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.

I can’t wait to see this in future book clubs for troublesome (or not) women! Such a well done and engaging read throughout.

This book is about females in the 1960s era, it is greatly written and a very powerful story about how woman make their way and uplifting also emotional Would highly recommend.

As a woman, this book made me feel all the feelings - angry, sad, frustrated, amused, empowered, and hopeful. If you enjoyed “Lessons in Chemistry”, then this should be your next read!

✨Review - The Book Club For Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick

Set in early 1960s American suburbia, this book chronicles 4 wives and the way that reading Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique” together transformed their lives and friendships in ways they could never have imagined.

This is a beautiful and nuanced study of middle-class domesticity post WWII, exploring the birth of feminism and the awakening of women to the ways society shapes gender roles. I appreciated that it addressed not only women’s rights and roles, but also touched on the intersectionality of racial minority rights as well as the ways men can be as equally trapped by gender norms as women.

Each of the 4 ‘leading ladies’ are unique in personality and lived experience, so I felt like there was a good chance readers would resonate with at least one of them. That said, even though race is addressed as a secondary concern, the main characters are still all white.

I buddy-read this with my cousin, and toggled back and forth between print and audio. The audiobook narrator was excellent!! (And now we want to read “The Feminine Mystique” too!)

This book releases April 22, and would be an excellent book club read.

Thanks for NetGalley and the publisher for the
ARC!

This was a read that went by quickly for me. I found each of the four Bettys likable and easy to root for, and I especially enjoyed the depiction of female friendship and how it transforms their lives. While the timing of the themes covered in this book is very apropos, I did feel like the author’s exploration of the patriarchy to be a little surface-level and on the nose. The author does also briefly acknowledge the limitations and lack of intersectionality of Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique”, but it felt like a quick aside without any real attempts at further unpacking.

All in all, I think this was an easy read that allows you to start to drawing some parallels between the feminist movement of the 60s and today, especially for a reader that may not be familiar with second wave feminism!

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is set in 1963, shortly after the publication of The Feminine Mystique. It's historical fiction about a group of suburban housewives in Virginia that start a book club and their first pick is Friedan's new release: a decision that will change all of their lives.

It's hard to believe that only 80 years ago, women were treated as second-class citizens. Their opinions didn't matter, and if they voiced their opinions they were punished. Women couldn't have their own bank accounts without the signature of their husband.

I enjoyed reading about these women during that time. It was well-written and character-driven. Definitely recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Book Club for Troublesome Women" by Marie Bostwick is a moving and thought-provoking novel that beautifully captures the power of female friendship.
Set in 1960s Virginia, the story follows four women who, dissatisfied with their lives, form a book club that soon becomes much more than just a reading group. As they delve into the bestseller "The Feminine Mystique", they begin questioning societal expectations, their roles as wives and mothers, and what it truly means to live a fulfilling life. One of the book’s biggest strengths is how it brings the time period to life. The struggles these women face feel real and relatable, even today. Bostwick does a fantastic job of weaving humor, heart, and historical context into the narrative, making it both entertaining and insightful.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, HarperCollins Focus, and Marie Bostwick for the ARC!

Sweet, fun, and heartwarming. Definitely liked this more than I thought I would. Nothing earthshattering, but a nice light read.

Marie Bostwick gives a glimpse into the lives of 4 women in 1963. They all live in a very cookie-cutter community where women really don't have a say in any part of their lives. Men rule everything around them and they honestly can't do anything without a man's permission.

I really enjoyed this glimpse into the women's lives and how they worked to create new lives for themselves after starting their book club. This was a good read and I always know when I feel connected to characters when I get emotional at the end of the book. I enjoyed the camaraderie of womanhood that is often so hard to find as an adult. The different characters' stories were a little hard to follow at points as the chapters switch back and forth but in the end it all came together.

This book gave me major Lessons in Chemistry vibes, which I loved.
Margaret, Bitsy, Charlotte, and Viv are an increasingly progressive book club. The women grow disatisified with the social expectations of being a woman in the 50s/60s. Do they continue to go with the flow, or do they shake things up in their marriages, social circles, and dreams?
Being a member of a book club that has feministic/equality views myself made me identify with each of the characters in different ways. Definitely must read this!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for a chance to read this ARC. I received a complimentary e-copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I thought I knew the restrictions on women when my mother was newly married, but this book opened my eyes to many more. They seem so unreal, so close to happening in my lifetime. I'm grateful for this book, which inspires me to ask my mom more about her experiences from those days. The characters are interesting, and I like how the different marriages are shown - not all the husbands are restrictive and controlling. As a librarian, I'm pleased this book conveys that books can change lives and shouldn't be restricted - for anyone. Overall, I enjoyed the novel and everything I learned about a more recent time.

Set in 1963, four women create a book club that started with feminist Betty Freidan’s controversial book, “The Feminine Mystique.” All four of these women sought to be more than what women were expected to be at that time and forged a friendship for the ages. They referred to themselves as the “Bettys.” I thoroughly enjoyed these 4 women and their shenanigans. And even though I was born a couple of years later, I enjoyed going back to that time period.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Muse for the opportunity to read an advanced eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

By 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan is living the American woman's dream. She has a husband, three children, a station wagon, and a home in Concordia--one of Northern Virginia's most exclusive and picturesque suburbs. On paper, she has it all. So why doesn't that feel like enough? Margaret is thrown for a loop when she first meets Charlotte Gustafson, Concordia's newest and most intriguing resident. As an excuse to be in the mysterious Charlotte's orbit, Margaret concocts a book club get-together and invites two other neighborhood women--Bitsy and Viv--to the inaugural meeting. As the women share secrets, cocktails, and their honest reactions to the controversial bestseller The Feminine Mystique, they begin to discover that the American dream they'd been sold isn't all roses and sunshine--and that their secret longing for more is something they share. 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.


Thoughts
Oh I loved this book. Four women in different parts of their lives and marriages come together to read books that are challenging the status quo. It reminded me of the quote “here’s to strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.” I love a good book about the strength and determination of women and this delivered.

Having come of age in the late ‘60s, this novel was a trip back in time. The author truly captured the budding discontent of women with their treatment in the workplace and the expectations of them in their homes and communities. The characters, for the most part, feel genuine and their struggle to feel fulfilled is real. Because the women are different ages with different marital situations and home lives, the story manages to feel inclusive of the climate of the time. This would be a great bookclub choice!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC to read and review.

El Club de Lectura para Mujeres Problemáticas ofrece una conmovedora visión de la vida de las amas de casa suburbanas en los años 60, luchando contra las expectativas sociales y los primeros indicios del feminismo de segunda ola. La novela captura de manera hermosa el poder de la amistad femenina, con el club de lectura accidental de Margaret Ryan sirviendo como un refugio para el autodescubrimiento y la rebelión silenciosa. Los temas del matrimonio, la identidad y la libertad personal resuenan, haciendo de esta una lectura sincera y nostálgica.
Sin embargo, a pesar de su prometedora premisa, la novela tiene dificultades con la ejecución. El ritmo es desigual, a menudo se arrastra en momentos que deberían sentirse más impactantes. Aunque los temas son importantes, se vuelven repetitivos, y los personajes, aunque cautivadores, a veces parecen más arquetipos que individuos completamente desarrollados. Los conflictos se desarrollan de manera predecible, y al final, queda una sensación persistente de que la historia podría haber ido más allá, entregando un mayor peso emocional.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick is a poignant novel about four women, and their developing relationship and support of each other as they seek for more choices and control in their lives that, in the 1960s had little of either.
I found the book slow for the first half, and considered setting it aside; I was happy that I didn't surrender to that urge. The 'Bettys' as the women call themselves, face challenges in their lives and families, and in facing them with courage and grace become inspirations to generations that follow them.
Bostwick examines the lives of her characters and the challenges they face with a realism that, even decades later, women reading her book will empathize with and understand. I was born one year after this book is set, and still experienced some of the difficulties that the Bettys set about to correct.
I am glad that I stuck with this book; it is a meaningful read.
Thank you for the ARC of #TheBookClubforTroublesomeWomen to #NetGalley.