The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martine is a wonderfully done historical fiction and piece of emotional storytelling. Madeline Martin crafts a rich, atmospheric tale set in Victorian London, where three of our main characters, Eleanor, Rose, and Lavinia, find themselves constricted by societal expectations and oppressive marriages. But everything starts to change when they receive a mysterious invitation to Lady Duxbury’s home, where a secret book club becomes a sanctuary for truth, rebellion, and sisterhood. What truly makes this novel shine to me is the camaraderie between these women, and their willingness to help and support each other. Their bond grows from quiet solidarity into fierce loyalty, and watching them support, challenge, and uplift each other is nothing short of inspiring. Each woman’s story is layered with vulnerability and strength, and together they form a found family that feels both timeless and deeply personal. The ending is perfect, it was emotional, empowering, and beautifully resolved. Madeline Martin doesn’t just tie up loose ends, she wraps the narrative in a bow that feels satisfying, leaving you with a sense of hope and triumph. It’s the kind of conclusion that makes you want to reread the book just to experience the journey again. If you love stories about women defying expectations, secret societies, and the healing power of friendship, The Secret Book Society is a must-read. Thank you Madeline Martin, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ok, I absolutely love this one. Historical fiction with strong female characters. The story was just incredible. I loved watching the women grow. And overcome diversity. This was overall just a beautiful read.

Bound by a secret book club, four women develop a bond after receiving a mysterious invitation for afternoon tea. 🫖

Victorian London- Eleanor, Lavinia and Rose all struggle with the men in their lives. Lady Duxbury has been widowed 3x. Their love of books bring these women together as each deal with their own oppressions.

A secret book society… I’m in! As you get to know the women of the book there are diary entries mixed throughout that further tell the story of their lives. These women were bound by books and learned they were stronger together. I love unlikely connections in books and strong bonds. The plus, I’ve been wanting to branch out into historical fiction so this was a perfect read.

Thank you to the author, Madeline Martin, NetGalley and Publisher Hanover Square Press for the opportunity to read this book. I received an epub and am leaving my review voluntarily.

The Secret Book Society is a book that will stick in my mind for a long time.
I read this book with an open mind and was pulled into the thought of doing anything wrong and threatened with the idea of being sent to asylum.
The bonding and friendship among the women were interesting to read. The deep connection seemed to happen easily for them.
This will be an excellent choice for a book club to read together.
Thank you NetGalley, Madeline Martin and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the copy of The Secret Book Society. This is my personal review.

This book was not what I expected. While beautifully told, it was a lot more dramatic than I realized it would be. It you like books about books this is for you. I did appreciate the deeper character development here as well.

I really loved this book. Women camaraderie, power, and the desire to be better; who could ask for more. It was well-written and just a thorough enjoyable read.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

Although this book was intriguing at first view, it failed to keep my attention. The premise of the book was exciting; a time when women were oppressed but trying very hard to gain support for women's suffrage. In an effort to find support and camaraderie, one woman invites others to tea and shares with them her plan to start a secret book club for women. This is enticing leading to a connection for many women that did not previously exist.

Thank you @hanoversquarepress @htp_hive for the galley! ♡

I can see why this is getting rave reviews. The letter from the author got me in my feels.

It does have trauma in the form of domestic abuse, bullying, and vast inequality between women and men circa 19th century London.

It’s also a feel good story about 3 women, societal outcasts, who are taken under the wing of a mysterious benefactor Lady Duxbury. They drink tea and form their own support group + impromptu book club among kindred spirits.

If I had a complaint it is that the villains are just so evil that there’s no room for grey or redemption of any kind. I like for there to be more complexity.

Having said that, I do appreciate the historical context and what Madeline Martin depicts — a fascinating period of history in Victorian England (and one I definitely am glad to have been born long after).

I thoroughly loved this book which is as heartening as it is heartbreaking! It’s a man’s world but these women find a way to navigate their way through it. An engrossing historical novel addressing the lack of women’s rights and the oppressive power of control the men of the Victorian era had over them during a time when a man could commit a woman to an insane asylum claiming hysteria for anything considered being disagreeable to his way of thinking.
The Secret Book Society introduces four women bound together by their love of books and dire circumstances. Together they forge a friendship that provided a safe place for them to not only read, but to share their fears, frustrations and hopes. Empowered by not only each other but the classic books they read, the women find the courage to take control of their own lives placing some of them in extreme danger.

Oh, this book is something special. The Secret Book Society follows four women who find strength in books and each other when the men in their lives are determined to keep them wholly dependent and oppressed. I love stories of strong friendships and this book was filled with it. I loved how each of the women showed up for each other in small ways and also big, important ways. I teared up several times when they just spent time together connecting and opening up about their frustrations, hopes and dreams. I, of course, loved seeing the women talk about their frustrations books they read and how they related to certain characters and stories. I cannot recommend this one enough. I enjoyed it so much and had such a hard time putting it down.
CW: sexism, domestic violence, child loss, death, institutionalization, violence, postpartum depression, suicide

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Press and Hanover Square Press for the digital reader’s copy!

The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin is a beautifully written story that takes place in London in 1895. This is during the time in which women were restricted in what they could do and what they could read.
Lady Duxbury has found a solution to helping some women have a safe space to be able to read and have friendships with other women. There is Eleanor who is trapped in an abusive marriage, Lavinia who is threatened to be locked up in an asylum due to her passionate way of expressing herself and Rose who loves her husband but he is too eager to please his brother and tells Rose that she needs to try harder to fit into society.

These four women take this opportunity to meet during their book club and open up about their lives and how unhappy they are and Lady Duxbury makes it clear that she is there to help. During the book club meetings, Eleonor comes across Lady Duxbury’s diary and that is where she learns so much about her life and the way she has suffered. Her story is very sad and tragic.
These women have the same thing in common, there is something in their life that must change to be happy. This is a time in which if women did not conform to what society states is their obligation, they are considered unstable and are threatened to be locked up in an asylum.

The four women must work together to find a solution to their problems and what I loved about the book is that they relied upon each other after building trust within their time in the book club.

This book will stay with me for some time!!! Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing. All opinions are my own.

Trapped by the confines of societal expectations and oppressive marriages, three women find escape in the fictional worlds of books. When those books are taken away, hope comes again in the form of an invitation from Lady Duxbury to join her Secret Book Society and in the friendships they form. But when their secret is discovered, the consequences could be deadly.

Fascinating, sobering, and yet hopeful, with rich and complex characters, The Secret Book Society is one story I won’t soon forget!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was a fantastic read. Lady Duxbury is a formidable female character determined to help the restricted women in society as she was once restricted herself. She is a widow three times over and has an amazing library that she wants to share with the women. Reading Eleanor, Rose, and Lavinia's stories was eye opening to the extreme ways women were treated during this time. It's crazy to think how easy it was to threaten a woman with an asylum if they didn't "behave." Highly recommend reading this one!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

This is easily one of the most powerful stories about women that I have ever read. It is absolutely incredible. Five stars for this book about four women who will inspire you to stand up for yourself.

Lady Duxbury is a woman with an interesting past. She is also someone who wants to help others. It is because of this empathy she feels for others, that she decides to start a secret book club to help women.

Lady Duxbury invites three women: Eleanor Clarke, Lavinia Cavendish, and Rose Wharton. Each woman has their own story to tell. Their stories are told in alternating chapters, with entries from Lady Duxbury’s own journal mixed in.

Each woman’s story was fascinating, inspiring, and heartbreaking in different parts. I was very emotional while reading this book in all of the best ways. As someone who loves books, I was so thrilled to see the role books played in each woman’s circumstances. This book has also inspired me to read Jane Eyre - one classic that I have never read.

I was also fortunate to have a copy of the audiobook of this one. Saskia Maarleveld does a wonderful job bringing each character’s voice to life. She is one of my favorite narrators, and I jumped at the chance to listen early!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to this magnificent book! It is out this week. If you love books, phenomenal women’s stories, and historical fiction, pick this one up!

The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin is a story that quickly drew me in and had me curious to see what would happen next. I thought The Secret Book Society was well-written with developed characters. I thought the characters were realistic and relatable. The story moves along at a steady pace. We get to see a realistic view of what upper class women faced in Victorian England. Woman had few rights in the Victorian era (next to none unless they were a widow). The father, brother, or husband controlled their money, property, and what would happen to them (whom they would marry for example). We get to see the control a man has over a woman in The Secret Book Society, but also how one woman helps empower them. The women see that they are not alone. They get a chance to make friends, share their love of literature, and learn some helpful tips (I particularly liked the different uses for a hatpin). I liked that the author showed that not all men are bad. Interspersed throughout the story are entries from Lady Duxbury’s diary. They are quite illuminating. The author’s love of literature shows. I found myself cheering for these women and hoping that they would overcome their situations. The Secret Book Society is a heartbreaking and heartwarming historical tale about the rules of society, bullies, importance of appearances, friendship, a love of literature, and courage.

I love a great book about women supporting women and The Secret Book Society was no exception! This was the second book I've read by Madeline Martin with one more waiting on my TBR shelf, and now I can't wait to read it.

In 1895 London, women often were trapped by oppressive marriages and societal expectations. In The Secret Book Society, 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, Rose Wharton, and Lavinia Cavendish are each in uniquely difficult situations but together they learn their self-worth. 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 an oppressive world that has kept them silent for too long.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting these women and learning their challenges and their individual strengths. The indomitable Lady Duxbury is at the heart of this story and uses her social standing and hard-won freedom to help her friends. Eleanor, Rose and Lavinia gradually learn to trust one another and share their innermost secrets, from Ealeanor's abusive marriage, to American-born Rose's demanding brother-in-law, and to Lavinia's overbearing and misguided father. I especially loved watching Lavinia blossom under Lady Duxbury's tutelage where she's introduced great works of poetry whose authors exhibit restless minds not unlike her own.

I couldn't help rooting for each of these women throughout the book. Their stories felt very realistic, relatable and poignant. Martin crafted a well-balanced story of mystery, friendship, suspense, and sisterhood. Weaving in discussions of classic books and the importance of reading (and reading what you want!) and writing was icing on the cake!

Really enjoyed this! All four women had great story lines and I enjoyed the Victorian time period and the historical relevance, as well. Will make a great book for book clubs!

Trigger Warnings: domestic abuse, controlling marriages, societal oppression of women

Set in late Victorian London, The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin combines historical richness with a story of resilience, friendship, and the power of literature. As someone who has long loved the Regency and Victorian eras through authors such as Jane Austen and modern adaptations like Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series, I was immediately drawn to this tale. Equally important to me as a reader is its core theme of female empowerment, which the novel explores with both tenderness and urgency. One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in how it brings together women from very different circumstances and shows the sanctuary they find in one another.

The story follows Eleanor Clarke, Rose Wharton, Lavinia Cavendish, and the enigmatic Lady Duxbury as they navigate restrictive marriages, family secrets, and the weight of social expectation. Martin’s prose is elegant yet accessible, richly descriptive without losing pace, as seen in her vivid portrayals of drawing rooms, jewels, and whispered gossip. Through alternating perspectives and the clever insertion of diary excerpts, she illuminates both the external trappings of privilege and the private costs of being silenced.

What stands out most is the way the book society itself becomes both haven and catalyst. In an era when even reading the “wrong” book was considered dangerous, these women risk reputation and safety for knowledge, self-expression, and solidarity. The friendships they form feel authentic and moving, and readers will likely find themselves cheering for their small but meaningful acts of defiance.

If there is a limitation, it lies in the narrow focus on upper-class struggles; the hardships of the working class, only briefly glimpsed, might have provided a fuller contrast. Still, the novel succeeds in its intent: to show how courage and companionship can help women rewrite their own stories.

A compelling choice for fans of historical fiction that centers women’s voices, The Secret Book Society will especially resonate with readers who cherish book clubs, stories of resilience, and the quiet power of friendship.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy of The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin. Set in Victorian England, the novel highlights the dangers women faced when daring to speak their minds—often dismissed as “hysterical” or threatened with asylums for defying their husbands. Against this backdrop, Lady Duxbury creates a hidden refuge under the guise of a polite tea gathering, where women can gather to read, share, and reclaim pieces of themselves that society tries to silence.

As a Regency romance fan, the Secret Book Society fits neatly into this genre. This book examines the restrictions placed on noble women during the late 19th century. We see women in different stages of their married life, whether that be widowed, on the marriage market, or in the midst of marriage.

One of the aspects I enjoyed most about this book was The Secret Book Society is what we, in the modern era, call book club. As a member of a book club, it has been one of the most illuminating, supportive environments I have enjoyed. The women of The Secret Book Society are given access to books that their families or husbands have limited because of the perception that these books lend towards hysteria, unwanted behaviors, or uncouth sentiments. In the open, the women are going to a respected widow’s home for society. Behind closed doors, they’re discussing the books they have taken home for the week and spending time in the library reading their most current selections.

We acquaint ourselves with each of the women in The Secret Book Society from chapters written from their point of view. Madeleine Martin found a clever way to introduce the history of our protagonist and widow by having excerpts of her diary introduced. We see the love she has lost, the abuses she has suffered and the actions she has taken which have led her to the current moment. She can now move independently without the constraints that society places on married women.

While I enjoyed this title and often frequent this genre, the woes of the characters contained within its pages were ‘privileged women’ problems. The box that contains them is their immense wealth, duty to family and societal constraints. I appreciate the widow gives these women access to potential solutions for their individual troubles. However, the troubles they suffer pale in comparison to the working class and those in the poor house.

If you enjoy Regency romance, easy prose, a little bit of mystery and all things book club, then The Secret Book Society is for you.

Thank you to Hanover Square Press and Net Galley for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This review has been cross posted to Goodreads and instagram.com/SVNBookBar