“‘Do you know why money matters? Because it buys power. Power to influence outcomes and break people, power to bend the world to your will. And who has the money? The power? The control?’ ‘Men.’”

I was expecting this to be more of a Book Woman Of Troublesome Creek book with the focus being on the book club and the books themselves. But it ended up being more about women in the 60’s fighting for the right to work and find some balance in that regard. And marital drama. A lot of marital drama.

I really did enjoy the narration of this one. You can really feel the emotion of these characters, and there is a lot of emotion in it.

“If women stuck up for one another the way men do, this would be a very different world.” ‼️‼️‼️

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Focus, Harper Muse, and the author for the ALC and ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.5 stars⭐! Thank you to @harpercollinsfocus for the advanced audiobook copy.

📆 Pub date: April 22 ✨

I loved the premise: four dissatisfied 1960s housewives start a book club that becomes a sisterhood, helping them reckon with the constraints of their lives.

In their suburban community, Margaret, Viv, and Bitsy seem to have it all: homes, husbands, stability - but something’s missing. Enter Charlotte, the eccentric new neighbor, and a copy of The Feminine Mystique.

As they read, the women confront traumas, cracks in their marriages, and long-buried desires.

I really appreciated that the novel doesn’t shy away from the era's oppression - married women couldn’t even open bank accounts or access birth control without their husbands’ permission.

I also appreciated that Bostwick acknowledges the limits of The Feminine Mystique. Friedan’s ideas mostly applied to middle-class white women, while many others were already working to survive.

That said, for a book called The Book Club for Troublesome Women, I didn’t think the women caused much trouble or talked about the books enough. These are iconic feminist titles, and I wanted radical awakenings. But their takeaways felt tame.

The stakes often felt low, and the resolutions too tidy. I wanted them to shake things up and burn it all down. Instead, most life shifts seemed to happen to them, not because of them, which undercut the agency the book was celebrating.

I truly hated the husbands lol. One has a miraculous breakthrough and transforms into the perfect man overnight. I couldn’t have cared less. I’m tired of women having to teach men not to be misogynists and then applauding them for doing the bare minimum. That dynamic softens the tensions the novel was supposed to explore.

Overall, this novel is a heartfelt tribute to female friendship. I really appreciated the character development and exploration of distinct personalities. I just wish it went a little further.

Also, this book puts the “trad wife” trend into perspective. Women fought for every right we have. Nothing was handed to us - we had to take it. So wanting to go backward and idolizing 1950s housewives is INSANE.

Wow, I loved this book. I was drawn to it after reading another (unrelated) book with “Troublesome” in the title, and this did not dissapoint.

Sure, it was saccharine and cheesy at times, and it has kind of a giant plot hole in the form of an ad that would never get run, but I love a book club, I love an unlikely friendship, and I love a story of women building each other up.

If those are things you like too, absolutely check this one out.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick takes place in the early 60s, a time of change, both cultural and legal, in the United States, for women as well as others. I was a young teen when all this was happening so I was aware on the fringes. My mother had always been independent and my father had adjusted, mostly. These four women led very different lives but all lived in the same “planned community.” The book, Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan brought them together and had varying amounts of influence on each of them. It was more their lives that wrought the changes for them, who had become fast friends. They were forced into them by circumstances. It may have been the change in society that allowed them to follow the paths they did, which did include being a wife and a mother.

I think it would be hard for a young women to understand what these women went through, having never lived it. It was their grandmothers. It was a good book, with each reader bleeding along with each of the women as they faced what they must. It coved racism, cheating, “having it all,” as well well as sexism. But, it was the time. These women fought for what we have today. It is hard to imagine that in a time as close as the 60s, women could not open their own bank account, or be prescribed birth control without their husband’s signatures. That is exactly the way it was and was described in this book. Excellent retelling of a monumental time in history as close and as unbelievable as it is.

The narrator is Lisa Flanagan who did a more than credible rendition of this lovely novel. She infused it with warmth and caring and did justice to each of the four stories while remaining impartial and true to her art.

I was invited to both listen to and read The Book Club for Troublesome Women by HarperCollins Focus. Always interesting to compare the two. All opinions and thoughts are mine. #Netgalley #HarperFocus #MarieBostwick #LisaFlanagan #TheBookClubForTroublesomeWomen

This might be one of my favorite reads this year! The Book Club for Troublesome Women is set in the 1960s, and all the women start out as housewives, but equipped with the knowledge from their reads, chart new courses for their lives such that they are so much more fulfilled beyond what society says is their wifely duties. Even though this book was set in the 60s, which had different expectations for women, so many of the messages of this book were still relevant today.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was really well done. I loved the history surrounding the feminine mystique - how it changed life for women at the time. I thought that the main characters were incredibly well done. Well developed, realistic, unique and wonderful. I thought their relationships and how they all changed and grew was incredibly well done. I both listened and read this book and truly enjoyed both. A very well done historical fiction book highlighting strong women.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.

Three 60s era housewives living in a brand new northern Virginia suburban community live life as they have it all. Then Charlotte, the eccentric new neighbor from Manhattan moves in. When Margaret goes to introduce herself, she shares about the book club she just formed. Charlotte suggests they read The Feminine Mystique, which she just finished and is considered a controversial and groundbreaking book for the time. Is it the book club that brings these very different women together, or is it the shared bond of sisterhood that allows them to see themselves in a new light?

Each of the women in this book is after a different dream and we get to see how they end up going after their dream, which I loved. I also loved how we got to see Margaret gain some independence as that seemed to be a big factor in the beginning. Although it was the title of this book that drew me in, I feel like Charlotte was the only troublesome woman of the group. So my only complaint about this book was I was expecting more trouble. With that said, it was still a great read. Even though it is set in the 1960s, I feel it is still relevant.

This was my first book narrated by Lisa Flanagan. I thought she did amazing and she has a great voice for this type of book.

THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU IF: You enjoy light books with strong, relevant messages.

I recently had the great pleasure of listening to the new release The Book Club For Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick. This book follows a group of women living in what seems to be an idyllic suburban neighborhood. They should be happy as clams, but some unrest is simmering. These women form a book group and call themselves the Bettys. They are about to embark on a season of change that will affect their lives forever. I love a good tale of female friendship, especially when it's set in this time period. I really enjoyed the audio narration and found the narrator to do a great job of distinguishing between characters with slight alterations of her voice. Read and enjoy!

“The Book Club for Troublesome Women” reminds us how far women have come and how far we still have to go. It’s 1963 in Concordia, a Stepford-esque suburb of DC when Maggie Ryan starts her book club almost by accident as a way to befriend the new mysterious neighbor, Charlotte. Plucked from her life in Manhattan, Charlotte is not embracing her new role as suburban housewife. Ensuring the book club is not another vapid bore, Charlotte picks “The Feminine Mystique” as their first book to read and “The Betty’s” (aptly named for author Betty Friedan) are born. Maggie, Charlotte, Bitsy and Viv may have been u likely friends but they form a lifelong bond cemented in their 1963 awakening. Set in the backdrop of a pivotal year in American history, readers follow The Bettys as they struggle to carve out their own place in a man’s world. They can’t open a bank account or receive birth control without their husband’s permission. Lovers of historical fiction and women’s fiction will enjoy this book. Marie Bostwick delivers a powerful message in a quick, relatable, entertaining read. 4.5 stars!

I really enjoyed this book. 4.5 stars. This book focuses on the trials, tribulations, joys, and successes of a dynamic group of women as they build their book club along with a strong support network. The majority of the book takes place in suburban Virginia during the 1960s.

I listened to the audio book and feel that the narrator did a perfect job. It flowed so nicely, her voice added to the story and never detracted in any way. The characters were well developed and I loved how supportive the women were of each other, even when they disagreed. I did feel that it all wrapped up a little too perfectly after the majority of the book seemed quite realistic.

I am very glad I read this book and highly recommend it. I don’t often listen to historical fiction. This was done well because the characters felt real, not written in a stuffy one-dimensional way like some books writing about past events. The author researched the time well and included a lot of details that I heard my mom talk about. A beautiful story of friendship, family, and being brave enough to believe in yourself.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ALC. #TheBookClubforTroublesomeWomen #NetGalley

I did think there would be more "book clubbing" in this book than there actually was, but I do realize that there weren't a ton of options for literature back then. I liked how each woman's story played out, and I think that each was given equal "page" time. I knew each character equally throughout the novel, which kept me invested in their lives.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women, written by Marie Bostwick, narrated by Lisa Flanagan, is a novel that transported me back in time to the 60s, an era where women couldn't open a bank account or get a birth control prescription without their husband's approval. The female friendships depicted on the page, however, are familiar and relatable. I absolutely loved this peek into the past and these women's lives. The narrator was fantastic, giving each character's voice their own distinct pitch and tempo. Highly recommend!!!

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick follows the lives of four women that live in the same neighborhood, but all lead very different lives. They become fast friends when they all take part in a neighborhood book club. Their first choice of novels is the Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. The book changes the framework of their lives and the roles they play within their homes. Maggie turns to writing and finds herself being offered an opportunity she never thought possible. Charlotte is stuck in an unhappy marriage and is struggling with her lack of confidence in the art world. Bitsy and her husband have struggled to start a family making her wonder if a family is really what she wants. Viv has been a stay at home mom of 6 and is finally ready to go out in the world and find purpose.

I found the characters in the novel to be enjoyable. They work through their wins and their struggles together and all become Bettys for life. It is an eye opening book about the life and expectations of the modern woman in the 1960's and how their lives after all this time are still relatable today.

I received a free copy of the audiobook, The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick, from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is a thoughtful, heartfelt look at four suburban women in 1960s Virginia who are quietly rebelling against the roles they've been boxed into. They start a book club centered around The Feminine Mystique, and what begins as a reading group turns into something much bigger—a space for these women to find their voices, challenge the expectations around them, and support each other through real personal growth.
Each character feels distinct, and you really get to see them evolve especially Margaret and Charlotte, whose arcs were particularly compelling. Bostwick does a great job of capturing the era and the quiet strength of women navigating it. Yes, some moments wrap up a little too neatly, but the emotional payoff is still satisfying.
If you're into stories about female friendship, personal transformation, and reclaiming identity especially with a historical lens-this one's worth your time. Think Mona Lisa Smile meets The Feminine Mystique, with a warm, empowering tone..

A story about much more than a book club. This story is set in the early 60's and has many housewives as characters. At first glance you think it's going to be one outstanding woman. However, I was surprised to love all of the characters for different reasons as they work through their own triumphs and issues. These dreamers gave me a distraction during our current environment. Would be interested in reading something else from this author based on this book.

I was first drawn to this book because of its STUNNING cover, and was really intrigued by the historical setting as the 1960s was a significant time for social changes and political unrest. The fight for equality is ongoing, but it’s hard to believe what women were up against just 60 years ago and how far we’ve come. I’m grateful for all of the changes women have pushed for and truly believe there’s nothing stronger than women who come together in solidarity to fight for what they believe in.

I enjoyed this overall message, though I found that the plot dragged on in several parts causing me to intermittently lose interest. I needed a little more. Though I will say that Lisa Flanagan did a fantastic job with the narration.

Although slow plot wise, the character development was done well. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters of Margaret, Viv, Bitsy and Charlotte. They were all strong, smart and creative women who had bigger dreams than society wanted them to have. I loved seeing them open up and become vulnerable with each other, forming an unbreakable sisterhood. In some ways, it reminded me of the friendship between the women from Sex and the City, but in a very different time. I actually think this book could lend itself well to a tv series.

I believe this had a lot of potential. While there were things that I enjoyed, this fell a little short for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Muse Books, and author Marie Bostwick for the audio ALC. The book will be released April 22, 2025.

First I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

This book is largely set in 1962-3 and follows a cadre of tradtional housewives on the same street as they form a book club and later forge life long friendships. Think Desperate Housewives of the sixties, but they were desperate for attention, equal pay, and opportunity that women had to fight for during this time.

This book was very slow in the beginning, it picked up halfway through and that is when drama, suspense, and the women coming into their own happened.

I enjoyed following the four women and their families, especially Margaret and Viv who struck out on their own to seek employment. I felt bad for Bitsy and Charlotte, who were trapped in their mismatched marriages.

I loved Charlotte's character arc, as well as Bitsy's. Both had a lot of growth.

I found the ending to be a little too neatly resolved, and I found the epilogue a little predictable.
I would give this a solid 3.5-3.75.

A worthy read, I just do not think the title matched the book until the later half.

I had high hopes for this book. As a history teacher of women in American history this seemed right in my wheelhouse. I waited months for this book. The book disappointed me in so many ways. It felt cliche and poorly researched. The characters were what modern women think is the stereotypical women of this period without understanding women fully during this time. The writing was mediocre. This book was a struggle.

What I liked the most about this book was how different each woman's home life was and how each woman still had societal expectations and restrictions during this time period. Even the character that had the most supportive, loving husband, still had limitations that the men in society did not have. I also enjoyed this book because it is a good reminder of how hard women have fought and how far we have come (and still have further to go). The story was a tiny bit on the long side, but on the other hand it did have 4 different perspectives and though the women intersected throughout the story, they each still had their own unique circumstances and stories. This would be a great book club pick!

I really enjoyed this one. The friendships, the quiet rebellion, the 60s setting, all of it just worked. It hit that balance between emotional and empowering without being too heavy. I loved how each woman had her own arc, and the book club theme tied everything together so well.

Also, the audiobook narrator was perfect, made the story feel even more personal.

Definitely recommend if you’re into character-driven stories with heart.