Miss Newbury’s List

The Book Details

Book Genre: Proper Romance (clean and wholesome romance)

Author: Megan Walker

Release Date: Feburary 7th, 2023

Number of Pages: 313 pages

Internet Ratings (out of 5): Amazon – 4.6 ;  Goodreads – 4.1

My rating (out of 5): 4.3

Where to Buy: Miss Newbury's List on Amazon

Is this book clean?

Yes! This book’s storyline is set in the 1800s, with a few modern additions to the text, making it both wholesome and intimate.

The romantic elements are a little more descriptive than usual. The kissing is a bit more passionate, there’s talk of scandalous activity (by 1800s standards), and the expressive feelings in the developing love story are written in more detail. Still, the book remains modest, and the romance is admirable. Just note that this Megan Walker novel explores physical connection more than her first novel, Lakeshire Park. It's still on the clean side—and a wonderful romance to read.

Is it a quick read?

Yes! The large font and well-organized layout makes this novel a quick-paced read. While some parts of the story may feel a little slow and make the read stretch out, other sections are engaging enough that you won’t want to put it down. Thanks to a good balance of highs and lows, the book should keep you moving along and entertained until the sweet—and expected—ending.

Book Summary / Overview

Set in England in 1820, this novel follows a young woman named Rosalind Newbury.

Rosalind has grown up in a notably wealthy family, leading to her recent engagement to the Duke of Marlow—who offers her the world in exchange for a piece of her family’s land. With the engagement happening rather quickly (to a man she has only met twice), she’s determined to enjoy one final breath of freedom before she weds.

She sets her heart on completing a list she created years ago, inspired by her Aunt Alice during her wedding. But to get her best friend Liza to help, Rosalind must agree to include an additional, unexpected member in their group: Charlie.

Charlie is Liza’s cousin—a prodigal son turned boxer—who has come to the country to repair his reputation and focus on taking over the family estate. After a rocky start with Rosalind, Charlie eventually agrees to help fulfill her list before her wedding day arrives.

With each completed task, Rosalind and Charlie find their hearts growing closer. But as the wedding looms, Rosalind must ask herself: is she willing to give up everything—and her family’s future—for her love for Charlie?

Will she marry the Duke and live the life she’s always planned, or will she follow her heart and chase the freedom she’s always longed for?

The Good

1. Main Characters:
Throughout the book, the author does a great job creating realistic, emotional, and human main characters. From Rosalind and Charlie to Liza and everyone in between, you can feel each character's dreams and desires.

When a book provides enough backstory for readers to develop personal connections with characters, it creates a vivid little world that comes alive page by page. That’s the magic of reading—falling for a story and being pulled into its passion. Megan Walker achieves that by crafting characters full of strength, courage, and aspiration, making the book engaging and thrilling from chapter to chapter.

2. Creativity:
This book offers a fresh, new narrative with a charming love story set in a time when duty and loyalty often took priority over love. The creative plot elements add depth and fun: a list inspired by a beloved aunt, a cousin who turns away from societal expectations, an engagement driven by power and position—all bring intrigue to this modest but compelling story.

The structure based on completing Rosalind’s list gives the novel logical flow, even without the list being explicitly shown. The ending may not be what you expect, but it’s creative and heartfelt. With its 1800s backdrop and modern touches of romance, the book feels original and exciting.

3. Encouraging:
I found this novel full of encouragement and aspiration. It celebrates goals—no matter how small or silly they seem—and the value of going after them. The presentation of faithful friends and supportive family highlights how having the right people around you can help bring dreams to life.

I loved the message that anyone can do anything—big, small, funny, or serious—and that encouragement can go a long way. The book reminded me that creativity, dreaming big, and leaning on supportive people are incredibly powerful.

4. Mysterious, but Not:
Miss Newbury’s List provides suspense while leaving clues to keep readers engaged. Descriptive language and emotional depth make the story extra thrilling. At one point, while the characters were completing a list item, I found myself cringing and anxious—it only shows how well the author builds emotional tension throughout each chapter of the narrative.

The book offers just the right balance of mystery and detail, keeping the plot engaging without becoming too predictable. That unpredictability kept me turning the pages and reading further into the slightly cheesy story.

My Downside(s)

As mentioned, the book has its ups and downs. One downside for me was how quickly the story wrapped up. So much time was spent completing the list, I wished the ending had been more developed. The Duke, too, lacked the depth needed to help readers fully understand Rosalind’s inner conflict between love and loyalty.

I also found the intimacy level a bit more modern than expected, especially for a book set in the 1800s. While the romance was sweet, some parts felt unnecessary and made me longing for different outcomes at parts.

I didn’t love the ending (no spoilers!), as I had hoped for a different outcome. While it was satisfying enough, it didn’t fully deliver for me.

Lastly, I felt that many of the side characters lacked development. While Megan Walker did a great job with the main characters, the supporting cast could’ve used more backstory and emotional connection to fully round out the narrative.

Overall, the book was enjoyable—but not my favorite Megan Walker novel.

Why 4.3 Stars?

I gave Miss Newbury’s List a 4.3 out of 5 for its exciting suspense, sincere emotion, and heartwarming moments. It’s creative and unique within the proper romance genre and full of uplifting values: family loyalty, following your heart, and daring to dream.

Here are a few more reasons why I rated a 4.3:

• Liza’s character provides a wonderful contrast to Rosalind. Their differences highlight the value of caution, reasoning, and intentionality—lessons that readers can apply to their own lives and looking at the friends that they are attracted towards.

• The descriptions of cozy ponds, country estates, dramatic cliffs, and summer flowers create vivid imagery that enhances the reading experience.

• Unexpected themes like boxing (unusual for the era), overindulgence in sweets, breaking off engagements, and women swimming add freshness to the narrative.

• Rosalind’s loyalty to her family is admirable and praiseworthy—a value we don’t always emphasize enough in modern stories.

• Personal growth themes—like overcoming embarrassment, being honest and genuine, and learning that you don’t have to be perfect—are inspiring and valuable.

• The message that there’s always a way back home was deeply touching. The book champions forgiveness, rebuilding, and hope. It’s about big dreams, open hearts, truth-telling, and support from others—an uplifting experience from the start to the finish.

In conclusion

I truly enjoyed Miss Newbury’s List by Megan Walker. The story was surprising and pleasant. While I loved many elements, I wished a few were better developed. Still, I would definitely recommend this book. There’s nothing better than wrapping yourself up in a good story and stepping away from the busyness of life. Take a breath, enjoy the moment, and appreciate a book that’s filled with heart.

If you read the book, I’d love to hear your thoughts—especially about the ending!