I really liked this book! it had some really good themes of persistence, sisterhood, and womens issues. There was also humor tied into this book which is a nice tough to mix it in when there are some serious and heavy topics as the main themes in the book. I liked the premise overall, and I liked the writing style of the author too

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Bostwick conveys the lives of 1960s housewives with great detail, veracity, and insight. It really makes you think about women's rights and how far we have come. The book club started by 4 women acts as a catalyst for potential change. Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv each have their own personal struggles and desires. Their friendship is the driving force behind the novel. Ultimately "the Bettys" are empowering and uplifting. Their personal journeys are inspiring and I loved how they support each other. This is both a story about personal growth as well as friendship. Bostwick balances poignancy with humor in a delightful way.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

A really enjoyable read. All four characters were easy to like. The premise of the book - the women's search for their say in the world and their fight for personal independence - rang true. Some of the experiences faced by women of that era were truly horrendous: the refusal of the doctor to prescribe the pill to a woman without her husband's approval was shocking (and it wasn't that long ago!)

I could find fault with the neat ending (and some of the fortuitous meetings that occurred) but I won't. What is more important is the message of the book and the women's fight for their rights. It's oneI would certainly recommend

It's the 1960's and Margaret has it all... At least according to the women's magazines she reads. She is a housewife with three kids and a husband, but feels like something is missing. Her husband got her a new magazine subscription and that didn't help. She meets her newest neighbor, Charlotte, who is full of everything it seems Margaret is not. Wanting to get to know her, she creates a bookclub, gets her friends Viv and Bitsy to join, and then Charlotte insists they read Betty Friedan's new book. Suddenly everything is changing and this is the story of the Betty's book club. An excellent read where you can't help but root for all four women!

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a historical fiction novel featuring a group of suburban Virginia housewives in the 1960’s. Margaret, Viv, Charlotte and Bitsy bond over afternoon cocktails and books about “having it all”. The characters show how women during this time were marginalized and encouraged to be satisfied with motherhood and caring for their families and their homes. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters (including their fashion, recipes, daily lives and reactions to current events of the time), their individual struggles and their personal growth. I was somewhat disappointed that each of the women is white and privileged, and their struggles are neatly resolved. I think that I had more expectations for these women to disrupt the status quo. Overall this is a well written, slowly paced, character driven novel about female friendship. 3.5/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I’ve really been gravitating towards historical fiction lately, so this one was right up my alley. I really enjoyed the honest look at marriage and motherhood at a time that seems to be glamorized now through the lenses of nostalgia. This felt especially poignant post-election and post-Roe. It was a bit longer than I think it needed to be (I especially glazed over the name dropping in the Kathryn Graham scene towards the end of the book). Charlotte was my favorite character; I would’ve loved to read a novel all about her life. I received a complimentary copy of this book (thanks to NetGalley and the publishers!) and all opinions are my own.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick brings together an unlikely group of suburban women in the 1960s, uniting them through a book club that becomes a foundation for self-discovery and camaraderie. Margaret, Bitsy, Viv, and newcomer Charlotte grapple with the stifling expectations of their roles as housewives and mothers, using Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique as a springboard to redefine their lives.

This is a poignant, nostalgic dive into the transformative power of friendship and literature, set against the backdrop of a changing America. While some readers may find it predictable at times, its charm lies in its heartfelt depiction of solidarity among women. A solid 4.25 stars—perfect for fans of historical fiction and strong female friendships.

Unfortunately I wasn't a fan. It could just be the political climate we're in right now, but reading about women's struggles just upset me.
Read the ending and thought that it was written well.

I LOVED the ladies in this book! I was transported to the 60's and wanted to be part of their bookclub. While it take places many decades ago, the storyline is still timeless. Women still face similar issues and still find themselves wanting more at times. The crux of this book is the strong female friendships which are priceless. Looking forward to when this book comes out so that I can pick it for my own book club!

I loved all 4 of the main characters/"Bettys" in this novel! Each woman had her own life challenges, but the overarching theme of challenging the patriarchal systems of the 1960s was woven throughout. It was refreshing to read about true friendships with challenges where not everything was rainbows and sunshine. I also really liked the growth of each character as she came into herself as a woman. It was a great perspective to peek into life for these women in the 1960s as America seems to be moving backwards in women's rights.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I really related to "The Book Club for Troublesome Women" and hated to put it down each night. Women in suburbia, different from each other in so many ways, yet inescapably bound by the expectations set for them in the 1950s and 1960s. Then along comes a book. Each of the wives in this novel retold part of my own life. The memories of Ms. Magazine arriving in my mailbox every month, along with the self-doubt and second guessing of my choices; Betty Friedan, of course, and the ideas she wrote out loud; the inequalities we are still striving to fix seventy years onward. I need to stress, up front, that this book mostly deals with problems that faced white middle-class women. It is not an accurate account of a multi-cultural area, nor does it deal much with urban issues. In a lot of ways, real-life white middle-class suburbia still doesn't. Intersectionality doesn't really show its face in these pages. This is a novel, and one that is aimed at a particular group of readers.

The protagonists of "The Book Club for Troublesome Women" are strong, vulnerable, loving, loyal, and most of all ready. They're ready to make changes and help one another survive those changes. The men in their lives vary in important ways, but each represents an aspect of the roles men play in our society. Just as the women, not one of them is perfect nor totally evil (though one comes mighty close). Margaret, Viv, Charlotte, and Bitsy are my new best friends and I'd love for them to show up at my next book club meeting. I think this novel will certainly be there!

The writing is sharp, witty, and relatable. I loved how it tackled real-life issues without ever feeling preachy.

This book reminded me why women supporting women is so powerful and why it's okay (necessary, even!) to embrace the "troublesome" parts of ourselves.

Thank you for letting me read this great book! I look forward to more from this author.

I LOVED this book, it was well written and made me once again thankful for all that women in the 60's managed to do to get themselves more fulfilling roles that paved the way for al women today.
The characters were realistic and each had such different experiences but they all wanted 'something more' and managed to get enough traction to follow their passions.
Imagine having six children and being pregnant with the seventh and then going to work. WOW, amazing.
Such a great read and I can't wait to see the movie!

"The Book Club for Troublesome Women" was an INCREDIBLE read that I have already recommended to my book club. Reading about the lives of these women was inspirational, often funny, and so dang relatable.

Four suburban housewives start a book club where their first read is Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique. The book follows how their lives unfold after starting the club and after reading a book that changes their way of thinking.

The book was entertaining, the characters were well written, and the setting was believable. It has some references to american items and goods from the 60s that I had to Google, so I think it will be even more immersive for the american audience. It fits the genre and is also a typical "lost histories" book with female voices. It's an overall good book, and it fits very well into our time with everything happening to women's rights.

Marie Bostwick’s *The Book Club for Troublesome Women* is a heartwarming celebration of friendship, resilience, and the power of finding your people when life takes unexpected turns. With her signature wit and emotional depth, Bostwick creates a tapestry of relatable characters and compelling stories that come together in a way that feels like sharing a glass of wine and a laugh with old friends. It’s a novel that reminds us how transformative the bonds of community can be.

The story centers around four women—each at a crossroads in their lives—who are brought together through a book club that quickly becomes much more than just a discussion group. From career upheavals to relationship struggles to finding a sense of self after years of putting others first, these women navigate the joys and messiness of life with humor, honesty, and unwavering support for one another. Bostwick masterfully weaves their individual stories into a cohesive narrative, showing how their friendships become the anchor each of them needs.

What makes this novel shine is Bostwick’s ability to create characters that feel authentic and multidimensional. Each woman has her own unique voice and set of challenges, yet their connections are universal. Their conversations are raw and real, often peppered with sharp humor that lightens even the heaviest moments. The interplay between vulnerability and strength in their interactions is what makes their dynamic so compelling.

The book club itself serves as a metaphor for growth and rediscovery. Through their shared love of books, the women find parallels between the stories they read and their own lives, leading to moments of insight, courage, and transformation. Bostwick doesn’t shy away from tackling tough topics, but she does so with grace and a light touch, ensuring the story remains uplifting even when it’s delving into life’s harder truths.

The pacing of the novel is just right, giving readers time to connect with each character’s journey while maintaining a steady momentum. Bostwick’s writing is warm and accessible, with vivid descriptions and heartfelt reflections that draw readers into the world of these “troublesome women.” The small-town setting adds to the charm, serving as both a backdrop and a character in its own right, with its quirks and sense of community.

*The Book Club for Troublesome Women* is a feel-good novel that will resonate with anyone who’s ever leaned on a friend during tough times or found strength in unexpected places. Marie Bostwick has crafted a story that’s as much about personal growth as it is about the bonds that help us along the way. Perfect for fans of women’s fiction, book clubs, or simply stories that make you laugh, cry, and cheer all at once, this novel is a five-star celebration of friendship and the magic of shared stories.

Being a kid in the early sixties this book really hit home for me. The four women in this book were each very different but they formed a book club which helped them get through their daily lives. Reading the Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan empowered them to realize there is nothing wrong with wanting more from life than just being a housewife. As the author chronicled the times I had flashbacks to the time period not fully realizing the limitations placed on women for example just what it took to open a bank account. The tight friendship of these women enabled them to envision their future and strive to fulfill their dreams. The author’s writing made these women come alive and you couldn’t help rooting for them. I received an advanced eGalley of the book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#TheBookClubForTroublesomeWomen #MarieBostwick #NetGalley

OMG. Thankyou Marie. Such a privilege to be able to read this book.
What a story. I’m a big fan of the Cobbled Court series but this standalone book is my new favourite.
Four women create a bookclub, calling themselves the Betty’s after the author of their first read The Feminine Mystique.
A truly eye opening story about women living in the 1960’s and how they did not have their independence and how they grew their friendships through the hardships and joys at that time in the USA.

I liked this book so much . It is an exploration of women’s roles in the 60’s and how they are evolving and changing
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

Thank you to Harper Collins publisher and NetGalley for my free digital copy of this book, in return for an honest review. I have to say I liked it but didn’t love it, though that isn’t a reflection on how well it’s written, more that the book wasn’t to my taste. For me it lacked depth, felt too slowly drawn out and I didn’t really gel with any of the characters. I didn’t get drawn in and therefore didn’t get past half way through, but didn’t want to leave less than 4* because I really think it’s me, not the author.