A Rogue's Guide to Winning a Wife

by Meredith E. Phillips

An aspiring architect is determined to enter the Royal Academy's all-male Exhibition, if only her rakish viscount husband weren't so enticingly distracting, in this sexy, STEMinist Regency romance

Hannah, the newly-minted Lady Tunbridge, agreed to marry the rakish Christopher Westfall hoping he would be gallivanting around London, leaving her free to craft architectural masterpieces for the Royal Academy’s Exhibition. But when her irritatingly handsome husband begins showering her with thoughtful gifts and compliments, Hannah grows suspicious. So, she makes a wager with him: if she doesn’t succumb to his charms by the end of the Season, she’ll move into her own home, with the independence to do as she wishes.

The trouble is, Christopher doesn’t make himself easy to resist. And when he brings her in on a scheme to save his sister from their cruel father’s clutches, she finds herself falling for her husband against her better judgment. But as Christopher’s plans begin to clash with Hannah’s preparations for the Exhibition, he must battle his own growing feelings and choose between saving his sister or supporting Hannah’s dreams—and winning her heart.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Fiction, Historical Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 2, 2027

About the author

Meredith E. Phillips is a historical romance writer who grew up watching women twirl across the silver screen in hoop skirts. She is, sadly, not in possession of a single ball gown, but hopes to remedy that soon. A Rogue’s Guide to Winning a Wife is her first novel.

Reviews

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus}]

*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review!*

Seeing just one artwork from this book was enough for me to fall in love with it, and now I have the ARC!!!🥹

[maddie's reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for the arc!

Historical romance is SO back (it never left I just really loved this)

[Olivia Mayers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

What a cute story! I’m always down to read a regency romance, especially one with a marriage of convenience (of a sort). This novel did a great job of being both funny and diving into deeper issues and insecurities. I thought the development of the main characters and their relationship felt very natural. The only thing I wish was that our FMC’s backstory was a littler more polished. Her family and friends seemed flat when compared to our MMC, Christopher, and his family.

Regardless, this was a very enjoyable read and I will keep my eye out for the next installments in this world!🏛️🏰

Plot: 4/5
Themes/ tropes: 4.5/5
World building: 4/5
Character development: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5

[lana]

such a cutie cover

[Marie Towns]

We have cover art! Impatiently waiting to get my grubby little paws on this.

[Jeremy Reppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amusing and enjoyable story. It starts off with an arranged marriage between two unlikely individuals. Christopher, Lord Tunbridge, is often mentioned in the society papers due to his inappropriate behavior, much to the dismay of his father, Lord Harrington. [Granted, there is very little Christopher could do that would please his father. Lord Harrington is abusive towards both Christopher and his younger sister, Rebecca. This abusive behavior is a significant factor in the events of the book]. Lady Hannah is not comfortable in public settings, and is considered "eccentric" because she is interested in architecture and wants to design buildings, landmarks, etc. This is not behavior that is viewed as appropriate for society women. Her parents want to see her married off, while Lord Harrington hopes that marriage will improve his son's behavior (especially as the marriage is tied to Lord Harrington continuing to provide his son with financial support).

The marriage gets off to a rocky start, especially since Christopher had essentially ignored Hannah between the meeting where they agreed to get married and the day of the wedding. For this reason, and others, Hannah will barricade herself in her room on the wedding night. Complicating things more is that Lord Harrington and Lord Gibbons (a former friend of Christopher and all-around wastrel) have made a bet, which requires Christopher to behave himself for sixty days and for Hannah to host a grand ball (which Lord Gibbons knows will be a nightmare for Hannah). Christopher knows of the bet and has made a side bet with his father which he hopes will get his sister safely away from their father), but Hannah is blissfully unaware. To have any hope of winning the bet, Christopher has to convince Hannah that he appreciates and values her. In the process he will develop true feelings for her.

There will of course be many obstacles, including efforts to interfere by Lord Gibbons, the abusive behavior of Lord Harrington, Hannah's desire to enter architectural designs into the Royal Academy's exhibition and have her work taken seriously and the conflict this will cause. Christopher will enlist the help of his friends in wooing his wife but as he gets to know her better, he will figure out his own ways to show his admiration and appreciation. And things will improve between Christopher and Hannah, at least temporarily. However, years of abuse by his father have left Christopher will a poor opinion of himself and his ability to behave appropriately and be worthy of Hannah's love.

The story has some great moments as Hannah and Christopher learn more about each other and try to get past their individual perceptions of themselves and their self-worth. Hannah sees a side of Christopher to which he is blind, while Christopher appreciates Hannah's intelligence and creativity. After making a colossal blunder that could cost them everything, Christopher will come up with a grand gesture that will prove to Hannah how much she means to him, and which will enable him to get his sister away from their father. The grand gesture is masterful in its execution.
The story has a great supporting cast. I liked the "meet cute" between Lady Sophia and Silas, Earl of Barrington, and could see that being expanded into a book of its own.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, apparently I needed to be dragged away from mafia romance and reminded that Regency husbands can also cause problems. 😂🏰

I’ll be honest: the beginning was a little slow for me. I’ve been on such a mafia-romance streak lately that I kept putting this one down and going back to people carrying guns and making questionable life choices. 😂🔫 But once I properly committed to Hannah and Christopher, I was completely in.

This was such a fun, easy, low-drama read. Hannah is an introverted architecture lover who would rather work on her designs than socialize, while Christopher is a charming rogue who has spent most of his life believing he’s not particularly lovable. And honestly? I appreciated that about him. So many romance heroes walk around with confidence levels of 110%, so having a man who actually has a terrible opinion of himself because of how he was raised was a nice change.

I also really liked their relationship development. Hannah initially wants absolutely nothing to do with her husband because of everything she’s heard about him, but Christopher slowly wins her over with the help of his very entertaining friends. 🥹💕

And THANK YOU for giving me a romance where the couple actually talks and solves things. 🙌 No cheating. No abuse. No ridiculous third-act breakup. No 200 pages of unnecessary suffering. There is some drama, obviously, but it never became exhausting.

Christopher does ruin the ball by getting into a fight with someone who says something awful about Hannah, and I was sitting there like: Ah yes, here comes the breakup, the tears, the emotional devastation… 😭

Except… no. They were just mad at each other for a while, made a plan, solved the sister situation, AND he made sure Hannah’s architectural work was seen by the ton. Sir?? Emotional maturity?? Problem solving?? In MY romance?? 👏😂

The spice level was also perfect for me, just a couple of scenes that actually fit the story. 🌶️✨

A few things felt almost too easy to resolve toward the end, but honestly, after all the overly dramatic romances I’ve been reading lately, I was happy to accept the easy HEA. 😂

My one complaint is the POV. The chapters alternate between Hannah and Christopher, but they’re written in third person, rather than first-person dual POV, and I realized I really prefer the latter. Still, it didn’t stop me from enjoying the book.

There are also a few side characters who definitely feel like they could be getting their own stories, and I’m not mad about it. 👀

Overall, a really enjoyable 4⭐️ read. Apparently I can enjoy a romance without mafia bosses threatening someone every five chapters. Who knew? 🤣🏰❤️

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 📚💕

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Tropes: Marriage of convenience, historical romance, forced proximity, slow burn
Spice Level: 🔥🔥

Christopher Westfall, the Viscount Tunbridge, has lost a small fortune at cards and is forced by his father to marry and straighten out his reckless ways. He chooses Hannah, an aspiring architect who thinks marrying a rakish husband is the perfect solution because he’ll surely leave her alone. She plans to spend her time secretly working on designs for the Royal Academy’s all-male exhibition—until Christopher decides being a distant husband isn’t nearly as fun as charming his new wife.

I had such a fun time with this one! Hannah was probably my favorite part of the story. I loved that she had her own dreams and ambitions and wasn’t willing to give them up just because she’d gotten married. Christopher was also so much more than the carefree rogue he initially appeared to be, and I really enjoyed watching him fall for Hannah.

The wager between them was such a fun addition, and their banter and growing attraction kept me hooked. I also liked that their relationship wasn’t just about the romance. Watching them work together to help Christopher’s sister added some emotional depth and gave them a reason to really start trusting each other.

Overall this was a really enjoyable debut novel. I love when a historical romance gives the heroine ambitions beyond marriage, and Hannah fighting for her place in a male-dominated field made her especially easy to root for.

If you love marriage-of-convenience romances, charming rogues, strong heroines, and a little battle-of-wits between two people who definitely aren’t supposed to fall in love, this is a fun one to add to your TBR! 📚💕

[Aaliyah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Rogue's Guide to Winning a Wife was a stunning debut novel! Christopher and Hannah are forced into an arranged marriage, but after many wagers and some groveling, they fall hopelessly in love!!! What I liked most about the story was our FMC; I ADORED her enthusiasm for architectural design and her desire for a personal identity that extended beyond her husband or his surname. Hannah was such a kind and witty character, and I enjoyed seeing her grow a bond with the MMC's sister, Rebecca.

The MMC, Christopher, loved having an intelligent wife, but he struggled to completely accept her due to his father, who cared more about society's opinion than his own son's happiness and used many wagers to manipulate him.
Don't worry though; the FMC makes him BEGGG to win back her affection!!! The love story was truly endearing; I appreciated all the thoughtful gestures and attentive things Christopher did for Hannah. The romance was sweet, but the chemistry was also really hot! Hannah had Christopher absolutely whipped lol.

I really enjoyed the found family; Christopher's friends Silas, Evan, and Graham added a delightful element to the book, and I'm eager to see their romantic developments! I'm particularly excited to see if Silas will end up with Sophia 👀. Overall, I had a fun time with this story, and if you're a fan of Regency romance, I would suggest giving this a try!!!

Releases February 2nd, 2027!! Thank you to Netgalley for the E-ARC!!!

[Margaret Retsema · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars! This one definitely had its roses, but also had one major thorn. I love any book where a woman is going against societial norms, against the patriarchy, against men in general telling her what to do- obviously this was a huge selling point for me. Like yes, girl, use your brain, design that building, tell those men to shove it, get that bag. And I loved her friend Sophia, and Rebecca; not to mention the guy-squad following Christopher around who seemed to be the voices of reason representing the male gender in this book. Meanwhile, Christopher? Bruh.
He's a sad sack. I can only take so much self-deprication in a male character before I get annoyed. Hannah kept having to be either his emotional punching bag, or his therapist, or his mother, constantly lifting his spirits. She's raising and caring for his little man emotions like a baby bird. I wanted her to dump him and go pick his friend. He seemed to understand her more than Christopher did.

So while I felt the story and plot was very good, I was bummed about the MMC. Maybe there are other women out there who love these simpering men who need to be coddled and cuddled and cared for, but I have my own children to worry about, I don't need another one to manage. I don't regret reading it- I'm actually REALLY anticipating another book that might be following it, based on some relationship setup, which I'm more excited for. We shall see!

[Valeria Ayala · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!
The perfect historical romance! This book has a little bit of everything to keep you reading. Found family, pinning MMC, strong FMC. Hannah and Christopher are such strong independent characters but complicate each other so well!

Both characters have internal problems going on but are able to lean on each other to get through them together. I really felt for Christopher, having to deal with constantly being berated and looked down on. It is frustrating knowing he has such a caring and loving support system and having to see him deal with everything alone.

Hannah, on the other hand, never had that support system. So when Christian comes along, the found family she gains along the way is so relieving and heartfelt to experience from a readers POV since you’re really just rooting for her the whole time.

I’m not a fan of third act breakups. I feel we didn’t get enough details on the aftermath of how the big conflict really affected Hannah and Christian. So it kind of felt overdramatized to have caused such turmoil for our main characters. But the way everything is resolved, and how Christian makes it up to her, is VERY romantic, so that makes up for it. Other than that, a good, enjoyable read that I finished in 24 hours!

[Teresa (blewballoon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

This was actually fantastic! I am shocked that this is a debut, the writing was polished, the characters were charming, and the plot flowed at a good pace. Meredith E. Phillips is one to watch, I hope this book is a sign of more to come.

Readers of historical romance are probably very familiar with the arranged marriage and reformed rake tropes, but they were done refreshingly well here. Christopher starts the book at quite the low point and it's satisfying to follow his efforts to improve and learn from his mistakes. Hannah is earnest and driven, and her internal struggle with wanting to support Christopher but not let go of her own ambitions and personality were a great source of tension. Christopher's friends were a big highlight, I hope the author continues on to write their stories.

Highly recommend this to anyone interested in historical romance. This is a lovely example of what the genre has to offer, and I'm delighted to see a new author embrace it. I liked it so much that I pre-ordered a physical copy as soon as I finished the ARC.

Content Warnings:
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Classism

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I thought that this book was really well written. I really liked how Hannah had a dream/goal of being an architect and stuck with it despite things not always going her way. I also really appreciated that she realized that she had a pattern of putting a man in front of her work but that she found Christopher, who supported her work throughout the novel I also like how Christopher had his sister and his friends to keep him from being one of those weird love interests I hate. I really like that both leads had their own goals and aspirations but were able to help each other achieve what they wanted without it feeling forced. I was originally going to give this book a 4.5 because I didn't like that Harrington lowkey bullied and abused his way into getting a room at the Duke's building/panorama thing, but it went back to a 5 when I found out how the author spun it to be a kind of revenge while also not feeling out of character for both Christopher and Hannah.

[Kiana]

A Rogue's Guide to Winning a Wife is a sensational read from Meredith E. Philips.

An arranged marriage, an ongoing bet, and secrets on secrets., this book was gripping and interesting from the very start. After being tricked into a massive debt, Christopher could no longer be the "free" man he once was and suddenly was tied to Hannah. Two massively opposite characters, a rogue and wall flower, an extrovert and an introvert. But the more they are put together, the more tension and chemistry collide. The antics the characters got up to and the slow getting to know each other was beautiful.

I stopped reading this book because I realized that it was open door, which was around the 40% mark, but I cannot deny that the writing style, the premise, the adventures both of the characters got up to, and the slow burn tension. So I decided not to give it a star rating, but it was a beautiful story nonetheless.

I want to thank Meredith E. Philips and Penguin Random House Publishing for the free book.

[A.Onstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Ballantine (via NETGALLEY) for the ARC of Meredith E. Phillip’s debut novel, A Rogue's Guide to Winning a Wife. Expected Release date: February 2nd, 2027.

If you are a fan of Regency-era stories (Jane Austen, Bridgerton, etc…), then this book should be your next read. I don’t know what was more delightful. Watching Christopher find his worth through his time with Hannah, his sister, his friends, and his own introspection. Or… watching Hannah learn that she has strength beyond what she even knew and that offering that strength to others who need it is a gift beyond measure.

Read the blurb for the plot summary if you must, but as a mood reader, I can tell you that this book hit all the right moods at every juncture.

If you enjoy the arranged marriage, reformed rake/rogue storyline, AGAIN, THIS SHOULD BE YOUR NEXT READ!! Seriously. Plus, the friend group is so much fun that I really hope to see the next book about S and S!! Please Meredith E. Phillips.

[Mary Gosse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Christopher and Hannah were such fantastic characters and they really came alive in these pages. I also loved Christopher’s group of close friends and how well they supported him with both wooing Hannah and helping him to work through his other issues. I would love to see additional books that follow these friends and their romances!

The plot of this book was fresh and interesting, the characters’ spoken and internal dialogue was realistic, and the family and friend relationships really helped to move the story forward.

Overall, I loved everything about this book and highly recommend it! I also eagerly await anything else this author may write in the future! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free advanced copy - this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of uncorrected eBook file

Christopher Westfall agrees to a marriage arranged by his father; Hannah Beaumont agrees to the marriage hoping for free time to work on her architecture designs.

Of course, nothing works out as either Hannah or Christopher had hoped.

=========

This historical Regency-era romance is filled with strong, ambitious characters and an intriguing premise making for a delightfully entertaining tale. Readers are sure to root for Christopher and Hannah as both seek ways to achieve their goals and find ways to help each other.

Readers who enjoy historical tales with arranged marriages, reformed characters, and charming storylines will find much to appreciate here.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Ballantine / Dell and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#ARoguesGuidetoWinningaWife #NetGalley

[Lee Hennessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful and fun regency romance between a rogue and a bluestocking wallflower. The dual POV characters had both depth and a certain sparkle and the author has the important ability to make the MMC irresistably attractive while still showing his weakenesses and faults. The FMC was instantly relatable and the choices she made all made sense with her somewhat disasterous history of courtship - though she was REALLY tough on the MMC in the last act, it did make sense.

I really enjoyed the story and the writing and I was so invested in the book, I had to take a break when everything looked like it was falling apart. I thought the ending was perfect. I'm definitely recommending this book.

[Kari Bunce (Books With Herb) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every once in a while, I want to step into a different reality, and a good historical romance is the perfect escape. A Rogue’s Guide to Winning a Wife is an enjoyable and unique historical romance featuring a charming rake and an introvert who dreams of becoming an architect.

When Christopher and Hannah are forced into marriage by their fathers, they both have plenty of plans for how they’ll manage their unconventional marriage. It doesn’t take long for them to become intrigued by each other, but learning to be honest and trust one another proves to be a challenge.

If you enjoy historical romance with lovable characters, a forced-marriage trope, and plenty of obstacles for the couple to overcome, this is an easy and enjoyable read.

3.5 bones from Herb and me. 🦴🦴🦴½

[Diane Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

To save his sister from an overbearing father, Christopher (a Viscount) agrees to a marriage to Hannah. Neither wanted this marriage, but both are happy to escape their family. Christopher’s father had a low opinion of him and treats him poorly. Because of a bet made with his father, he had to get his wife to agree to certain stipulations. But first she needs to like him and he needs to enlist his friend’s help to make this happen. Complicating this Hannah has interests unbecoming to a woman of the time. What an interesting story to see how their feelings change and they band together for a common goal. Thank you to #NetGalley and #RandomHouse for a copy of this book for an honest review.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a charming debut for Meredith E. Phillips. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I read a lot of historical romances so when a plot doesn’t proceed in a predictable manner, I am always impressed.

Hannah and Christopher were fantastic characters. Forced to marry - then fall in love - is a favorite trope for me. Phillips also introduces friends of the MCs that I am hoping will have stories of their own in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow wow wow this was a lovely debut with the sweetest and most heartbreaking MCs I’ve read in a while and found myself rooting for throughout. At times the villains were a bit cartoonish for so grounded a book, but the romance and heat and emotions and friendships really made up for it. If I had one real crib it would be I wish we’d seen our FMC work on her designs a bit more to avoid some of the tell don’t show. But all in all an excellent debut and I’m already intrigued by some of the friends we met here.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

This follows a reluctant high society Regency era arranged marriage.

These characters had quite an opposites sort of dynamic. And that was quite entertaining for me. It allowed them to have a lot of character and relationship development.

This was also a very fast and easy to read romance with lots of family drama.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Dylan Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a historical romance itch that needed scratching, and this DELIVERED. I absolutely loved Hannah and Christopher's dynamic, how there was the constant push and pull with their respective strengths and vulnerabilities. Their relationship was so sweet and tender and I ate it up!!

[Kylee Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a delightful romp— it took me back to my first “scandalous” romance novels. It made me laugh, it made me sigh (happily)— I instantly wanted more! Meredith E. Phillips is an author to keep an eye on!!

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fun, tender regency romp. I didn't fully fully connect with these characters and their world but had a lovely time. Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced copy.

[Kaylee Pereyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely! I had so much fun with this, and finished it all in one go! I absolutely LOVEDDDDDD Hannah; her ambition and strength and willingness to stand up for herself and her dreams, beautiful!! Christopher ….. man that guy was dumb sometimes. BUT HE WAS DOWN SO BAD FOR HER and it made me very happy to watch