The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick was wonderful. The main and supporting characters were multi-faceted. In a suburb of D.C., four women enter into a book club, there first being the controversial book, The Feminine Mystique. Through the club and friendships,their lives ebb and flow.

A heartfelt, funny, and frustrating novel set in the 1960s. Four housewives start a book club, and the first book on the menu? The Feminine Mystique. This book gets all of their thoughts racing to places some of them didn't dare go before. The ladies become close and call themselves "The Bettys" in honor of the book that brought them together.

I enjoyed listening to the four women's life stories. From their marriage, children, desires, and work life. I felt furious towards 3 out of 4 of the husbands in the book at some point or another. It's amazing to see how far women in society have come since the 1960s. I found myself tearing up and laughing throughout.

The narrator did a great job, she was easy to listen to and kept the story exciting. Her use of tone made it easy to understand how the characters were feeling. I also felt like she gave each of the women their own stylized voice, which in my opinion is pretty impressive! Overall a great listen. I would definitely recommend it to people that enjoy historical fiction.

It’s the 1960’s and a group of women living in the same neighborhood and are dissatisfied with their lives decide to form a book club. It’s a very diverse group of women and each bring a different perspective and struggle with them to the group. Maggie, Bitsy, Viv, Charlotte first meeting doesn’t go smoothly but they do learn a lot about each other and their bond starts to form as they discussed the book and what is going on in their lives amd the world around them. The book club quickly becomes so much more than just about the books as it soon becomes a support system for the ladies as the navigate the life of a housewife in the 60s when men were still considered superior. Through the support of the group the women each find their way to inner strength and the power that comes from female friendships especially when the world wants to keep you down.
This book was insightful and reflexive of the times and yet reminds us how important it is to know who youve got in your corner. And also, it’s a book about books, obviously. There were some slow spots and stretches that could probably have been left out, but overall it was enlightening and enjoyable and another solid read by this author.

The narrator did a great job of keeping me engaged and entertained throughout. I will look for her narrating other books in the future.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!! This book is set in the 60s and focuses on the lives of four women who form an unlikely friendship because of a book club. I feel like Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, Viv and I are all in the same book club. I was completely invested in their lives. The 60s weren't that long ago, and I can't even imagine what these women had to go through. Things we take for granted today. Margaret couldn't open a bank account without her husband's signature ... just can't imagine. I loved how they were real with each other, sometimes using tough love with hard truths. And then at other times, just having each other's back. The book was well paced. I listened to the audiobook, and I highly recommend it. Lisa Flanagan was the narrator.

Thank you Harper Muse Audiobooks and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. FABULOUS!

This is one of my favorite books and I will be giving as gifts this year. I identified with each of the Betty's in a different way. The book kept my attention until the very end. I love how this book gave the whole story until the very end of each of their lives.

4.5 stars. Wow, this book grabbed me right from the start and I didn't want to put it down. I loved these characters so much. They were all going through something different in their families, marriages, or work, but were also all going through the same frustrations and feelings of what it was like to be a woman in the 1960's. I also loved that their friendship bloomed from a book club. Parts of the second half of the book slowed down a little and didn't seem as captivating as the first half, but I was still invested in these characters and watching them grow stronger and not backing down against society's norms. The narration of this story was done so well.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book, The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostick.this was a fantastic book about women finding themselves and getting beat back down by men based out of the early 1960’s. However, with much perseverance and a great group of friends they could overcome anything.

Overall I enjoyed this. At first it reminded me a lot of Briar Club or Lessons In Chemistry. I loved the concept of this group of 1960’s housewives who start to question the status quo. I was enraged by the inequalities women had to face in that era. The audacity of the men in this book. The way Walt was forgiven and then praised for “admitting his mistakes”. 🙄 I found almost all of the scenarios far fetched and the dialog was a little corny.

I loved the characters, their individual stories and the time period the story was set in. At times I found the story really dragging on.

This book was a perfect blend of things I love in a story: books, friendship, and the 1960s.

Margaret Ryan, the typical 1960s housewife and mother, starts a book club, and with their first book, The Feminine Mystique, the four ladies realize they are all unsatisfied with their lives.

While this was a fantastic trip back to the early ‘60s, I loved becoming engrossed in the lives of each of these women. The author did an excellent job of making them dimensional characters; they were wives and some mothers, but they all had dreams and desires that had been brushed aside. As friends, they were sometimes brutally honest with one another, yet they were also supportive and longed to see each other succeed.

I loved how the books they read were integral to their friendship, binding them and inspiring them. They even named themselves “The Bettys” after Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique.

Even with the historical references to popular culture and societal norms reminding me of the time and place, this incredible story of marriage, motherhood, feminism, and friendship was remarkably relatable at times. I didn’t want it to end; I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with these ladies and being part of their book club, even if only within these pages.

🎧Lisa Flanagan excelled in her narration, skillfully capturing the unique voices and personalities of these women.

Thank you @mariebostwick @uplitreads and @harpermusebooks for these gifted books.
Thank you @harpercollins @harpercollinsfocus for the gifted audiobook.

Marie Bostwick has crafted a true gem with this witty and fast-paced historical fiction novel. A journey back to the vibrant 1960s!
A character driven novel which is full of strong, likable female friendships. In a decade where societal expectations often confined women to the role of the demure housewife, the spirited members of Bettie's book club – Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv – dared to dream of something more. Since its inception the Bettie’s book club, has evolved into a tight sisterhood of long lasting friendships between Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv. It has blossomed into a powerful sisterhood, a sanctuary where these women can openly discuss the meaningful issues shaping their lives. Bostwick beautifully portrays the evolution of their friendships, how they built each other up, championed each other's aspirations, and found their voices over cocktails and candid conversations, blessedly free from their husbands' input. It's a joyous and empowering depiction of women carving out their own space in a world that often feels designed for men.

If you adore historical fiction set against the backdrop of the 1960s and stories that celebrate the strength and solidarity of women, then I wholeheartedly recommend you pick up this book. It’s a feel-good, empowering read that will leave you with a smile on your face and an appreciation for the power of female friendship.

The narrator - Lisa Flanagan's pronunciation is impeccable, and her ability to capture the distinct personalities of each woman through subtle inflections is truly masterful. She doesn't just read the story; she embodies it, making you feel as though you're right there. It's like receiving a beautifully sealed letter filled with secrets and laughter that you simply can't wait to unfold.

A huge thank you to Marie Bostwick, publisher Harper Muse, NetGalley and the incredible Lisa Flanagan for bringing this wonderful and fun book to life.

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This was my first book by author, Marie Bostwick and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The narrator of the audiobook was Lisa Flanagan and she did a great job. I loved the main characters, Margaret, Bitsy, Viv, and Charlotte. The book centers around their newly formed book club. I love that their first book was The Feminine Mystique. The ladies form a tight support group to help with the dissatisfaction with their current lives and help each other to make changes that help to fulfill each of them. I love a book with strong women, especially if they are helping lift each other up! I highly recommend!

Synopsis:
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. She has a standing invitation to the neighborhood coffee klatch, and now, thanks to her husband, a new subscription to A Woman's Place--a magazine that tells housewives like Margaret exactly who to be and what to buy. 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. Nicknaming themselves the Bettys, after 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.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the advanced digital copy of the book.

A great historical fiction! A well written tale set in the 60s- a time when women couldnt have a checking account or get birth control without their husband’s signature. It will infuriate you, but also have you laughing and have you longing for sisterhood. Maggie is captivated by a woman who stands out against societal expectations and creates a book club in order to befriend her. The newcomer picks the first book: The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. They then name themselves The Bettys and they will have you suddenly inspired to start a bookclub and strip yourself of “a woman’s place”.
Released April 22, 2025.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for sending me this arc read in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for an advanced copy of this book. I consumed this as both an audio and ebook. Either way, the story is engaging and emotional. The reader truly connects with these four women: Margaret, Bitsy, Viv, and Charlotte as they discover who they are as individuals in 1960s America. After forming a book club and reading a book on female empowerment, these ladies each decided they owed themselves to discover who they are beyond the typical housewife. I found myself wanting the best for all of these characters and rooting them on in each endeavor.

My biggest gripes with the book are as follows:
1. It dragged at times! The story could have been shorter and removed the monotony, namely in the middle. I also did not see a need for the final chapter. If you are one who likes your stories wrapped up in a nice bow, the final chapter is for you! Personally, I didn’t find it necessary.
2. I needed to know more about Walt, Margaret’s husband, before his transformation for it to be more believable for me. I didn’t know enough about him as an individual prior to his “change” for it to really make that big of a difference to me.

Overall, if you are a historical fiction fan, I do believe you will enjoy both the audio and print of this book.

*Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.*
When I see a "book about books" with a historical setting and strong female characters, I'm immediately excited to read it. The Book Club for Troublesome Women checked all these boxes and more for me! I found the four main characters delightfully unique from each other and interesting to spend time with. Maggie, Charlotte, Viv and Bitsy are northern Virginia housewives who form a book club in the 1960s, beginning with Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique, and along the way become close friends who empower each other to strive for more than the roles of wife and mother that society wishes to limit them to. I thought the characters' struggles with career, ambition, balancing priorities, and independence were realistic and relatable. I was also impressed by how funny some of the dialogue was, even as they dealt with serious issues (infidelity, suicide, alcoholism, pregnancy, and more). I would recommend this to fans of Natalie Jenner's Bloomsbury Girls, and Jennifer Chiaverini's Canary Girls. 3.75/5 stars

Four Sixties-era housewives, all a bit dissatisfied with their lives get together to form a book club to discuss a brand new, ground-breaking book called The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. These ladies barely knew each other, or had never met yet, but their journey together discussing this book and getting to know each other and the struggles in their lives, bring them together in a wonderful way.

I personally was so invested in each of their stories, I could not put this book/ audio down until I had finished!

My thanks to Net Galley and Harper Muse for an advanced copy of this e-book and audiobook.

I went into this one totally blind (aside from loving the cover and knowing it was set in the 60s) and it did not disappoint. It follows four women who start a secret book club, The Bettys, after reading The Feminine Mystique, and from there, they start questioning everything about their lives, their marriages, and what they really want.

What to expect:
✨ Female friendships
✨ 1960s setting
✨ Books that bring people together
✨ Motherhood, marriage, and the lack of women’s rights

I love a good historical fiction with strong characters. I was especially drawn to Margaret’s drive, Bitsy's quiet strength, and Viv’s dedication to her family and career. Even Charlotte (who I didn't love at first) grew on me.

If you love character-driven stories or need a good beach read with some depth, definitely pick this one up!

When life gets messy, four women form a book club and end up rebuilding their lives too. Full of humor, hope and unforgettable friendships, this story proves it's never too late to find your people.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

The book takes place in a suburb of Virginia in the 1960s and it seems like these women have it all, but as the story continues the reader sees each woman’s struggles.
I enjoys the dynamics of the Bettys - they are four women at different points of their life but they come together to form a sisterhood. It was a pleasure to spend time with these women. This book really shows how powerful female friendships are. Also since the book surrounds a book club, it’s a book about books - which is always a good read.
Thank you NetGalley for the advance audiobook, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Margaret Ryan, in attempt to add more to her daily routine, ends up starting a book club. It begins with a trip to a new neighbor's house to introduce herself. The neighbor, Charlotte, is aloof and cosmopolitan, not at all like Margaret. Charlotte suggests a book, The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. So as to make the new neighbor feel welcome, Margaret accepts the book suggestion and sets about gathering more readers to the small group.
Other women who join are young 20-something Bitsy, married to an older man and also Viv who has a passel of kids and a great husband. But, she finds out soon into the story that she's expecting, again, just as she set about going back to work as a registered nurse.
This book is important in sharing a slice of history with those of us who have benefitted from the advancements of the 1950s and 1960s for women, without living through it ourselves. I think the author did a tremendous job tackling societal issues.
Pick up this book - you won't regret it.