The Secret Book Society is a beautifully written story of friendship, heartbreak and hope. Eleanor, Rose, Lavinia, and Lady Duxbury form a sister-like bond through their secret book club during a time when men dominated the society. I enjoyed the different character perspectives and Lady Duxbury was my favorite. This book definitely gave me Bridgerton vibes!

HIstorical fiction is hit or miss with me and I really enjoyed this book. If you're looking for something to empower you as a woman, this book is for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for honest thoughts.

“𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳—𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥, 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥.”

With vivid descriptions of Victorian England and themes of female empowerment this was a very compelling and well executed novel. It shared insight into a time when women were sent to insane asylums for anything from writing poetry to being difficult or disagreeable. 🙄 And the authors note shares a true story of one such incident, used in the book, making it even more impactful.

I loved the emphasis on how important female friendship’s are and what a powerful impact literature can have.

*quotes from arc’s may be different from finished copies but I love this one so much I had to share and hope it remains as is.

I’m grateful to The Hive for the auto approval!

such a beautiful story about literacy, the importance of books, and sisterhood. the found family in this book is beyond wholesome! this story is set in the Victorian era where women were, surprisingly, oppressed and controlled not only in their appearances and behaviors, but also their hobbies, specifically their reading tastes. this just paints a clearer picture to me of the brutality of what it feels like to not be allowed to read what you want to read and therefore not have your own agency, even over your own CHILD! the men in this book, most of them is absolutely the worst and i despised most of them! i love how the author writes in a very beautiful way and the way the story is structured is also very clever and keeps me on my toes. the vibes when the women talk about and discuss the books they read are IMMACULATE ✨ lots of references to Jane Austen which i love and i highly recommend giving this book a try!

I absolutely adored this book. The premise of the book immediately caught my attention of a secret book society led by the reclusive and mysterious Lady Duxbury for the sole purpose of supporting women who were in abusive and restrictive environments that sought to undermine their power and agency to be their own person and think for themselves. I found this book so beautiful in how each of the women had different challenges within their own home lives but at their core all were seeking an escape from the suffocating expectations of being a proper lady in society, of dressing the right way, saying the right thing, being a docile wife, and above all knowing one's place and not daring to step out of line. I felt so deeply for each of these women. Eleanor's story absolutely broke my heart but her strength and sacrifice with the support of the other women to take back her agency for her son no matter the cost was so moving. I felt almost as though she had the biggest growth throughout the book. Rose's character felt incredible strong-willed and independent throughout the book, yet it was clear she was also going through her own tensions in her household with her husband and brother in-law. I think I particularly like how Madeline included a character like her in the book because she really elevated the group dynamic between all the women and also added a more nuanced layer to the types of ways women had to navigate their role in society during this time period. Lavinia's character was in my opinion less "loud" and present in the book but even so I felt as though it matched her personality and her struggle to speak her mind and stop questioning whether she was "hysteric" as her family made her believe she was. Finally, I loved learning about Lady Duxbury little by little throughout the book, to see what she went through and what led her to bring together this group of women in the first place. All in all, I was completely enraptured by this book and its exploration of womanhood, the strength of friendship, and accepting oneself. If anything I just wish this book had been longer so I could have enjoyed for even a page more. An immediate 5 star read for me.

Overall, I really liked this book. Martin is a great writer, and I enjoyed reading how these stories all came together.

It was interesting to step into Victorian time, and see these 4 women struggle against the times they lived in.

I did find the stories of each women a bit confusing at times, but I think that is more a "me" problem than the book itself.

If you enjoy historical fiction with some intrigue and some suspense, check this book out!

After surviving three abusive marriages and unbelievable heartbreak, Clara Chambers, the Countess of Duxbury is finally free. Widowed and wealthy, Clara is determined to save other women from suffering as she has, to that end, she selects four women from society and invites them to join her for tea, all save one accept. She then offers the women use of her extensive library, as well as her support and guidance facing the struggles of being a woman in Victorian England. Clara gently guides each lady, taking special notice of Eleanor Clarke, the wife of a self-made man who married her for her social status. She makes book suggestions to each woman but offers Eleanor a glimpse into her own life by encouraging her to read her personal journals. And so, begins the Secret Book Society…

The members of the Secret Book Society are Eleanor Clarke who is married to Cecil Clarke, a controlling, dominating man, who saved her family from financial ruin, a fact he doesn’t let her forget. He controls every aspect of her life and even limits the time she is allowed to spend with their son. Rose Wharton is an American heiress who married Theodore Wharton, the second son of an earl in a love match, but since learning Theodore’s elder brother the Earl is dying and Theodore is his heir, their marriage has suffered as the Earl doesn’t believe Rose is a proper lady, leaving Rose wondering if her marriage can survive. The final member is Lady Lavinia Cavendish, who accepted the invitation in her mother’s place, Lavinia’s father has banned her from reading, believing that it will encourage her capricious nature and lead to the same madness that her grandmother suffered. Together these women will forge a friendship so strong, that it will ultimately help them save one of their own.

With this book, Madeline Martin has crafted an emotional story of friendship, empowerment and healing. Until they met at Lady Duxbury’s home, each woman in this story is at a crossroads in her life and facing it alone, but thanks to the secret book society, they have each other to lift them up and support them through the challenges they face, and woven within their story is Clara’s tale of heartbreak and loss, which gives readers a powerful and insightful look into the life of a woman in the male dominated Victorian era. I loved this book, not only does it make me proud to see how far women have come but reminds me of the power women have to lift up and support each other through the inequalities we still face today. Before you start this book, I highly recommend grabbing a beverage, a box of tissues and comfy chair, because once you start reading, you aren’t going to want to stop until the last page!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

loved! wholesome historical fiction! loved the plot and enjoyed the mild suspense, while a bit rushed at the end, overall loved

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

I really enjoyed this novel, the setting of Victorian London where women are very regulated in what they are “allowed” to do was very well executed.

Martin does a great job at showing the struggles of women through the three main characters (Rose, Lavinia and Eleanor)

I thought that Martin did a great job at writing about these characters and their individual struggles and lives. The way that their actions within the society and outside of the society affected one another was extremely well written.

This is a fantastic novel of perseverance, strength, bonding, friendships, finding who you are and where your strength comes from.

I resonate the most with Rose as a character, who is the American transplant. Being a military kid I e had to adjust to places with new societal norms and standards so her struggle with that really resonated with me. BUT I did enjoy Lavinia’s story line the most.

I have no complaints when it comes to the plot and pacing, though it was all paced well and it all made sense.

The only reason this wasn’t a five star read for me is because I wish the chapters were longer so Martin could’ve done an even deeper dive into the emotions of the characters. I didn’t get to feel the emotions as deeply as I wanted because the moment I started feeling them the chapter was over, sometimes abruptly.

Far from a make or break item this was still a really good book for me :)

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. Eleanor Clarke, a devoted mother suffocating under the tyranny of her husband. Rose Wharton, a transplanted American dollar princess struggling to fit the mould 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.
Another beautifully written page turner from the author. In depth research, wonderful characters who I felt I really got to know, a very well paced story, which hooked me from the start & I devoured it in two sittings. A combination of sisterhood, with some mystery & suspense. I was routing for the women all the way through. Quite an emotional book which I highly recommend.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

“The Secret Book Society” is a historical fiction book by Madeline Martin. Do read the Author’s Note for information about how this book came to be. This book takes place in Victorian England (specifically London) where four women each feel trapped and over time a friendship/sisterhood is formed between them. I had some trouble keeping the women apart (probably a me issue, not the author’s) and ended up restarting chapters when I’d stopped in the middle to jog my memory. For me, this book was interesting (knew about the threat of being committed to an asylum for any reason - Nellie Bly wrote about it in her wonderful investigative reporting) but just missed the mark for me giving it a higher rating. I liked that the women banded together, but the male characters seemed, sadly, bad just to be bad … which was disappointing. I also was taken aback at how quickly the women bonded together - acquaintances I get, but immediate best friends? I can see why other reviewers have enjoyed this book - there are enjoyable parts and the writing is very good (and the plot does move along).

In 1890's London, Lady Duxbury invites a small group of women to do something truly scandalous - read books and think for themselves. Oh, the horrors this unleashes on their poor, unsuspecting (domineering, abusive, controlling) husbands, the poor dears.

The Secret Book Society is historical fiction with a twist of mystery, suspense, and girl power - which may be my favorite blend of histfic. This book is well written, well researched, and highly entertaining. I was captivated to watch these women, who previously felt so helpless and afraid, discover each other, their voices, and their power. It's a story of hope, sisterhood, and empowerment. It's a delightful bonus that books are also at the center of this story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the opportunity to read this book prior to its publication in exchange for this honest review.

Thank you Madeline Martin, Net Galley and publisher for allowing me the pleasure of reading “The Secret Book Society. It took me awhile to get into the book. The beginning was ok but felt like it dragged. I understand that author needed to lay the groundwork for the rest of the book. Once I got into the book I wanted to know of course how it ends. The description of the asylum was gruesome and I’m sure it was really like that. I just cannot believe the way women were treated. How disgusting and sad their lives were. No wonder woman were fighting against each other just to keep their family intact and themselves out of asylums. It really was hard to trust anyone you never knew when someone was going to use something against you just for the attention of a man. The book did make me interested in learning more about how society was conditioned to behave in this time.

In The Secret Book Society, three Victorian women receive an invitation for tea and conversation from a woman they have never met.

Lady Clara Duxbury is a mysterious and wealthy woman who has survived three husbands. Although rumors circulate, she is accepted as part of Society and her invitations are never ignored.

Eleanor is the mother of a young son who endures an unwanted marriage to a brutal bully for the sake of her child. Rose is an American heiress who married the younger brother of an earl she met in New York; their love has been spoiled by the earl's resentment. Lavinia is a shy and sensitive girl who fears she will end up in a lunatic asylum like her grandmother.

Together, the four women defy the rules of their culture as they share their love for books.

This charming book is not subtle (a villainess is actually named Lady Meddlesome!) but it is fun to read. I found myself caught up in the lives of all four characters as they navigated their ways to empowerment and acceptance in Society. While not as great as the works of Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austen, or Charles Dickens (all favorites of the group) it offers a genuinely entertaining homage to those classics.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the opportunity to access an advance reading copy of The Secret Book Society in exchange for my honest review.



.

4.5 (rounded up to 5)

This book had everything I love in historical fiction: strong women, found family vibes, and a setting that pulls you right in. Set in Victorian London, it follows a group of women brought together by the fierce and fabulous Lady Duxbury, who gave me Lady Danbury from Bridgerton energy. She invites them to join The Secret Book Society, where they can read books, something forbidden for women at the time, and it quickly becomes so much more than that.

The story explores friendship, resilience, and the courage to push back against the rules that try to keep you small. Each woman had her own struggles, and I loved getting to know them all, from their hardships to their loves, and seeing the moments that made them stronger. The journal entries from Lady Duxbury added even more depth.

The audiobook narrator was fantastic and brought the story to life, and reading the book made it hit even harder for me. Beautifully written, heartbreaking at times, and ultimately empowering, this is one I will be thinking about for a while.

Thank you to HTP Books for the advanced reader copy.

I’m obsessed. This will absolutely be on of my top reads of 2025 and I want everyone to read it! ‘The Secret Book Society’ is an incredible piece of historical fiction that blends drama, suspense, and the powerful theme of female empowerment. Though it’s set in Victorian London, the novel draws alarming parallels to the issue’s we face today surrounding book bans and limiting access to important books so we can learn, grow, and find ourselves in the books we read. And in a time where women’s rights are being limited, the conversations about women’s access to education, autonomy, and the right to think freely hits hard.

This book follows four women: Lady Duxbury who gathers our secret book society, and the three women who join. Each woman’s story is layered and emotionally gripping. Simply put, these women will get their hooks in you and won’t let go. With wonderful pacing and deeply moving moments, this is a book that doesn’t just tell a story; it leaves a mark and I will be thinking about it for years to come. I simply cannot recommend this one enough.

First off, I love a book that has books in the title and Madeline Martin’s The Secret Book Society is a beautifully written historical novel set in 1895 Victorian London. It follows the lives of three courageous women: Eleanor Clarke, Rose Wharton, and Lavinia Cavendish. They all receive a mysterious invitation to tea at the reclusive Lady Duxbury’s estate. There, hidden beneath the surface of polite society, they discover a secret book club that becomes a sanctuary. Each lady comes with secrets of their own. The story explores the limited roles imposed on women and the quiet but powerful rebellions that arise through books and friendship.

It was so interesting to read about that era where woman were so oppressed and had basically no rights. They were viewed as property of their husbands and reading books was seen in a negative light. It supposedly gave them too many ideas and put disobedient thoughts into their heads. (My book buying problem would certainly raise concern in that era!). It was an amazing read, historical fiction at its best!

The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin is a very good feminist women’s fiction novel set in late 19th century England, focusing on four women struggling with their lack of agency and personal freedom. Each character is alternately granted her time (chapters) in the spotlight. The changing POVs are well done and gave me a deeper understanding of each woman, her perspective, and her circumstances. All four are interesting and sympathetic in their own ways, but as a fellow brash American who wants to believe in happily ever afters, I most admire Rose. She’s smart and brave, has grit and determination, but even she finds herself in a dire predicament, uncertain how to proceed.

One of my favorite things about this story was the support these characters leant to each other, despite familial and societal censure, judgment and pressure. Lady Clara Duxbury, Eleanor Clarke, Lavinia Cavendish and Rose Wharton are what we call #girlfriendgoals and it’s inspiring. These women face risks and danger I could never truly understand in my 21st century life, but their courage is note-worthy and inspiring.

While each woman has her own unique strength, Lady Duxbury is the most interesting and formidable. She is the Queen and Mastermind who united them and provides guidance, information, new skills and support. These women were isolated, angry, lonely and caged in their own prisons. Lady D doesn’t aim to simply free them; she wants to gift them the strength to liberate themselves. (Well, except in one obvious case.)

Finally, I really enjoyed the denouement, but would have appreciated a more comprehensive epilogue. I came to care for these characters and wanted to know more about their hard-won futures.

While I often complain about current assaults on women’s rights and the injustices we face, this book is a very harsh reminder of what once was and what some want to be again. It’s revolting to read how women were denied even the most basic human rights, how condescendingly they were treated by their husbands, family and society, and how they had about as many personal freedoms as a walking stick. They were merely possessions in a man’s world to a degree that I simply cannot fathom. Yes, it’s revolting, but also important. We can never go back.

Thanks very much to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. Opinions are 100% mine.

This is the fifth book I've read by Madeline Martin that focuses on books, book lovers, book shops, and/or librarians. I love Ms. Martin's writing on these subjects because she creates unique characters who face emotional turmoil as they live through a particular time in history and how they handle it. The role of books in her novels can vary from being a means of financial support due to working with books, or more frequently, as providing emotional support and encouragement. In The Secret Book Society we see books as a means for bringing together four women during the Victorian time period who are in need of kind, sympathetic, understanding friends who, along with the books they read, provide the emotional support and encouragement they need. Ms. Martin does an excellent job of presenting the difficult situations that three of the women are facing without being overly graphic in description. The treatment of women during that time period was very strict - and harsh to the point that women could be put away in an asylum if deemed to have hysteria due to being "too emotional". In The Secret Book Society we get a glimpse of how some women dealt with the harsh circumstances they were in. I highly recommend anyone who loves books about books, historical fiction, the importance of strong friendships, and the importance of standing up for yourself, to read this book. I received an ARC from Harlequin Trade Publishing via NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

Beautiful story about women and their book club during the Victorian era in England.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wow, what a fantastic historical fiction! This story follows four women as they face challenges with, well, being women, in Victorian London. Each woman goes through an unbelievable amount of character development throughout the book, and you find yourself rooting for each of them. The story touches on some pretty heavy topics (oppression, domestic violence) and is handled with such care. I greatly enjoyed reading this book.

The only negative I have is that the beginning of the book was a little confusing to keep track of, since the author switches between using first names when showing that character’s POV and last names when they are all together as a group. There were a few times that I had to go back and recall who experienced specific things due to this.

Overall, a wonderful book.