Miss Newbury's List

This is a review for Miss Newbury's List by Megan Walker that will be released on February 7, 2023, and I am reviewing it for NetGalley. This is the first book that I have read by this author, but I can promise you it will not be the last. I chose this book because it is set in the Regency Era, and I am so glad I did. Regency romance is one of my favorite genres to read, but sometimes the stories can kind of be boring because they tend to be the same which doesn't excite me too much, but this story was NOT like that at all!!! This was a book that I snuggled up to with a cup of coffee on a cold day, and I was drawn in from the beginning! It brought me back to all the reasons I enjoy that genre so much! So it is safe to say, I loved story! The story takes place in 1820 in England, and where we are introduced to the main character, Rosalind Newbury, who is engaged to be married to the Duke of Marlow, a man she had met twice in her life, but whom she was getting ready to spend the rest of her days with. She sees the marriage as a way to elevate her family's status, and therefore she believes it is her duty to go through with it. The wedding is scheduled to take place in three weeks, but before she marries, she remembers that she made a list of 10 life goals when she was 12, a list that was inspired by her Aunt Alice who was an adventurous woman of that time, which she wanted to accomplish before her wedding day. She hid that list a long time ago, so she goes in search of it, and eventually finds it. Rosalind is determined to complete that list before she walks down the aisle, because some of the items on the list such as learning to swim, eating as many sweets as her stomach can stand in one sitting, will not be allowed for a duchess. Rosalind decides to enlist her best friend Liza, who in turn invites her cousin, Charlie, who is staying with Liza's family. Charlie is staying with Liza because he has been cut off by his family, fortune and all, and uses his love of boxing as a way to process all he is dealing with...but despite all his troubles, Charlie jumps at the chance when invited to join Liza by helping Rosalind complete her list as a welcomed distraction. As the threesome works on completing the list, their friendships deepen, not only between Rosalind & Liza, but between Rosalind and Charlie. One of the first items on the list is for one of Rosalind's paintings to be displayed in a place where many people can admire it, so Charlie sets up a scheme to make that happen at the famous Opera house, where many famous artists paintings are displayed. But to hang a painting at the Opera house, you must be famous, which Rosalind isn't, but that doesn't stop Charlie from helping his new friend accomplish her goal. One night while escorting Rosalind & Liza to the opera, Charlie gets an idea in his head to secretly exchange one of Rosalind's paintings for one of the famous paintings hanging on the wall in the Opera house. He convinces the girls to help him do this, and they almost get caught, but they end up being able to cross this off Rosalind's list. As they continue their adventure of fulfilling the list, Charlie and Rosalind open up to each other about their lives, hopes and dreams, which draws their friendship even closer, and both begin to question where their lives are headed, but you will have to read the story to find out what happens to Rosalind and Charlie, and if Rosalind is able to fulfill her list before her wedding day. After reading the last page, I thought to myself, I really enjoyed this book! It was just a fun and sweet read, but unpredictable. It was interesting, held my attention greatly, the characters blended so well together, and I just really loved it. As I said before, reading it made me remember why I love this genre so much. So it gets 5 out of 5 stars for me, and I look forward to reading more from Megan Walker!!!