHAT I DIDNT LIKE:
(These will seem very vague, but I can't go into details without spoiling it)
-The characters were lovely but didn't have enough depth for me.
-There was a dramatic moment towards the end of the book that I felt was thrown in simply for dramatics.
-There was a super cheesy moment for me that I didn't like.
-I felt like there were some missed opportunities.
-The resolution to conflict at the end felt rushed and one sided? this one is harder to explain. haha!
-There's a moment towards the end that is supposed to be huge turning point and I'm sorry, but it fell so flat. I think this is what really disappointed me.

This comes out February 2023 and if you generally like regency romance, you'll probably like this one.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Characters - 8
Atmosphere/Setting - 9
Writing Style - 6
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 7
Logic/Relationships - 7
Enjoyment – 8
Total: 44

Divided by 7 = 6.2 (3 stars)
1.1-2.2 *
2.3-4.5 **
4.6-6.9 ***
7.0-8.9 ****
9.0-10 *****

I never get tired of the Proper Romance collection by Shadow Mountain Publishing. Each story is unique and reminds me of the absolute pleasure it is to read stories that our beloved Jane Austen would be proud of.

I loved this story of unexpected love.

Rosalind thinks she knows what she wants in life and is committed to doing what will bring her family happiness and honor. But when she enlists the help of her friend and her friend's cousin to help her complete a list of tasks she is determined to complete before her marriage to a Duke, Rosalind discovers that maybe, just maybe, what she really wants from life is to love and be loved.

I think what I loved most about this story was Rosalind's family. I loved her commitment to her family and her relationship with Ben but mostly I loved how they rallied together in the end.

I enjoyed the relationship between Ros and Charlie and how they seemed to bring out the best in each other. To be with someone who you can be completely and truly yourself with is beautiful. I loved the changes in Charlie and how raw and honest he was about himself.

The story was engaging and fun. The characters were endearing and loveable.

Megan Walker has delivered another Regency must read with this one!

This book immediately gave me Jane Austen vibes with some Anne of Green Gables type hijinx thrown in. It was a delightful, sweet story. Now I’m hoping for a book about that couple at the end!! 😉
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

This was a delightfully different story where Miss Newbury has a bucket list to complete before she is to marry a Duke that will benefit her family. She has a good friend who lives in the neighboring estate and her neighbors cousin. Together they complete the list of things to do before she is married.

This story was beautifully written with an aspect of fun that is sometimes missing. This is not a typical Regency as we are not going through the season and she is already engaged.

The bucket list itself is creative and daring and definitely written when she was much younger.

The story leads to an ending that is unexpected and yet expected, but it is hard to know how it is going to get there with the strictures and rules of society.

Megan Walker's follow up to Lakeshire Park is refreshing and new. She can find a story in a way that has not been told and it is delightful; I highly recommend this and plan to buy it at my first opportunity.

I received an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest review.

It was worth the wait for another great read from the author of Lakeshire Park. The premise didn't grab me at the first, but the characters did. Rose is engaged to be married and thinks completing her bucket list before she gives her life away to her husband will allow her to start married life feeling fulfilled. My worldview approaches happiness and fulfillment differently and kept me from fully engaging with the plot. Although the HEA was fully expected, I didn't know how it would be reached, and I enjoyed the process of discovery and how consistent the characters were with themselves and the period while surprising the reader. It was nice to see Rose and Charlie choose character over their personal feelings and actually be respectful and even submissive to the rules of propriety. I was invested in their relationship and enjoyed the journey.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Well if this isn't just a delightful historical romance romp! I stumbled upon this one during a random visit to NetGalley and that cover just hooked me. I mean, how stinking beautiful is that?! It’s beyond gorgeous, and if my magpie brain hasn’t snagged on it I might have missed out on a truly lovely adventure and romance between Rosalind and Charlie.
As always huge thanks to my pals at NetGalley for the arc, thoughts below are my own!

I’ve read a lot of historical romances in the last two years, and so far I’ve found few that have melded wit, swoons, heart and a great plot together while torturing my heart the right amount. Well friends I am happy to say that Miss Newbury’s List hit all those points and more for me!

Rosalind is engaged. To a Duke. To a Duke that really wants a small plot of land her family is in possession of. She’s agreed to wed to not only appease this Duke but by marriage ensure her family becomes titled and is set up for many future generations. There’s only one slight problem: she’s having major second thoughts. With a small flashback to favourite Aunt Alice and the titular list, Rosalind (Miss Newbury if you’re proper) is resolute. She’s going to complete all the things her heart desires before the inevitable: her upcoming marriage.

We pretty quickly meet Charlie, a ragamuffin if ever there was one, and soon these two are forced together to work through this list. There are so many great moments throughout this book. There’s daring rescues (from Ros AND Charlie). There is caretaking. There is some extremely hot knuckle grazing hand holds. The hero gets clocked in the face by an expert punch thrown by the heroine. There is binge eating, and then regretting your life choices. There’s that letter. And there is the deep heart smashing joy of finding the love of your life through it all.

I was expecting more of a stressful AF love triangle, with the set up of her already being betrothed, but happily I can report this one is a low angst, low spice (just kissing), love story that lived up to its gorgeous cover. Great for fans of Anne Gracie, Sabrina Jeffries and Amanda Quick, Miss Newbury’s List is bound to hit you in the feels and have you cheering along as Ros and Charlie complete her list and find each other along the way.

Be sure to grab your copy of Miss Newbury’s List wherever you get your books, when it hits stores February 7th 2023.

4.5/5

Ahh! I so enjoyed this book! Rosalind was a little silly and perhaps naïve. But she was fun! And I LOVED Charlie. He was such a good character! I loved watching him fall in love with her even before she realized her own feelings. I appreciated how they were both able to work through their challenges together and help one another. Just so sweet and so fun! I loved it!

*I received an ARC from NetGalley and all opinions are my own*

Miss Newbury’s List is a total triumph! Rosalind is a bold, secretly adventurous young lady who is forced into an engagement with a duke…but her heart wants to follow a different path.

Things I love:
- Charlie! We love a tall dark and handsome hero…especially one with a heart.
- Rosalind. Anyone who tries to find themselves in a world that restricts them constantly is a heroine in my eyes.
- The prose. Megan Walker is a terrific storyteller. This book is beautifully written.
- Depiction of the value of family.

Needs improvement:
- Nothing. 5 stars.

Miss, Newbury's List by Megan Walker follows Rose as she embarks on one last adventure before marriage to a duke. She is trapped in an engagement she isn't sure she wants, she dreams instead of freedom and living in harmony with someone she loves.

Her adventure, alongside a best friend, allows her to do things she was never allowed to do, and boy are her reactions to get to do these things so heartwarming. I was constantly awwing. We later get to meet the best friend, Lia's cousin, Charlie....and the sparks FLY. They pierced into my heart, not lying.

Everything about them is just so CUTE and lovely. So darn jealous of them...and they aren't even REAL. UGH

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Meghan Walker and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this advanced copy.

Get ready to not want to put this book down. Finally a refreshing regency romance with a new story and plenty of swoon moments. The witty banter between Charlie and Rosalind will have you laughing out loud eithout meaning to. Such a beautiful story about discovering one's self, uncovering the best in people, and learing to follow your heart. I already want to read this again and what ever the author writes next!

Had a great time reading this book! The characters and their personalities are just awesome. The bucket list concept was something new I read in a regency romance so I was hooked instantly. The chemistry our leads had was great. Congrats to the author for a great book!

Miss Newbury's List by Megan Walker has everything I could have ever wanted in a proper romance book! Engaging scenes, heart melting moments, a little humor, and all the regency details that make the time period so interesting.

The author has this amazing ability to pull you into the story and make you want to continue reading until the very last page. From the moment I started reading, I knew I was going to fall in love with this story. Her characters have such depth and you can't help but feel every emotion the character is feeling. The love story between Rosalind and Charlie is so sweet and heartwarming. To be honest I didn't think there would ever be a couple that I would hold in such high regard as Amelia and Peter in Lakeshire Park. However, Megan Walker does it again and I love Rosalind and Charlie just as much!

Rosalind Newbury has agreed to marry the Duke of Marlow, a man she barely knows, in hopes of pleasing her family and elevating their status. When she unearths a childhood wish list, she makes it her mission to complete it with only three weeks to spare before her wedding. She enlists the help of her best friend Liza and Charlie (Liza's cousin).

Rosalind is such a kind and utterly selfless woman. She loves her family deeply, but her decision to marry has clearly left her unsettled. I felt incredibly bad for what Rosalind was going through. She was so deeply unhappy with her decision and I can see why she chose to focus on something other than her wedding. Charlie is the perfect man for Rosalind. He is so charming, adventurous, and kind. Though he has troubles of his own, he helps Rosalind to complete her list. They forge an unlikely friendship and a deep connection through their shared experiences. I loved their banter and teasing manner towards one another as well as their ability to share a vulnerable side of themselves. Rosalind and Charlie's story felt realistic and their connection genuine. And I can't help thinking about all of the sweet and swoony scenarios these two were put into!

Reading a book like this reminds me of why I feel in love with the whole proper romance genre in the the first place. I could go on and on, but really there aren't enough of words to describe how much I adored this book. It put the biggest smile on my face and made my heart happy.

I feel incredibly lucky to have had a chance to read this book. Thank you Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for my advanced readers copy of Miss Newbury's List in exchange for my honest review.

"Miss Newbury's List" started with a fun, unique premise: Rosalind Newbury is betrothed to a duke she barely knows, duty-bound to help advance her family's standing by bringing a title and noble connections with her marriage. Even though she feels like she should be happy, Ros can't help but remember the advice of her Aunt Alice: make a list of things to accomplish before she gets married and leaves behind her comfortable, normal life to one lived under the constant scrutiny expected for a duchess. She enlists the help of her best friend Liza, and Liza's disgraced cousin Charlie to help her finish her list of ten items. Things get complicated quickly, and even her best intentions go awry in pursuit of completing the list before the wedding.
A solid entry in the Regency romance genre, with a sweet romance suitable for all ages. It was entertaining and well-written, with engaging characters and an interesting premise. I did find that it dragged a bit through the middle, but not enough for me to stop reading. A solid effort, and a good recommendation for fans of Regency romance.

I loved this book the entire way through! This book follows Rosalind as she is preparing to marry a Duke, but first she must complete her “list”she created as a young girl. Partnered up with her best friend, Liza, and Charlie, Liza’s handsome cousin Ros plans to accomplish everything on her list before her wedding date. There were some really fun, playful scenes between Ros and Charlie and fun adventures throughout the whole book! If you love a good regency romance this should definitely move to the top of your list!

A sweet, well imagined tale of finding love when it seemed like the future was already mapped out…

Rosalind believes she is content with her engagement to a duke she barely knows— after all, it will assist her family immeasurably in society. But to help settle her feelings, she hunts down an old list she made as a child. Ten things she meant to do before she married. Ten things to reassure her that she’s lived her own life and enjoyed her own freedom.

When she tries to enlist the help of her neighbor and friend Eliza, she meets Eliza’s cousin Charlie— a young man with a troubled past and uncertain future who nonetheless shows glimpses of being a gentleman. Charlie, Eliza, and Rosalind form an uneasy trio as they check off items on Rosalind’s list.
Sometimes silly, sometimes sweet, the items on the list seem to draw Charlie and Ros closer and closer… even as Ros’ wedding day approaches.

This was a fun and very readable book. I think Megan Walker has a gift for describing scenes in a way that’s very easy to visualize, so that the pages fly by! First person narration is not my favorite, but this was a nice story.

Miss Newbury has made a match to be envious of, before having even her first season. The problem is: she barely knows his intended, the Duke of Marlow, and she is missing the feeling of excitement that such a match would provoke.

She is sure that if only she completes this list of dreams she had before the marriage, she will finally make peace and become a glowing bride. She enlists the help of her best friend, Liza, and her cousin Charles, and slowly makes progress towards completing items on it.

It is heavily focused on the growing relationship between the main characters - no complains about it here. In some regency romances I've read - and I read quite a bit of them - I miss seeing the main couple having enough meaningful interactions to make me believe they are actually in love and not just infatuated with each other. That was not the case with this book, as you can easily see the sentiment growing between each other with each interaction. They are both likable characters, as are both their families, and very honest with their feelings. I can see where they were coming from when processing their feelings, and sympathize with their struggles. I could not dislike even the duke, who we actually don't see a whole lot.

If you like Regency romance, I would definitely recommend this book. Just make sure you start with time during a free day - I am super tired at work having spend the whole night reading...

I received an arc from NG and the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion.