In 1963 suburban Virginia, four women—Margaret, Viv, Bitsy, and newcomer Charlotte—form a book club that begins with *The Feminine Mystique* and sparks a journey of self-discovery and transformation. As they share their frustrations, dreams, and ambitions, the “Bettys” build deep friendships and begin to reimagine their roles beyond the confines of traditional domestic life. Each character is distinct and faces a unique challenge, yet their bonds of friendship endure throughout. Perfect for fans of historical fiction that features strong female characters succeeding in a world where the odds are stacked against them.

The Bookclub for Troublesome Women is an interesting and informative work of historical fiction set in the 1960s about a group of women grappling with the rapid and volatile societal changes that are occurring during this pivotal period in time.

Margaret, Bitsy, and Viv are friends and neighbors in the same affluent suburb of Northern Virginia. They start a bookclub and invite a new neighbor, Charlotte, to join. Charlotte is an artist who marches to the beat of her own drum and eschews being the typical housewife, so she encourages the group to read The Feminine Mystique together. The club decides to call themselves "The Bettys" after the book's author, Betty Friedan, and they begin to realize how misogyny and living within a patriarchal society has impacted each of their lives.

I appreciated the novel's nuanced and realistic portrayal of the constraints of women during that period of history, and many of the themes are still relevant today. Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone who appreciates historical fiction based on true events and enjoys ensemble casts featuring strong female protagonists. I found myself highlighting several quotes and passages, and included one of my favorites below.

"But as I discovered while reading Mrs. Friedan's book, there are countless good and right ways to be a woman and only two wrong. The first is to insist that your way is 'the' way, the only way. The second is to buy into that nonsense and spend your life limping along an aimless path in shoes that will never fit."

Thank you NetGalley & Harper Collins Focus for an audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

When a small group of women start a book club in the sixties, they form bonds that will not be broken despite changes in their lives as well as the larger society. Deaths, Divorces and reading "The Feminine Mystique" they support each other through pregnancies, getting jobs and chafing against defined roles. Well written with characters that are smart and likable this is a great read that will have readers reflecting on their own lives and those of their mothers and grandmothers.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a poignant novel about friendship and personal growth. The "troublesome women" are introduced to one another (and themselves) as they explore what Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique means to them both individually and collectively as women on the brink...

Protagonist Margaret's evolution as a wife, mother, woman, and writer is both impressive and inspiring, and the development of Bitsy, Viv, and Charlotte's characters as they face personal and professional challenges is as remarkable as the bond that forms and solidifies between these women whose suburban lives while similar on the surface are unique at a subterranean level.

Finally, the books --beyond Friedan's revolutionary catalyst to second-wave feminism--that the ladies select and discuss within their burgeoning book group are an intriguing entrée into this historical period and prove the transformative power of literature.

This was a fun one! Set the reader in the era and the women characters were engaging and overall this was the perfect bookclub/summer read. Clever way to deliver the story and good solid writing.

An insight into the lives of 4 women in the 1960s, who get together to form a book club where they read 'The Feminine Mystique', this was a great read (audiobook in my case). Each one has issues with family, with work, with the restrictions faced by women in that era, and the book follows their struggles. Well written with relatable characters, and I would gladly read more from this author.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

This story will stay with me for a long time. When 1960s suburban housewives start a book club to read "the Feminine Mystique", their lives will be changed in so many ways, Kept down by societal norms and a masculine hierarchy, these ladies will open up to a changing world, possibly for the better. a very real look at a time when a woman couldn't open her own checking account without her husband's permission....Thank you Lisa Flanagan for a narration that kept me glued to this audio.

I really enjoy a book where I feel like I’m a minor character in the plot, watching the drama unfold. The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick provided that experience for me, and I’m so grateful. I listened to the audiobook, perfectly narrated by Lisa Flanagan, which increased my connection to this story and its characters.

Any novel with “book club” in the title is an instant win for me, and I loved how four very different women formed lifelong friendships sparked by discussing “The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan. Set in the 1960s, Ms. Bostwick wove events and cultural opinions of the decade into the plot and actions of her heroines. Each main character could be viewed as a caricature representing four scenarios for women of the time, but detailed descriptions of their personalities, choices, and obstacles made them feel like fully-formed people. The novel also had me reflecting on my mother’s experience since she got married and had her children during the 1960s.

With apologies to Marie Bostwick and Kim Michele Richardson, I connected this novel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and its sequel in my mind for quite some time. To clarify, they have no connection except the word Troublesome in their titles. LOL

Thank you to Harper Muse for the review copies of this immersive novel.

I think I'm in the minority with my review on this book, but while the premise was interesting, the end result was disappointing. I loved the concept of a book group formed by women the 1960s to discuss Betty Friedan's influential book (The Feminine Mystique) and was curious about what they might do (or think!) that might be "troublesome". While we heard about some of the challenges women in that era faced (no birth control without a husband's permission, same for a bank account, minimal working outside the home, etc.), they weren't shared in a compelling way, and indeed, that was how I felt about the entire book. It was just boring. Not a lot happened. There was some good writing in there, but it was intermingled with a lot of unnecessary detail and internal dialogue. It felt like a lot of "tell" versus "show". The most troublesome woman in this book was actually Charlotte's daughter! That is what and who pushed her to change her life for the better. I wanted to see more of that.

Please note: I received an advanced listening copy from NetGalley & HarperCollins Focus in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

WOW! This book was incredible! This is one of those stories that will move you to inspiration and ignite that fire in you! I loved all the characters and the depth they all had- they truly felt like real life people that I was shocked this story wasn’t based on true events. The relationship and connections these women have are the sisterhood we yearn for. I loved getting real feminist book recs and seeing how these books moved women in the 1960’s. This is a MUST read for all women! I will definitely be purchasing this for myself and friends.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Focus for this advanced audiobook in exchange for a review.

4.5
This book was an absolute ride to read! I loved all these women in this book and hey grew as people. They were so raw and real which is everything that I wanted from this book. I also enjoyed how deeply intertwined they were with each other. Many times with books that have multiple povs it can get muddled and feel disjointed. However, this book handled it well and I loved everything about it!

I absolutely loved this book and its characters.
It all starts with a book and vodka stingers and blooms into great friendships. The women are not troublesome in a way one might think, but some of them are considered liabilities for their unwillingness to commit to societal expectations. However, there are characters who are happy to fulfil those expectations and don't feel the need to fight for anything. Still, all the characters and their stories are brilliant. Through the stories of four women, we explore the 60s America and all the different obstacles they face in everyday life. Some moments evoked pure rage, some caused a delightful smile and some made me want to call my mum immediately and have deep long conversations. I am thankful to this book for all this.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, the publisher and the audio narrator for providing me with the audiobook

I absolutely loved this timely story of female empowerment. The narrator was fabulous and kept me wanting to listen. This was my first book by the author but it won’t be the last!

It’s the 60’s in Virginia, a new planned housing community was just built for residents of affluence and influence. Everyone living in the community is on top of the world considering the new appliances and nuances of each house. Charlotte, Margaret, Viv, and Bitsy are thankful for everything that they have but somehow still feel like there is more that the world can offer. Newest resident, Charlotte, moves in and suggests that the women read the Feminine Mystique. The Feminine Mystique was considered a “risky book” for their time. A lot of men didn’t want their wives reading the book because they believed it sparked the flames that started the women’s liberation movement and sexual revolution. The women start a Book Club and slowly begin to question and challenge gender roles specifically regarding a woman’s role in the house and in the working world. They each feel like they have something better and stronger to offer the world than the traditional skill sets of a homemaker.

I just have to say that Charlotte, Margaret, Viv, and Bitsy are definitely my type of woman. They are women that can advocate for themselves, be independent, problem solve on their own, stand up for their beliefs and values without stripping others of their beliefs, and show ingenuity at every opportunity. I would have joined their book club in a heartbeat! Each character won me over with their wit and creativity. It’s the Charlottes, Margarets, Vivs, and Bitsys of the world that helped pave the way for women to have as many rights as we do today…even though there is still plenty of room to grow and expand.

I loved this audiobook. The story takes place mainly in the 1960s and incorporates impactful moments in history into the story. Excellent narration and the story keeps you moving through quickly.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse for this audiobook for review. I love historical fiction when it ties in real events that happened into the fiction story it unfolds. This book drew me in as it takes place in the 1960’s with the female characters and women’s roles and gaining more rights with having control over their own bodies with birth control. This book is as apt then as it is now. I loved the different women’s stories in the book club and the Feminine Mystique and how great a book it is for when it was written AND when I first found it and read it when I was a teenager in the late nineties.

I really enjoyed this novel—especially as an audiobook, thanks to NetGalley. It’s a warm, thoughtful piece of historical fiction that follows four women in 1960s Virginia as they form a book club that ultimately becomes a powerful support system and source of transformation.

I found myself very invested in the characters—each woman felt distinct and real, and the evolution of their bond was the heart of the story. The book does lean heavily into the various injustices and limitations placed on women during that era. At times, it felt a bit overstuffed—there were so many issues addressed that it occasionally came across as more thematic than character-driven. That said, it still worked. The friendships, the personal growth, and the satisfying ending all made it a very worthwhile read.

A great pick for fans of feminist fiction, stories about female friendship, and those who appreciate historical settings with strong emotional resonance.

I really enjoyed this book and the women within the pages. I enjoyed their personal journeys. Even picked up a few book recs. Definitely recommend for historical fiction lovers, especially those who like reading about women taming chances during a pivotal moment in our history. I plan on recommending this as a bookclub read to all bookclubs I know.

This was such a fun, feel-good read! I loved the idea of a book club that’s all about supporting each other through life’s ups and downs. The characters were great, even if the story did get a bit predictable at times. Overall, it was a cozy, uplifting story that made me want to call up my own friends for a book club night!

This novel takes place in the 1960s, when one group of women are sick of their tradionally conservative lives as women and mothers. When their new neighbor has them read the newly released Feminine Mystique, the women see their is life beyond their "perfect" lives.

The Book Club for Troubleseome Women would be a perfect book club choice for lovers of Historical Fiction.

Thank You Harper Collins and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.