I wanted to like this book, but it never fully grabbed me. This is a case where this was the wrong book for me, but is the right book for many others.

I loved this book, the writing was the perfect combination of witty and emotional and I got a lot out of it.

Thank you Harper Collins for my copy. This was such a fascinating and fun historical fiction. I loved all of the different characters and learning how each woman adapted to the changes, challenges and joys in her life. This would be a great book club read and discussion!

The Book Club for Troublesome Women was such a great read! I loved how it celebrated the power of friendship, especially among women who aren’t afraid to speak their minds, stand their ground, and support each other through life’s ups and downs. The relationships felt authentic and were full of humor, compassion, and the occasional clash, which made them even more realistic. The bond between the characters kept me turning the pages, and by the end, I felt like I was part of their circle too! If you love uplifting stories about strong female friendships, the power of book clubs, and novels that explore the bonds between people at different stages of life, then this one is for you! Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Because if America really was the land of the free, surely freedom should extend to everyone.” - @mariebostwick

In 1963 Virginia, Margaret, Viv, Bitsy, and Charlotte begin a book club. Their first book is The Feminine Mystique. They bond over reading and not reading, liking and not liking books, liking and not liking their husbands, as they challenge society’s definition of what it means to be a woman in this era. These women want to be dedicated to their husbands and their children as well as a career; allowing all of that to be their legacy. This story is an ode to feminism. It brings to light the history of patriarchal indoctrination in society and its impact on women AND men because two things can be true at once- both men and women can feel pressure and limitations in their gender roles. (Bravo for that all inclusive struggle- made me love this book even more).

You’ll adore these 4 women, their relationships, and the way they fight for what they believe in. Go read this and PLEASE share your thoughts with me- I’ll be here continuing to fight for bodily autonomy and women’s rights while crushing on my husband because of the micro feminist act he confesses to doing as often as he can. (Love being married to this man).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to @netgalley and @harpermusebooks for this #advancedreaderscopy - I’m reading late, it’s published, so go get it.

#2025bookchallengebook61of100
#thebookclubfortroublesomewomen
#stillcatchinguponarcs

Such a 5 star book!
I recognized the author, so I thought to request this book. I thought this book would be great for my high school students. They will not only learn how women were treated in the past, which is actually not that long ago, and they will learn how women learned to speak up to get the things we have now. The students I have for speech and language in the high school are women. So this book will be perfect for them.
This book has a book club and the books that were suggested are now on a wait list at the library. They are actually on a long wait list.
The women in this book took chances and they were not easy. It was great to see the husbands reaction to the situations the women were going through. I also like the support that was given to these women by their families.

This brilliant and eye-opening novel blends historical detail, sharp insight, and heartfelt storytelling. It is set against the backdrop of mid-20th-century America, and reminds us just how much has changed and how far we still have to go when it comes to women’s rights and equality.

The story starts in a planned community outside of Washington DC, in 1960, where four women decide to start a book club. Margaret is mid-to-tale 30's and a wannabe writer, Bitsy is 23 and working in a stable because when she married she didn't finish college, Viv is a former war nurse with 6 kids and another on the way, and Charlotte is a wannabe painter from a wealthy background with both an overbearing father and husband. All but Bitsy have children, all are unhappy to a degree. I'd forgotten how "sheltered" women were in the 1960s -- I wasn't yet a teenager -- where they couldn't work, couldn't get a bank account or a credit card in their own name, couldn't even continue on to college -- without a man's approval. So what's the first book they read? Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique". There's a strong sense of community, friendship, and small rebellions.

Historical context is a big part of the story, as are historical people. The Civil Rights Movement, Jackie Kennedy, JFK, Helen Thomas, Katherine Graham are all part of the timeline, as is, of course, November 1963's events. The women, and their men, have different reactions to these events (the women are often helped along by vodka stingers!)

The narration was also well done on this audiobook. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for this ARL.

When I first saw this book on NetGalley the title reminded me of The Women of Troublesome Creek, I've not read those books but I initially thought this was part of a series and thus couldn't request the book without reading the others. That is not the case.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a portrayal of what female rage looked like in the 1960s. While it's easy to talk about the women who came before or the people that fought to make good trouble throughout history, it's easy to forget what that looked like. Progress hasn't been one step forward, one step back, but perhaps two steps forward and one step back in the long term. Like Margaret says in the book " Those who were, those who are, and those who will be in the years to come."

This book captured my attention because I love a good story abut troublesome women and female rage. In addition to the overall themes of women empowerment it was insightful to hear about the stories of Margaret, Bitsy, Viv and Charlotte and each of their experiences being women in the 1960s. Of all the characters, I particularly loved Margaret's husband Walt and his growth throughout the book.

I absolutely recommend this book for readers who love women's fiction, historical fiction, literary fiction and strong female characters who challenge the status quo. I think readers who like Kirsten Miller, Kristin Hannah, and Jodi Picoult will like this book.

My review has been posted on GoodReads, Instagram and submitted to Barnes and Noble

I don’t know what it was about this book but I just could noooot get into it. I picked it up and put it down so many times I think I read the first two chapters like 4 or 5 times because nothing stuck with me. The premise was really intriguing but there was just nothing keeping my attention so I didn’t get to enjoy it.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick is an enjoyable look back at a rebellious time in women's history, the 1960s and the dawning of independence for women. A time when they fought to be more than just wives and mothers, with Betty Friedan and her book The Feminine Mystique. A group of women in a suburb of Northern Virginia embark on reading this book with their newly formed book club and their lives are changed forever. A powerful novel showing what it means to be a woman and in the current political climate, a reminder of those that fought for us women to have the freedoms we have! Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 Stars, rounded up for strong characters and timely themes

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a vivid, if slightly on-the-nose, portrait of domestic life in the 1960's. Bostwick assembles a cast of women who come together to read The Feminine Mystique, to vent, question, and navigate a society that expects them to find meaning solely through marriage and motherhood. The characters are compelling, and their small awakenings feel earned and emotionally resonant.

But while the book does a solid job re-creating the era, the pacing is glacial and it misses an opportunity to truly comment on the present. Historical fiction is most powerful when it offers a bridge — portraying the past while illuminating the present. This novel tends to linger entirely in the former.

There’s a lot of language around change — that “the world was changing,” that better days were ahead — but it’s presented without irony or acknowledgment of how little those changes have truly delivered. It leans Pollyanna-ish, at times suggesting that if you just adjust your outlook, you can do it all: career, babies, husband, peace of mind. “Just don’t let the negativity drag you down.” That’s a dangerous kind of optimism, especially when the novel sidesteps the systemic oppression that makes those ideals impossible for so many.

There are sharp, honest moments — the subtle ways society gaslights women into complicity, the patronizing language of men (“jobette”, anyone?), and the insidious idea that motherhood is every woman’s default identity. Characters like Walt and King undermine their wives under the guise of support. “As long as it doesn’t take time away from the kids…” Sound familiar?

The novel touches on how false equality breeds resentment, and how self-doubt is taught, not innate. But it stops short of showing real consequences. I wanted at least one character to challenge the system and show what’s truly at stake when you stand up — not just the friction, but the fallout.

Still, it’s a solid read for book clubs, especially for those interested in generational change, performative allyship, and the ways we justify the status quo to protect ourselves. It doesn’t fully deliver the revolution it hints at — but it starts a conversation worth having.

In this brilliant new historical fiction novel, readers follow Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv as they form an unlikely friendship out of their book club in 1960s Concordia, a wealthy suburb in northern Virginia. After reading Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique, they all discover, to varying degrees, that their lives are not as picture perfect, happy, or fulfilling as they had thought. Nicknaming themselves the Bettys, all four friends have no idea that this book club and resulting friendship will become the catalyst for the most consequential, liberating, and important year of their lives. Packed with details and alternating perspectives between the four women, readers will get fascinating glimpses into each woman’s unique and complex life in this brilliant, emotional, and powerful new novel. The characters are absolutely the stars of the book, and their relationships with each other are particularly interesting due to the complexity, tension, and secrets in their relationships and separate lives. The characters are so well-written and the setting complements their relationships, backstories, and conflicts perfectly thanks to Marie Bostwick’s incredible attention to detail and immersive writing style. Well-written, entertaining, and emotional, this is a powerful and fascinating new historical fiction novel that readers of women’s fiction will absolutely love.

How lucky am I to have so many 4 & 5 star books in a row? But wow, I really enjoyed this book.

I’d like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this book. I had no idea what it was about when I picked it up and after finishing a few great books back to back, I was a bit apprehensive but it blew my expectations.

The premise is a book club, “The Betty’s”, set in a time where women had no rights, lots of rules and little say in the world as a whole. A group of women who are vastly different, move into a newly formed subdivision and start a club to meet friends. It’s pro women and very positive and full of reassurance but mostly it’s about real friendship and what a beautiful story that was. Sure, each of these women had a wonderful story to tell. Some were empowering, tragic and lovely but really what got me was their love for each other. I think my generation missed out on those type of friendships.

I highly recommend this book. Read it within a 24 hour span because I couldn’t put it down.

Rating: 4.5/5

*Thank you to Marie Bostwick, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for this ARC! All reviews are my own opinions.

As a member of a spectacular bookclub myself, I've seen the power and love that can form through books we read. This book captured that and more. The Bettys are some of the most realistic women I've read about and throughout it all, I just wanted to become a Betty too. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book!

I think this is one of those books that every woman will relate to at some point or the other. A beautifully written book, I enjoyed every moment of it. Definitely one of my top reads of 2025!

thank you to NetGalley & HarperCollins Focus for the e-ARC of this book for my honest review <3


historical fiction always has a soft spot in my heart, and this just solidified that further. this book set in the 1960s follows four women who join a book club where they read about other women and call themselves "the bettys". as the story goes along, we learn more about each betty and their struggles in their family life and how their friendship grows stronger.

this was so beautifully written and has made me feel so many raw emotions as it shows that the women have to face their own personal challenges whether it be from their own husbands, aspirations, or even societal standards where they can't even open their own bank account without the permission of their husband. however, even though they had their own obstacles in life, their book club was their way to escape and be able to speak without judgement and receive help no matter what it is (even putting socks on a sick horse in the dead of night). i could only hope to have such a strong connection with those who love so unconditionally.

going into this, i wasn't sure how i would feel reading about each separate women in the club but all of their stories were so in depth and realistic that it never got boring. i found myself rooting for each and every women, and whenever there were were struggling, i felt for them in more ways than one. i'm happy to have gotten closure from them in the last chapter.

now, why is it not a five star read? you would think that if you create a book club (and also have the title "book club" in the novel) , you'd talk about the books that you read and i feel as though they hardly even discussed them in depth if at all. also, the pacing was slow at times but still manageable. the thing that really took me out of the book was when margaret was in that office with other real-life women in journalism (and even jackie kennedy??) that it ruined the illusion for me. i just really didn't like that scene, and felt as if it went on for too long. however, the pros of the book was so strong that it outweighed the cons in my eyes, so that's why it is a four-star read. i LOVED it!!!!

The Book Club for Troublesome Women was a great read! The Bettys, nicknamed after author Betty Friedan, start a book club in their polished suburban neighborhood. Each with their own unique, yet somehow universal problems, they support one another through kids, marriages, and the wonder that something more than being “just a housewife” might be out there.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story! It would be a great book club read, as I think it lends itself to a lot of discussion about both past and current expectations of women at home and at work.

I'm so torn on what to think about this book. On one hand I loved women in the 60's seeking out their larger purpose and confronting the patriarchy head on. On the other hand a lot of it felt really easy and obvious?

Loved the friendships that were formed and that each woman had their own journey. The author did a great job showing what different journeys to fulfillment might look like and that none of those chosen paths were less than.

The men in the story really pissed me off and while I was happy for the redemption arc of one that felt way too Donna Reed.

I read this for bookclub and I think it will make a great discussion; and perhaps after chatting I will have a deeper appreciation for the story but initial thoughts is that it's just kind of mid.

I absolutely loved this!
Set in 1960s Virginia, it follows four housewives who feel stifled by the roles society has placed on them. After reading The Feminine Mystique they being to question their paths and imagine what real change would look like.
It’s about so much more than breaking free - it’s about friendship, support and the courage to grow. I especially appreciated how it also showed how men felt trapped by their roles too.
There’s no major drama or plot twists, but the writing is quietly powerful and I was completely drawn into their stories. I also loved all the book references, some making it onto my tbr!
A must read for anyone that loves character driven stories and strong women finding their voice.

Four dissatisfied sixties-era housewives form a book club turned sisterhood that will hold fast amid the turmoil of a rapidly changing world and alter the course of each of their lives.