Review: Miss Newbury's List by Megan Walker

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

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

England, 1820

Rosalind Newbury is counting down the days until her wedding to the Duke of Marlow, a man she has only met twice, and she knows exactly how she wants to spend her time. As a child, Ros created a list of ten things to do before her wedding day. So far, she has done none of them.

She is determined to tackle each item, though she’ll have to accomplish them all in secret. After all, a soon-to-be-duchess is not usually allowed to bury treasure in the pasture, eat sweets all day, or learn how to swim. She enlists the help of her best friend, Liza, who brings along her cousin, Charlie, a prodigal son-turned-boxer who has come to the countryside to mend his reputation and learn how to be his father’s heir.

Together, the three of them work to complete the list, and as each item is crossed off, an unlikely friendship blossoms between Ros and Charlie. The more time they spend together, the more Ros falls in love with this imperfect man and his good heart.

With the wedding looming, Ros must decide to either admit her romantic feelings for Charlie and risk her family’s future, or keep her promise to marry the duke and start a new life as a noblewoman.

My Review

Regency bucket list! Ros knows she's about to lose her freedom when she marries, and hopes to experience certain things before the wedding. While her accomplishment of some of these brings humor to the story, it is her feelings of being caught between her own heart and the expectations of her family and society that made the story so compelling to me. Charlie is drawn in to the endeavor and encourages her independence, helping her see that she is more than what her marriage will do for her family. Their romance felt forbidden since she is promised to the duke, so I'm glad they spent the majority of the story as friends with attraction and deepening feelings. The character growth and relationship dynamics Ros has with her family and friends made this book a pleasure to read, and one I plan to read again!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.