Unfortunately this book was just not for me. I was really excited about the premise of four women discovering their paths in life.

However I found it incredibly Preachy. Trying to address all the issues and solve all the world’s problems at once: racism, sexism, financial disparities, generational mentoring, mental health, addictions
While all incredibly important, one issue wasn’t delved into enough to evoke meaning from the reader.

Random historical moments thrown in, but not in enough context or detail to mean anything to the story. A build up of MLK, just for a main character to see her acquaintance on TV. JFK is mentioned because a main character sat in the room with his wife two days prior. These are moments in American history, but they’re just thrown in the book and added almost as an afterthought - lacking the substance for these big experiences.

The four women did not have distinctive personalities . While they all had different lives, their thought processes, reactions and emotions were identical throughout. When one struggled, they all did and it was wrapped up quickly. As were there successes.

I did like the ending, the last 15% had a tempo that felt easier to read through. I’m glad to know how their lives ended up and get a conclusion that they all grew and got what they wanted.

Thank you for the chance to read this book

Rating: 3.5/5
Review of The Book Club for Troublesome Women

I had the opportunity to read a free digital advance review copy of The Book Club for Troublesome Women, provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Set in 1963, shortly after the publication of The Feminine Mystique, this novel follows a group of suburban housewives in Virginia who start a book club, choosing Betty Friedan’s groundbreaking book as their first read. What begins as a simple gathering soon transforms their lives as they grapple with the unsettling truths Friedan presents. Through the perspectives of Margaret, Viv, Bitsy, and Charlotte, Marie Bostwick paints a vivid picture of a society in flux, capturing the deep-seated gender roles and societal expectations of the time.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is how it explores the rigid post-war ideal of the “perfect housewife” and the invisible labor women were expected to perform. Bostwick effectively highlights how consumerism thrived on keeping middle-class women confined to domestic roles, as it ensured the continued demand for household appliances and other domestic products. The book also doesn’t shy away from the stark realities of the time: the lack of financial independence for married women, the struggles of maintaining a career, and the widespread use of prescription drugs to cope with unfulfilling, restrictive lives—an era literally defined by “Mother’s Little Helper.”

Another aspect I appreciated was the novel’s acknowledgment of The Feminine Mystique’s limitations. As Viv points out, Friedan’s arguments primarily resonated with middle-class white women who had choices, while working-class women (and men) often had no choice but to work grueling jobs to support their families. This nuance adds depth to the novel, recognizing that while Friedan’s work was revolutionary, it was not universally applicable.

However, while the book succeeds in its social commentary, the actual plot development leaves something to be desired. For a novel of this length, not much truly happens. There are meaningful moments scattered throughout, but they are interspersed with long, slow sections that lack momentum. Despite the title, I was surprised that we didn’t see much in the way of “troublesome women.” Charlotte is the only character who truly pushes boundaries, and even then, much of her defiance is driven by her daughter’s actions. Margaret and Bitsy, on the other hand, experience change primarily due to their husbands’ decisions, rather than their own agency. This was a little frustrating, given the premise of the book. There’s a great deal of internal struggle, yet too much deference and easy forgiveness when it comes to confronting injustice. Even Walt’s dramatic shift in character felt a bit too convenient.

The first few chapters also felt somewhat clunky, with run-on sentences and overly expository dialogue. Additionally, the formatting of the book was distracting, making it harder to follow perspective shifts between characters. There were a few typos, which, while minor, further detracted from the reading experience.

That said, despite these shortcomings, the novel remains deeply engaging. It’s a celebration of female friendship and resilience, emphasizing the importance of maintaining one’s individuality even in restrictive circumstances. The dynamic between the women is compelling, and their emotional journeys—though sometimes slow—are ultimately rewarding.

While reading, I couldn’t help but be reminded of films like The Women, The Help, Mona Lisa Smile, and Strike! (All I Wanna Do)—stories that explore the evolving roles of women in society and the quiet (or not-so-quiet) ways they challenge the status quo.

Overall, The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a thought-provoking novel with a strong message, even if its execution is not always as dynamic as it could be. Readers interested in feminist history and character-driven storytelling will find much to appreciate, though those looking for a fast-paced, transformative narrative may find it a bit slow.

#TheBookClubforTroublesomeWomen
#NetGalley

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC of this book. The Book Club for Troublesome Women is set in the 1960s, when a group of women began a book club in their neighborhood. The first book they read was Betty Friedan's :The Feminine Mystique." It brought up a lot of feelings in these women and each have their own way of dealing with the changes that were occurring in society. The characters are all wonderful If you loved "Lessons in Chemistry, you will love this book. These women grew and triumphed each in their own way. This will be THE book club selection this year.

What a delightful book; very heartwarming !! A character-rich novel that takes place during the early 60s—what many refer to as “the Golden Age”.

Specifically, this book focuses on the year of 1963. This is the year that four, traditional housewives find each other and form their “Tribe”, all over a very radical and controversial book called, “The Feminine Mystique”, by Betty Friedan.

This story celebrates the bond of women and sisterhood, as four lovely and very well-developed characters who barely know one another, decide to start a bookclub that becomes just what they needed to spark new breath into their lives. The dawn of this bookclub builds to a lifetime of friendships amongst the four, as 1963 unfolds. It is a ballad of devotion to women and their tribes, but does not become annoyingly feminist like so many author’s books seem to be written today. The feminist narrative is subtle and amiable, not bothersome and disturbing. All four protagonists and supporting characters flourish well within the confines of this very important year that is peppered powerfully with rich history. It’s just sooooo good!!! Due to be published for all of us on April 22, 2025–read it.

Thank you to Author, Marie Bostwick, Publisher, Harper Muse, and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this enchanting novel in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are wholly my own. It is available on 4/22/2025.

5.0 stars
HIGHLY recommend

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

This was a fantastic historical fiction novel about March to November 1963. Four women join a book club and become best friends. Unfortunately, real life intrudes and they all experience issues, problems, and hardships along the way, but their friendships hold them up. The four female characters grow, develop, and become stronger because of this intense friendship!

I didn't know much about the 1960s. I was a toddler when this story occurred and a kid for the rest of it. But I must confess that it was an eye-opening book!

The strong writing, character development, and storyline are all top-notch. I'm just grateful to read a historical fiction book NOT about WWII!

If you like historical fiction, STRONG female characters, or want to learn about 1963, read this book!!


Goodreads: - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7430878809 - posted 3/26/2025
StoryGraph: - https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/7defd9d5-9fa9-4913-a5d1-377fb87bfffb?redirect=true - posted 3/26/2025
Booksbydorothea Blog: - https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/03/review-book-club-for-troublesome-women.html - posted 3/26/2025

Hello.

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of this book. I throughly enjoyed it and have attached my review below! I just wanted to mention the cover - it is gorgeous but it uses the same picture as the book 'The First Time Lauren Pailing Died' by Alyson Rudd. You might already know this but I thought it was worth mentioning!

I will post a reel discussing the book on instagram (@what.gem.reads) on 22nd April to coincide with the books release day. I will also discuss the book in March wrap up on YouTube (@gemturley) - this will be out early April.

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

Set in the 1960s, this novel follows four women who come together to form a book club, *The Bettys*, and read *The Feminine Mystique*. This feminist work sparks something in each of them—giving them the courage to question the lives they’ve been told to lead and inspiring them to chase their own ambitions.

Each woman’s life looks different—some have supportive relationships, while others do not—but they all share a desire for more than just serving their husbands. This novel beautifully explores how fulfillment can make someone a better mother, wife, and person, while also challenging the idea that we should settle for someone else’s definition of a “good” life.

Female friendship is at the heart of this book, and that’s one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much. I love stories that highlight the power of women supporting each other, and this novel does it so well. Another thing I appreciated was how distinct the main characters are—I think many readers will find a Betty they relate to, making the book feel deeply personal.

The novel also doesn’t shy away from addressing the flaws of second-wave feminism. It acknowledges that the movement was largely aimed at middle-class white women, and it even touches on how patriarchy affects men—something that wasn’t widely discussed at the time but is an important conversation to have.

*The Book Club for Troublesome Women* left me feeling inspired. It reminded me to be grateful for the opportunities I have today, but also that it’s up to me to be an active participant in my own life. Women before me have opened doors, but I need to step through them. Whenever I feel doubt creeping in, I’ll think of *The Bettys*.

Finally, I love how this book highlights the power of literature—how a single book can spark change, start conversations, and transform lives.

⭐ 4.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus/Harper Muse for the ARC. This was a great story about building friendships and was well written but for my taste it was a bit slow. I really wanted to love this book but it just didn’t grab me as I wanted. I’m sure others will enjoy it…perhaps it was just the wrong time to read it.

I love reading historical fiction set in the 1960's. This book hit the mark for me and I found it deeply moving. The female friendships and self discovery were superbly written.

The story centers around four women - Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy and Viv (such southern names) who come together to form a book club. The club ends up becoming a catalyst for their own personal transformations.

I really enjoyed how each character is richly developed and grapples with their own issues. The camaraderie among them is beautifully portrayed.

If you are looking for a book that celebrates resilience, the search for identity with the power of literacy and friendship, I highly recommend this book. It's a very uplifting read.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick is an uplifting and heartwarming novel that centers around a group of women who find themselves in a book club despite their better judgements. Each woman brings her unique story and struggles, but through their shared love of reading and mutual support, they find strength and healing. Bostwick’s writing is both poignant and humorous, creating a compelling narrative about friendship, resilience, and personal growth. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a heartfelt and inspiring ode to the strength of women and the bonds that hold them together. It introduces readers to a diverse group of women, each navigating life’s challenges—some more daunting than others. These women find solace, courage, and unexpected friendships through their shared love of books and their decision to form a book club. What makes this story so touching is its honesty about struggles: grief, fear, reinvention, and hope. Bostwick writes with warmth and sensitivity, creating characters that feel like people you’d want to know. Their individual journeys intertwine beautifully, showing how women supporting each other can create space for healing, growth, and transformation. It’s not just about the books they read—it’s about the conversations they have, the laughter they share, and the strength they lend one another as they face the messy, beautiful realities of life. By the end, you’re reminded of the power of community and the beauty of finding your tribe.

“‘What?’ He shouted. ‘What can you possibly want that we don’t already have? What?’ There was a pause, then the sound of a sob, choked with confusion and shame. ‘I don’t know. I don’t know. Just…more.’” - Ruth, Margaret’s mother, The Bookclub for Troublesome Women

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is the fascinating story of four women who form a book club based off the novel The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan which was an actual (and for some controversial) book published at the time this story takes place. The novel is set in the outskirts of the Georgetown/D.C. area. The bookclub members are Margaret, Charlotte, Viv, and Bitsy and the story explores the struggles and celebrations each woman confronts over the course of nine months in 1963.

All four women are married and three are mothers. Margaret begins a part-time job as a writer of lighthearted stories for a popular women’s magazine, Charlotte is striving to be an artist, Viv is a part-time nurse and Bitsy works as a stable hand. All four women face challenges with relationships, finances and careers. Friedan’s novel, a proclamation about being a woman and the unspoken feeling of wanting of more in their lives spurs these characters to reflect on what it means to themselves and, eventually, to the people around them.


I highly enjoyed this book. Marie Bostwick intertwines true historical events with the plot which emphasizes the importance of the challenges the women addressed.. The four women have very distinct personalities and compulsive narratives. I found myself very engaged and eager to find time to sit and read this book.


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

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick is an inspiring novel set in the 1960s, where a group of women in a small American suburb of identical houses, form a book club to confront their personal challenges and the gender inequalities they face. In an era when women's voices were often silenced and their roles confined to traditional expectations, the characters struggle with issues like marital expectations, career limitations, and societal judgments.

As the women bond over literature, they begin to support one another in breaking free from these constraints, finding strength and empowerment through their shared experiences. Bostwick’s writing delves into the emotional impact of these gendered obstacles, while celebrating the transformative power of friendship, literature, and self-discovery. It’s a moving, heartwarming story that highlights how these women navigate and resist the social norms of the 1960s to create their own paths.

This was really good! Litfic isn't my typical genre but I am glad that I picked this one up. I thought this was incredibly well done, the characters and the plot kept me invested and I was honestly gripping my chair to see what happened next.

Winner: Marie Bostwick's The Book Club for Troublesome Women is the best book I've read this year. Four newly suburban women choose The Feminine Mystique as their first book, not knowing how life changing reading it will be. With humor and compassion, Bostwick portrays the challenges women faced trying to be more than housewives and mothers in post WW2, supporting each other through life crises, as well as celebrating each other. As a Baby Boomer, I benefitted from the convictions and commitments of women like these who fought for more.

a book about housewives in the sixties forming a book club and reading a book about women which in turn challenges their roles as such. obviously i had to pick this one up

set in the sixties, the book club for troublesome women follows four suburban women living the lives expected of them. but as they dive into "the feminine mystique", they start to challenge those roles and question everything. this was a good look at the limits placed on women at the time. i appreciated how the book tackled these themes while also acknowledging that friedan’s work mainly applied to a specific class of women.

that being said, i wanted more from the actual story. it felt one dimensional at times and the pacing wasn’t my favorite. i did love the themes of friendship and growth but i still found myself waiting for a bigger shift in the characters. overall though it’s still a solid read.

definitely a good pick for book clubs!

thanks netgalley for the ARC <3

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

I DNF this book, I just couldn’t get into the story. Too slow moving for me. I have tried to read it two different times. Therefore, I will let other reviewers who enjoy this book promote it, so I will not be posting on social media or reviews on retail sites. That way, this book gets much deserved attention from those reviewers who loved it!

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick is an engaging and thought-provoking novel that beautifully captures the complexities of women's lives in 1963. This book doesn’t just skim the surface of history—it dives into the societal and familial challenges that women faced and how some found the strength to push back against the constraints placed upon them.

One of the things I loved most about this novel was how layered the women’s stories were. Each character had her own struggles, yet their journeys intertwined in a way that felt natural and real. Bostwick does an excellent job of showing how expectations were placed on women—not just by men, but sometimes by other women too.

Bostwick also does an incredible job of highlighting the small but significant obstacles women faced—things like opening a bank account or getting birth control without a husband's permission. These everyday struggles may seem shocking to modern readers, but they were very real in 1963, and in some ways, women are still fighting for true equality today.

What really made this book stand out for me was how much I recognized these women. We all know them—they are our mothers, our grandmothers, and for some readers, maybe even great-grandmothers. Their struggles, their resilience, their desire for more while still loving their families—it all felt so authentic. The book club and their reading of The Feminine Mystique weren’t just plot points; they were catalysts for reflection, making each woman reassess what she wanted for herself, not just what society dictated.

I have not read other books by Marie Bostwick, but I will be adding some of her other titles to my TBR List. I highly recommend The Book Club for Troublesome Women to historical fiction lovers, readers who enjoy books about books or book clubs, and those interested in feminism and women's rights. This is a great novel filled with rich, character-driven stories that explore how people navigate societal expectations. Lisa Flanagan, the audio version's narrator, was terrific. She did an excellent job with all the characters' voices, bringing their words to life. I truly loved this book, and I learned so much from it.

Thank you to HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse and NetGalley for the privilege of being able to listen and read along with the printed copy. The book is due to be released on April 22, 2025.

This book was such a great novel for women supporting women! These women are each others support system proving that you don't need anyone but your friends. It also shows that the American dream is not everything that people think it is but they learn to form strong bonds with others to be a strong support system!

Marie Bostwick’s The Bookclub for Troublesome Women is a heartfelt tribute to the quiet rebellions of women and the transformative power of friendship. Set in a 1960s suburb where conformity reigns, four seemingly "perfect" housewives—Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv—find solace and strength in their clandestine book club. As they dissect The Feminine Mystique and share their own stifled dreams, their bond becomes a lifeline, pushing each to confront the gap between societal expectations and their hidden desires. Bostwick crafts these women with such warmth and authenticity that their struggles feel deeply personal, and their triumphs left me cheering.

What resonated most was the novel’s exploration of labels—how "troublesome" often just means "unwilling to settle." The Bettys’ journey—from polite discussion to bold self-discovery—is a testament to how books and sisterhood can ignite change. While the pacing slows slightly in the final act, the emotional payoff is deeply satisfying. For anyone who’s ever felt out of place in the role they’re expected to play, this story is a gentle nudge to keep turning the page toward the life you truly want.

Margaret, Viv, Charlotte and Bitsy form a book club. This was a book club that brought them together for more than just discussing books. They are friends but each gives the time together a different look on life. The story made me stop and think about what they were doing and saying. There were times while I was reading it slowed down a bit and I had to just keep reading.
This is a book that will be selected by many book clubs to read.
Thank you NetGalley, Marie Bostwick and HarperCollins Focus for the copy of The Book Club for Troublesome Women. This is my personal honest review.