Margaret, Charlotte, Vic and Bitsy are four 60s housewives that have a book club and portray the different challenges women of the 60s face. The title and description of this book really captivated my interest.
This was a thought provoking story. 60 years later and this book is a reminder of how women have fought so hard to have the rights and privileges we do today. We have come so far but still have so far to go.

Although I absolutely loved the concept of this story. This book unfortunately was not for me. I read 50% but was unable to finish due to the slow pace of the book.
Thank you netgalley, Harper Collin’s & Marie bostwick for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you for this arc #netgalley, I did not enjoy reading this book, I found the details to be too much information and not enough to keep me interested. The beginning of this book held such promise and interest but it did not continue like that.

Loved this book. It was such a great look at the importance and value of the women's friendships, navigating their marriages, and obstacles and discrimination women faced during the 1960s just for being female. While each of the women loved their families, they were moving in the direction of wanting fulfillment in their own identities in careers too, especially after coming out of post-ww2 when they had that opportunity in a way they previously didn't.

While women's autonomy and opportunities are certainly not perfect still, living during a time where your whole life was dictated by your husband or you're automatically discounted everywhere outside the home because you're a woman would be infuriating to me. The uphill climb that was well described but valiantly fought by these women was so commendable and inspiring. I'm thankful women decades past fought for the benefit I have to be a working mom now, as well as being seen for my own value in most cases without all their barriers.

The honesty and transparency that author gave each woman was just so well done. It looked at the difficulty and beauty of their marriages - and from a really different type of relationship that each one had with her husband, so it was very well rounded - was just so real. I think anyone who's been married for a decent amount of time could relate with one or other of the women at any given moment. But I loved how much they were determined to make things work, knew they weren't perfect, allowed themselves to bend when needed and stand up when also called for, to give their best and encouraged each other when they didn't feel like doing so. The author portrayed each in a way that I just loved each of them for their own reasons.

I loved the importance the book club and their friendships had too. They pressed boundaries, weren't afraid to be themselves once they got to know each other, made mistakes, took risks with each other, and were unfailing in their loyalty to each other despite their differences.

It honestly was pretty inspiring with all their imperfections and attitudes despite. Overall just a really great book and highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

It’s the early 1960’s and Margaret has just moved to a new “planned community” with her husband and kids. While running her typical errands, she sees a woman that truly stands out. When she finds out she lives in the neighborhood, Margaret decides to invite her to her new book club. Charlotte is in but not with their current read…if they read The Feminine Mystique, she is sold. The book opens the door for all four women to look at their life and try to figure out if they are truly happy, and if not, what changes they want to make.

Me? Read a physical book? Bookstagram say what??? Seriously, it has been so long since I could read an actual book and I got the bug and picked this one up and bam! It was such a great feeling! Helped of course by the fact of how much I enjoyed this story! Book club? Fight the patriarchy? Women coming into their own? I mean give me one and I’m sold but this one had it all! I loved all four women, each for their own reasons, and I was cheering for each of them every step of the way! I adored how their friendship blossomed and became such a huge part of their lives, and a force for change when they needed it. This book was everything I wanted it to be and more!

Thank you to @harpermusebooks for my gifted copy of this book!

I adored this book, partly, I am sure because it spoke of a time in America in which I grew up. The sixties were turbulent times indeed and were one in which women for the first time, found their strategies and new voices. The author really gave an accurate picture through her different characters of the times for women, and the maturation of them throughout their lives. Their relationships with spouses and with each other made for a great read and one with which I could identify. Reading it was like sitting down with an old and dear friend. I loved it!

What an interesting and insightful treatise about American women and their social, economic and political advances since 1963. Having been a young matron in the sixties I can attest to the validity of all the barriers Bostwick cited as well as the general lifestyle. Yep, we’ve come a long way, Baby!

As with all Bostwick’s books this one centers around female friendships and how women support each other through life’s trials and tribulations. I loved the historic personages and events that she wove into her story.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Harper Muse, in exchange for an honest review. As a longtime fan of Bostwick’s books, I think my fellow Bostwick book-lovers will be very pleased with this new direction in her writing. Highly recommended.

I really liked this book!! It's is set in the 60s in America's suburbs, with wives that are discussing if they are truly happy in their roles, or if it just the societal norms. The character development is great, and you can see the characters learn and grow together, forming a bond that lasts generations.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fair warning if you’re thinking of reading this book: it will probably infuriate you.

Author Marie Bostwick does an incredible job of portraying the issues women faced in the United States in the early 60s, having her protagonists experience several of the common challenges women dealt with. As a feminist who reads a lot of history I was already acquainted with these facts, so while I found it troubling (I had to pause the book several times and read one of the others on my weekly TBR), I didn’t find any of it surprising.

One of the saddest parts about this book, is probably how true-to-life it actually is. In light of what the US is experiencing right now, many women are becoming more familiar with what our mothers and grandmothers lived through, but there are still far too many who either remain unaware or believe that books like this exaggerate the truth when, in fact, the opposite is true; there is even more the author could have revealed.

I found it to be an excellent book; well written and engaging. It’s fast paced, but if you’re like me it isn’t the sort of thing you read in one sitting simply because you want a break from how annoyed you will be with most of the men in the book. The author does also make mention of the fact that the patriarchy harms men, a valid point that I thought well worth including, particularly in the way she wrote it into the plot. I don’t want to put any spoilers in here, but I gotta say that Walt ended up being one of my favorite characters in the book.

Writing the book against the backdrop of major historical events like the assassination of Medgar Evans, the March on Washington, and John F. Kennedy’s assassination while including and humanizing historical figures like the Washington Post’s Katherine Graham and Jackie Kennedy as secondary characters had to have been difficult, but it was a stroke of genius.

I don’t read a lot of historical fiction. I read a lot of history, so most historical fiction, to me, is boring and rife with inaccuracy, and I avoid it. A friend recommended this book to me, and I want to take a moment here, because they’re probably reading this, and say “You were right about this book. It made me mad, but I loved it.”

I would not be at all surprised if, someday in the future when we get rid of the current administration and begin putting the world back to rights, this book ends up on some professor’s required reading curriculum. Before that happens it’ll probably be banned, so get your copy and read it, because every woman should know about what’s in these pages.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am leaving a voluntary review.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women was an interesting read, but it didn’t quite live up to its potential. At times, the pacing felt slow, and I was left feeling underwhelmed. Every now and then, a plot point would spark excitement, only to fizzle out quickly in a rather anticlimactic way. The title suggests these women are “troublesome,” but only one really fits the bill, and she feels more like a minor character than a driving force.

The premise, where these women are inspired to challenge the societal norms of the 1960s after reading The Feminine Mystique, holds promise. However, their transformations seem to happen more as a result of the men in their lives—whether through abandonment, change, or infidelity—rather than from any personal epiphany or rebellious spirit. By the end, it almost feels like they fall back into the same roles as housewives.

That said, I did find the exploration of women’s roles and boundaries, especially around housewives, to be fascinating. It gave me deeper insight into my own grandmother's experiences. As a story, though, it felt watered down—its potential was much stronger if it had focused more closely on one character's journey rather than trying to balance so many.

"An ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure”

“A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

“You can have it all, just not all at the same time.”

“Somewhere down the road, maybe you’ll help pave the road for somebody else. That’s how the world gets better. One generation helping the next.”

This is the first book by this author that I have read.
An engaging story of four women in the 1960’s who are neighbors with nothing in common form a book club. Calling themselves the “Bettys”after reading ‘The Feminine Mystique’ by Betty Friedman.
Characters that are multi layered, growth, society, era of civil rights, power of sisterhood, rediscovery, friendships. Strong women loyal to each other, as they share challenges. An historical fiction journey worth the read.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to read this thought provoking book.

I LOVED this book. Not only was it well written, the theme resonated with me, having grown up in the 1960's. The author captures the daring of these women to break out of the "this is how it's done jail" of the times. I also really enjoyed Ms. Bostwick bringing in real women who where pioneers in their fields during that era.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women follows four women living in 1960's America. The writing is easy to follow, even with the multiple characters. Even though it probably wasn't planned this way, this book is very timely and a great reminder of the power of women and how you need friends in every season of life to help you through.

This book was not what I thought it would be: namely, that a group of older women would gather as a book club and get into sticky issues to solve together. Not at all.
This book is about young women, most of them struggling with beginning salaries of their husbands. The women do get together as a book club, as I had originally thought, but they bond beyond just reading books. into family crises, disappointments, and successes. The story timeline covers 1960-approximately 2000. The group reminded me somewhat of M. McCarthy's "The Group" but closer to what I had experienced in my younger days as a wife and mother on lower social and economic levels.
I could relate to their book club premise to connect to other women for relief and respite. Many book clubs are not as welcoming to newcomers which seems counter to what women can do for each other.
What I learned in this story was it's ok to look for friends in a book club and enjoy their company beyond that place. Don't get discouraged if you don't find real depth or friendship right away. Sometimes, it takes a while to get to know people.

This was a sweet book--especially in this political climate. I love books about suburban women waking up to the fact that their longing and boredom isn't a flaw but a symptom of the society they're forced into.
The characters were incredibly likeable almost to the point of unbelievability. Margaret, the main character, is relatable in that she longs for more and continues to get shut out in different ways by all of the men in her life. It isn't until she starts a book club to impress a mysterious new neighbor that her life begins to shift in an exciting direction.
I related the most to, and wish there had been slightly more of, Bitsy's storyline. Viv was sweet and it's wild that she was able to hold down a job an hour away with seven children. Charlotte was the mystery of the group and, in the end, wasn't as mysterious as she seemed. Just another woman being held down by the men in her life.
I like that the author gave some of the men nuance and growth while others stayed stagnant. It gave a story about feminism more realistic foes than stereotypical antagonists.
Overall, this was a wonderful story about female friendship and finding community where you least expect it. It was a nice balm to the soul and I recommend this to anyone looking for something cozy with a smidge of suburban rebellion.

Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for giving me an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Although I enjoyed the idea of this book and appreciated the writing style, the story isn’t one that will stick with me. It’s empowering but in a way that I feel like I’ve read before. This does not mean it’s bad- quite the opposite. For many readers interested in feminism this will be an enjoyable read. It just wasn’t for me, unfortunately. But I can tell that Marie Bostwick did her research & I loved the dynamic between the 4 women.
Overall; would recommend if you like themes of friendship, feminism, books and historical fiction.

I think I liked the concept and the characters of this book more than I liked the book itself, which is a bummer because it had so much going for it. I didn't think it was bad at all, I did still enjoy it, but I felt like the writing style was very in-your-face and on the nose, and the time jumps made it a little hard to follow sometimes. However, I did really enjoy the four main women, although I absolutely hated Walt and I think Margaret should have been meaner to him. But the women had good character development and managed to find their passions and what drove them, and it was fairly compelling to read about even though I didn't totally love the writing style.

If you love Desperate Housewives, Lessons in Chemistry and historical fiction then this is the book you need!!

This book follows Margaret, who starts a book club with the local housewives, Bitsy, Viv, and Charlotte. After their first book read by Betty Friedan, they become known as the ‘Bettys.’ Through their book club discussions, cocktails, and gossiping, they discover that the American Dream and propaganda aren’t what they aspire to as women. As their lives unfold, they experience loss, arguments, and significant emotional transformations. Despite these challenges, the Betty’s remain steadfast in their friendship and support for one another. Their book club evolves into a platform for nurturing their bond, fostering loyalty, and providing a sense of freedom. They never sway from what bought them together originally - books - they continue to choose a new book each month no matter what!

I really loved this book and the comfort it brought that these women were truly supportive in times of fear and loss. The first half of the book was really well written and their personalities were individual and clear of who brings what to the table.

The book began to slow down with not much happening at all, however there were deep conversations around women’s rights whilst they attempted to push the barriers of their freedom doing normal errands we would do today. It opened my eyes to how much they struggled with the simplest of things.

Overall a really good read, just think it could have been shorter or a quicker pace in the middle chunk of the book.

“You know... I don't think so. I'm going to go let my friends
in. This is my house now."

"Calling the shots. And I have to tell you, Edna. It feels good."

“Because I want to. Because you'd do the same for me. Because you're my group."

I just was not able to get into this book. I came back to a few thinking I can do this. It’s absolutely the kind of book that I like the genre that I like and I don’t know what it was, but I just couldn’t get into it. I got about 25% of the way through and finally decided I can’t read this. I might go back. It would be something I might get from the library from a friend. I can’t say I would spend money to try again.

4/5 stars

Trigger Warnings: (from Storygraph) Graphic: Sexism, Infidelity, Pregnancy
Moderate: Suicide, Mental illness, Misogyny
Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual content, Infertility

I really enjoyed this book! I felt invested in the story. I recently saw a play called 'A Taste of Things to Come' and since then, I've wanted to learn more about Women in the 1960's and how they grew as wives, mothers and friends through a book club.

This book is set in the 1960's and spans 8 months. It started with the release of the book 'The Feminine Mystique' by Betty Friedan, and ending with the November assassination of JFK. I really liked how Bostwick brought in real life events to this story to add to the historical aspect.

The characters were a bit confusing at first but after a bit, I got to know more about them and what they each did. I enjoyed learning about their challenges and how they worked to overcome them. I would highly recommend this book for a book club that enjoys female friendship books. Now I want to read more by Bostwick. It would be fun to read a sequel to see where they are 10 years later.

Thanks to @netgalley and @Harpermusebooks for the ARC. Book to be released April 22, 2025.

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

I really enjoyed this one! It is a historical fiction novel about four female women in the 1960s who form a book club, become friends and are there for each other.

I loved the motivational girl power vibes! The four women are loveable characters. I liked that not all of the women were the same age or social class.

My only complaint about this book was how much the author mentioned smoking. I know that women did this in the 60s but how often it was mentioned was distracting to me. This is probably just a me thing since I have not seen anyone else mention it.

I would recommend this one to anyone who likes historical fiction. Release date is 4/22/25. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.