It's the sixties , four woman form a bookclub and from there they grow into the women they are meant to be , rather going to school, writing or nursing these women define the era of women changing for the better . Great read !

Engaging book that kept me interested the entire time. It made me feel privileged to be a woman in the present day with choices on career and family…I can’t believe how far women’s rights have come since the 60’s. This book really highlights the power of having a great group of friends who are there for you through thick and thin. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun read with a great group of characters. It follows a quartet of four sixties housewives who accidentally form a book club. They end up being close friends who support each other through all kinds of problems that come up. I really enjoyed this book a lot. I will look for more by this author.

From the opening scene of the book. I felt immersed in the spirit of the 60's. I loved the character driven story and felt at home with these women. It was very much a "You CAN sit with us" vibe.

We meet 4 housewives in a new Virginia suburb called Concordia - Margaret, Viv, Charlotte & Bitsy. They start a bookclub and their first book - The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan - becomes the catalyst for change in each of their lives. Margaret starts writing a column for a magazine, Viv goes back to nursing, & Charlotte & Bitsy stand up for themselves against their husbands.

Some of the things these women go through, from needing a husband's authorization to get birth control or open a bank account, to being talked down to because they are a woman, to having your husband disrespect you in public to name a few made me seethe. I am incredibly thankful to live in this era. I'm also incredibly thankful for women like these that paved the way.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Marie Bostwick, Harper Muse & NetGalley for the ARC. I can't wait to add this treasured read to my bookshelves.

It's the 1960s and a group of suburban women are starting a book club, the first book being the Feminist Mystique by Betty Friedan. The book, as well as their discussions open their eyes to the inequities that they had already been stewing about and this new forum allows the women to open up to each other in ways that they may not have felt comfortable with before. Each woman has a story and a journey and the book club becomes a sanctuary for them, and the women their sisters in the struggle.

I really enjoyed both listening and reading this novel. I know history and the issues women have had with lack of freedom and autonomy in the past (and ahem, now as well) however this novel brought those issues to the surface through the characters’ struggles and it didn’t feel overdone at all. I would have thought (or hoped) that by 2025 these issues wouldn't exist, but unfortunately that is not the case. The women in this novel are each dealing with hurdles keeping them from attaining their dreams and it's due to their gender and how society and the men who hold the power control them. I thought this was a creative way to tell that story, remind us that the fight isn't over while creating a wonderful plot line with characters that I would gladly welcome into my book club. The audiobook narrator was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this one (I read about 1/3 and listened to the rest because I found the audiobook so good).

4.25 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC to review

The Book Club for Troublesome Women far exceeded my expectations. Fans of "The Help", "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood", or the show "Mad Men" will delight in this period piece. Set in the early 1960s among tidal waves of political and civil change, four housewives with varied personalities gather to discuss "The Feminine Mystique". We see strong character development as they lean into themselves and away from the trajectory society would have them take. I felt numerous emotions as I read this book, and I learned from it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Muse and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Really enjoyed this read!
It was empowering and feminine without being cheesy or corny. I found myself rooting for the characters and enjoyed their character arcs. Would recommend!

I love a book about books and about book clubs and this one did not disappoint!

It is a story set in the 1960s and is about female friendships and empowerment. The right friends are always going to support your empowered self!!

The characters in this book are really well written - I understand the 1960s through their eyes - their challenges and their hopes/dreams. As book lovers - we understand as these women come to find out that books can change our perspective and sometimes our lives.

I listened and read this book at the same time - I recommend both - the narrator Lisa Flanagan truly brought this story to life!

I received an ebook ARC of this book, and I had the pleasure of listening to an early audiobook copy (thank you, Net Galley and HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse).

Four dissatisfied housewives in the 60s start a book club that ends up becoming life changing for these friends.

This story was so impactful for me. As a stay at home mom and housewife myself, I felt a sense of connection to these women and their story. While times are different for women than they were in the 60s, we still have a long way to go. This story opened my eyes to a lot. This book grips you from the start. This is a book I think every woman should read it’s perfect for book clubs and can open up some deep discussions.

Thank you so much Netgally for my early copy!

I have been looking forward to reading this book. The title had me at “book club”. I have been a member of the same book club for 25 years. In The Book Club For Troublesome Women we follow four suburban housewives living in an exclusive community in Virginia during the 1960s. Margaret starts a book which includes Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv and their first book is “The Feminine Mystique”. At the time, The Feminine Mystique was a very controversial book. Reading the book and sharing their thoughts make them long for more than their “perfect housewives” lives. I enjoyed the friendship of the women as they navigated life in a society that is structured to define and limit their roles.

If you liked Lessons in Chemistry and The Woman, you will like this book.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley, the author and the publisher, Harper Muse. My review is my honest opinion of the book.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick
Publishing date - 04/22/25
Rating (4/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley For this eARC. Loved the characters and the plot! If you enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry and have enjoyed any books by Kristin Hannah ; you will love this one.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Muse and Marie Bostwick for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of The Book Club for Troublesome Women.
A trip back to the 1960’s with four dissatisfied housewives who form a book club and who find strength and power in sisterhood. Their first book, The Feminine Mystique, is groundbreaking to an entire generation of women. Each woman is unique with her own set of difficulties from pregnancy to entering the workforce . Through their common ground of a book they grow and become confident while realizing by helping each other they gain strength and power. I was very young at this time but remember the controversy of women’s rights. Every woman should read this to realize how far we have come and to keep pushing for equality as our priorities seem to be shifting in our changing world.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women was a very enjoyable read with fun character’s. I learned a lot about the time frame it took place in the 1960’s. How the women’s place was in the home taking care of the kids, while the man place is to go to work.I loved how the women who created the book club read books about strong minded women and how the books impacted their lives. There were four women in the group and they each had their own situations going on ……..family, relationships, marriage and friendship drama. It was fun seeing how the author brought them together to be there for one another even in the hard times. I highly recommend this book for a book club read!

In 1963 suburbia, four housewives - Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv - form a book club to discuss The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. The book makes them question the social norms of women. Why are women taught that being a wife and mother is the only acceptable position? Why can't women contribute more through work? In a "man's world," how can women use their talents to add to society? These questions are what spur the Bettys, the members of the book club, to examine their dreams in life and drive decisions about how to achieve those dreams.

I really loved this book. I loved how we got to know the characters to intimately. All four women were very different in their hopes for the future, but they all shared the desire to do more, to give more, to be more. I related to the characters, not so much in their fight for basic women's rights, but in their reliance on each other as best friends who stand by one another. There are times in my life that I relied on my friends, just as the friends did in the book.

There were places in the book that were slow, and I think the author could have done a better job moving the story along, but overall, this book is really well done. I was anxious to see what good things the women would do, and happy with the way the book showed how the women fought for their dreams and the success they realized.

4.5 ⭐s from me!

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of this novel. It is scheduled to be published on May 23, 2025.

4/5 - I thoroughly enjoyed this story, about 4 friends in suburban DC in the 1960s who read The Feminine Mystique and start a feminist book club, “The Bettys”. I’m a sucker for a good historical fiction novel and the Women’s Studies major in me knew I’d connect with this one. I found myself feeling frustrated right along with The Bettys, loathing the status quo of the time, and seeing how while so much has changed, a lot also hasn’t. I loved the alternating perspectives, the inclusion of so many relevant historical events and figures, and the overarching themes of friendship, independence, and self growth.

Thank you to @netgalley, Harper Muse and Marie Bostwick for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 rounded up to a 4.

I wanted to love this book more than I did. The premise is one I can get behind - starting a book club around The Feminine Mystique - however, there was a lot of suspending belief with some of the characters. Several of the scenarios were just too good to be true. And while the book touched on difficult topics, it all tied into almost too nice of a bow at the end.

But with all that said, the main female characters were incredibly lovable, and I wanted nothing but good things for them.

4⭐️

Curlers in, coffee poured, and one radical book in hand. Four friends are about to turn the '60s upside down.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick follows four suburban housewives, Margaret, Viv, Bitsy, and Charlotte, who start a book club to read The Feminine Mystique and begin questioning their traditional roles. As their friendship deepens, each woman is pushed toward self-discovery, empowerment, and the courage to face personal struggles in a rapidly changing world.

This novel challenged me in the best way as it wasn’t my usual escapist fantasy, but something that kept me grounded in real life. As a homemaker in the modern world, I felt my life was being mirrored to me in this historical fiction novel more than I expected. I would liken myself to a Margaret, homemaker and writer alike. If I lived in 1963 Concordia, I would have been a Betty. I connected with each of the four women for different reasons. But most importantly, I deeply resonated with the thoughts and feelings they all had of wanting more while still being grateful for all they had.

This book was an excellent reminder to remember our individual dreams and to find time to achieve them even if it takes a little while. For me, it’s my “jobette” as a book reviewer and hoping it can turn into something more professional as it did for Margaret and her article writing. Her boldness and ability to balance all her responsibilities, personal and professional, was inspiring to me to press forth with achieving my personal goals.

I’d recommend this book to traditional wives and stay at home moms of the modern era as a reminder to not lose ourselves as we do our primary jobs. Our identity doesn’t stop there and it is healthy to want “more”, whatever that may mean for you. I hope we can all make Aunt Betty proud!

Content Warnings: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Infertility, Suicide, Infidelity

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for this complimentary ARC ebook copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It is 1960, and Margaret Ryan seems to have it all. But the house, husband, three kids, and prestigious neighborhood don't feel like enough for her or her friends Viv and Bitsy. Margaret decides to start a book club as an excuse to meet their newest neighbor, Charlotte, and soon they discover that they want more from the life they have been told is the American dream.

Why Jackie loves it

I could not wait to read this book and it did not disappoint me. I loved the relationship between the women and I love the fact that their relationship starts with a book club. It is uplifting to see positive and supportive female relationships. I have been loving historical fiction novels this year and this one is a must-read. The audiobook version of this book was a delight to listen to #gifted

I received an E-arc of this book by Harper Collins in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick is set in 1960s American suburbia, and follows a group of women as they start a book club. The first book they choose is The Feminine Mystique and as they read and discuss it, they find themselves questioning their role as a woman within the patriarchal system. Filled with moments of laughter, heartache and retrospection, this book was extremely enjoyable and a quick read that got me through a long layover.

I was hesitant at first to start this book, it’s always difficult to find the right nuance between a woman pursuing a career or their own independence while also having a family and still wanting those “traditional” aspects of life. Feminism is not just choosing one path over the other, but the ability to choose every and any path you’d like. Marie Bostwick manages to juggle this very well, with each of her characters going on their own personal journey of discovery and their stories highlight just a few of the different ways of being a woman.

My only real complaint to the novel, was the lack of real adversity faced by these women. Now while this is only one story, one version of what it was like as a woman in the 1960s discovering feminism, it does feel just too easy at times. And while this may have been a purposeful choice, I feel as though it lets the story down. This isn’t a new story and in our current political climate, where women’s rights are once again at the forefront of discussion, we need to be saying something more. The running theme of this book is that “books change lives” and while I agree with its statement I feel as though its execution was just lacklustre.

Overall an enjoyable read that I think everyone will enjoy, but isn’t groundbreaking by any means.

3.5/5 stars.

I don't read (and enjoy) a lot of historical fiction but this cover and the description caught my eye and I'm so glad it did.

This one’s for the girls. The messy ones. The brilliant, burned-out, sleep-deprived, heartbroken, too-much ones. The ones who rage quietly (or loudly) against the systems that keep promising freedom, then handing out consequences instead. The ones who’ve walked away from careers, countries, relationships, because they knew deep down they were meant for something more—even if they couldn’t name it yet.

It’s a blueprint for defiance, for community, for what happens when smart women stop trying to play nice and start building something of their own. It’s political without preaching, feminist without flattening its characters into slogans. It’s funny, tender, blistering—and sometimes, in the best way, a little bit messy. Like all the best conversations between women.

By the end, I wanted to call every woman I love and ask, What kind of world could we build if we stopped asking for permission?

5/5 for the sisterhood, the sharp wit, and the reminder that being “troublesome” might just be the most powerful thing we can be.

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