While I enjoyed myself reading this historical novel about four different women discovering their path in life, I wasn't blown away. It's jarring to read about this period in time, following these housewives. I mean it's an interesting time period, rife with sexism and inequality.

I feel like this tried to touch on so much, it wasn't able to delve deeper into certain themes. For example, I would have loved to see more about Martin Luther King Jr. We kind of get a mention, a build up, only for one of our MCs to see a friend on TV at one of his speeches. We're also right there, in the time period of JFK's assassination. Yes, one of our MCs met the First Lady just two days before the event, but that's it. I get that the author couldn't not mention these very important recognisable historical facts, but it kind of reads like they were put in there as an afterthought. The book also actually points its lack of intersectionality once or twice, but doesn't really do anything with it after.

In short: the writing was good and the characters and topics were interesting, but I wanted a little bit more from this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in the 1960s, this book follows a group of housewives living in a small town who come together when they form a book club. I found this relatable with a lot of parallels to women's lives today who also struggle with trying to balance marriage, motherhood and their own dreams.

The first book the women choose is Betty Friedan's classic, The feminine mystique, which was a new release at the time and quite controversial. Okay on audio read by Lisa Flanagan, I did wish that there had been a full cast of narrators to help distinguish each of the main characters better for listeners.

Recommended for fans of books like The Martha's Vineyard beach and book club by Martha Hall Kelly. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Four Virginia suburban neighbors join in a book club to discuss Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique and become “The Betty’s”. They reveal their real lives behind the suburban 1960’s housewife masks and grow to a tight unit that supports each other through struggles. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for this advanced copy for an honest review.

It’s the 1960s, and although Margaret has a husband, three kids, friends and a home in an exclusive suburb, she doesn’t think it’s enough. There has to be more to life than this, but she can’t figure out what. When she meets an intriguing new neighbor, she forms a book group and invites Charlotte, and two neighbors, Bitsy and Viv, to join. The first book they read is The Feminine Mystique, by Betty Friedan… and life will never be the same for any of them.

Maybe because when my kids were small, I struggled to find meaning in being a stay-at-home mom (although I dearly loved being able to stay at home with them!), but this book really struck a chord with me. I could easily put myself in the shoes of these women, but I think I identified most with Margaret. The women’s attempts to establish even a bit of independence was met with varying degrees of disgruntlement by their husbands, which is to be expected when suddenly their wives are unhappy with what should be “enough.” I cheered the women on and cried with them at the life-changing events that some of them faced.

Once again, this author has proven why she is one of my must-read authors. Her characters are real people, their situations are realistic, but mostly, their friendships are important, sometimes even lifelines… just life in real life. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next, and only regret that it will be another year or so before that happens.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Concordia, one of Northern Virginia's most exclusive and picturesque suburbs. is home to Margaret Ryan. By 1960's standards, Margaret is living the American dream - she has a husband, 3 children, a station wagon and a beautiful home. So what if they can't afford to furnish it, or if she is feeling a bit....unfulfilled. Then Margaret meets Charlotte Gustafson; her new neighbor is everything she is not - glamorous, exciting, interesting. On impulse, Margaret concocts a book club get-together and invites Charlotte to join. She agrees, as long as she gets to pick the book - the controversial bestseller The Feminine Mystique, Margaret, Charlotte, and two other neighborhood women--Bitsy and Viv, meet and enjoy good food, conversation, and then as she cocktails begin to hit, they begin to share secrets as well. Each woman is feeling unfulfilled in their marriage in some way, and this book, along with this group of women, is the key to helping them change their destinies. Nicknaming themselves the Bettys, after the book's author Betty Friedan, these four friends have no idea their impromptu club and the books they read together will become the glue that helps them hold fast through tears, triumphs, angst, and arguments--and what will prove to be the most consequential and freeing year of their lives.

This book was so good. This book took place before I was born, and I am so glad that things had changed by the time I had grown up and gotten married. The thought of having to get my husband's permission & signature in order to open a bank account or get birth control pills seems ludicrous. However, if things keep heading in the same trajectory as they are today, we may be back there all over again. I absolutely adored each one of these women. They all felt so real, everything about the book seemed real, like I was watching it all unfold. If you love historical fiction, then this needs to be at the top of your TBR pile. You are going to love it!

A book club is formed by four suburban women in the 1960’s. The connect and become close friends after reading their first book, The Feminine Mystique by Betty Freidan. This book is life changing for each of them in different ways. They support one another and their individual growth as they become empowered, finding that they can have more options as women. It’s easy to understand the characters in this time period. As historical fiction, many events of the time period are woven into the story. It sure made me recognize how lucky I was to grow up about twenty years after these woman did and have so many more opportunities. I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about the challenging lives of women during this time period. Thanks for an advanced reader's copy of this book.

Right away you fall in love with the women characters in this book. There is Margaret who is married to Walt and is a writer. There is Viv who is married to the dreamy Tony and is a nurse. There is Bitsy who dreams of being a horse vet. Then along comes Charlotte with her fashionable outfits and who smokes like a chimney and thinks she is an artist. The time is the 1960's when women could not get birth control or open a bank account without a signature from their husband. You think these women have it all. But do they really. You find out that they are very unfulfilled in their lives. Margaret has read Betty Friedan's book The Feminine Mystique and she wants to talk about it. She starts a book club with her four friends. They call themselves The Betty's. It is a great group where they come together, drink together, smoke together, discuss the book among other things. They build beautiful friendships that will last a lifetime. But the one thing they have more in common is their feeling of not being good enough. Of being, less and they want to be more. The author goes into the struggles these women faced in the 60's. They were supposed to have dinner on the table at a certain time, the kids in bed, breakfast on the table. The cooking and cleaning and sewing and taking care of the house. But they wanted a job that they could relate to and help with family finance. They wanted more. This is a great book. Most of it is in the 60's but the end takes us farther into the future. It does get a little slow at times but because you love the characters it really doesn't matter. Things happen, some good, some not so good but in the end it is a great nostalgic read.
Thanks to #netgalley, #harpermuse and @mariebostwick for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a thought provoking glimpse into the life of women in the 1960s, but more specifically traditional housewives. As these four women come together to dive into what was a controversial book, they form life long friendships and urges each other towards breaking the molds they’ve been told their whole lives to live within.

I found this story fascinating and eye opening to the ways of cultural norms in the 1960s. Their friendships were honest, supportive and I loved the way the characters challenged one another. That said, I was still left wanting a little more from the characters in their development. It felt a bit inconsistent in the characterization and I felt Charlotte was the only one that really pushed the boundaries.

I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and if you are curious about the trad wife, their lives in the 1960s or just an inspiring story about the power of female friendships, this would be a great read for you!

I loved many aspects of this book. I think what will stay with me is the character building. Each woman and her family were incredibly nuanced. I appreciated Bostwick gave different views on marriages in the 1960s. As a bookworm, I loved reading about what the women were reading. It made me want to read all the same books. Overall, it was an enthralling read.

This book was extraordinarily healing for myself and I really enjoyed it. The Book Club For Troublesome Women in my eyes, is an ode to femininity and the bonds of female friendship. This book highlighted what resistance looked like for women in the 1960's, and how women during this time needed to quietly pave the way to challenge such shackling norms, as well as their own comfort zones. It was never easy, but fierce nonetheless. The tale is set when a group of women expected to conform to such societal expectations go against the grain and create a book club. The tale slowly unfolds, and you begin to love each of the women, championing them for their life choices and their decisions.

The characters are richly drawn—flawed, funny, and fiercely human. Maggie, Beth, Sarah, Connie and Amber in the tale have differential circumstances, but as they invest time to get to know one another, their bonds strengthen and they help one another, becoming each others family. With just one conversation and the power of words, the women created a support system which healed and shielded them from their life's woes. This book for me is a celebration of women being true to their nature- bold, courageous and loving. Cradled by banned books, the characters highlight that even in silence and restriction, people can find their voices—even when the world tells them not to.

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

3.5 Stars

In 1963 in an exclusive suburb in Northern Virginia, four women (Margaret, Viv, Bitsy, and Charlotte) come together to form a book club. They name themselves The Bettys, after the author of the first book they read: The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. As they read and bond together, they embark on journeys of self-discovery and each emerges transformed.

The women are all married but their home lives differ. Nonetheless they all struggle with a feeling of dissatisfaction; they all want more from their lives, finding that the lives they are leading and have been told to strive for as American women are not fulfilling. The traditional roles imposed on them are limiting and do not take into account personal hopes and ambitions.

The novel is well-intentioned, but it lacks subtlety. Charlotte describes The Feminine Mystique as “’a treatise on the conditions and suffocating boundaries of American womanhood.’” At times this novel feels like that – a treatise. The author crams so much information: for instance, we learn about how women cannot open a bank account or be prescribed birth control pills without a husband’s permission, how women “are denied the chance to pursue certain professions because it’s assumed they’ll quit after marriage,’” and how men’s control of a family’s finances can leave women vulnerable should a husband die. We are told that certain traits in a woman are dangerous: “’intelligence, stubbornness, creativity, and drive – are really neuroses that make her sick and unfeminine, even unlovable.’” It feels as if the author felt compelled to mention every obstacle and judgment women faced.

It’s obvious that the author did considerable research and that is commendable. But, again, it seems as if she wanted to mention every detail: the food and drinks and clothing styles popular at the time. Is it necessary to mention that “Bitsy ordered a strawberry shake, Margaret a cherry cola, Viv a banana split,” that one woman wore “a cream-colored skirt of wool and silk and a matching jacket with navy-blue trim,” and that another woman wore “a green bouclé knit suit with a pencil skirt, asymmetrical collar, and oversized buttons aligned on the left side”? I get the desire to add local colour, but . . . On the other hand, I did like the appearance of actual historical people and the references to current events.

Besides detailing the obstacles faced by women, the book also examines the power and joy of female friendships. It is the support that the women give each other that helps them overcome their fears. “’Why do you think [men] join all those clubs – the Elks? The VFW? The Masons? Congress? . . . To support one another, that’s why. Why do you think they call them booster clubs? Because they’re trying to boost each other over the wall or bend the rules in their favor, help the group. If women stuck up for one another the way men do, this would be a very different world.’”

Generally men do not fare well. There are a couple of good guys, but many are sexists, hypocrites and manipulators. What is concerning is the lack of redeeming qualities in the men like Howard, Dr. Barry, and G.G. (How is it that Charlotte, a married woman in 1963, uses her maiden name?)

I found the plot predictable, and those who enjoy a warm and fuzzy ending will definitely find it here. The book brought to mind Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, another book with a positive message about female empowerment also delivered in a heavy-handed fashion. Though slow paced at times, the book is entertaining enough but its tone feels didactic and its style, forced.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Thank you to @Harpermusebooks and @netgalley for the ARC of The Book Club for Troublesome Women in exchange for feedback.
The book is set in the 60s in the small town of Concordia, where 4 women friends form a book club.
The first book they choose to read is The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, the controversial book that gave voice to what women were feeling in the early 60s. Women could not open a bank account or get on birth control without the signature of their husband!
The book group consists of Margaret, a want-to-be writer, Bitsy, a horse caregiver, Charlotte, an eccentric want-to-be artist, and Viv, a nurse with six children. They each want to do something worthwhile but must navigate society and their family responsibilities.
The book is historical fiction, I like how the author weaves in real life characters like Jackie Kennedy and Katherine Graham. I found myself cheering for each of the ladies, Bostwick was able to develop the characters over the course of the book in a way that the reader could understand the times they lived.
I would recommend the book, actually the July pick for book group I am in.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women hooked me in right from the start. A small group of suburban housewives being radicalized by reading The Feminine Mystique for their new book club was such a fun concept, and the author did really well with it. My expectations for the most part were pretty well met, and in some areas, it even surpassed my expectations.

I went into this fully understanding it was going to be focused on the struggles of middle class suburban straight white housewives in America in the 1960s. I didn't expect the book to touch on women of color and queer women of the time. Of queer women, there wasn't anything present, but they did manage to touch on race and how much more difficult it was for black women and other women of color to succeed. It was nice that the white women the book focused on were able to acknowledge that.

I enjoyed how each of the four main women, as well as Denise, the daughter of Charlotte, was able to break away from their stereotypical gender roles and were able to succeed in their lives by the end of it. Each of them had their own goals in life and all felt trapped in some way, but by the end they each got to where they wanted to.

I also quite enjoyed how the novel showed how men sometimes were negatively effected by the strict roles placed on people in the time. This was mostly shown through Walt, Margaret's husband, and by the end he too was able to break out of that. Other men, however, are just plain douchebags, such as Bitsy and Charlotte's husbands.

The reason I wasn't quite able to give this a full five stars was that at times it felt a bit preachy. The novel sometimes was telling the reader something instead of letting them pick up on it themselves through the text. I felt this was especially evident through the passages where race is the main topic. It wasn't written in as naturally as it could have been. There were also moments that felt a bit cheesy, which isn't necessarily bad, and I do love my cheesy books sometimes, but here it could feel a bit out of place at times, so I thought I might mention that as well.

Overall, this was such a fun read. I'll definitely be looking out for other works by this author in the future. I've already been recommending this book to several patrons at the library, even when I still had quite a bit of it left to go through. Many of them have already been placing holds on the copy we have on order, and I believe that this book 100% deserves all that attention.

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

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Muse for the chance to read an ARC of The book club for Troublesome women by Marie Bostwick. I love historical fiction especially if it involves books, libraries and strong-willed women and this hit the mark! I couldn't put it down, and highly recommend this to everyone!!! Four women are drawn together to form a book club, after reading The feminine mystique by Betty Friedan, suggested by newcomer Charlotte. At the beginning, Viv, and Bitsy are reluctant to read it, but Margaret embraces the book, and discussing it draws Viv, and Bitsy in. Not only does the book bring the women together, the Betty's as they called themselves, changed their view of the world, themselves and inspired other women to change their lives!

When you think of the 60s, you might think of civil rights marches, the summer of love or the Vietnam War. Before those events, there were the early 60s. Women could not open a checking account or get birth control without their husband’s signature. Women were expected to stay home, raise children, do laundry and have dinner waiting for their husband. Margaret Ryan thinks she is different. So do her friends Charlotte, Bitsy and Viv. Actually, they are not all that different. They have ideas and ambitions beyond what seems to be expected of them. Margaret wants to be a writer. When she takes a job writing a “housewife humor” column for a magazine, she is successful but columns about more serious subjects are not accepted. Viv was an army nurse and is now the mother of six, soon to be seven. Bitsy couldn’t get references to Veterinary School because she is female. And Charlotte? Charlotte longs to be an artist but has been held back by her husband and parents. We follow these four women as they meet monthly for their book club called “The Bettys” after Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique, a book championing women’s rights. Through their discussions and friendships, with chapters describing their lives, we see the women change and achieve meaningful careers.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women provides a look at the early days of the women’s liberation movement. It is compelling, hard to put down and disturbing because it is true. While all the characters are sympathetic, my favorite is Viv because of this thought provoking comment. “ You and I work because we want to, because we love it. But so many…work jobs they hate because they have to. They’d give anything to have what we have, the choice to stay home and take care of their kids.” Mare Bostwick has delivered a novel that will stay with you long after you have finished the final pages. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Focus and Marie Bostwick for this ARC.

I’ve been telling everyone to read this book. It’s historical fiction set in 1963 in an early planned community not far from Washington, DC.

Four women that live in the neighborhood form a book club and the first book they read is
THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE by Betty Friedan. THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE captured the frustration (such as a married woman unable to open her own bank account without her husband’s signature) that the 4 women in this book are feeling.

I loved each of the four main characters in this book. Each woman is different. They are going through different things, but they begin to stand together to support and nurture each other’s dreams.

This is such a great book for discussion. Even if historical fiction isn’t your normal genre, I think it’s an important book for women to see exactly how life was for a woman that would be your parents or grandparents age.

I also at least want to look through THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE to see what caused such a stir 60 years ago.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC copy of this book.

This book follows a group of four women who form a book club to read the newly published The Feminine Mystique. All four narrate their journeys through life and navigating the hardships of the 1960s.

I have very mixed feelings about this novel. While it has the markings of a classic, inspiring novel, I felt that there wasn’t enough of a plot to keep me engaged. I found myself often skimming and wishing there was more.

That being said, the overall message of empowering women and the critique of The Feminine Mystique was powerful. Having read this in college, it was fascinating to explore the impact it had at the time of publication through these characters.

Overall, I believe this could be a very enjoyable read for the right person. I was disappointed that I couldn’t find the enjoyment in the story itself, but also glad to have been able to consider the themes nonetheless.

"When men find new mountains to climb, they get a pat on the back and a round of applause".

4 very different women embark on a journey of self- discovery, learning about their worth and female frienships. They are all dealing with the sexist, male centered world of the 1960's and all the injustices that came with it. After reading The Feminine Mystique, they form the Betty Friedan book club, the Bettys for short. This book and the women within it will help each other through the worst parts in their marriage and the bad men within them.
Margaret, Charlotte, Viv and Bitsy were such delightful, complex characters that even through their flaws one can see their yearning for more, even during the time where more was next to impossible.

The Bookclub For Troublesome Women revived the feminist in me and rattled me once again. A must read for everyone! 💫💫💫💫💫

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins Focus / Harper Muse

The Book Club For Troublesome Women is an interesting look into how the publication of The Feminine Mystique changed the lives of suburban women in America in 1963. I appreciated that one of the characters acknowledged Friedan’s limited perspective—middle-class suburban housewives—and that limited perspective is highlighted in the book’s characters, there’s no diversity in thought or experience. There aren’t too many opportunities for true introspection for the women in the book. There were times when it was difficult to figure out how they got from thought A to thought B. The ending was a bit rushed, though I did enjoy the epilogue. I wouldn’t say this was a particularly complex or nuanced story, but it was enjoyable enough if you like women’s fiction and mid-century America.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an advance reader’s copy.

I adored The Book Club for Troublesome Women! "The Bettys" as the group named themselves were so absolutely relatable. I loved that each of the women had such a different background, yet they all found such deep friendship with each other. I think this book is also relatable as the social & political landscape doesn't look significantly different now than it did in the 1960s when the book was set. Overall, a wonderful book that I will absolutely be recommending to my customers.