1960's housewives Margaret, Viv, and Bitsy are introduced to Charlotte, a wild card. To break the ice, they start a book club, but Charlotte insists on reading "The Feminine Mystique" which sets off feelings and events that will impact them for the rest of their lives.

This was an absolutely fantastic book. These 4 women have grit and determination, and watching them take their own lives in their hands was beautiful. Womens rights, civil rights, JFK...it was all at the forefront in their lives. The ambitions and lives of these women is inspiring. A solid five-star read.

There was nothing wrong with this book. I personally struggle reading that time period and got a little bored in parts, but this is going to be an amazing book for a lot of people.

Top notch book. I would give it more stars if I could. Almost all of the novel takes place in 1963 and Betty Friedan’s Feminine Mystique is the catalyst for a book club in suburban Washington. Four women are inspired by this book and subsequently come to understand themselves and strive for fulfillment. Each person was well-developed and completely real. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did an excellent job. Marie Bostwick’s note at the end of the book states she feels this was the book she was always meant to write. I’m so glad she did.

In the early 1960s, Margaret, Viv, and Bitsy discover a sense of dissatisfaction with their mundane housewife lives. Their formation of a book club with their new unconventional friend, Charlotte, and their subsequent reading of "The Feminine Mystique" sparks a realization that their discontent is shared by many women.

I love badass women, and the 4 main characters in this book are definitely badass women. in some capacity, yes, this was about a book club, but in actuality this was not really about a book club at all. It was more about the bond that these women form together as they discover their own courage and purpose. Post World War II, the American Dream was at the forefront of the social discourse. Women were sold the lie that their sole purpose was to be a wife and mother, and that ambitions outside of those roles were frivolous. Marie Bostwick is a new-to-me author, so I didn't really know what to expect with this one, but I feel like she knocked it out of the park with this one. I learned a lot while reading this book, and I fell in love with the characters!

Thank you the the publisher and author for an ARC of this book. I listened to it in audible format.

This was a great feminist, historical fiction read. I could really imagine this becoming a series or film.

The different stories of all of the women and how they came together to support and challenge each other was the highlight

✨Review - The Book Club For Troublesome Women by @

Set in early 1960s American suburbia, this book chronicles 4 wives and the way that reading Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique” together transformed their lives and friendships in ways they could never have imagined.

This is a beautiful and nuanced study of middle-class domesticity post WWII, exploring the birth of feminism and the awakening of women to the ways society shapes gender roles. I appreciated that it addressed not only women’s rights and roles, but also touched on the intersectionality of racial minority rights as well as the ways men can be as equally trapped by gender norms as women.

Each of the 4 ‘leading ladies’ are unique in personality and lived experience, so I felt like there was a good chance readers would resonate with at least one of them. That said, even though race is addressed as a secondary concern, the main characters are still all white.

I buddy-read this with my cousin, and toggled back and forth between print and audio. The audiobook narrator was excellent!! (And now we want to read “The Feminine Mystique” too!)

This book releases April 22, and would be an excellent book club read.

I want to join the Bettys! That’s what the Troublesome ladies of the book club call themselves. This story is a funny, heartwarming, thought provoking tale of neighbors who decide to form a book club. The first book: Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique. From that point on strong friendships are formed. This book was such a great lens into being a woman in the 60’s, we couldn’t open bank accounts on our own, needed our husband’s permission at the doctor’s office, and were expected to not want more than being a homemaker! Each woman has a different version of empowerment as the story grows, and I loved every bit of this!

I highly recommend this read, especially if we women are to keep pushing forward, rather than going backwards!

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins Focus, and Marie Bostwick for the ARC (I listened to my advanced copy and loved

What a fun listen. I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't just an entertainig story but also thought-provoking -- a reminder of how recent women's rights were given, but also a reflection on living authentically and finding your happiness and purpose. The narrator was excellent and able to voice the four women differently enough that they were distinctive. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen and offer my honest review.

What can I say~ I did enjoy this audiobook very much. One can say that the story itself wasn't much but I think that while the plot wasn't that complicated the characters and their development throughout the story was very interesting. The way the main characters were treated by the society and their families shows how women overall were treated in 60., how their opinions were omitted, how they were squished and forced to go with the current – marry, have children, sacrifice yourself to others well-being.

Just reading it you can see how far we've progressed since those times, how much has changed. And, in a way, it makes me hopeful for the future. Because, if we could do this in this fairly short amount of time, we can do even more going into the future.

I'd like to send my thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free audiobook of this publication in exchange for an honest review.

I can't believe I got an ARC copy of this audiobook. I loved it! Set in the early 1960s, it follows four housewives who form a book club to discuss The Feminine Mystique, only to find themselves gaining much more than they expected through their shared journey. Each woman struggles with societal expectations while navigating personal fulfillment, and their stories are deeply relatable, even today. Who doesn't love a book about string female characters. I thought this was great. A great book for those who enjoy Kristin Hannah.

This book has two of my favorite things…book clubs and strong women supporting each other. This book takes place in the 1960’s and the writing truly made me think what it was like during this time for women. This book was a wonderful story and I highly recommend it.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story. It provides a vivid portrayal of what it was like for women in the 1960s.

Imagine having your husband give you an allowance and making you feel like your contributions to the family are insignificant. It’s disheartening to realize that dreams and aspirations are often dismissed as unimportant for women. The societal norms of the time limited women’s opportunities to pursue their goals and make a meaningful impact.

However, there were women who defied these norms and fought for their dreams. They demonstrated that women were not just defined by their gender but by their abilities and aspirations. This book highlights the struggles and triumphs of women in the 1960s, shedding light on the challenges they faced and the unwavering support they received from their husbands.

Whether you’re a book club member or simply seeking a glimpse into the lives of women during that era, this book is an excellent choice. It offers a compelling narrative that explores the complexities of gender roles and the power of women to achieve their dreams.

El Club de Lectura para Mujeres Problemáticas ofrece una conmovedora visión de la vida de las amas de casa suburbanas en los años 60, luchando contra las expectativas sociales y los primeros indicios del feminismo de segunda ola. La novela captura de manera hermosa el poder de la amistad femenina, con el club de lectura accidental de Margaret Ryan sirviendo como un refugio para el autodescubrimiento y la rebelión silenciosa. Los temas del matrimonio, la identidad y la libertad personal resuenan, haciendo de esta una lectura sincera y nostálgica.
Sin embargo, a pesar de su prometedora premisa, la novela tiene dificultades con la ejecución. El ritmo es desigual, a menudo se arrastra en momentos que deberían sentirse más impactantes. Aunque los temas son importantes, se vuelven repetitivos, y los personajes, aunque cautivadores, a veces parecen más arquetipos que individuos completamente desarrollados. Los conflictos se desarrollan de manera predecible, y al final, queda una sensación persistente de que la historia podría haber ido más allá, entregando un mayor peso emocional.

Margaret, Charlotte, Vivian and Bitsy are four women living in Virginia in 1963. Together the decide to put together a book club and the book of choice is The Feminine Mystique. The ability to see the thoughts of these women during such a pivotal time in the USA is such an interesting perspective. The Feminine Mystique helps these women turn into a sisterhood and together they realize that they are not alone longing for their dreams that seem impossible with the 60's standards of women.
The story line overall is character driven and I cannot help but feel what that time could have been like. Who doesn't enjoy a story where women join forces and find strength in each other.

If you are looking for a book featuring strong, independent women who support each other and their dreams and ambitions, then look no further! This is the book for you!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 is focused around four sixties-era housewives who form a book club during a time when the world is rapidly changing. They read a book that makes them realize that they are not alone in their feelings of dissatisfaction and wanting more out of life. Through the support of each of the other women, they embark on life journeys to chase their dreams. This is an inspiring story that I think still rings true today. It is a timeless story and I highly recommend it! I listened to the audio and it was fantastic.

I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of @harpermusebooks The Book Club for Troublesome Women and I loved this book!

The title instantly captivated me, especially with “Book Club” in it, and it truly delivered! This novel follows the journey of four women in the early sixties who decide to invigorate their housewife lives by forming a book club and reading “The Feminine Mystique.” Though they came for the books, they gained so much more through the bonds they created over literature.

Each character grapples with her own struggles and triumphs as they seek balance and understanding of what it means to be a fulfilled woman today. In a time when women couldn’t even open a bank account, they felt guilty not embracing every aspect of homemaking.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Charlotte, Viv, Margaret, and Bitsy, each adding unique perspectives to the narrative. Many pressures they faced in the past resonate with us in 2025, prompting us to question if we are enough, doing enough, or making the right life choices. We often juggle countless roles while striving to “have it all,” as society dictates.

This book fostered deep human connections, providing a poignant snapshot of suburban housewives during that era. It instilled hope as I witnessed these women navigate societal restrictions, a challenge we still face today regarding women’s rights and uplifting each other. The author expertly illustrates the progress of the feminist movement while shedding light on how much still needs to be done. I reflected on my grandmother raising children in the 60s, feeling a profound connection to the women who came before us and the transformative power of a book to broaden our lives and perspectives!

This comes out April 22nd and I highly recommend it to fans of Kristin Hannah, Kate Quinn and Historical Fiction lovers! I also think it makes a wonderful bookclub book read and discussion ☺️. Thank you so much @harpermusebooks for this ARC and to Marie for writing such a wonderfully written book!

The narrator of the audiobook did a great job. The story follows multiple women in a book club and I appreciate how both the author and narrator made each woman’s voice unique and distinctive. My favorite part of the story was the relationships and watching their friendships and marriages evolve, devolve, bend and mend. The author could have been a bit more subtle when discussing themes but most was discussed in the context of the book club so it was more believable that the characters would discuss themes in an upfront manner. Outside of the context of the book club it did become a bit jarring. There was a point at the end where our focus shifted away from the friend group to the outside world and it felt a bit prolonged and lost my interest if I am being honest. The strong part of the story for me was getting to know these women as they get to know themselves and each other.

Thank you netgalley for the arc!

I already had the print version of this book but I wanted to immersively read the book with the audio for my second read. I loved the audio!!

The Book Club for Troublesome Women

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you NetGalley & Harper Muse & Marie Bostwick for a copy of this amazing book.

4.5/5 stars! Wow this book actually was so binge worthy. I am obsessed with it!

I totally fell in love with this story. Both the physical book and audio reading of this book really was wonderful. One of the main reasons why I loved this book is just reading how life was for house wives back in the 60s. Life has changed drastically since then for women. As a girl who was born in the late 90s and growing up in the 21st century … just reading about the differences in eras of time is so interesting.

I loved reading and learning about each fo the different characters and how they each started to think for themselves and feel confident in who they were individually as women.

As a gal who also started a book club born out of a passion of reading, and wanting to gather with friends, it’s so fun reading about something similar. This book is PERFECT for your book club as well!

Below is the synopsis of the book ~
“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. By early 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan, Viv Buschetti, and Bitsy Cobb, suburban housewives in a brand-new "planned community" in Northern Virginia, appear to have it all. The fact that "all" doesn't feel like enough leaves them feeling confused and guilty, certain the fault must lie with them. Things begin to change when they form a book club with Charlotte Gustafson--the eccentric and artsy "new neighbor" from Manhattan--and read Betty Friedan's just-released book, The Feminine Mystique. Controversial and groundbreaking, the book struck a chord with an entire generation of women, helping them realize that they weren't alone in their dissatisfactions, or their longings, lifting their eyes to new horizons of possibility and achievement. Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv are among them. But is it really the book that alters the lives of these four very different women? Or is it the bond of sisterhood that helps them find courage to confront the past, navigate turmoil in a rapidly changing world, and see themselves in a new and limitless light?”

In the Book Club for Troublesome Women, four very different women come together in a book club, only to discover how much they have in common when it comes to their struggles, hopes, and dreams. As they share their stories, they form a powerful support system that helps them navigate their individual challenges.

This book was a captivating journey back in time, offering a vivid portrayal of what life was like for women from different walks of life in the 1960's. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator truly brought the characters to life, skillfully differentiating between voices and emotions, which made the story even harder to put down.

If you're a fan of historical fiction with strong female friendships at its core, this novel is a must-read (or listen!). It effortlessly combines heartfelt storytelling with rich historical context. A solid four stars from me! Pour a "truth serum" and add to your TBR!