The Book Club for Troublesome Women

by Marie Bostwick

By 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan is living the American woman's dream. She has a husband, three children, a station wagon, and a home in Concordia--one of Northern Virginia's most exclusive and picturesque suburbs. She has a standing invitation to the neighborhood coffee klatch, and now, thanks to her husband, a new subscription to A Woman's Place--a magazine that tells housewives like Margaret exactly who to be and what to buy. On paper, she has it all. So why doesn't that feel like enough?

Margaret is thrown for a loop when she first meets Charlotte Gustafson, Concordia's newest and most intriguing resident. As an excuse to be in the mysterious Charlotte's orbit, Margaret concocts a book club get-together and invites two other neighborhood women--Bitsy and Viv--to the inaugural meeting. As the women share secrets, cocktails, and their honest reactions to the controversial bestseller The Feminine Mystique, they begin to discover that the American dream they'd been sold isn't all roses and sunshine--and that their secret longing for more is something they share. Nicknaming themselves the Bettys, after Betty Friedan, these four friends have no idea their impromptu club and the books they read together will become the glue that helps them hold fast through tears, triumphs, angst, and arguments--and what will prove to be the most consequential and freeing year of their lives.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a humorous, thought provoking, and nostalgic romp through one pivotal and tumultuous American year--as well as an ode to self-discovery, persistence, and the power of sisterhood.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Book Club, Audiobook, Feminism, Historical, Books About Books

380 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 22, 2025

About the author

Marie Bostwick is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of uplifting historical and contemporary fiction. She lives in the state of Washington and travels frequently to sign books, speak to reading groups, and meet her readers. Keep up with Marie, her travels, new releases and lifestyle blog, Fiercely Marie, at www.mariebostwick.com.

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

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This novel brings together a group of unhappy women in the 1960s and start a book club. The story unfolds very slowly, allowing you to become invested in the struggles these women face. I loved the newcomer, Charlotte, who is having some setbacks in her life. So, she decides to join the book club. It's here where the ladies learn to find a source of strength and friendship.

The club consists of a very diverse group of women. Margaret, Viv and Bitsy are all dealing with their unique issues. The author has crafted a diverse group of women, so their first meeting doesn't go as smoothly as planned. But as they learn about themselves and each other, a bond begins to form. I love books about women helping women so much. I also loved that the story shows how books can start a conversation and help us while we are trying to get through difficult times, and these women use this book club as a support system of sorts.

This is more than the typical story of a book club. It's a book about women finding their inner strength, getting support from each other and the power of female friendships. It was heartwarming and insightful, and it proves that sharing stories can be healing. It's the perfect read for anyone who loves books about books.



Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

[Emily May · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

I really wish I could say I liked this book more than I did. The premise is great-- a perfect antidote to tradwife nonsense --but the story itself is inconsistent, both in terms of pacing and characterization.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is set in 1963, shortly after the publication of The Feminine Mystique. A group of suburban housewives in Virginia start a book club and their first pick is Friedan's new release: a decision that will change all of their lives.

Moving through the perspectives of these women-- Margaret, Viv, Bitsy and Charlotte --Bostwick explores this very specific time and place. She covers the weird post-war housewife fixation and propaganda in America, showing how emerging consumerism benefitted from encouraging this as a "natural" role for middle class women because it sold household appliances. We see the invisible labour carried out by women, how challenging it could be to have and keep a career, and how many housewives turned to prescription drugs to cope with their six kids and stagnant lives (literally Mother's Little Helper.)

In 1963, married women couldn't open a bank account without their husband's permission (even if the money going into it was their own wage), couldn't be prescribed the pill without his signature. It was stifling just reading about it.

I also really appreciated that Bostwick acknowledged the limitations of Friedan's work. As Viv notes, her book primarily applies to middle class women with choices, whereas many other women, and men, were forced to work jobs they hated just to feed their kids.

But while all this is great, these positives are all about the message of the book and the takeaways from Betty Friedan's writing. What actually unfolded in the story was... not that much. Especially when compared to the length of the book. There were quite a lot of slow spots, good bits interspersed with more tedious stretches.

Also, I know women faced a lot of difficulties at this time, but I was disappointed that we didn't see much in the way of the promised "troublesome women." Only Charlotte really caused any trouble (and that was thanks to her brilliant daughter). It was frustrating that Bitsy and Margaret's lives only really changed as a result of their husbands' decisions; they themselves did not actually make much trouble. There was a lot of tongue-biting and easy forgiveness, and while I appreciate character growth, I did not fully buy Walt's about-turn.

Still, I read it all and made a bunch of notes, so obviously not a bad read. Charlotte's story was by far the most satisfying.

[Lau ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story had such an impact on me I started reading Virginia Woolf.

In Virginia, in the early 60s, four women start a bookclub where they read a feminist book, The Feminine Mystique, that would change their lives forever. Through their conversations, they realize they aren’t the only married women with children who feel they are still not satisfied. They want to have independence, something of their own, but they feel guilty about wanting more. Their husbands don’t understand why they can’t be happy with the life they provide, and they also don’t have a clue of what went wrong, but they are determined to figure it out.


When I read the blurb (the author did a better job at it than me), I didn’t hesitate to request it. I felt it was written for me: friendships, the 60s, a bookclub, a novel changing their lives…When I read the author's note that her mother read the same book, The Feminine Mystique, and changed her life, I got even more excited. It didn’t disappoint.

The Bookclub for Troublesome Women is one of those books that captures you from the second you start reading. Despite not being married and not having children, I understood the desperation of the women narrating the story. They love their children and husbands (at least, the ones who had good husbands), but they never feel fulfilled. Every year, they turn more miserable because they don't understand why it isn’t enough for them, why they dream about that time when they were students or had a job outside their houses. And they feel guilty for not appreciating what they have, but they can’t help wanting something more.

Margaret climbed the stairs and slammed the bedroom door, feeling furious but also foolish. And yes, small. Lonely and small and less. Just less.

I was afraid I was going to get bored of following four women for an entire book, but I quickly realized it wasn’t going to be the case. At 40%, I still felt I was beginning to get to know all the amazing women who protagonize this wonderful story. I was obsessed with them. I enjoyed how their situations were different but they were all experiencing the same feelings, and that’s how they went from neighbours to best friends-and with the help of good books, of course.

I loved reading this book. It made me want to live in it forever, pick up hundreds of historical fiction books, start reading classics (I read Virginia Woolf after this, which I never thought I would do)... Then the ending happened, and I would lie if I didn’t say it spoiled the book a bit for me. The problem with the ending was that it was too perfect for a historical book that aimed to show a real historical situation. During the first half of the book, the story feels real. But then, everyone starts to get exactly what they deserve, and everything starts to be solved way too perfectly. I went from seeing this as an accurate statement of a historical situation to seeing it as what it was: a fictional book.

I was going to give it 5-stars; I was so angry at the ending I wanted to scream. But a couple weeks have passed since I finished this and I’m back at appreciating everything this book gave me: the inspiration to stand out of my comfort zone and read classics, feminist non-fiction and historical fiction, four characters that stole my heart and a very enjoyable reading experience.

In a lot of ways, her husband was just as trapped as she was. The invisible fence of rules and mores that confined women to a small, carefully defined patch of human achievement impacted men as well, required them to carry the bulk of a family’s financial burden.

Overall, I would have changed the HEA for a more realistic ending I could believe in, but I loved everything else about this book. If the premise interests you half as much as it interested me, you’re going to enjoy this story. You’ll fall in love with the four friends-and with Viv’s husband, the man was so dreamy he only needed one scene to charm me forever-, and you’ll cheer for them to follow their dreams. This book changed me, pushing me to read out of my comfort zone (which I ended up enjoying and made me want more), and I’ll be forever grateful for that.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely story!! I love a cast of women that all have different stories but collectively make such an incredible powerhouse support for each other. The ending after 80% lost me but this book is definitely one to add to your list!

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

1963, Northern Virginia, Margaret Ryan, Viv Buschetti, and Bitsy Cobb, are housewives in a brand-new suburb called Concordia and when Charlotte Gustafson moves into the neighbourhood, she’s a flamboyant artist from Manhattan and they decide to start a book club and read Betty Friedan's new novel, The Feminine Mystique.

The phrase "feminine mystique" was coined by the author to describe the assumptions that women should be fulfilled from doing their housework, being married, and having children and what more could they possibly need or want. Women who were truly feminine should not work outside of the home, get an education, or have political opinions. Friedan wanted to prove that women were unsatisfied and voiceless and it’s true.

At the time a woman couldn’t open a bank account without her husband’s permission and needed her spouse to accompany her to a gynaecological appointment to get the prescription for the contraceptive pill, infertility was never due to the male and some families found divorce shameful and infidelity was something ladies shouldn't complain about and pretended it wasn’t happening.

Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv share how they feel, unseen, undervalued and dissatisfied and they discover they are not alone and their new friends listen and understand their grievances and spread the word to help others and knowledge is power.

I received a copy of The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick from the publisher HarperCollins Focus in exchange for an honest review. The story was wonderful and well written, it really shines a light on what it was like for American women in the 1960’s, society thought things were fine and despite the world changing.

A narrative about friendship and sisterhood, and it helps the ladies to find courage to confront the past, and see themselves in a new way and move forward. I really liked Margaret and her husband Walt and how together they weathered life’s ups and downs and five stars from me and I highly recommend.

[lauren‎♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ (semi-ia) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5💫

i love the betty’s!!

this story follows four women in the 1960s who start a bookclub together that leads them to form "radical" views on their societal and social norms. each of the four women are at completely different stages in their lives experiencing different drawbacks and struggles, but they create such a strong bond with one another that they are able to encourage and push each other to break their set expectations and achieve goals that most women in this time period aren't able to achieve.

each character had a unique and humorous personality but they all complemented each other so well. i became so proud of these women for the battles they overcame and being able to watch them grow throughout this book. i think that this is a really good example of how the right friends can push you to be your best self and encourage you to achieve your goals, even when they seem impossible. i loved these women so much. i want to be a part of the betty's, or a group like them, so bad!!!

this book really put into perspective what life was like as a women in this time period and how hard it was to do anything that wasn't a standard women's position. reading first hand how tough it was to do something other than be a man's wife made me appreciate everything that I have and everything I am able to do, such as getting a job and a good education. it's an important reminder that those things are a privilege that some people still don't get this day and to be grateful for them even when I complain about it.

i highly recommend this book if you are a historical fiction lover and enjoy reading about female friendships!!

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this Audiobook. Just started listening and couldn’t stop. It was terrific. 4 Women living in the Virginia Suburbs seem to have it all, yet feel that something just isn’t right. There is a lacking in their life. So, the new neighbor from Manhattan, Charlotte will only join Margaret’s book club if they will read The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. Two other friends, Viv and Betsy join, too.

Times are changing and the book affects each woman differently. Yet, the magic here is the friendship these four different women form. True and Real Friendships are always difficult to find. We long for that connection, but often don’t have it. The women do all make changes in their lives, but the reason they happen is because of the sheer force of love and backing by their friends. It makes them feel ok being different and able to stand up for themselves. Each knows her other 3 friends will support her with any decision she makes.

Loved that message. Loved the wonder of growth and change. Loved the Excitement of Women’s Lives getting Brighter and having Deep Meaning. I am going to hear Marie Bostwick speak and am really looking forward to this so much.

I was really Excited, managed on Tuesday to hear this Author speak and she signed my book. This was at Beautiful Weymouth Center and set-up by The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, NC. So, glad to have listened to the Audio and now have the Signed Copy of her book 🥰

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for a copy of this Audiobook. I always leave reviews of books I read.

[Taury · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick was a novel i was looking forward to reading. A Historical Fiction novel which took place in the 1960s. It show how women were stereotyped and considered to stay home in the kitchen, take care of the home and children and has no future goals. Men were the head of the family. The boss, not to be questioned. This group of “Bettys” were women that were complacent in their roles but progressive in their minds. 4 ladies who formed a bookclub. 4 women from different backgrounds. 4 married women who depict the mold of women giving up everything for their husbands. This book really brought out the mindset of conservative principles of the times.

[Maja - BibliophiliaDK ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

WASN'T REALLY WHAT I EXPECTED

If you give me book with the title "The Book Club for Troublesome Women" I am going to be expecting two things - a book club and some troublesome women. I didn't really feel like this book delivered fully on either one of those, which was a disappointment.

What I liked

👍Feminism: I adore stories of women discovering their feminism and starting to demand what's theirs.

👍1960's: I liked the 1960's setting and vibe, it was a good background for this story in particular.

What I didn't like

👎Pace: The pacing was just too slow for me, not a lot happened to grab my attention.

👎Book club: I so wanted the book club - and especially "The Feminine Mystique" - to take center stage of this book. Sadly, I didn't really feel like the book(s) got the attention, they deserved. I wanted more debate about the books, their effects on the women and their thoughts. You know, like a book club.

👎Troublesome women: Aside from Charlotte, I didn't really feel like any of the women were particularly troublesome.

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCERPT: At age seventeen, Margaret had promised herself that she would grow up to be nothing like her mother. After a promising start, the fruit of her early efforts had shriveled. Now, at age thirty-three, Margaret sometimes wondered if every woman was destined to become her mother eventually. Recently, however, things had started to shift.
And not just for Margaret.
As with any seismic occurrence, the impact would be felt more keenly by some than others, and responses to it would vary widely. Some would embrace the change. Some would decry it. Some would avert their eyes and pretend nothing had happened. It didn't come all at once of course, Meaningful change rarely does. But in the fullness of time, no one could deny that landscapes and lives had been irrevocably transformed.
Nevertheless, Margaret didn't fully appreciate that yet. Neither did she understand that the impulses she'd given in to over the last three months, and the secrets she kept - including the rented seafoam-green typewriter she'd hidden in the far reaches of the linen closet - would alter her family, her future, and her sense of self. Today she was just excited about the book club, thrilled to be the point of connection for the other three women who had agreed to take part, some more reluctantly than others, and determined to make their first meeting memorable.

ABOUT 'THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN': Four dissatisfied sixties-era housewives form a book club turned sisterhood that will hold fast amid the turmoil of a rapidly changing world and alter the course of each of their lives.

By early 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan, Viv Buschetti, and Bitsy Cobb, suburban housewives in a brand-new "planned community" in Northern Virginia, appear to have it all. The fact that "all" doesn't feel like enough leaves them feeling confused and guilty, certain the fault must lie with them. Things begin to change when they form a book club with Charlotte Gustafson--the eccentric and artsy "new neighbor" from Manhattan--and read Betty Friedan's just-released book, The Feminine Mystique.

Controversial and groundbreaking, the book struck a chord with an entire generation of women, helping them realize that they weren't alone in their dissatisfactions, or their longings, lifting their eyes to new horizons of possibility and achievement. Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv are among them. But is it really the book that alters the lives of these four very different women? Or is it the bond of sisterhood that helps them find courage to confront the past, navigate turmoil in a rapidly changing world, and see themselves in a new and limitless light?

MY THOUGHTS: I fell in love with this book early one when one of the characters states, 'Mother wanted me to be a lady, but the only thing I cared about was horses and books.' Hello, me! But what really made me fall in love with this book were the characters - Margaret, Charlotte, Viv and Bitsy - and the mutual support club they become. Everyone needs friends like these, and everyone will be able to relate in some way to the struggles and triumphs of these women.

I read The Book Club for Troublesome Women in less than twenty-four hours, unable to put it down. I was born in the 50s and grew up in the 60s, so a lot of this was familiar territory to me. My mother played tennis two afternoons a week, the neighborhood coffee morning rotated from one house to the next, the phone would ring hot with the latest gossip or a warning that 'so-and-so' was on her way . . .

But if this sounds somewhat idyllic, it wasn't. A woman couldn't open a bank account in her own right without either her parents' or husband's permission. Higher education for women was discouraged - seen as a waste of time because they were only going to get married and have babies. Contraception was difficult to come by and unreliable, divorce shameful, and infidelity (as long as you were a man) and domestic abuse considered acceptable - because men were just, well . . . men. And women were popping 'happy pills' in their hundreds and wondering what was wrong with them. After all, they had nice homes filled with labor saving devices - what did they have to be unhappy about?

The four women at the centre of this novel are all very different in both character, circumstances, and where they are at in their lives. And yet they all have this one thing in common - they all feel unseen and dissatisfied. They want more than housework and childcare. They want to use their minds and improve both themselves and society.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is very different to Marie Bostwick's usual writing, which I have always enjoyed. This I LOVED.

And please, do make sure you read the note about how this book came about. It is very special.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A couple of quotes I particularly liked: Novels force you to think - to make your own conclusions about characters and themes, and decide if they're valid or relevant or true or good, or the opposite or maybe somewhere in between.

Most people are a bundle of walking contradictions.

#TheBookClubforTroublesomeWomen #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Marie lives in Washington state with her husband and a beautiful but moderately spoiled Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

When not curled up with a good book, Marie Bostwick can usually be found in her office, trying to write one.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins Focus, Harper Muse, via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick was published 22 April 2025.

https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blurb: “By 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan is living the American woman's dream. She has a husband, three children, a station wagon, and a home in Concordia--one of Northern Virginia's most exclusive and picturesque suburbs. She has a standing invitation to the neighborhood coffee klatch, and now, thanks to her husband, a new subscription to A Woman's Place--a magazine that tells housewives like Margaret exactly who to be and what to buy. On paper, she has it all. So why doesn't that feel like enough?

Margaret is thrown for a loop when she first meets Charlotte Gustafson, Concordia's newest and most intriguing resident. As an excuse to be in the mysterious Charlotte's orbit, Margaret concocts a book club get-together and invites two other neighborhood women--Bitsy and Viv--to the inaugural meeting. As the women share secrets, cocktails, and their honest reactions to the controversial bestseller The Feminine Mystique, they begin to discover that the American dream they'd been sold isn't all roses and sunshine--and that their secret longing for more is something they share. Nicknaming themselves the Bettys, after Betty Friedan, these four friends have no idea their impromptu club and the books they read together will become the glue that helps them hold fast through tears, triumphs, angst, and arguments--and what will prove to be the most consequential and freeing year of their lives.”

The Plot: This was such an interesting read. I won’t lie to you and say that the sexism and misogyny didn’t ruffle my feathers, because, oh boy, it did. 😅 I’m not one to use those terms lightly or freely, so you can get a good idea of what injustices the characters faced. And you don’t have to be a feminist to enjoy this book. I think every woman (and man because I know the message and struggles concerning fulfillment pertain to you, too, fellas) can relate to the characters and/or the message. It’s about four women who want to live fulfilling lives that utilize the gifts and talents they have. For Margaret, it was writing; for Viv, it was nursing; for Bitsy, it was veterinarian work; and for Charlotte, it was her art. And they go on the most rewarding and life-changing adventure when Margaret decides to start a book club (which was not planned). I knew that it took a long time for women to be accepted as equals in both the workforce and society, but goodness, I didn’t think it took that long. It makes me so grateful for the brave women who stood up and fought for equality.

The Characters: I don’t know if I have a favorite character because all four women were amazing in their own way. I think I related to Margaret more than I did the others, but the beauty of humanity is that we can find similarities with everyone, if you are looking for them. Obviously, some of the men (and women) who were minor characters angered me because of their ignorance or arrogance, but it made me smile to see our awesome characters fight back and gain the respect and dignity they deserve. Each had their strengths and weaknesses, which beautifully balanced the friendships and made them a joy to read. 🥰

The Writing: Marie Bostwick is a brilliant author! The story flowed so well, the paragraphs and dialogue were readable, and the story was so engaging and fun. The plot wasn’t confusing whatsoever and I felt that the characters were old friends of mine. 💖

Overall Thoughts: I highly recommend this book. It was such a joy to read, and I got to learn a lot of things I did not know about. I truly enjoyed reading it. ☺

Content Warnings: mentions of self-harm/suicide, death, sexism/misogyny

Pub Date: 04/22/25

I received a digital arc from HarperCollins Focus via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.

#TheBookClubforTroublesomeWomen #NetGalley

[Connie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

After her move to a new upper middle-class housing development in Virginia, Margaret Ryan decides to ask several neighbors to form a small book club. Her new artistic neighbor, Charlotte, suggests Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique for their first discussion. It's 1963, and the book resonates with the housewives who feel like something is missing in their lives. Margaret and Charlotte are joined by Vivian, a former Army nurse with six children, and Bitsy, a horse lover who wanted to be an equine veterinarian but instead married one.

The book group called themselves "The Bettys" and read more feminist literature after finishing The Feminine Mystique. Each of them made changes in their lives since they found they needed an interest beyond marriage, children, and housework.

Some real-life women appear in the book including Katharine Graham, the owner of the "Washington Post." She shows the importance of making connections with other women, and "paying forward" by making recommendations of talented women for jobs and educational opportunities.

As might be expected in the early 1960s, some of the husbands are more supportive than others about their feminist ideas. One of the husbands is working a job that he dislikes, but feels the obligation of supporting his wife and children. The best marriages in the group were the ones where they had good communication and worked as a team so they both felt fulfilled. While solutions to their problems seemed to work out easier than expected in real life, there was a lot of food for thought in this novel.

While I was still a child back in 1963 when the book was set, I did feel like The Book Club for Troublesome Women did reflect the position of women back in that decade. The constant smoking and drinking seemed a bit excessive for a bunch of neighborhood housewives. The background--from historical events to the food--had a '60s vibe. Even the cover had the popular colors at the time--gold and olive green! The topics of 1960s feminism, friendship, and the challenges faced by the four women would probably spark interesting discussions for book clubs.

[Missy · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️ 2/5 Stars (Meh)
Setting: The early 1960s in Concordia, a planned community in Northern Virginia
Genre: Literary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction

The Book Club for Troublesome Women offers a touching glimpse into the lives of suburban housewives in the 1960s, grappling with societal expectations and the stirrings of second-wave feminism. The novel beautifully captures the power of female friendship, with Margaret Ryan’s accidental book club serving as a safe haven for self-discovery and quiet rebellion. The themes of marriage, identity, and personal freedom resonate, making for a heartfelt and nostalgic read.

However, despite its promising premise, the novel struggles with execution. The pacing is uneven, often dragging in moments that should feel more impactful. While the themes are important, they become repetitive, and the characters—though engaging—sometimes feel like archetypes rather than fully realized individuals. The conflicts unfold predictably, and by the end, there’s a lingering sense that the story could have gone deeper, delivering more emotional weight.

While The Book Club for Troublesome Women has moments of warmth and insight, it ultimately falls short of its full potential. Readers who enjoy stories of female camaraderie and historical reflection may still find value here, but those seeking a more nuanced or dynamic narrative might be left wanting more. #NetGalley #thebookclubfortroublesomewomen #booked_this_weekend

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

In short, the book was my book club pick which maddens me that I feel like I wasted my choice.

The whole story lacked complexity. I wanted a story about troublesome women shaking up their world. What I got was a group of women quietly making do.

JFK’s assassination felt jarringly out of place, like the author ran out of ideas and tried to link the story with a dramatic historical event. It didn’t add emotional weight.

The feminist themes were more than superficial, and left me wanting for so much more fight and strength.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up
I had high hopes for The Book Club of Troublesome Women. A historical fiction, set in 1963 and focused on a group of four suburban wives who read The Feminine Mystique. And it does a great job setting the scene, but a bit too much. Bostwick hits you over the head with the constant smoking, the dress code, the arrogant husbands, the put downs from every male . In fact, my problem with the book is that it comes across more as soap opera than historical fiction. Too many of the men were just caricatures. Which means, it’s great entertainment but it’s not the depth I was hoping for. She manages to explain to younger generations what it was like for women in the 60s without slowing down the pace of the story. I’m sure there will be young women truly not realizing that married women were nothing but chattel, unable to open up banking accounts of any sort (not just credit cards, but even a savings account) without their husband’s co-signature or unable to get birth control without a husband’s ok. The Feminine Mystique truly was a game changer, making many women realize they weren’t alone in their unhappiness. I read it in the early 70s and even a decade later, it was still an important work because not much had changed.
The female main characters were better developed than the men. And I did come to care about each of them.
This is a timely novel as we watch the rights of women again being removed. Unlike real life, everyone has their own version of a fairy tale ending.
I listened to this and it worked well as an audio experience. Lisa Flanagan was a great choice as the narrator.

[Ellery Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect book club read. I loved the 1960s setting and all the changes starting to take place in the home and the workforce, especially for women. Every character in this novel brought something to the table, and through these women, the reader experiences their triumphs and disappointments as they strive for empowerment in a time when a woman wanting a career, or to be childless, or to remain single was met with a crockpot full of negativity. It's the friendship between the women that shines brightest here, even in the face of heartbreak and loss. Thanks to @librofm for the gifted audiobook. The narration was spot on.

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful read with delightful characters.

We meet housewives in the 1960s who say they are happy, but are they really?

Some of them gave up careers to be a housewife and mother while others didn't know there was anything else to life but getting married and having their husband be in charge of the finances and anything they could do outside the home like opening a bank account and relying on his controlling of money.

When the neighborhood women gather together for a book club and read The Feminine Mystique by Betty Frieden, their bonds become stronger and some break out of their roles.

This is a truly enjoyable book that made me smile and actually laugh out loud even though it got bogged down a bit at times.

Hurray for these housewives and friendships women make!! 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have very little to say about this book as I neither loved it nor hated it. It's such a middle of the road book.

Set during the 1960s, we follow four women who formed a book club. We see snippets of their lives with their families alongside their frustration with the times. Their inability to open bank accounts, get contraception, or have any career ambition.

While all these things are important, I didn't personally feel that this book was bringing anything new to the table.

I also felt like the author was pushing every theme possible into 400 pages, and nothing was properly explored.

Three stars was ok, but I am sure it will be forgettable. 

[SusanTalksBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

1/14/25: The title of Marie Bostwick's upcoming release (4/22/25) was what attracted me to her novel, and I'm sure many book club members will jump at this one. It is a historical fiction, set over 8 months in 1963, beginning with the March release of The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, and ending with the November assassination of JFK.

The book uses the Feminine Mystique and the book club that forms in suburban Virginia to read it as their inaugural book as a vehicle to showcase what being a woman in 1960's America was like. Definitely pre-women's lib. Can't open a bank account without your husband's signature and approval. Expected to have dinner on the table, clean up and put the kids to bed while your husband drinks a 6-pack on the couch. Have men generally put down any educational or career interests from their wives. The book is very white-suburban-fairly upper middle class focused, so we do have a limited viewpoint from the book, save for one Black nurse that has a small but positive mention and an urban health clinic helping the underserved.

So this novel is a chronologically organized narrative, where we follow the lives of 4 women, read about their troubles, and see them develop identities thanks to Betty Friedan and their collective friendship. Some men step up, and some men get left behind. Most of the women get smarter and figure out how to achieve their goals. The group calls themselves The Betty's in honor of Friedan. Their is not a singular 'transformation' point, but many smaller ones throughout the book. The book tells its stories with a lighter hand, so we are spared any violence or extreme situations.

The storyline felt a little too obvious to me, and I wasn't excited at the beginning. But the women grew on me and I became invested in their outcomes. I like how Bostwick weaves in famous real life characters like Katherine Graham of the Washington Post and Jackie Kennedy, among others. I like that the book is very accessible for a wide range of readers, but did feel the story was pretty expected. It was uplifting, and while that was good I would also love to read a bit more drama or something unexpected. I was thankful the author didn't use any timeframe jumps, but kept it linear. 3.5 stars rounded up. I do think it would make a great book club read. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing an ARC to review.

1/11/25: Just started this NetGalley pre-release, and although the first 10% was a little slow, I am getting into it as it progresses. Review coming soon.

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I so did not enjoy reading this. So much so that I stayed up past my bedtime last night to finish it just so I would not have to face another day with the thought of having to read this book. It probably isn’t that bad, but it was so dull. I didn’t really like or care about the characters and they really weren’t that troublesome given the title. It read like Hallmark circa 2015 trying to tackle social issues. Ultimately, I was disappointed.

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Four friends are forever changed by reading a book, The Feminine Mystique. This is about housewives in the 1960’s who become closer through motherhood, community and feminism. Fans of uplifting historical fiction will love this book. I was cheering for Charlotte as she overcame a bad marriage and outsmarted her controlling father. I was rooting for Bitsy that she would see her worth and value. One thing that I appreciated was the acknowledgment that The Feminine Mystique was written for women of privilege who were manipulated into having a lesser role. Other women were already working multiple jobs out of necessity. These women got an “allowance” and were treated like children. It’s a book that reminds us why we read.

Thanks to @netgalley and @Harpermusebooks for the ARC. Book to be released April 22, 2025.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

#booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booklover #arcreview #booktok #netgalley #bookrecommendations #TheBookClubForTroublesomeWomen

[Wendy with a book · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has my favorite story structure for Historical Fiction & Women's Fiction mash-ups:

Like Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, this book is told from the POV of 4 distinct female friends, with one as the anchor character. When done right, that fiction formula works so well.

Set in the early 1960s in a fictional suburb in Virginia, it captures a time when women who wanted more than housewife duties and motherhood were deemed troublesome. I loved the role that female mentorship played. In today's economy and competitive job market, it often feels like every man or woman for themselves. I hope this book inspires people to intentionally act as workforce allies, rather than rivals.

My only quibble is the handling of alcohol. One binge-drinking character declares they’re going to cut back and, voilà, they do. It seemed unrealistic to go from problem-drinker to occasional social drinker with such ease. “I’ll just have a few from now on” is an oft-said statement with a very low success rate.

[Dez the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a 3.5 rounded up for me.

I originally chose this because I love everything bookclub! Plus, this is set in Virginia, where I live! Ok, on the the meat and potatoes…

This is a heartfelt, nostalgic novel about four suburban women in 1963 who quietly rebel against the roles they've been handed through a secret book club and revel in the warmth of female friendship. It was fun and connecting but lacked “more” to the story. I was kind of left feeling a little unfulfilled.

I loved the dual timelines, the emotional depth of each “Betty,” and the way historical detail brought the era to life. That said, parts felt a little too tidy and idealized, and I found myself wishing for more diverse perspectives.

Still, this is an uplifting, discussion-worthy read, perfect for fans of Lessons in Chemistry or The Briar Club. Book clubs will have a lot to talk about on this one as it’s what us book club bookworms do!

Thank you to the publisher for an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Obsidian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please note that I received this book via NetGalley, this did not affect my rating or review.

This was such a great book to read in the current environment, however, the ending just didn't stick, and I think that if Bostwick had left that part of the book alone the book would have been a 5 star favorite with me.

"The Book Club for Troublesome Women" takes place in 1963 in a Virginia town called Concordia (just think close to Alexandria and D.C. The book follows Margaret, a stay at home mother of three; Charlotte, also a stay at home mother of four children; Bitsy a stay at home wife focusing on getting pregnant; and Viv a mother of 6 who hopes to get back into nursing after a decade plus long absence. Margaret has an idea of a book club to get to know Charlotte better. She includes Bitsy and Viv because they seem like the women in their neighborhood who would be of similar mindset. The first book up, the women read "The Feminine Mystique" by Betty Friedan.

The book follows all of the women as we see the impact of this book, others, and just the general societal impacts happening during 1963 (school integration, assassination of Medgar Evers, March on Washington, etc.).

I honestly liked all four of the women in this one. Each one has a different dream, but realizes they don't need to put down any of them for wanting something different. Bitsy dreams of being a vet, but had that dream denied to her since she's a woman. Margaret wants to be a writer, Charlotte an artist, and Viv is happy being a wife and mother, but wants to go back to nursing.

The flow of the initial part of the book is a little slow, but once you get to them reading "The Feminine Mystique" things take off.

I found myself reading the book straight through at one point because it was so good and I loathed some of these women husbands.

The only sticky point for me was the ending. Way too much got stuffed into it. And I think working in two real life people in this fictional book just felt very far-fetched. I didn't buy it, and it took me out of the book. Also the fast forward in the end didn't work either. I think it would have been better to leave the book open-ended and heck, even show not everyone gets to what they dream to do and you can just keep trying for it anyway. I think Bostwick wanted to tie a nice and tidy bow that didn't quite work.

I think the thing that makes me most sad in 2025 is that we are back right here again. We have society, politicians, countries trying to say what a woman is and what she should be doing full stop. We have proposed legislation that is going to make it harder for married women, adoptees, and transgender people to vote too. It knocks the wind out of my sails though that this book taking place in the 1960s really showed the way everyone tried to keep women and their dreams so small and we are back here again.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting story! I absolutely loved all four main female characters—each one unique, complex, flawed, and fierce. Their growth throughout the story was so well done, I found myself cheering, raging, and tearing up right alongside them.

The writing style is sharp and elegant, with historical fiction elements woven in seamlessly. It’s an engaging, layered story that balances character depth with a strong sense of time and place.

Overall, this book has fantastic characters, thoughtful development, and gorgeous writing. A must-read!

[elizabeth rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful, unforgettable reflection on womanhood, identity, and quiet rebellion.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is not just a story—it is a mirror, held up to a time in history that feels both distant and dangerously familiar. Set in 1963, in a seemingly idyllic American suburb, this novel peels back the veneer of domestic perfection to reveal the emotional isolation, silenced ambition, and quiet desperation experienced by so many women who were told they had everything—yet felt like nothing.

Through the lives of Margaret, Viv, Bitsy, and Charlotte, Marie Bostwick captures the aching truth of what it meant to be a woman at a time when femininity was defined by submission, silence, and sacrifice. These women are not rebels in the way we often imagine revolutionaries. They are mothers, wives, neighbours. But what makes them extraordinary—and so deeply human—is their willingness to begin asking the forbidden questions: Why am I not happy? Is this all there is? What would life look like if I mattered, too?

The introduction of The Feminine Mystique into their book club becomes a call to consciousness. Their discussions crack open the foundation of their lives, unearthing the grief and rage and longing that had been buried under layers of politeness and expectation. This is a book about the power of story—not just the stories we read, but the stories we are allowed to tell about ourselves.

It explores the intersections of femininity and masculinity—how men, too, were shaped and confined by the cultural narratives of the time. Walt, Margaret’s husband, is particularly well-drawn, offering a glimpse of how empathy and partnership can flourish when vulnerability is permitted to exist within masculinity.

This novel is rich with themes that feel urgently relevant: the need for financial independence, bodily autonomy, the invisibility of older women, the social pressure to conform, the stigma around divorce, and the way women are often gaslit into believing they should be grateful for lives that quietly break them.

But most of all, The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a story about courage. About the strength it takes to say no, and the deeper strength it takes to say yes to your own truth. It is a celebration of friendship, of books, of the profound and transformative magic that happens when women gather—not to gossip, but to grow.

We owe it to the women who came before us—and to the ones we’re still becoming—to read books like this. Five powerful stars. I will be recommending this book to every woman I know.

Thank you to HarperCollins Focus and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Wendy G · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://wendyreadit.wordpress.com/202...

This wonderfully narrated audiobook talks about how life was in the early 1960s, it reminded me of the television show 'Leave it to Beaver'. This story takes place in a DC suburb, 4 women, neighbors, decide to form a book club. And, when they read Betty Friedan's book, The Feminine Mystique', they all want more out of life aside from being a wife and mother. I love hearing them talk abour ordering pantyhose for the first time from the Sear's catalogue. This is the time period when many of us, myself included, helped glue green stamps into books for prizes and we had a milkman deliver dairy. It was also a time period when fur coats were status symbols, you could rent a typewriter for $7 a month, wives were getting an allowance from their husbands, and it wasn't until 1974 that a married woman could open a bank account for herself. This story is about the power of female friendships, the friendships that can change your life for the better. Along with the author, I also loved her characters.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

We've come a long way, baby, thanks to the brave women who paved the way.
The story revolves around four women who form a book club, but their relationships grow into so much more. With the support of each other, they find the courage to look beyond their roles as housewives. In doing so, they manage to pay it forward to other women.
It is a wonderful story of friendship, family, and self-discovery.

[Ink_Drinker · Rating 5 out of 5]

1960s suburbia. One book club. Four women ready to rewrite the rules.

Marie Bostwick’s (@mariebostwick) The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a nostalgic, quietly powerful story about friendship, self-discovery, and finding your voice.

As four suburban women in the 1960s start a book club and end up sparking a feminist awakening in their own lives. Together, reading the pages of The Feminine Mystique and having candid book club conversations, these women begin to question everything they’ve been told—and start living on their own terms.

🎧Lisa Flanagan brings each character to life with graceful, understated shifts in tone. Her steady pacing lets both the humor and emotion breathe naturally, adding richness to the story’s themes of connection, growth, and subtle defiance. The narration feels spot-on for a book that honors women’s courage and spirit.

The story weaves together themes of self-discovery, feminist awakening, the power of female friendships and the courage to embrace change.

[Meagan✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC

✨Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, & HarperCollins Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review✨