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: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, 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

[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

[S {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)

[Samantha Post · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid debut. The prose was polished and easy to read, and the premise was an intriguing spin on the forced proximity/arranged marriage tropes. It did take me a little while to get into the world and the romance, though that may be partly down to personal preference (Regency isn’t my go-to). There were a few moments where the execution didn’t quite work for me, but overall, I enjoyed the experience. I definitely plan to read future books by Phillips, and I’m excited to see what she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy!

[RomanceDNA · 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. 📚💕

[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 little 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

[Rachel · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

What a fun Regency romance and debut novel! I’ve read a dozen of Julia Quinn’s books, and reading A Rogue’s Guide to Winning a Wife was nostalgic to me in the best way, as it reminded me how much I adore this genre. Hannah and Christopher’s forced-marriage, enemies-to-lovers story was perfect and swoon-worthy. I loved Christopher’s character growth (not just becoming less rogue but overcoming serious self-doubts), as well as Hannah’s desire to be more than just a lady of leisure in the ton (she has a talent for architecture, which Christopher encourages her to pursue).

Highly recommend for fans of romance in the Regency era! I cannot wait to read Meredith Phillips’ next book!

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Dell Publishing for the ARC.

I loved this story and this Historical Romance was done right. Hannah is a fantastically written FMC. She is creative, opinionated yet there is a shyness about her. Christopher is a rake but has a heart of gold underneath. I like how they are able to reveal their vulnerabilities with each other. It shows that these characters have depth and are not your stereotypical characters from the time period. Their witty banter was such fun to read and both of the characters’ inner circle of friends gave insight, humor and levity to the story.

Christopher is a rake and a constant embarrassment to his father. Christopher does need to change his ways especially if he wishes to protect his sister Rebecca from their controlling father. He is forced into an arranged marriage with Hannah. Both of which are not happy about though each is seeking a means to an end. They will put on this charade for different reasons. Christopher will be able to get his sister away from their father and Hannah will have more independence to pursue her dreams of being an architect, something unheard of for a woman of the times. The more time they spend together though the more the lines seem to be blurring between fake and real. Hannah sees a softer side to Christopher and is appreciative of his support. Christopher enjoys Hannah’s constant compliments and praise which is something he never received from his father. He likes making her happy.

This book is a sweet and spicy tale. There is tension, gossip, wagers, and secrets. I highly recommend this book!

[lana]

such a cutie cover

[Marie Towns]

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

[Melanie · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

4.25 Stars ★★★★☆
~This is a spoiler-free ARC review.~

Absolutely charming!

I always tell myself a rake of a viscount is not my thing… and I’m always proven to be a damned liar. But being proven wrong is half the fun, isn’t it?

This novel feels like a true regency era romance and I love the fact our FMC, Hannah, is incredibly intelligent with aspirations to be known as an architect despite what the ton thinks. Our MMC, Christopher, is as the title suggests, a rogue, but there is a realness to both the characters that had me pretty invested early on. I kept putting the book down to go focus on other things, just to find myself picking it up again a few minutes later. I’m looking forward to more from this author in the future! (The subjects I suspect for the next novel are going to ruin me.)

If you’re already a fan of regency romance or have seen Brigerton and are looking for something to fill the void, A Rogue's Guide to Winning a Wife is a great pick for your TBR.

ARC received via NetGalley.
Thank you to Ballantine, Dell, and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this early!
All thoughts are my own.
A Rogue's Guide to Winning a Wife officially releases on February 2nd, 2027

[Lavanya Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A swoon-worthy debut! Christopher and Hannah truly won my heart. ❤️
Their chemistry had me giggling and blushing.
I’d like to thank Meredith for igniting my love for historical romance.

[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!

[The Toxicologist · Rating 4 out of 5]

QUICK BOOK DETAILS

✧ Pages: ~368

✧ My Reading Format: (Physical / Ebook / Audiobook)

✧ Disclosures: Thank you NetGalley for sending this book for review consideration. I also follow the author on social media and love her content! Both had no impact on my honest review.

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⚠ CONTENT WARNINGS

✧ Trigger Warnings: Child abuse, emotional abuse, misogyny, alcohol (mild, mostly used as a coping mechanism by ML in early chapters),

✧ Spice/Sexual Content Level: Level 3 (Vivid, detailed, and mildly frequent descriptions of sexual acts using direct anatomical or explicit language.)

✧ My Review Spoiler Warning: (None / Minor / Major)

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THE REVIEW

This book was a charming, witty experience till the very end, leaving me very excited for what future stories this author has in store.

As a debut novel, the prose was stunning, mixing in a perfect balance between modern and period-accurate writing that left me enjoying the book without needing to pick up a dictionary every other paragraph.

The setting has to be my favorite part of the novel, the clear detail laid out to craft a wonderful world that any reader could easily picture in their minds, without needing any background knowledge of the historical setting whatsoever. All the small details, the way they are woven together within the story effortlessly. It's a lovely experience all around.

Now, for the main attraction of the book: the romance.

I’m a bit split on this aspect, because while I think the pairing, Christopher and Hannah, had really lovely moments, it wasn’t without faults. In a span of just a few chapters, they would go from having some genuinely sweet moments to being emotionally volatile. I also felt a few of their relationship milestones were rushed, and thus their characters felt tainted because of it. Particularly with Christopher, some of his biggest romance wins/loses came at the compromise of his pre-established character. His behavior at times felt unjustified given his shown traits, which left any resulting events feeling slightly unearned.

I am not opposed to a flawed male lead, but the whiplash between his kind moments and his more problematic moments made it seem more like a lack of commitment to giving him heavier flaws than a solid exploration of such themes. This author has demonstrated a deep understanding of writing craft throughout this project; I have no doubt she was capable of crafting a much more nuanced character if given the chance. As it stands, the more flawed moments of the male lead seem more so vehicles to further the plot than actual traits I’d think he’d possess.

That being said, the cute moments were also very nice to read about; their chemistry was very well thought out, and I enjoyed the domestic outings and hobby sharing. It’s what kept me coming back to this book in particular.

Hannah’s character was definitely one of my favorites in the book. I am able to see myself through many of her quirks/aspirations while also admiring the ways that she differs - she’s a full-fledged person, and I appreciate that. The focus on her passions outside of Christopher also just makes me enjoy her scenes with Christopher more.

As it stands, I do believe she is the strongest of the two leads, though I do wish we got a bit more backstory on her.

Continuing my exploration of the book, the antagonists felt a bit one-dimensional, along with a few other notable side characters. I am absolutely not opposed to stories having irredeemable people or purely malicious individuals as antagonists, but I do like a bit more thought behind them.

While not infallible deities, seeing them skillfully use the traits they warp to fit their ambitions makes them feel like worthy opponents and gives me just that much more satisfaction when their inevitable fall comes. Here, they felt… a tad incompetent, and in turn, it made the characters who couldn’t easily overcome them feel a bit inept by association.

The author, however, is clearly capable of making fantastic side characters. The friendship dynamics between Christopher’s friend group were unmatched and were the driving factor of some of my favorite moments! Whenever I would see their names on the page, I’d immediately get excited to continue reading. Graham, Evan, Silas. The comedic pillars of this story. Graham’s level head, Evan’s kind whimsy aura, and Silas’ wit elevated any scene from average to incredible within a few short sentences.

However, my favorite is definitely Silas. What can I say? I have a soft spot for grumpy, yet caring, characters. And with Silas in particular, I loved the disability representation he provided to the story, and more importantly, how he was portrayed. He was, thankfully, one of the more rounded characters within the story, and yet his disability was never the highlight/point of who he was whenever he was on the page. While the author didn’t shy away from describing his struggles, it was never the focus of his character.

I honestly hope that I am right and that this story will not remain a standalone novel and that the next book in the series focuses more on Silas!

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FINAL VERDICT

✧ Overall Rating: ★★★★

✧ Would I Recommend It? Yes / No / Maybe

To anyone looking to dive into the historical romance genre, who might be intimidated by the implication of having to google something every other sentence to make sense of the context/wording of a scene, I highly recommend you pick up this book. You’ll be in for a treat.

[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

[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.

[Tassia da Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t normally reach for Regency romance. Historical romance in general isn’t really my thing, outside of The Gilded Age, so I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this one.

But I really enjoyed it.

Hannah was easily my favorite part. I loved that she wanted to become an architect in a time when that was absolutely not what a woman was expected to do, and I loved how hard she fought for herself and for the life she wanted. She’s smart, opinionated, ambitious, and strong without feeling like someone just dropped a modern woman into a historical setting.

Christopher… had some work to do. 😬 But I understood him. Once you learn more about his family and his relationship with his father, you understand how he became the person he is at the beginning of the book. I just wish I had fallen in love with him a little more along the way. I liked him, but Hannah was the one I was really invested in.

His sister and his friends helped make up for that, though. I loved the relationships surrounding them, and there were moments that genuinely made me laugh. I can tell they’re setting up the story to move towards some of the other friends and their relationships and I’m gonna genuinely be interested in getting their story.

Also, for anyone who wants this information before picking up a romance: it is open door. There’s some spice, although I wouldn’t necessarily call this a particularly sexy book. The romance was much more about watching these two people figure each other out and slowly see beyond the assumptions they’d made about one another.

Something I think that would make this look so much cooler as if it had architectural designs of her’s in it. I loved all the architecture talk. I love when people nerd out about something really niche, and hearing her make observations about things like chimney design or whether a staircase was actually proportionate to the building was great. I knew nothing about any of it, but I liked hearing her care about it.

[Janill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute, heartwarming story, and I was rooting for this couple so hard! I don’t usually read Regency romance, but this one caught my eye and absolutely did not disappoint. I’m so happy I was approved for the ARC because this was such a fun surprise. Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine, for the opportunity to read it!

This was a quick read for me. I finished it in one sitting, and apparently, I’m now addicted to Regency romance because this has me wanting to pick up more books in the genre. 😂

One of my favorite things about the FMC was her passion for architecture. I loved that she refused to let the fact that she was a woman, or the Ton’s disapproval, discourage her from pursuing what she loved. Watching her stand up for herself and her ambitions made her such a compelling character.

The MMC may come across as a rake on the outside, and he definitely makes some questionable decisions, but underneath all of that is a caring and thoughtful man. I really enjoyed watching his growth throughout the story, especially seeing him recognize his mistakes, learn from them, and genuinely put in the effort to do better, particularly when it came to the FMC.

I also loved that both the FMC and MMC wanted to find love, even though neither of them expected to find it in each other. There was something incredibly endearing about watching their relationship develop and seeing them slowly realize what they had found.

And can we talk about the fact that this is Meredith’s **debut**?! I was genuinely shocked because the writing felt so assured that I assumed she had several books under her belt already. I’m definitely hoping she continues publishing because I’m excited to read more of her work. And selfishly, I would LOVE to see some of the FMC and MMC’s close friends get their own stories because the side characters were absolute stars in their own right.

Overall, this was a charming, feel-good Regency romance that completely won me over.

[Rebekah W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an absolutely stellar debut from Meredith E. Phillips. I am slowly converting everyone I know to a historical romance fan, and I think A Rogue's Guide to Winning a Wife will be a perfect read for someone new to the genre, as well as, any longtime lover of histrom. This is a regency era romp with a marriage of convenience with a bit of STEMinist side hustle.

A Rogue's Guide to Winning a Wife won me over 10x. I spent the first 30% of this book thinking there was no way Christopher was going to make it into my heart. I usually fold like a cheap suit for a rake with an apathy problem, but Christopher was SO self-destructive. Because I could tell from page 1 that Hannah deserved the world, my guard was UP. But what Phillips manages to do in this story is create characters with substance and depth that makes their (frequently infuriating) decisions relevant and understandable. Understanding Christopher's deep familial trauma and abuse made his reactions, protectiveness, and sad-boy ennui eventually endearing. And Hannah was the picture of intelligence and independence and loyalty. Her ability to empathize with Christopher, while still holding her ground was perfection. I absolutely loved how quickly she was willing to take on Lord Harrington for the sake of Christopher and Rebecca. I also loved the bits with the architecture. It was the perfect feminist addition to this story, and Christopher's support and interest had me finally throwing in the towel.

These two have quite a bit of back and forth, and while it got a little repetitive at times, I loved how they communicated and understood one another and CHANGED while still being themselves. I absolutely cannot wait to see what Meredith writes next, and I HOPE IT'S SOPHIA'S STORY! There is so much good set up and possibility for these boys!

[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!!!

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my more favorite historical romances and I’d like to think I’ve read a good number of them! Why Christopher falls in love with Hannah is believable and grounded, and I loved Hannah's thoughts, worries, and growth regarding her ambition and identity. She's clever, accurately reading into others' actions and thoughts, and overall, I was cheering for her the entire time.

When I read the premise, I was curious why Christopher would suddenly become doting. The friends coming together to get Christopher, who never had to pay attention before (my notes had "okay, so he's a brat"), to learn how to become an attentive husband are hilarious and well-written in their minutiae. I liked Evan's love of love, and would definitely want to read a story where he’s the lead. Maybe he and Rebecca would make a good match? The narrative hints at a potential story between Sophia and Barrington, so maybe there'll be a book for each of the friends.

The idea that a wife will draw out the good qualities in a man, turn a rake into an upstanding member of the ton, does feel old fashioned, but hey, it's a historical romance. I also think it would have been a nice tie at the end if there was more of a nod to Hannah's garments reflecting who she vs others' expectations. Nevertheless, I'd love to see more books from Meredith E. Phillips!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Kate Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun romp of a steamy Regency romance.

Viscount Tunbridge is a noted rogue and in need of reigning in. Lady Hannah Beaumont is nearing spinsterhood and in need of a husband, for the sake of her parents' coffers. Their fathers have proposed an arranged marriage in order to solve everyone's problems. The young couple appear to be fine with the arrangement, each thinking that once wed, life can pretty much go on as it had. Unfortunately, Tunbridge's controlling father has set some untenable demands on the match of which only the young viscount is aware. Can these two make their marriage of convenience a viable concern or do they risk making it something even more meaningful. Only time will tell.

This debut romance was delightful and and well written. The characters were well developed and the scene settings were quite rich, replete with sumptuous silk gowns and tailored waistcoats. As readers, our hearts ache for these two romantic souls and will them their hearts desires. All in all, this was a fun diversion.

Warning: emotional abuse, sexual content, cursing

I am grateful to Dell publishing for having provided a complimentary uncorrected copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: Dell
Publication date: February 2, 2027
Number of Pages: 352
ISBN: 979-8217375547

[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!

[Onceuponabooktalk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an impressive debut!
.
FEATURES:
-Historical Romance
-Arranged Marriage
-Female Architect (trying to break into a male-dominated field)
-Whoops, I fell for my spouse!
-Wagers
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This couple willingly enters into an arranged marriage, fully expecting to be civil housemates, and nothing more. Neither really desire to marry, but are forced to based on circumstances. They are total strangers on their wedding day.
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What unfolds is a lovely story of married strangers becoming friends and then falling hard for one another.
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These characters were well-developed individually  - having interests, friends, and back stories of their own. And their love story is full of swoon! It was such a delight to watch it unfold.
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Having a female lead pursuing architecture was a unique and fascinating storyline, especially in an age that did not allow women to engage in certain fields.
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The couple's joint love and care for Christopher's sister, Rebecca, was thoroughly endearing.
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I adored Christopher's group of friends that were always so eager to help him. I do hope some of them may have future books of their own!
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Thank you @penguinrandomhouse and @netgalley for my eARC copy. I was given this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for the ARC!

I read a broad range of genres, from The Women by Kristin Hannah to Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, and this book captivated me in a way I wasn't expecting. I just could not put it down! The writing was strong, the plot was well paced, and it kept me interested throughout.

Both of the main characters had unique voices and were starkly different from one another. I loved that the FMC was pursuing a passion in what was very much a male-dominated field at the time. I also really enjoyed that the MMC wasn't completely sure of himself. We get a lot of romance heroes who burst onto the page full of confidence, so his uncertainty was a refreshing change of pace.

The relationship between the two characters developed very naturally and progressed at a pace that felt believable. No instant love here!

My only real critique was the "big conflict" between them. It felt a little forced to me, and I didn't feel like we got quite enough insight into why the FMC felt she couldn't forgive him at the time. Because of that, her eventual resolve to try to work things out with the MMC also seemed to come somewhat out of the blue.

That being said, I loved the ending. I'm a sucker for a good grand gesture, and this one delivered!

[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.

[Kayne Spooner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has a heroine who is an architect! Hannah entered her designs in the Royal Academy Exhibition, and is waiting to hear if they were accepted. I couldn’t wait to find out!

Christopher is pressured into marriage with Hannah by his father, who wants him to give up his gambling and carousing ways. Christopher wants to find a way to protect his younger sister from their father, who is cruel.

I really liked how supportive Christopher is of Hannah’s work. He also asks his friends for help courting her, and they add some sweet and humorous moments to the story, except for one, who is a villain. We see them growing close, but when something happens in the third act, Hannah holds herself back from Christopher and It slows the pacing a bit for me. But this was minor.

I enjoyed this heartfelt romance and hope we’ll see some of their friends get their own books. Thanks to the author, Dell, and NetGalley for this ARC. My full review will be at Spoonerreads.com closer to the release date, Feb. 2nd.

[Reda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start my saying that I hope this is Book 1 in a series, because all four of the men in that friend group need a love story!!

This debut offering from Meredith Phillips was a fun regency version of the (perceived) player and the nerd love story. Throw in complex family dynamics, a terrible ex, and regency-era patriarchy, and you've got a recipe for quite the engaging romance. It's a lovely journey watching Hannah and Christopher wade through their respective issues and build a relationship. It's also a sweet juxtaposition to see the oppression of societal norms presented right alongside what's really a story about a very emotionally healthy group of guy friends. I will admit, at times, I found Hannah to be self-involved, presumptive and harsh, and it took me quite a while to root for her, but I really loved where this story ultimately landed.

I just hope that landing is a first stop. By my count, there are three more men who need happily ever afters...

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for my honest assessment of this work.

[Diana Lerro · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a real pleasure to read this novel. When I review a Regency romance, I look for anachronisms, proper spelling and grammar/punctuation, and how well the characters are portrayed. This book checks all the right boxes.
Hannah, Lady Tunbridge, enters a marriage of convenience with Christopher, Lord Tunbridge, after a failed season in which her heart was broken. She is a frustrated aspiring architect and he a dissolute rake with an unsavory reputation. Neither desires the marriage but accepts that it will be beneficial for both for very different reasons. In spite of their intentions to conduct the marriage as a business venture, Christopher begins to win Hannah's regard. As their affection progresses, secrets by both threaten to derail their fragile relationship. My only complaint is that there are two antagonists in the plot with no apparent redeeming qualities, which makes the story a bit farcical. In spite of this, I rate this 5 stars, which means I would re-read this book and seek out others by the author.