As a host of a book club that focuses on women writers, I knew I had to choose this book as soon as it came out. The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick is the story of a group of women in the 1960s, apparently they "have it all" but in reality they are not happy with their lives, for different reasons. Brought together by a simple book club, they start opening up and talking about their problems, finding friendship, support, their own voice and finally following their own path.

This is not what I would normally read, but I really loved this book. Here's its strengths:
- the four main characters are so well written, easily distinguishable, with different problems and situations to face but sooo relatable;
- they have flaws and make mistakes and proactively work on both;
- even though sexism and misogyny are a big topic in this book, the main theme is female friendship;
- the story is well written and, despite the heavy topics, I found it really enjoyable, made me laugh a few times, it has a positive light and it's relatable in so many ways;
- the book they chose for their book club, the book that makes them question their condition, really exists: The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, published in 1963;
- the ending is so heartwarming <3

Honestly I could keep talking about this book forever, but I'll keep the rest of my opinions for my book club eheh. Really loved this book, 5 stars.

* I'd like to thank Marie Bostwick, HarperCollins Focus and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4.5/5)
The Book Club for Troublesome Women” is a delightful blend of wit, heart, and empowerment. The characters are layered and full of personality, each with her own unique struggles and triumphs. Marie Bostwick captures the power of friendship and the magic of women supporting women in a way that feels both warm and inspiring. Perfect for fans of feel-good fiction with substance, this one had me smiling, tearing up, and cheering them on. Highly recommend for your next book club pick!

Marie Bostwick’s The Book Club for Troublesome Women is one of the best historical fiction releases of the year. From the minute that Margaret knocked on Charlotte’s door and the idea for their book club was born, I became invested in the lives of the four women desperately seeking to be seen and heard in the sixties.

Charlotte is an aspiring artist whose eccentricity is alluring and a bit intimidating to her suburban neighbors. Bitsy dreams of becoming a veterinarian although she has been told by everyone- including her husband- that women can’t practice medicine. Viv has six children and loves her family life but wants to pursue her own career outside of her chaotic home. Margaret is a housewife and a budding writer with a lot to say, but her editor only wants fluff.

The fierce friendship that forms between these strong, compassionate women is unexpected and unforgettable. Thank you to NetGalley for introducing me to the extraordinary writing of Marie Bostwick.

Women of the 60’s really were on the cusp of rights and privileges (and expectations) changing for women. I loved reading about each and every character Bostwick created within this novel. Bostwick is able to write each character with its own unique opinions and individual approach to women’s rights. I loved this novel.

In 1963 suburban Virginia, four women—Margaret, Viv, Bitsy, and newcomer Charlotte—form a book club that begins with *The Feminine Mystique* and sparks a journey of self-discovery and transformation. As they share their frustrations, dreams, and ambitions, the “Bettys” build deep friendships and begin to reimagine their roles beyond the confines of traditional domestic life. Each character is distinct and faces a unique challenge, yet their bonds of friendship endure throughout. Perfect for fans of historical fiction that features strong female characters succeeding in a world where the odds are stacked against them.

2.5 stars. This had such great potential. Surprisingly, a relevant topic still in 2025. I had high hopes for more “troublesome” women up for a fight. I loved Charlotte the most, she had the brave spirit I was looking for. My favorite scene though, was when Bitsy fought for Delilah and showed King who’s boss haha. Other than that, it was excruciatingly long. This could have been at least 100 pages shorter. I much prefer a fast-paced plot-driven novel. The theme was great—girl power, feminism, civil rights—but the execution didn’t work for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4+ ⭐

This book started really slow for me, as do most of the fiction/slice of life stories I decide to read...
And then it became exciting.
And then it made me so angry I had to put it down and swallow the unfairness of it with a couple fluffy romance because I needed it.
And then it made me change my perspective a bit.
And finally it was all those things mixed together in the last 10 chapters or so.

This is an hymn to sisterhood, to equality and to staying strong, beliving in yourself.

The Betties were all amazing, different and unique. Their husbands were... not.
Not all of them. But also it was not as bad nor as good as I once thought regarding those males... 🤔

I'd say everyone should read it, because it will stay with me for a while ❤️

Ⓟⓡⓔ—Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ

This caught my eye as something really worth reading, even if I don't often read historical fiction... 🩷

// Thank you to Netgalley, Marie Bostwick and HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange of my honest opinion //

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is the first book I have read by Marie Bostwick, but it won’t be my last! I really enjoyed this book that tells how life was for women in the early 60’s. Four neighbors form a book club to read Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique. During the course of the book, the women become close friends who encourage each other to live their best lives. Great story about the power of women, despite societal limitations that were placed on them. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the advance digital copy of the book.

The Bookclub for Troublesome Women is an interesting and informative work of historical fiction set in the 1960s about a group of women grappling with the rapid and volatile societal changes that are occurring during this pivotal period in time.

Margaret, Bitsy, and Viv are friends and neighbors in the same affluent suburb of Northern Virginia. They start a bookclub and invite a new neighbor, Charlotte, to join. Charlotte is an artist who marches to the beat of her own drum and eschews being the typical housewife, so she encourages the group to read The Feminine Mystique together. The club decides to call themselves "The Bettys" after the book's author, Betty Friedan, and they begin to realize how misogyny and living within a patriarchal society has impacted each of their lives.

I appreciated the novel's nuanced and realistic portrayal of the constraints of women during that period of history, and many of the themes are still relevant today. Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone who appreciates historical fiction based on true events and enjoys ensemble casts featuring strong female protagonists. I found myself highlighting several quotes and passages, and included one of my favorites below.

"But as I discovered while reading Mrs. Friedan's book, there are countless good and right ways to be a woman and only two wrong. The first is to insist that your way is 'the' way, the only way. The second is to buy into that nonsense and spend your life limping along an aimless path in shoes that will never fit."

Thank you NetGalley & Harper Collins Focus for audiobook and ebook ARCs in exchange for my honest feedback.

3.5 stars
Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was an enjoyable read about the power of friendships women empowerment. There's a lot to this book besides the journey of each main character, there's the backdrop of the political environment of the 1960s and the civil rights movement along with the struggle for women to maintain some type of independence outside of marriage and children. All in all a good read from beginning to end.

At first, I wasn't sure I would like this book. Perhaps because I was only 5 years old in 1963, I didn't feel a connection to the issues the book's characters were going through. However, as I delved into the story, I found it to be an interesting and enjoyable book about four women who not only start a book club but also form a strong friendship that lasts a lifetime. Thanks to the author Marie Bostwick, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Greatly enjoyed this look into four women during 1963 and their book club reading Feminine Mystique.

Maybe it's the silo I live in but while I appreciated this story, I did not think it was very fresh. I think every archetype of woman in the 60s I've heard about or seen in media was represented in the story. Good thing? yes! Unoriginal? Also yes. Overall, the book was a pleasant way to pass time but I don't think it will stay with me. I think feminist stories are needed, don't get me wrong, but I don't know if this is punchy. Is it meant to be a warning for the gen Z trad wife movement? Is it meant to remind us how good we have it? Any woman who says they don't belong in this era is not a friend of mine and this book reminds us of the difficulties and oppression women face that we take for granted now. Writing was alright but sometimes hard to follow who was the focus.

How Books Can Change Your Life and THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN by Marie Bostwick

Margaret never imagined she would become her mother. She’d envisioned an independent and fulfilling life. Yet, at thirty-three, it seemed inevitable for women like her to follow in their mothers' footsteps: caring for husbands and children, sacrificing careers and passions, and placing their desires last.

Everything shifted when Margaret read The Feminine Mystique. The book—an expression of the frustration of a generation of women—lit a fire in her. It was more than a reflection of her struggles; it was a call to action.

Inspired, Margaret began chasing her dream of becoming a writer. She also worked with her husband, a flawed yet loving man, to build a partnership of equals. The book mirrored Margaret’s feelings and ignited the courage for her to say, "I’m a person. I deserve a life."

Books can change our lives.

Bibliotherapy is the practice of reading to support mental health. Fiction helps readers step outside their perspective, experiencing the world as someone else. As readers connect with characters, they recognize themselves in the story. Through empathizing with characters and wanting them to succeed, readers extend that same compassion and hope to themselves.

This process is cathartic. Witnessing a character’s growth boosts a reader’s sense of self-efficacy. Bibliotherapy transforms reading from an escape into a tool for healing.

Here are tools for using books to change your life:

Identify: Find a character you can relate to—someone who shares your struggles, mindset, or aspirations. This connection bridges your experiences and the story.

Experience: While reading, allow yourself to experience the character's emotions, challenges, hopes, growth, and catharsis from a place of safety as an outside reader.

Insight: Seek parallels between the character’s journey and situation and your own. Notice the lessons and strategies they employ, and consider how you can apply these insights to your own life.

Universalize: You’re not alone. There’s a book about someone like you navigating similar struggles. Others have walked this path too. Like the character and countless others, you will find a way to thrive.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women
by Marie Bostwick
Pub Date: Apr 22 2025
This one reminded me of Lessons In Chemistry crossed with Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books. If you like books about books and historical fiction, give this one a try (I swear I wrote down at least 6 others books to read while reading this one....my TBR list is about to explode!)
Set in the 1960s Margaret lives in the perfect neighborhood with the perfect family and perfect neighbors...or at least that how we all think when we look at those blossoming suburbs that we see on TV. But take a look deeper and you'll see a woman who wants more. She's not ungrateful, but she knows she has more to offer this world than to just be the housewife that everyone thinks you must be in that day and age. To connect with other housewives, she decides to form a book club. Sure, they probably won't really read the books, and instead sit around drinking wine and gossiping, but it would be a way to connect with others. And she hungers for more adult connections. When the newest neighbor (a glamorous yet rebellious artist) says she'll join if she gets to pick the first book, Margaret agrees along with the other only two who said they would give it a go.
The first book, the controversial The Feminine Mystique, opens their eyes to what women are capable of and they take its information to heart (at varying degrees). The four become close friends who see each other through heartache, divorce, new jobs, new loves, and most importantly how to do this all while being a woman in a world where women are often second class citizens.
This one, like others historical fiction, sheds a light on how women were (and sometimes still are) seen and treated in our society. Thankful for how far we've come, but we still have a long way to go.
#netgalley
#TheBookClubforTroublesomeWomen
#MarieBostwick

I really enjoy a book where I feel like I’m a minor character in the plot, watching the drama unfold. The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick provided that experience for me, and I’m so grateful. I listened to the audiobook, perfectly narrated by Lisa Flanagan, which increased my connection to this story and its characters.

Any novel with “book club” in the title is an instant win for me, and I loved how four very different women formed lifelong friendships sparked by discussing “The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan. Set in the 1960s, Ms. Bostwick wove events and cultural opinions of the decade into the plot and actions of her heroines. Each main character could be viewed as a caricature representing four scenarios for women of the time, but detailed descriptions of their personalities, choices, and obstacles made them feel like fully-formed people. The novel also had me reflecting on my mother’s experience since she got married and had her children during the 1960s.

With apologies to Marie Bostwick and Kim Michele Richardson, I connected this novel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and its sequel in my mind for quite some time. To clarify, they have no connection except the word Troublesome in their titles. LOL

Thank you to Harper Muse for the review copies of this immersive novel.

Bostwick weaves an inspiring and heartfelt story with The Book Club for Troublesome Women. I didn’t expect this book to resonate with me the way that it did, Mary’s story in particular. The women endure discrimination, condescension, and pushback from every corner. But they form a true sisterhood where they confide with each other and lift each other up. And the way that some of these women finally stick up for themselves and claim back their own life? I couldn’t help but feel emotional as I turned the last page.

'The Book Club for Troublesome Women' by Marie Bostwick follows four women with various wants, needs, and goals, all hampered in one way or another by being a women in the 1960's. Together, they embark on a book club experience which leads them to challenging norms and growing despite societal norms.

I found this book to be very informative, I liked how it incorporated the major events of the time. I did struggle some with pacing, and through no fault of Bostwick's, it was hard for me to read about the rights women lacked in the 1960's, given the current political landscape.

Thank you to Marie Bostwick and Harper Collins Focus for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of 'The Book Club for Troublesome Women.'

This novel about 4 women starting their book club by reading Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystic was an interesting read. I was able to read it thru NetGalley and enjoyed the premise and the writing. I like that it followed the women as they encountered issues trying to make independent decisions and we also got to see the results when they were older.

I really wish I could say I liked this book more than I did. The premise is great-- a perfect antidote to tradwife nonsense --but the story itself is inconsistent, both in terms of pacing and characterization.