Historical Fiction lovers and Book Clubbers will eat this book up. It is a story set in an important moment in American history, post-WWII 1960's. A group of women decide to read "The Feminine Mystique" in their neighborhood book club and it changed all their lives. It showed them to want more than being a housewife, and I appreciated the encouragement to go after your dreams. It's hard to believe women were so limited then - they couldn't get a prescription or even open a bank account without their husband! Each woman's character was nicely developed and I felt like you really got to know them. I especially enjoyed the developing bond they all shared and how the book club provided a safe space to share their woes and their dreams. My book club has become one of my prized groups of friendships and I felt that in the book - the love these women had for each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is an engaging, insightful, and emotionally resonant read that delves into the complexities of women’s lives in the 1960s suburban America. Through the eyes of Margaret Ryan, a seemingly content housewife living in the quiet town of Concordia, we are introduced to a group of women who begin to question the very idealized life they’ve been told they should lead.

The novel begins by painting a picture of Margaret’s life, which, on the surface, is everything a 1960s woman could hope for—a comfortable home, a husband, children, and a perfect neighborhood. However, Margaret’s internal struggles and the sense that something is missing are palpable from the start. The arrival of Charlotte Gustafson, an intriguing new neighbor, propels Margaret into the orbit of a group of women who slowly come to realize they are not alone in their dissatisfaction. The formation of their book club—intended as an innocent get-together—becomes the catalyst for profound change as they read The Feminine Mystique and begin to confront their shared longing for something more than the life prescribed to them.

The heart of this novel lies in the personal journeys of Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv. The friendships that evolve over the course of the year are beautifully portrayed, with the women’s vulnerabilities and desires unfolding layer by layer. The dynamics of their book club, their discussions of feminism, identity, and personal fulfillment, and the moments of catharsis they experience together make for both an absorbing and deeply human story.

What I particularly loved about The Book Club for Troublesome Women is how it expertly captures the tensions of the time. The women’s journey from comfortable suburban wives to women seeking personal freedom and self-empowerment is compelling and thought-provoking. The writing is rich with details that bring 1960s suburban life to vivid life, and it highlights the struggles of women in an era when their roles were so narrowly defined.

However, while the novel is full of heart and strength, it does occasionally feel a little predictable in its narrative arc. There are moments when the progression of events feels a bit too neat, and some character developments could have been more complex or nuanced. Still, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise compelling story that offers both historical reflection and timeless insights into personal growth and the bonds that sustain us.

In the end, The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a celebration of friendship, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to challenge the norms that confine us. Fans of historical fiction and stories about women finding their voices will find much to love here. It’s a warm, heartfelt read that resonates long after the last page is turned.

Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore themes of feminism, personal liberation, and the power of literature to spark change.


You said:
I really enjoyed that, but can you add my cricisms that I wanted more drama and it seemed to drag on? And add that i liked the narrarotr
ChatGPT said:
Review of The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Valerie Taylor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is an engaging, insightful, and emotionally resonant read that delves into the complexities of women’s lives in 1960s suburban America. Through the eyes of Margaret Ryan, a seemingly content housewife living in the quiet town of Concordia, we are introduced to a group of women who begin to question the very idealized life they’ve been told they should lead.

The novel begins by painting a picture of Margaret’s life, which, on the surface, is everything a 1960s woman could hope for—a comfortable home, a husband, children, and a perfect neighborhood. However, Margaret’s internal struggles and the sense that something is missing are palpable from the start. The arrival of Charlotte Gustafson, an intriguing new neighbor, propels Margaret into the orbit of a group of women who slowly come to realize they are not alone in their dissatisfaction. The formation of their book club—intended as an innocent get-together—becomes the catalyst for profound change as they read The Feminine Mystique and begin to confront their shared longing for something more than the life prescribed to them.

The heart of this novel lies in the personal journeys of Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv. The friendships that evolve over the course of the year are beautifully portrayed, with the women’s vulnerabilities and desires unfolding layer by layer. The dynamics of their book club, their discussions of feminism, identity, and personal fulfillment, and the moments of catharsis they experience together make for both an absorbing and deeply human story.

I especially enjoyed the narrator’s voice, which felt both grounded and insightful. It provided a real sense of intimacy with the characters and helped me feel connected to their personal journeys. The narrative tone is warm and approachable, making it easy to immerse yourself in the story.

That being said, the novel did leave me wanting a bit more. I was hoping for more dramatic moments or greater tension between the characters. The stakes felt relatively low throughout, and there were times when the story seemed to drag on without much forward momentum. Some of the character arcs also felt a little predictable, and I found myself wanting more twists or emotional intensity in their individual growth.

Still, these are relatively minor critiques in an otherwise well-crafted story. The novel’s exploration of feminism, self-discovery, and the bonds of friendship is powerful, and the historical context adds an extra layer of depth. It’s a warm, heartfelt read, and despite my wish for more drama, the emotional payoff and the friendships between the characters made it well worth the read.

Overall, The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a celebration of friendship, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to challenge the norms that confine us. Fans of historical fiction and stories about women finding their voices will find much to love here. It’s a thoughtful and satisfying read that resonates long after the last page is turned.

I loved this story. I listened to the audiobook arc and enjoyed every minute of it. The characters personalities, struggles, and relationships are easy to
Identify with in one detail or another.

I think you can identify with the friendships, the relationship with their partners, and the relationship the characters have with herself as relatable - it was easy to see myself or understand what the character was going through at least once throughout the novel. The personal growth and strengths of the women were entertaining and inspiring.

I thoroughly enjoyed the wit, humor, and determination of each of the main characters. The book gave me Lessons in Chemistry vibes from multi-POVs.

Thank you NetGalley and Harpers Collins Focus for the advanced audiobook.

WOW WOW WOW WOW. This had me hooked from the beginning as the novel chronicles the lives and book club of four women who are each facing different challenges/stereotypes posed against women in the 1960s. They all lead very different lives, marriages, and careers, but the thread that weaves them together is their will to fight for what they each deserve.

It seamlessly flows from one story to the next over a course of years and you are truly rooting for each one to succeed. What I found most interesting is the secondary characters who either fully redeemed themselves - or messed up so badly there was no going back.

The author’s note at the end sharing that she felt this book was different was beautiful as you can feel a sense of pride in what she’s accomplished here … and she should. I will recommend this book to everyone, including my own book club.

What a fascinating read! The title alone had me engaged but the story hooked me in. The four women, the protagonist’s in the story couldn’t be so diverse but their friendship binds them together. These ladies experience life and events together and yet remained loyal to one another despite of it. I will never forget the Betty’s and makes me happy be part of a bookclub the way the Betty’s were. For any book lover who is also part of a bookclub I highly recommend this book.

I want to thank @NetGalley and @harpermusebooks for the ARC

This story follows four women coming to terms with their position as women during the tumultuous 1960s. The women form a book club to discuss Betty Friedan’s The Feminie Mystique and the book follows each character as they discover their place in a world not quite ready for strong, independent minded women. I really enjoyed this book. I found each character to be well thought out and was invested in each storyline. Overall I would recommend this book and it would make a great book club read!

I really enjoyed the look back to the not so distance past. This book seems particularly fitting during our current policial environment. The Betty’s as their troublesome book club is called are four women stuck on their own island of loneliness until they come together and with each other boost each other up. I really enjoyed this book.

Marie Bostwick has hit a homerun with this historical novel. Along with the narration of Lisa Flanigan, life of the sixty's and how women navigated their way is truly brought to life. I enjoyed this complimentary copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was too much of a slow burn for me. I found it dull and too slow in places and almost didn’t want to finish it, but the end did pick up and Im glad I pushed through.

This was full of details and reflections that activated my feminist rage and I want to share this with all of my friends and their daughters and sons to gain a perspective that we have seem to have lost in this current political era. Women are a range and deserve to chart their own paths without society telling them how or what to do. The historical details were impactful and the story wove itself through the lives of four white women. The focus was narrow on women that had options, but it did address those that didn't have the choice to stay home and also lightly touched on women of color. I think the focus was on this perception of 1960s idealism and the impacts of the patriarchy on society and women. Obviously, I don't have to say "all men", but the misogyny was so prevalent then and it is still now.

Loved it. Feel good, uplifting book about friendship. Built on books, but the relationship of the ladies in the book club is so much more. They are there for each other in ways no one else could be and it’s so incredibly beautiful.

Advanced listener copy provided by Harper Collin’s Focus but all opinions are my own.

Well, this historical fiction novel sure feels timely right now. The Book Club for Troublesome Women does an excellent job of showing how far we've come and how far we have left to go. I thought it was beautifully written and thoroughly engaging, the story tracks one of the most meaningful relationships in the world - the connection among adult women. I thought it did a great job reflecting the times while reminding the readers that there is definitely more work to be done.

If you love Desperate Housewives, Lessons in Chemistry and historical fiction then this is the audiobook you need!!

This journey follows Margaret, who starts a book club with the local housewives, Bitsy, Viv, and Charlotte. After their first book read by Betty Friedan, they become known as the ‘Bettys.’ Through their book club discussions, cocktails, and gossiping, they discover that the American Dream and propaganda aren’t what they aspire to as women. As their lives unfold, they experience loss, arguments, and significant emotional transformations. Despite these challenges, the Betty’s remain steadfast in their friendship and support for one another. Their book club evolves into a platform for nurturing their bond, fostering loyalty, and providing a sense of freedom. They never sway from what bought them together originally - books - they continue to choose a new book each month no matter what!

I really loved this audiobook, the narrators expression kept it fresh and easy to distinguish the different characters.

The book brought a lot of comfort in that these women were truly supportive in times of fear and loss. The first half of the book was really well written and their personalities were individual and clear of who brings what to the table.

The book began to slow down with not much happening at all, however there were deep conversations around women’s rights whilst they attempted to push the barriers of their freedom doing normal errands we would do today. It opened my eyes to how much they struggled with the simplest of things.

Overall a really good read, just think it could have been shorter or a quicker pace in the middle chunk of the book.

“You know... I don't think so. I'm going to go let my friends
in. This is my house now."

"Calling the shots. And I have to tell you, Edna. It feels good."

“Because I want to. Because you'd do the same for me. Because you're my group."

Thank you Netgalley for this audio edition of The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick.

If you enjoyed The Chilbury Ladies Choir, this is right up your alley. It's a cozy, yet thought provoking story, set in the 60's, about an unlikely group of women who gather together for a book club. But each woman has a unique challenge in their life, mostly centered around living in a patriarchal system in the 60's, and everything that they do to overcome it.

This book was pretty much exactly what I expected it to be, but it didn't make it any less enjoyable to read. It's good to remember where we come from, where we are now, and how far we still have to go.

This is a story of four 1960s era housewives who start a bookclub and choos the Feminine Mystique as their first group read. The book ends up helping them forge lasting friendships and strengthens each of them as they find their true identities in and outside the roll of housewife.

I ended up loving every single one of these women and the uplifting friendships and support that is the main theme was everything I didn’t know I needed. It’s a historical fiction that gives insight into a time I know very little about and I always appreciate that about the genre. Definitely a fun, heartfelt, and entertaining listen that I recommend to those who enjoy strong female friendships and the journey of forging the path less traveled.

Thank you Harper Muse for the alc via Netgalley

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
Pub day April 22

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.