This book was a pleasant surprise. What began as just another episode in the lives of the desperate housewives evolved into an engaging work of women’s historical fiction. It provided insight into the daily struggles of housewives in the 1960s, highlighting how many of them often felt unaccomplished and overwhelmed in a male-dominated world.

The story centers on four women from remarkably different backgrounds and with contrasting personalities. Despite their differences, they all share a sense of unfulfillment and suffocation in a society designed to oppress them. Their lives take a transformative turn when they come together to form a book club, and the first book they read inspires them to take charge of their lives and take action.

I enjoyed the premise, especially the writing style. Very well-written! The pace was slow yet steady, ultimately leading to a satisfying conclusion.

Thanks to HarperCollins Focus, Harper Muse and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5 🌟.

TW: Suicide, Assassination, Depression, Miscarriage and Misogyny/Sexism.

"What must it feel like to be like that, a woman who wasn’t afraid to make demands or stir up trouble?"

Four housewives in the 60s have it all, but they still feel like something is missing in their lives. When a new neighbor, Charlotte, moves in, they start a book club that changes their lives. The first book they read is The Feminine Mystique, dubbed controversial, and sets in motion life changes and friendships forever.

These characters were so loveable - and I just kept thinking of the videos that say, "She probably needed a hug," and then these women just went and did the damn things. It was endearing, heartbreaking, and induced some mild-rage at times. It was stifling to read some of the things these women weren't able to do without their husband's consent. I joke with my husband about how I wish I was born in these times, so I wouldn't have to work, but this book explored lots of examples as to why I'm very happy I was born when I was. It's a book of women supporting women. I definitely wished I could have had more of Viv's storyline because I loved her. The ending dragged out, but overall, it was definitely a win.

Was really expecting to love this one a lot more than I did. I just failed to really connect or get invested like I wanted to.

I really love historical fiction and learning about women in different times. I enjoyed the characters but did not really connect with any of them. It felt a lot like preaching.

This empowering 1960s walk through women's roles in the home reminded me of a TV show that came out in 2020 on Hulu called "Mrs. America", starring Cate Blanchett and Elizabeth Banks. Just like this book, "Mrs. America" dug deep into the core of women like me who grew up believing that their thoughts and actions were often unheard and unseen.

"The Book Club for Troublesome Women" tells the story of Margaret Ryan, 1960s-1980s, who intentionally begins a book club and unintentionally begins a revolution in her perfect suburban neighborhood. Margaret immediately asks her best friends, Bitsy and Viv, to join the book club. There's a new face in the neighborhood - Charlotte Gustavson. She's quite different from what Margaret is used to - bold, daring, and captivating. She soon prompts Charlotte to be a part of her book club, upon which Charlotte says the only way she will join is if their first book is "The Feminine Mystique". This book enlightens these four women to take a look at their own homes, where they fit, and how they can begin to be heard. It's not long before their four stories take new turns toward following old dreams.

This book is magnetic and personal. Lisa Flanagan is the perfect voice actor for this genre. She gives each female character a full arc with diverse characterization and voicing. Bostwick is brilliant in creating the historical world for women of the 1960s, such as the character of Margaret being unable to open a bank account without her husband present. The writing thoroughly follows Margaret, Bitsy, Viv, and Charlotte through to the 1980s, providing the reader with a multitude of ways in which women suffered and the possibilities of triumph or injustice through it all.
I am grateful for writers like Marie Bostwick who continue to tell the truth about history.

A special thanks to Netgalley, Marie Bostwick, and Harper Collins Focus for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Just a fantastic premise for historical fiction! A group of suburban women in Virginia in the early 1960's read Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique. The book and their friendship changes each of their lives in unexpected ways. Bostwick's writing is fresh, unencumbered by sentimentality. The women come to life on the page and though the excellent narration of this audiobook. A terrific ending as well.

I read both the ebook and audio books for this in tandem and they were so good. The narrators did a great job and added a lot of life and interst to the story that the ebook lacked a bit. This would obviously be great for bookclubs and ladies groups.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women written by Marie Bostwick and narrated by Lisa Flanagan is a historical fiction that follows four women through various stages of life in the 1960s. I found a piece of each woman I could relate to at different points in their stories. Everyone needs a group of Bettys. Lisa Flanagan was spectacular at narration.

So I received an ebook arc of this book and heres what I thought
The author Marie Bostwick has written over twenty "uplifting" historical and contemporary novels. This is one of them that frankly had the opposite effect. A group of women form a book club in a suburb with the first selection being The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. This is the sixties where women cannot get a bank account without their husband's signature. Timely in its look non at women's rights for the current political arena, choices limited in all eras. The first half is a bit on the boring side but things start happening after that. Love the book references.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Being a good wife and mother was supposed to be all that a woman of the 1960’s should want in life, but what about her dreams of doing more? Why did women have to give up everything just because they were females and that’s what was expected? What if they desired more fulfillment in life, and if given a chance, could contribute in ways beyond that of just being a wife and mother?

I loved how all four women in the book club were in different places in their lives, yet they found common ground as wives/mothers/women. As they started meeting regularly to discuss the controversial book they were reading, it opened their eyes to different possibilities, and what it would mean to pursue them. Bookclub became more than just a gathering to discuss books; it became a support group of sorts. Cheering each other on and being there to support each other through the tough times, made this group of new friends more like a sisterhood. It was a bond between all four women that they didn’t realize was missing from their lives, but became a lifeline of support and encouragement for all of them.

I really enjoyed this audiobook and thought that the narrator, Lisa Flanagan did a fantastic job! Thank you very much to #netgalley and #harpermuse for the opportunity to read and review #TheBookClubForTroublesomeWomen, written by #MarieBostwick.

THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN by Marie Bostwick

Thank you to Harper Muse for my gifted ALC.

📖 Set in the idyllic 1960s suburb of Concordia, Virginia, this novel follows four friends whose lives are forever changed after they form a book club. Their first read, The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, sparks bold conversations and sets them on a path of self-discovery and rebellion.

💭 I really enjoyed this! With lively, engaging storytelling and a strong cast of characters, Bostwick delivers a compelling historical fiction novel that captures what it might have been like to discover feminism in the 1960s, when women were still treated as second-class citizens. I loved the inclusion of The Feminine Mystique as the catalyst for these women’s personal awakenings. The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a heartfelt, humorous, and highly entertaining story of sisterhood.

🎧 The audiobook, narrated by the brilliant Lisa Flanagan, is a standout. With four main characters and several side roles, she had her work cut out for her! But Flanagan manages to give each woman a distinct and memorable voice. Wonderful performance!

📌 Worth noting: This is very much a story of upper-class white feminism. Though the narrative touches on the broader social issues of the Civil Rights era, it is not intersectional in any meaningful way. This isn't necessarily a criticism; not every book is meant to tell every story. But I thought it was worth mentioning in my review 💕

4.5 rounded up

This book is the perfect story of women uplifting women and how women's friendships really can change their lives for the better. It carries such an important message about women's history and the battle that they faced in society for, what should have been, their human rights. Following the four friends stories and how each of them faced different things that happen everyday to women made it so emotionally easy to connect to. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the friendship/book club dynamic. Easily a 6 star read for me.

I enjoy stories about women, and women's history, and this is by far one of my favorites that I have read. Maybe it is because I love books so I connected with these women in a book club. I also love the books that they discusses in book club and feel that authors like Virginia Wolfe has played such a huge role in women being able to write books. This story felt deep, meaningful, and easily should be a book everyone reads. Thank you!

I really enjoyed this book! The audiobook edition felt very immersive, and I liked this narrator quite a lot. I was first drawn to this book because the cover caught my eye, but I was hooked when the cover copy compared this book to Lessons in Chemistry (which I loved), and I think that is an accurate comparison! This was an informative and entertaining book, yet it is also aware of its limits, which I appreciated. For all the discussion of the restrictive societal expectations imposed on women at this time, the characters are cognizant of their privilege as middle-class and wealthy white women and that people of color and people of other financial/social backgrounds were fighting a completely different battle at this time. This book covers a lot of ground, switching perspectives among four main characters who all have families and careers of their own, but this meant that the characters were not quite as fleshed out as I hoped. Although the ending felt a bit rushed, I loved reading about the growth of their friendship through this book club and the way these women showed up for each other despite their vastly different family lives and circumstances. I plan to seek out more of this author's work and other titles read by this narrator!

Thank you #Harper Muse Audiobooks & #NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audio book.
I really enjoyed this book. It had great characters with solid development. The exception was one character was given too much unnecessary airtime, which was out of step with the other main characters back stories and inner dialogue. The author captured the historical time of frustration for smart, ambitious women. I am so thankful for the women clearing a path for today's modern woman. Despite the current USA administration, may we never go back to those days of women being treated as the lesser of the species.

The author also does a beautiful job capturing the complex dynamics of women friendships. Only the ones that love you the most can hurt you the deepest. But nothing is more grounding than having an unconditional friendship of trust and selflessness. “Sometimes our friends know us better than we know ourselves”

The narration was excellent. I can't go all the way to 5 stars, but it's close

Set in suburban Virginia in the early 1960s, The Book Club for Troublesome Women follows four housewives who seem to have it all—on paper. But when they start a book club and dive into The Feminine Mystique, everything begins to shift. Through honest conversations and unexpected friendship, these women start to see their lives (and themselves) in a whole new light.

I loved the exploration of what it means to want more—even when you “should” be happy. Watching these women struggle with guilt, dissatisfaction, and a deep desire for independence felt so real and so relevant, even decades later. This book gave me First Wives Club vibes at times, especially in those “yes girl!” moments where women stand up for themselves, walk away from husbands who treat them like crap, and learn to fight for the lives they want. I’m all about stories that center female empowerment, growth, and the messy, beautiful path to finding your voice.

This brilliant and eye-opening novel blends historical detail, sharp insight, and heartfelt storytelling. It is set against the backdrop of mid-20th-century America, and reminds us just how much has changed and how far we still have to go when it comes to women’s rights and equality.

The story starts in a planned community outside of Washington DC, in 1960, where four women decide to start a book club. Margaret is mid-to-tale 30's and a wannabe writer, Bitsy is 23 and working in a stable because when she married she didn't finish college, Viv is a former war nurse with 6 kids and another on the way, and Charlotte is a wannabe painter from a wealthy background with both an overbearing father and husband. All but Bitsy have children, all are unhappy to a degree. I'd forgotten how "sheltered" women were in the 1960s -- I wasn't yet a teenager -- where they couldn't work, couldn't get a bank account or a credit card in their own name, couldn't even continue on to college -- without a man's approval. So what's the first book they read? Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique". There's a strong sense of community, friendship, and small rebellions.

Historical context is a big part of the story, as are historical people. The Civil Rights Movement, Jackie Kennedy, JFK, Helen Thomas, Katherine Graham are all part of the timeline, as is, of course, November 1963's events. The women, and their men, have different reactions to these events (the women are often helped along by vodka stingers!)

The narration was also well done on this audiobook. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for this ARL.

I found The Book Club for Troublesome Women to be a fun, easy read overall—enjoyable in parts but not particularly memorable for me personally. The premise is charming, and the themes of friendship, resilience, and reinvention are well-intentioned and heartwarming. Bostwick does a solid job of developing the characters, and readers who enjoy stories about strong women coming together to support each other will likely find it uplifting. I think what was hard for me was the length of the book, mixed with it being slow at some parts.

This felt like 1963 Lite.

As a teacher, I love teaching the complexity of 1963. With a novel set entirely in that tumultuous year combined with a title promising "troublesome women," I expected a grittier book. This one was like a TV movie version of that year: a fairly pleasant read, relatable scenarios, likeable main characters, and even a suggested 1960s [white] feminist reading list weaved in as the Betties' monthly reading picks. I accepted early on that this book wouldn't have much diversity since it does focus on middle to upper middle class white women in suburbia. The civil rights movement was just something the characters saw on TV and had fleeting opinions on; it didn't really affect them, so they didn't really think about it much. What I did struggle with was the pacing. I enjoyed reading up to 75-80% of the book... and then the story dragged through the end. So, overall, a fine book. The audiobook narrator was engaging. If you want 1963 without too much stress or too many complications, but some moments to complain about the patriarchy, this book's for you.

Margaret, Viv, Bitsy and Charlotte are housewives in the 1950s. Margaret wants to start a book club and suggests a book she read in high school. Charlotte suggests The Feminine Mystique instead. The friendships and their new perspectives on life challenge all 4 women to stretch their limbs and try new things.

I loved this book! I wanted to be friends with all 4 main characters and I loved how they started to ask new questions and re-think their perspectives after reading the book and discussing it with each other.

I want to be a Betty!! I belong to a longstanding bookclub so this read hit home hard for me. Not to mention the relevance to the focus on women’s rights and feminism during these times when those are being threatened. Each of the characters were well developed and unique in their own ways as Marie Bostwick tried to create real women that readers could relate to even though this book is set in the past. While it took me a moment to get hooked into the story, once I was in - I was full on in! I actually miss Margaret, Viv, Charlotte and Bitsy whose lives I got snapshots of on my morning drive to work. Would love if Marie Bostwick wrote a book about Charlotte’s daughter Denise as I think there’s a tale there too. This was my first listen/read of Marie Bostwick and I will look eagerly for more. I really enjoyed the narrator, Lisa Flanagan, whose narration added to the story.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to listen to this ARC in exchange for my honest review.