This was an excellent story and I loved the book. The four main characters were strong women that stood up for themselves with a little encouragement by Lady Duxbury, but nonetheless very empowering and inspiring for a historical fiction novel.

The characters in detail were Lady Clara Duxbury herself is the matriarch of the group, their leader and founder of the society. She is amazing in the way she encourages all the others. Eleanor Clarke: seems like the perfect Victorian wife with the worst husband imaginable. He is violent towards her and her son. Rose Wharton: the American of the group and not accepted in English society just because she is different. She loves her husband Theodore very much but is it mutual? Lavinia: the youngest and most insecure of the group. Her father threatens her with the prospect of being sent to an asylum because of her ‘difficult character’.

The writing was perfect for the time the book was set in, modern but with a historic twist with the one or the other word used. The book was told from all four perspectives and that was just perfect in my opinion. In addition, I loved the element of suspense that was introduced in the prologue and keeps the reader guessing throughout the book.

This was my 2nd book written by Madeline and it certainly won’t be my last. 2 5⭐️ ratings speak for themselves I suppose. All in all, if you’re into historical fiction, strong female lead characters, 4 very different stories that are expertly interwoven and a story written from multiple perspectives this is your book!

📖Book Review: The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin
⭐️ 4.5/5
The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin is absolutely delightful. It’s a story of sisterhood, freedom, and the radical power of reading set in a time when even picking up a book could be considered rebellious for a woman.

Set in Victorian London, the novel follows four women bound by societal constraints and oppressive marriages who find solace, courage, and community in a secret book club. I loved these characters. I was angry for them, happy for them, and rooting for them with my whole heart. Each woman’s journey toward independence felt empowering and deeply emotional.

This book reminded me how political reading can be especially when access to knowledge and autonomy has been denied. It made me grateful for the progress feminism has made, but also painfully aware that we’re never done fighting. In today’s political climate, that message hits even harder. We can't let ourselves move backwards; we have to stand up, speak out, and hold each other up. We’re stronger together.

Beautiful, moving, and inspiring.

Eleanor, Rose and Lavinia are not sure what to expect when invited for tea at Lady Danbury's. While they don't seem to have anything in common, except their hidden depths of suffering and strength. Each are fighting their own battle with societal expectations as well as having difficulties in their own homes. The story is beautifully written and is both heartwarming and heartbreaking as the women find friendship, courage and resilience they need to survive. Lady Danbury's background comes out slowly throughout the book. The difficulties she has faced are horrible and her being able to come through and thrive give a much needed boost of courage to Eleanor, Rose and Lavinia as they struggle with their lives. I read this in one sitting as the story is engrossing and I felt connected to each of the women and needed to know their stories would have a satisfying ending. The writing is spectacular and story is one that will stay with you for a very long time.

Historical fiction always gets me deep in my feels, and this one is no exception. Set in the late 1800’s, it captivates from the very first chapter as the thrice widowed and mysterious Lady Duxbury extends invitations to select women to join her for weekly tea. Readers are led on a journey of sisterhood, growth, and perseverance as each character works to fight against the patriarchal chains holding them back. It sickens me that women have historically been marginalized by the men in their lives, treated only as decorations. It’s distressing to read about women being pulled from their homes and sent to asylums for “hysteria” based solely on the whims of their husbands and fathers. It’s such an important part of history, though. This book will make you angry in ALL the best ways.

The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin
is a book about female friendships. These four upper-class women in Victorian London meet to secretly read and discuss books, as well as to support each other through the trials in their lives, such as abusive husbands and a father who thinks his daughter is insane because of her passionate poetry (during a time when suspected insanity could be very dangerous, especially for a woman).

I loved getting to know these characters and hearing their stories. I was so inspired by the way they helped to lift each other up, and solve some quite serious problems together. You'll love being part of this world and rooting for each of these incredible women.

A sincere thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for my complimentary advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

The Secret Book Society, which is set in the late 19th century, was certainly the sort of novel I most enjoy--a novel about books and about women reading books. The focus of Madeline Martin novel is on four women--Lady Clara Duxbury, and the three women she invites to be participants in her book club. Rose, Lavinia, and Eleanor love to read but have only guarded access to novels. All three women are of the same upper class aristocracy, but In fact, their class is what most oppresses women. In a society where women are property, used to enhance their husband's status, and where a strict definition of behavior must always be obeyed, life is isolating and lonely. Novels that present strong women, who act to make themselves stronger, are novels that many parents and husbands found threatening. Women in novels, who know their own minds, who choose their own husbands, who can make decisions about their behavior, offend the status quo.

One of the strengths of The Secret Book Society is the friendship that develops between all four women. Lady Duxbury provides books and help where needed. It was easy for men of the upper class to get rid of wives who failed to obey their husbands. Sending a woman to an asylum was efficient and unquestioned and offers a failsafe way to dispose of wives who displeased. Martin has done an effective job of exploring the different ways in which wive's in the aristocracy are frightened into meeting a rigid standard of behavior. There is much research available about these horrifying asylums, and for readers who would like to know more about this method of disposing of wives.

I did like The Secret Book Society and do recommend it. I had great difficulty in putting this novel down. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC for me to read and review. I found myself wondering if so many women were threatened with the asylum, as Martin seems to be suggesting. This review does reflect my own thoughts about The Secret Book Society.

4 stars

The Secret Book Society is about women in Victorian England who are banned from reading. These 3 women, Rose, Eleanor, and Lavinia, are invited to a secret book club by the mysterious Lady Duxbury. At her home they are free to read whatever they want without worrying about their husbands or fathers. This book club not only opens doors to novels, but also friendships and their own personalities begin to flourish.

I was pleasantly surprised with this novel! I really enjoyed each characters story and in particular the ending to one. What I really loved was how this novel highlighted the importance of true female friendship. To this day, we still see women struggle in society, but genuine friendship often helps. Each characters individual development and their relationship with each other was wonderful to read. This was such a wonderful novel and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about their friendships! I’m so glad I got to read this ARC and would definitely recommend anyone to pick this up once it’s released!

Full review on Instagram posted on July 20, 2025

The Secret Book Society is a lovely tale about women's friendship. I wholeheartedly agree with the statement that women should work together in building each other up instead of tearing one another down through cattiness and jealousy. How wonderful it was to read about very different women finding solace and joy in their shared company. Martin does a wonderful job with research. I particularly enjoyed learning about using fashion as a statement along with the language of gemstones. It's abhorrent to think reading does anything but encourage one's intellect, male and female. However, I'm frustrated at another story about the evilness of men. Yes, some men are bad. Some women are bad as well. And far too many relationship are abusive. Perhaps I'm simply tired of the current social rhetoric about all men being terrible and therefore need to be kicked and shamed in order to elevate women. Maybe the author was trying to shed light on how easily a woman could be labeled hysterical during the Victorian age, but given the current climate of man-hating I'm so over it.

The Secret Book Society is a treasure ! At a time when women had so little freedom, which is hard to believe, we are given a glimpse of female friendship and a journey to new lives. I highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the idea of one woman bringing many others together. I thought that the premise was very interesting. I was never bored reading this one, I felt like the story moved nicely and was the perfect pace. I also enjoyed the little mysterious bits and thought that they unfolded at appropriate times, not leaving things to linger unnecessarily. I liked Rose being an American as I thought that brought a fun dynamic to the group. I also learned some things as I was unaware about women being kept from reading and being sent to asylums at the whim of their husband. I highly recommend!

Set in England during the late 1800s, it explores the roles of 4 women in breaking away from patriarchal society. Lady Duxbury, a mysterious wealthy countess who has been widowed three times; Eleanor, who appears flawless but is abused behind closed doors; Rose, an American who has married into confining English nobility; and Lavinia, a young lady at odds between societal approval and a love for poetry. This book depicts the Victorian era's restrictiveness, and the constant fear and caution women had to live with---displease a man in any way and they could be sent to a mental asylum. Overall, this is a solid read, light and filled with friendship, feminism, and a touch of mystery.

THE SECRET BOOK SOCIETY – by Madeline Martin

‘You are cordially invited to the Secret Book Society…’

‘London, 1895: Trapped by oppressive marriages and societal expectations, three women receive a mysterious invitation to an afternoon tea at the home of the reclusive Lady Duxbury. Beneath the genteel facade of the gathering lies a secret book club—a sanctuary where they can discover freedom, sisterhood, and the courage to rewrite their stories.’

My Heart—I Love This Book!

Heartbreaking Tale, No Doubt, But Worth Every Minute Of Your Time—Highly Recommend!

‘Women ought not tear one another down, but encourage and support one another. For together, truly great things may be achieved.’

Scheduled For Release August 26, 2025, Though Subject To Change.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hanover Square Press (HarperCollins Publishers), for providing me with an eBook ARC of THE SECRET BOOK SOCIETY at the request of an honest review.

"A captivating new historical novel from Madeline Martin, set in Victorian London about a forbidden book club, dangerous secrets and the women who dare to break free.

You are cordially invited to the Secret Book Society...

London, 1885: Trapped by oppressive marriages and societal expectations, three women receive a mysterious invitation to an afternoon tea at the home of the reclusive Lady Duxbury. Beneath the genteel facade of the gathering lies a secret book club - a sanctuary where they can discover freedom, sisterhood and the courage to rewrite their stories.

Eleanor Clarke, a devoted mother suffocating under the tyranny of her husband. Rose Wharton, a transplanted American dollar princess struggling to fit the mold of an aristocratic wife. Lavinia Cavendish, an artistic young woman haunted by a dangerous family secret. All are drawn to the enigmatic Lady Duxbury, a thrice-widowed countess whose husbands' untimely deaths have sparked whispers of murder.

As the women form deep, heartwarming friendships, they uncover secrets about their marriages, their pasts and the risks they face. Their courage is their only weapon in the oppressive world that has kept them silent, but when secrets are deadly, one misstep could cost them everything."

Here's to Lady Duxbury, the kind of woman I'd love to know.

Through its journey across the meeting of the secret book society to the close companionship that have been formed, there was a seamless story that flows nicely. I have enjoyed the story of women supporting women and I found to be greatly encouraging and perhaps hopeful as the story continues on into the future.

I have nothing to critique, but a round of applause for the author, Madeline Martin, who wrote this wonderful piece of art. I think I would have loved it more on a reread, but a 4.5 stars nonetheless. This story encapsulates women’s struggles turned into strengths by the end of the story, letting us current women know that we have choices, and we can turn our past struggles into current strengths.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book stirred up so many emotions. It’s a powerful reminder of how true the phrase “knowledge is power” really is. I was deeply moved by the way these women showed up for one another—uplifting, protecting, and holding space with such strength and care. It left me feeling incredibly grateful not to have grown up in an era where women faced such harsh oppression.

4.5 stars: The Secret Book Society is a book about books, and about loving books, and about books setting you free in a time when educational pursuits were often restricted for women. I really enjoyed the historical detail in this story, with a focus on what women were and weren't allowed to do in that period, as well as the dire consequences for "stepping out of line." Overall I loved these characters. They each held a different status within their high-society circle, with unique marital situations, but the passions they had in common turned them into a heartwarming group of friends. This would be a fun one to discuss at a book club meeting, to share your reading experience alongside theirs, and would best be accompanied with traditional afternoon tea and cakes, of course.

*The Secret Book Society* pulled me in almost immediately and I read this over the course of a few days, reading nothing else, so consumed was I by this novel.

The concept of women being strongly discouraged or simply not permitted to read is horrific to me - reading has brought me such joy over the years and I hate that women in the past were denied novels, and other books. The history of men displacing their wives is likewise utterly heinous and this story kept me on the edge of my seat out of concern for the women of The Secret Book Society.

I’m rating this at 4.5 stars, because I felt the way a problem was dealt with in chapter 51 was too much an easy out, but I still absolutely recommend this.



Thank you to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for the DRC

The Secret Book Society
By Madeline Martin

What a great uplifting book. Transported back to Victorian London. 4 women enter the secret book society. Bringing them together with more than just reading. Their trials and tribulations of life and they support each other. Wow , as women, we have come a long way but there is still room for improvement. Finally women that lift each other up and support each other while others try to tear them down. We can all hope we have these type of women in our lives today. Loved this book and the characters. Savored every page
Wonderful book and should be on everyone TBR !


Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
And Madeline Martin for writing this
#TheSecretBookSociety
#madelinemartin
#netgalley

I spent 75% of this book kicking myself for not reading it sooner!! This was so captivating & beautifully written. It's only July and I can say without a doubt this will be one of my favorite books this year!

This was a well-written story with so much heart. The women are well fleshed out with strong backstories presented in varying ways. I absolutely cared for all of them greatly. A small mystery is presented in the prologue, and it kept me constantly guessing throughout the novel. Trigger warning: domestic violence. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.