DNF - I had high expectations for this book, but after starting it, my attention was not grabbed in the way I prefer. This is not necessarily a bad book, but I'm not interested in finishing it at this time.

4.25 stars.

Set in the 60s, about a book club, female friendships, and revolves around women finding their place in the world. Check, check, check, and check. Marie Bostwick's formula for The Book Club for Troublesome Women first called to me when I saw the cover but the description only furthered my desire to read it. I am such a sucker for a story like this and I'm elated to say that I wasn't disappointed.

Margaret Ryan is our main protagonist but each character had enough presence and development to make it feel like they were all front and center. Although Viv Buschetti and Bitsy Cobb were wonderful characters in their own right, Charlotte Gustafson (and her Samantha Jones demeanor) was my personal favorite.

It was a joy to observe such a deep bond blossom between these four women who couldn't have been more different from each other. Female friendships are always important but especially so during a time when women weren't allowed to do much of anything without permission from a man. Although The Book Club for Troublesome Women is rooted in the past, it is very relevant to our current climate and I believe that made it all the more important.

I was also delighted to be able to be able to listen to the audiobook version as well as read a digital copy. The audiobook brought even more life to the story through Lisa Flanagan's incredible narration.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Novels force you to think, to make your own conclusions about characters and themes and decide if they’re valid, true or good or maybe somewhere in between.”

This book really did make me think, it made me angry as well, realising how unfair women were treated back then, but also realising that though we’ve come a long way, we still got a long way to go. It also made me feel proud of the women in this book.
I really enjoyed following the women’s stories and transformations throughout the book, and I loved seeing them make choices for themselves and come to the realisation that deserve to do just that.

I enjoyed the themes of the book, the feminism & friendship, the fact that its a book about books always hits.. The writing was good and the narrator was very pleasant to listen to.

Though the women might not seem like the most conventional friends at first, I love how they find each other, can relate to each other and cheer each other on despite the hardships they endure, and that even when they go through their own rough periods, they find their way back to each other and themselves as well.
I really liked seeing their personal identities as well their friendship develop.

It’s not a story that hasn’t been told before and I had an idea of where the story was going to go. But that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed listening to the book.
It was easy for me to picture the story play out, and it gave me a good idea of what life looked like in the 1960’s from the perspective of these women. Which of course I’ll never really know what it was like, but the author did a good job with making me feel what it would be like to be in the shoes of these women, even if just for a moment.

Although set in the 1960s, the timely themes within this novel (feminism/women's rights) are still relevant today (unfortunately now more than ever), making this an important and illuminating read. I loved learning about the different obstructions women faced at the time as well as the book choices selected by the book club (starting off with The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan).

I will say, at times, I had a little trouble keeping the four FMCs straight (except for Charlotte who was the most vivacious and memorable to me),

If you enjoyed THE WOMEN ON PLATFORM TWO, THE DEVIL AND MRS. DAVENPORT or LOOKING FOR JANE then I would highly recommend adding this book to your tbr!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for access to the book in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent audiobook! Set in the 60s, a group of dissatisfied housewives start a book club to add a little excitement into their lives. What they end up getting is lifelong friendships, and the reality that you are not alone with your feelings of discontent. That you are more than just a mom.

👩🏻‍🤝‍👩🏻👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏻Female friendships
🚫 Societal restrictions
🍹 Historical references

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is an inspiring, character-driven novel set in 1963. It delves into the silent dissatisfaction of suburban housewives who discover their strength through literature and camaraderie. The premise, which examines the influence of The Feminine Mystique on a group of Virginia women, is not just compelling but also uplifting.
Bostwick skillfully captures the societal pressures of the era, from the strict gender roles to the unseen labor of housewives, while also acknowledging the limitations of Friedan’s work. The historical details, from fashion to cocktails, enrich the setting. However, the pacing at times slows, and the promise of “troublesome” women is not fully realized, with only Charlotte truly pushing boundaries. Bitsy and Margaret’s arcs, in particular, seem too reliant on their husbands’ actions rather than their own agency.
While the book’s message is potent, some of the social commentary may feel a bit heavy-handed. The ending ties up neatly, perhaps too neatly, and the lack of diverse perspectives is noticeable. Nevertheless, the novel provides a thoughtful insight into women’s struggles in the early ‘60s, making it a worthwhile, if somewhat predictable, read—especially for those who appreciate historical fiction that revolves around female friendship.
An 'A' for the narration!
And, thank you to NetGalley, for the opportunity to listen.

Thank you to Marie Bostwick, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
(Please check the trigger warnings before reading this book)

The Book Club for Troublesome Women follows Margaret Ryan, a housewife living in the idyllic town of Concordia during the 1950s, as she decides to start a book club for herself and her fellow housewives. This leads to a unique friendship group, where these women come to realise the many ways in which life is unjust for women of their time.

I enjoyed this novel a lot. It offered such a refreshing perspective on a Womans experience during this period, and I found the character development particularly interesting as the women began to recognise their own oppression. As a feminist living in the 21st century, I’ve always been aware of the struggles faced by women before us, but I had never considered the process by which these women, in real-time, would discover the limitations placed on them.

That said, I did feel that the story began to drag a bit towards the end. Perhaps this is a result of being a Brit, but I also found the commentary on JFK's death somewhat unnecessary and overly patriotic.

Overall, however, I absolutely loved this book and will be recommending it to others without hesitation.

With a title like this I knew I had to give this book a listen! I enjoyed the audio version and I feel that the production team did a great job. The narrator read at a steady pace and was easy to listen to and understand. Great plot line that wasn’t overly complicated.

I had the pleasure of receiving an advance copy from NetGalley of The Book Club of Troublesome Woman. I enjoyed the storyline and plot. There were moments of confusion having multiple characters and trying to remember which person was married to which. It did have moments that carried a slow pace, but I did enjoy the narrators voice and the multiple characters she was able to show the different pov.

Rating 4.5

AMAZING!!! What a nice surprise! This book is perfect for those who enjoyed The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus and even The Women by Kristin Hannah 💜
This book reminds me of the friends I made because of my own Bookclub and it made me very happy.

Loved the Audiobook version! Very good narrator

I had the opportunity to listen to an Advance Reader Copy of the audiobook version of The Book Club for Troublesome Women. While my review is highly positive, I want to emphasize that it is in no way influenced by the free preview.
This was my first experience reading a novel by Marie Bostwick, and I was thoroughly impressed by her creativity and intelligence, which shine throughout the book. She skillfully intertwines historical fiction, women's issues, and personal growth, setting the story in Northern Virginia during the 1960s.
The novel follows four women—Margaret, Charlotte, Viv, and Bitsy—who come together for a book club centered around The Feminine Mystique. Inspired by the book’s author, they affectionately nickname themselves "The Bettys." Each character is distinct, and their experiences within the club shape them in different ways. The story spans the course of a year, incorporating discussions of multiple books along the way.
I found the characters engaging, though at times, both character and plot development felt somewhat superficial. That said, Bostwick handles thought-provoking themes with a well-balanced mix of humor and insight, ensuring the novel never feels overly heavy or moralizing.
Overall, I rated this book 4.25 stars. The storytelling was compelling, the audiobook narration was enjoyable, and I even discovered a couple of new book recommendations within the story. The Book Club for Troublesome Women is an enjoyable and thought-provoking read—definitely worth picking up!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I liked this book. It was a real eye opener as to what life was like in the 1960s. If you were married you were expected to stay home and tend to your husband's every need, clean house, raise the kids and have meals on the table when he got home. Back in the day, you could not even open your own bank account with your own money without your husband signing off on it....WHAT...no thank you! So needless to say when a new neighbour moves to the neighbourhood and suggests that the ladies start a book club they are excited to get out and meet new friends. Then the book is chosen for the first meeting and it is the controversial book by Betty Friedan called The Feminine Mystique. Four ladies who become a close group of the friends start to see what life could be like based on the information outlined in the book. A good read and it was a nice change of pace from what I normally read.......Enjoy!!!

The author’s dedication to her mom was touching. I knew when her mother said that The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan changed her, this was going to be a great book.
This was a heartfelt and engaging novel about friendship, resilience, and personal transformation. The story follows a diverse group of women who come together to form a book club, only to find that their shared love of literature leads them to confront their own life challenges and societal issues.
The characters are well-developed, humorous and relatable, each bringing their own unique perspective and struggles to the story. Margaret, Bitsy, Viv and Charlotte all faced different challenges. The dynamics within the group highlight the importance of friendship and support, particularly when facing adversity. I laughed and cried along with them.
As the women open up to one another, they begin to see their own strength and potential and encourage one another to confront their challenges.
This book further enlightened me as to how women were treated in generations before me. In 1963, my own mother was a high school sophomore.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

3.5/5

Although it did not at first seem that any of the 4 white women in this suburban book club were actually very troublesome by today's standards, the fact that they were pushing against what was expected of them in their time and community probably would have labeled them as troublesome at the time. Their book club read books that encouraged them to question their current situation, while their friendship gave them the support and safety net to share their own struggles and push the boundaries around them.

The book sometimes felt like it was trying to hit a checklist of obstacles that would have blocked women from jobs, bank accounts, bodily autonomy, and opportunities. The book did not always seem to flow. It was almost like many short stories with their own story arcs that addressed conflict, climax, and resolution before moving on to the next problem women faced in the 1960s. Almost all problems found a solution that was favorable for the woman struggling in the situation, which, while satisfying, was also unrealistic. Most of the obstacles were predictable if you know of the history of women in that time.

I found it ironic that the author was recognizing how The Feminine Mystique was targeted to middle-class white women while writing a book that was also reflecting on the lives of the same demographic. In Bostwick's book, there were mentions that poor people do exist in relation to the medical office, and also a strong smart Black nurse that we meet for about 2 pages to hear her story who later attends a rally with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. No one has to escape a phsically abusive relationship, however they are all talked down to and emotionally manipulated in a variety of ways.

If this book were part of any of my current book clubs, I feel like it would give us many topics of discussion. There are discussion questions already in the book version, and the author mentions she will be adding recipes and more on her personal website. But even without those things, the book lends itself to many discussions about what life was like for these women with varying challenges in the 1960s and comparisons of experiences of women in current times.

Even though I had some issues with some of the book, I did enjoy it and was invested in the women, their journeys, and the bond between them that made each more courageous to stand up for themselves.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio ARC.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick explores the lives of four housewives in the 1960s.The four women bond over Betty Friedan's book, The Feminine Mystique, and start a book club called the “Betties.”

The title of the book is a bit deceiving. The Book Club itself takes a backseat to the other events happening in each of the women’s lives. And perhaps “pushing boundaries” is a better description of what happens in the book versus “troublesome.”

Ultimately, the book was a good exploration of what life was like for women in the early 60s. It was fun to see how much has changed and a bit sad to think about how much has not.

After reading this book, I plan to add The Feminine Mystique to my TBR list.

I listened to The Book Club for Troublesome Women’s audiobook. The narrator did a great job of giving life to four distinct characters

I love a book based on a book with books scattered throughout. The Book Club for Troublesome Women is centered around a group of women who read Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique. The Feminine Mystique, published in 1963, is a groundbreaking manifesto that gave voice to women's belief that institutions were working to stifle their creativity and intellect in an effort to keep them at home {aka "the problem that has no name"}. That being said, the book was problematic in that it focused only on middle class white women and ignored Black women, women of color, and women who had to work in order to support their families. This is the world that is inhabited by Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv.

I found the Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv to be relatable and charming in their own way. The character growth was not what I expected. Many of the choices made by the women were in reaction to decisions of the men in their lives. I would've liked to have seen more autonomy on the part of the women. For example, Bitsy could've left her cad of a husband when he was disrespecting her, rather than waiting to find out he had a pregnant side piece. Still, the way the women supported each other was well written. 

The supporting characters were well written and provided a nice break in the drama between the women. These characters also filled in the gaps that were glaringly obvious in Friedan's original work. Additionally, there were historical events and a running list of books that also added to the story and helped challenge the circumstances of the women's lives.

My greatest takeaway from this novel is that women need a support system that is comprised of other women. We absolutely cannot make it through this world on our own. The relationship that develops between Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv is relatable and aspirational. We watch them go from strangers who meet by happenstance to framily {friends + family} who are deeply devoted to each other individually and collectively. Even the women's families come to rely on the women for support and intercession when needed. 

I loved that the author's note at the end of the book contained important historical information relevant to the lives of women, such as the fact that women weren't able to benefit from the Equal Credit Opportunity Act until 1974 or that women required their husband's permission in order to receive medical care {side note: I was a corporal in the U.S. Army and a mother of three who needed my husband's permission to have a tubal ligation. This was in 1996.}. 

This novel is a nice counter to the "trad wife" trend that seems to be taking shape online.

What a delightful read of four strong female characters who refer to themselves as “the Bettys” after they are all significantly affected by their first book club pick, Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique. I enjoyed getting to know these four women as they navigated life in the 1960s and beyond. While I’d not heard of the author before being granted an advance reader copy of The Book Club for Troublesome Women, the description of the book appealed to me and it did not disappoint. The characters were multidimensional. Their storylines felt realistic, particularly as they were peppered with real historical facts and people. The plot moved along well and the ending was satisfying. This would make an excellent book club choice. I will look for more works by Marie Bostwick. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read and give my honest review of this novel.

Four women living in Concordia start a book club. Initially, they don’t know each other and one suggests The Feminine Mystique - a controversial book about the rights of women and that they can and should think for themselves.
All are married and all are beset by issues of America in 1963 and the expectations (or lack of) for women. Although a book of fiction, some of the characters problems would have been very real at the time. The four go through relationship difficulties, career difficulties and yet support one another to keep going.
The characters, particularly our four protagonists, Margaret, Viv, Charlotte and Bitsy really grew on me and I found them realistic and engaging.
Great to listen to, well narrated.

Very fun read
This was very well written fun story of a group of troublesome women.

The realities of the 1960 housewife were outlined in this book perfectly. The freedoms as well as the road blocks of a modern women.
Today when we talk about troublesome women we think about something outlandish and radical. Back in the 60s women who wanted more, like job outside being housewife, finish their education etc were viewed as outrageous and different…. Somewhat problematic.

This book highlights how far we got from that minds set and how easy it is to slip back in to it if we are not careful.

I received an audio ARC for The Book Club for Troublesome Women through NetGalley. Four women without much in common besides living in the same neighborhood, become life long friends through an accidental book club. Margaret in an attempt to get to know the Charlotte invites her to a book club that doesn't exist yet. The women read and bond over The Feminine Mystique. Although Bitsy, Margaret, Viv, and Charlotte are different ages, in different stages and income brackets, they show up to support each other. They shoulder each others burdens, encourage each of them to be the best they can be and don't leave when things get messy.

Marie Bostwick has written a story that is still relevant today as it was in the early 1960's. Women still struggle with who they are, what their purpose is, and how to not lose themselves when they become a mother. Finding the right women to walk alongside you is key. And never underestimate a good book, fiction or non fiction, with the power of words to help remind you of how far you have come or the potential to be more than you are.