A slow burn for the first 10-15%, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it but then the characters grew on me and I was invested in their lives.

Following the four women as they struggle to navigate married life (some with kids, some not), their role in the home versus their own wants and needs. It is set in the 60's where the role of the dutiful mother and wife is challenged. Women wanted more, to feel like they were worth more, to be able to still have a career, have their own bank account or go on birth control without the husband's permission.

Through all the ups and downs, their friendship is the shining star to me. Women need other women who believe in them, elevate them and who are there for them in their hour of need. Female friendships are more important than I think people realise. This band of women were there for each other and it was wonderful to see their journey.

"...sister travellers on parallel roads with different destinations."

An enjoyable read. I listened on audio and the narrator had a lovely voice. Very calming to listen to.

A poignant, relevant, and moving story about a group of women from the 60's who find a book that challenging their roles as housewives in a time of revolution. Each of the lead characters are faced with their own search for meaning at various stages in their married life.

I went into this book without reading much about what to expect and I was moved to tears by the end. Such an uplifting reminder of how hard the women who came before us had to fight to get the most basic of rights. And here we are again, fighting against a patriarchy that doesn't believe we have the right to our own choices. What a beautiful reminder that it was not that long ago that women and POC were considered second class citizens. And how those very rights are under attack today.

Usually I let ARC's simmer for a day before I write a review. Not today. I feel motivated and invigorated by these characters, fictional or not. There was entire generations of women who were stifled and diminished. We wont go back. And we won't go down without a fight. This book has made it to my top 10 and it's only February. 10/10 Will recommend to my book club.

5 stars.
I received this Audio book from NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Focus, Harper Muse, and Marie Bostwick for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook.

<i>The Book Club for Troublesome Women</i> is a work of historical fiction that feels deeply rooted in the realities of second-wave feminism. The struggles, friendships, and evolving perspectives of the characters make for an engaging read. Lisa Flanagan’s narration adds warmth and authenticity to the storytelling, enhancing the immersive experience.

While the novel does a great job capturing some of the struggles women faced during the 60's, its focus on white suburban housewives left me wanting a more diverse perspective. The inclusion of historical events, such as the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., acknowledges the broader social landscape, but the story doesn’t fully engage with voices outside of its central demographic. It offers an insightful yet familiar take—one that scratches the surface rather than breaking new ground and doesn't offer much in the way of 'trouble'.

Overall, this is an enjoyable read for those interested in historical fiction centered on women’s rights and personal transformation. However, readers seeking a more nuanced and untold perspective may find it lacking.

This book was provided to me for free in exchange for my honest review. Rating: 3.5/5

4/5 stars

Trigger Warnings: (from Storygraph) Graphic: Sexism, Infidelity, Pregnancy
Moderate: Suicide, Mental illness, Misogyny
Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual content, Infertility

I really enjoyed this book! The narrator was great and I felt invested in the story. I recently saw a play called 'A Taste of Things to Come' and since then, I've wanted to learn more about Women in the 1960's and how they grew as wives, mothers and friends through a book club.

This book is set in the 1960's and spans 8 months. It started with the release of the book 'The Feminine Mystique' by Betty Friedan, and ending with the November assassination of JFK. I really liked how Bostwick brought in real life events to this story to add to the historical aspect.

The characters were a bit confusing at first but after a bit, I got to know more about them and what they each did. I enjoyed learning about their challenges and how they worked to overcome them. I would highly recommend this book for a book club that enjoys female friendship books. Now I want to read more by Bostwick. It would be fun to read a sequel to see where they are 10 years later.

Thanks to @netgalley and @Harpermusebooks for the ARC. Book to be released April 22, 2025.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This audiobook was exceptional. If you loved the themes of Lessons in Chemistry; you will love The Book Club for Troublesome Women.

Margaret is feeling a little lost in her life and marriage and crosses paths with the eccentric and fabulous Charlotte. Margaret decides that she must meet her. She shows up at her house with dessert and an offer to join her book club. Charlotte rejects her boring book but says she will commit if they are willing to read The Feminine Mystic.

What starts as a book club becomes a life long friendship between four bold women. They support each other through infidelity, fertility issues, mental health challenges and finding themselves in a world where women have limited rights. Margaret, Charlotte, Betsy, and Viv are will keep you entertained from start to finish.

First, a huge thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher. This book spoke to me on so many levels. Every character, every moment felt intentional and incredibly powerful. While the novel acknowledges its own limitations and lack of full intersectionality, and I love that the author chose to simply acknowledge her privilege instead of trying to write a narrative she couldn’t understand. The characters are so full and complex that there were times I forgot that this was fiction and not a memoir. This is the kind of book that thirty years from now, students will be studying in a woman’s lit class and recognizing it for the classic it is destined to be.

I’ve come to the realization that any book with “library” and “book” in the title is immediately going on my to-be-read list. (Hazards of being a librarian, I guess). That was the case when I first laid eyes on this book. A story about a book club? Yes, please! With troublemakers in the club? Definitely sign me up! One thing I know for certain after reading this story is I could never have been a housewife in the 1960’s. I’m much too stubborn to conform to the standards from that era where a woman’s place was supposedly in the home and nowhere else. Oh yes…I would’ve rebelled against every bit of that nonsense.

This was my first time reading Marie Bostwick’s work, and I really enjoyed it. The four main characters - Margaret, Viv, Charlotte, and Bitsy - are unique individuals with very different personalities, and I liked that I was able to get to know all of them. There’s not a prominent character here. Each woman has their own personal struggles, and they each play a special part in weaving this beautiful story together. I have to say that Charlotte was my favorite, and Christine Baranski lived rent-free in my head the whole time I listened to this audiobook because the narrator sounded just like her. If someone turns this book into a movie and they don’t have Christine Baranski playing Charlotte I will be highly disappointed. If you enjoy stories about the power of friendship and solidarity between women, then you’ll love The Book Club for Troublesome Women.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick was my first read from her, and I really enjoyed this book, it’s one of those books I won’t stop thinking about. It is set back in the 1960s and follows a group of housewives that are living in this new “planned community”. They started this book club and their first book they planned to read was The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. Margaret, Viv, Bitsy and Charolette meet and bond over afternoon cocktails and their books. These four women created a sisterhood from this bookclub, their friendship feels authentic and following their stories made me sit back and think just how lucky women are now compared to the 1960s. These ladies would discuss all the controversies of their first read, this book was so groundbreaking for women in that generation. It helped them see that they were more than just housewives while their husbands worked and they stayed home and were homemakers and mothers. The book highlights alot of historical events taking place during this time including the civil rights movement. It was really eye opening to see just how few things were able to do, I know how many more rights women have due to this time of our history. I loved that this wasnt like other historical fiction books, it was more real and raw. I was appalled reading that before 1974 a women wasn’t able to have their own bank account without their husbands signature. I fell in love with these women and I so wish I was part of a book club like theirs. I will not stop recommending this book to every single female I know. This is one of those books that you won’t forget. I highly recommend listening to this audiobook.

* Historical Fiction
* Women’s fiction
* Women’s rights during the Civil Rights Movement
* Literary Fiction

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus and Marie Bostwick for allowing me access to this advance copy of this audiobook.

Oh my gosh, loved this book. Loved how it takes place close to where I live and in an area and time filled with history. Love how some of that history was brought into the story.
I loved these women. Loved their group. Loved their friendship.
Loved hearing how they were coming into their own lives in a time when women had no lives besides their family.

Would definitely recommend this book over and over.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy.

"The Book Club for Troublesome Women" is a really touching and relevant read, especially with everything going on with women's rights today. Set in the 1960s, it shows how far we've come in the feminist movement, but also how much more there is to do.

The story is about four housewives—Margret, Charlotte, Viv, and Bitsy—who read "The Feminine Mystique" and it totally changes their lives. They start to question the roles society has given them and go on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

What I loved most was the strong friendship between these women. Their support for each other is at the heart of the story, and it really shows how powerful friendship and personal growth can be. Watching them challenge the norms of their time was super inspiring.

I listened to the audiobook and it was fantastic. The narration really brought the characters to life and made the story even more engaging.

Reading this book made me realize how much I take for granted today. For example, I had no idea that women in the 1960s couldn't open a bank account without their husband's permission. That was a real eye-opener and made me appreciate the freedoms we have now.

I haven't been part of a book club in a while, but this book made me wish I had a group to discuss it with. The themes and characters are so rich and engaging, it would make for a great conversation.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for letting me listen to the ARC of this audiobook. "The Book Club for Troublesome Women" is a must-read that will leave you thinking about friendship, personal growth, and the ongoing fight for women's rights. It also inspired me to read "The Feminine Mystique" myself!

Four housewives in the 1960’s decide to form a book club and their first book? The Feminine Mystique. Little did they know this was about to stir something up in them they didn’t know existed. Together they formed a bond that would give them the courage to find happiness in their lives that they had been missing and together face challenges that women in that time faced everyday.

I went into this book blind and I’m glad I did. I fell in love with these strong women and although I know they were fictional they represent many who were not. I knew that women were suppressed in the 60’s it still infuriated me while I read that women couldn’t even get their own bank accounts without their husbands signature until 1974. I always knew that was a thing but I never realized that I am not that far removed from that era. My mother was raised in this time where women couldn’t even get birth control or apply for certain schools. This just blows my mind. I am so thankful for the women that came before us who paved the way so that me and my girls could have opportunities that even just the generation before me didn’t have.

✨ 𝘼𝙇𝘾 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 ✨

𝙋𝙪𝙗 𝘿𝙖𝙩𝙚: April 22, 2025

𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠: The Bookclub for Troublesome Women

𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 🤯

𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬: Audiobook Review: The Book Club for Troublesome Women

This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster, and the audiobook narration made it even more immersive. The narrator did an incredible job bringing the characters to life—there were moments where I felt like I was sitting in the same room, experiencing their frustrations, their anger, and their triumphs right alongside them.

Set in the early 1960s, The Book Club for Troublesome Women follows a group of women who begin reading The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. Through their discussions, they start to see the limitations placed on them—some they had accepted as normal, others they had been fighting against without even realizing it. The injustices these women face are infuriating. Not being able to open a checking account without a husband’s permission? Being blamed entirely if they couldn’t get pregnant? A woman’s struggles being dismissed simply because she’s female? It’s a stark reminder of how far we’ve come—and how much we take for granted today.

The historical backdrop was also powerful—1963 marked the fight for equal pay, and MLK’s speech was happening at the same time. The book blended these real-world events seamlessly into the characters’ lives, making it feel even more authentic.

Overall, The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a must-read (or listen!) for anyone who appreciates historical fiction, feminist themes, and powerful female friendships. It’s a book that will make you feel everything—anger, frustration, hope, and empowerment.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for an ARC of this book.

I didn't realize I would love this book as much as I did until I was telling my friend about it. If a book is about books, bookstores, libraries, librarians or book clubs, then I want to read it. I loved getting to know Maggie, Viv, Charlotte, and Bitsy. I loved how they built their book club and friendship. I loved getting their views of the 1960s and seeing them deal with the struggles of the times. It also makes me scared right now that we, as women, may be fighting for the same rights again. I want to hop into the book and join the Betty's (their book club). The book concluded in a perfect way, but I am saddened that on my ride home today I won't be listening to my girls. I have added the Feminine Mystique and A Room of Her Own to my TBR. I am thankful for the author's note at the end. I love hearing how authors come up with their stories. If you are a historical fiction reader or love a good story about friendship and overcoming difficulties, finding yourself or BOOKS, give this one a try.

A Heartfelt Celebration of Friendship, Feminism, and Finding One’s Voice
Marie Bostwick’s The Book Club for Troublesome Women is an inspiring and deeply moving tale of four women discovering their strength in the midst of societal change. Set against the backdrop of the 1960s, this novel beautifully captures the struggles and awakenings of housewives yearning for more than the roles assigned to them. As their book club turns into a powerful sisterhood, readers are treated to a touching story of self-discovery, courage, and the enduring power of friendship. With rich characters, emotional depth, and historical relevance, this is a must-read for anyone who loves stories about resilience and reinvention.

Good supportive friends and empowering books can achieve remarkable things. I didn't waste a moment considering how much longer I had left in the book—I simply relished the experience. The Book Club for Troublesome Women intricately weaves the lives of four distinct women who convene for a book club. It delves deeply into their relationships with their husbands and children, or the absence thereof. The narrative provides a fascinating glimpse into the treatment of women in the 1960s, highlighting the rights they were denied and the expectations they faced. I found the storyline profoundly empowering. Despite the societal pressures to conform to certain behaviors and ways of thinking, many women defied these norms, and I greatly admired how they navigated these challenges.

My only comment pertains to the section about the JFK funeral; while I understood its inclusion, it felt somewhat corny. I appreciated the historical perspective of the book and the included snippets, but this particular segment felt distracting from the storyline.

If you enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry, I think this should be added to your list. Books bringing women together for girl power, what could be better! Highly recommend.

This has been posted to Goodreads.

An amazing look into the not so recent past. A very timely book considering all of the changes that are going on in the world, and the challenges that minorities and women are facing with regards to rolling back rights and freedoms.

This book was at the heart a story about female friendship and encouragement. It was a window into the lives of women in our grandmother's time, and weather you had the support of a good husband, or was strapped to a dud of a man, the challenges and tribulations of just being a woman existing were steeper and stronger than those of today. Challenges like having a bank account or a job without the permission of your husband. Certainly limited freedoms as to what sort of education, career-if any, and hobbies you had access to.

I love that books brought these women together and have them experiencing life differently, and used the book club as the foundation of their fierce and lovely friendship story. I loved this book. I can't wait to recommend it to all my book club gals.

The Bookclub for Troublesome Women is a powerful, feminist read that brings the struggles of 1960s suburban women to life. When four women start a book club and read The Feminine Mystique, it sparks a slow-burning revolution in their lives. Through friendship and Friedan’s words, they begin to challenge the suffocating expectations placed on them—housework, child-rearing, and husbands who take them for granted (which, yes, got on my nerves—as they should).

The story is engaging, uplifting, and refreshingly linear, weaving in real-life icons like Katharine Graham and Jackie Kennedy. While it sticks to a primarily white, upper-middle-class lens, the themes of self-discovery and defiance resonate. It’s not overly dramatic, but the small victories feel real and satisfying.

A must-read for book clubs and anyone who loves a story about women finding their power.

** fun audiobook**

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ — Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.

4⭐️

I would like to thank HarperCollins Publishing, Marie Bostwick, and NetGalley for a chance to preview this title before it is available April 22, 2025.

This book is about a group of women in the 1950s who meet because they live in the same suburban neighborhood, but become friends because of their book club. This is a sweet narrative that follow the 4 women equally, while one is the main character, the others get their due course. This is refreshing because each of their stories is interesting with wonderful character development. The reader actually cares about the lives of these women. I can honestly say that I do not feel there was a lag in action and I did not at any point feel like a plot point was going no where. Sometimes "literary fiction" can feel like a story, pure and simple, but this felt like it had a purpose and made me think about how the lives of these women in the 1950s can still be applied to women today.

I listened to this on audiobook and very much enjoyed the narration and story telling. The narrator did all the voices, and while some of the men's voices weren't the greatest, it was not shocking or cringy and they often can be.

A book really can change your life. Just ask Margaret who was a simple housewife in the 60s until she accidentally starts a book club after visiting her radical new neighbor. After they read The Feminine Mystique, all of them embrace the fact that they do want more. And that’s exactly what they get. For fans of Lessons in Chemistry and The Help.

This is the same read as every other book set in this time period about unfulfilled women. I did finish it to give it a chance to add anything significant, but it just fell flat. In this day and age, we all know that housewives were not always content, nor did they have the means to do anything about it. While the women in this story mostly ended up with an ending they desired, there wasn’t anything seemingly significant about any of their stories.