The Club for Rebellious Ladies: A totally unputdownable dual timeline historical novel of friendship, romance and secrets

by Siobhan Curham

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical

424 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 8, 2026

About the author

Hi, I’m Siobhan - which for those of you not familiar with the wonder of Irish names, is actually pronounced, Shiv-on!

I’m an award-winning author of over 50 books, fiction and non-fiction, for adults, young adults and children, and my first book was published back in 2000, so I’ve been at this writing game for almost a quarter of a century now.

I’m also a former council estate kid and a university drop-out - I dropped out because I didn’t think I had what it took to make it in the middle class world of publishing. Thankfully I managed to overcome my self doubt and fear and achieve my writing dreams, and now I love helping others do the same through my mentoring, courses and talks.

I don’t know about you, but during the pandemic I felt as if my life had collapsed in on itself and I’d had to shrink myself to fit this strange new world of lockdowns and zoom calls (oh, so many Zoom calls!) and working from home and working alone. Even when things returned to some semblance of normal back in 2022, I felt that I’d lost sight of who I was and I’d definitely lost my joy for living.

Then, an unexpected trip to Jamaica changed everything, jolting me back to life and reminding me of who I truly am. In a bid to never lose sight of myself and my sense of wonder and purpose again, I started travelling more and writing a weekly Substack letter called Wonderstruck. And in September 2023 I gave up my home in the UK and pretty much all of my worldly goods to solo travel the world while I write my books and mentor other writers.

I send Wonderstruck out to my subscribers every Sunday morning, writing about the places I visit and the lessons I learn there. My sole aim for writing this letter is to inspire others to rediscover their own sense of purpose, wonder and adventure.

If you've enjoyed reading any of my books I'd love it if you joined the Wonderstruck community over on Substack.

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing my books, I really appreciate it!

Siobhan

Substack: siobhancurham.substack.com
Facebook: Siobhan Curham Author
Instagram: @SiobhanCurhamAuthor
Twitter: @SiobhanCurham

For more information about my books, mentoring and courses, please visit: http://www.siobhancurham.com

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun]

Author Siobhan Curham has spotlighted a decade that laid the groundwork for progress and feminism in her upcoming novel, The Club For Rebellious Ladies.

Her plot blossomed from questioning, “What happens when women stop living the lives we’re told we ought to want?” Although it centers around redefining womanhood, Curham’s thought-provoking story weaves in second chances, reinvention, female friendship, buried secrets, and the value of growing as a wildflower rather than a wallflower.

The Provence setting and dual-timeline features Elodie Sinclair and her Wildflowers Club members, best friends Genevieve and Lucille in 1919 and Rae Morgan, a woman on a mission, in 2025. These four incredible women were trailblazers who lived life on their own terms and pursued their passion at a time when societal restrictions tried to sideline them. I do not doubt that these spirited women will inspire readers to live like a wildflower. I appreciated the nudge to live joyfully, free, and to follow my North Star.

I’ll remember this book for the suggestion to see fear not as “‘something ugly or unsightly to be hidden,” but rather “as something to wear with pride, like a badge of honour.” Elodie learns that fear doesn’t make her weak, but human, and she has cause to celebrate being alive. We could all do with this encouragement and learn to harness fear for personal growth.

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Cindy Spear]

I’ve loved every book of Siobhan Curham’s I have read. Although The Club of Rebellious Ladies is a little different from her usual World War novels, it is still stunningly brilliant and emotionally powerful. It contains epic family secrets with a huge mystery at its core. As the plot unveils its clues, the characters are revealed. While watching events unravel, my mouth constantly fell open in shock and surprise at the many unexpected twists and turns. This compelling story kept me engaged from the first sentence to the last. I was transported effortlessly back and forth in Provence from 1918 to 2025 and never once found the transitions awkward. Everything flowed and was stitched together perfectly for a grand finale.

This beautifully delivered dual timeline is led by Elodie of the WW1 era and Rae in 2025. Their two worlds connect through the clifftop manor and the families who dwelt there. Elodie is a brave, determined and, according to her era, rebellious young woman who fights for individuality in a man-centred world. After she is sent by her parents from Boston to a special finishing school for socialites in training in Provence, she teams up with friends Genevieve and Lucille to become The Wildflowers Club. The concept was inspired by some daisies growing through a crack in the wall of the conservatory— to be everything the school is not. “The Wildflowers will grow wild, and stride not glide, and our stems will bend exactly how they please. And most of all, we will create lives so sensational Oscar Wilde would be proud!” A quote by Oscar Wilde is given in the Epigraph at the start of the novel. He mentions he never travels without his diary. This is also Elodie who writes in hers of the many challenges in her life. And this will reappear in 2025 with the new owner of the manor.

Another quote to mention in the epigraph is by French novelist George Sand. She fought against the prejudices of a conservative society and championed women’s rights and passion. This reference is an apt inspiration for this novel.

This small group the Wildflowers want to break free from the confining expectations of their time. They don’t want to be wallflowers and their vows reflect this. They want to be strong, not shrink to accommodate other’s wishes, to learn for the joy it, to do things that make them feel drunk on life, their yearning is a compass to show them the way and they need to follow their North Star. To remain steadfast to their core values. This novel shows how that looks in a life lived through these women. And we cannot help but admire them for their efforts and success but also weep with them when they encounter dire conflicts and mountains of opposition.

In the future timeline, Rae Morgan is the new owner of the crumbling clifftop manor. She has just left California behind after a bad relationship that ended in divorce and she wants to start fresh. So she chooses France after hearing a conversation in an elevator! She meets elderly Madame Devereaux who wants her to buy the manor over another local figure. Once in the place, she learns there are many secrets hidden in the walls and the story that will come to light, will shock and inspire. But she meets opposition in the fellow who wanted to buy the property and he makes life difficult for her. But she is strong and will not shrink from her mission to restore the old manor. To see it become a retreat centre for women: a place to relax, revive, get inspired and be empowered. In many ways, she very much reflects the Wildflower women of the past and desires to honour them. Her research journey brings to light some amazing information and even when she thinks she has figured out many pieces of the mystery puzzle, the truth she learns in the end will be a huge surprise (as it is for those of us reading the book!).

There are so many things to love about this story: for one it is a wonderful example of female resilience. The art aspects of the plot are also very interesting and it is obvious Siobhan did a lot of research through various avenues and also visited the area (as she tells us in her author notes).

Another message in the novel is that we cannot always judge a person by appearance. People and their actions don’t always line up. Identities are altered and facades are needed for protection and some wicked twists launch that you won’t see coming!

Although there are dark topics of violation, death, fear and powerlessness— there are also beacons of strength, life, love and overcoming the odds. I really appreciate the voice the author gives women who have been trodden on and forgotten—and how she provides encouragement in the face of adversity. And boldly conveys a lasting message of hope. We are reminded that we can all be wildflowers moving as we see fit, and never having to settle at being a wallflower— powerless and defeated. 5 Cheers to Siobhan for delivering such an important and triumphant message for women everywhere, past and present. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.

[Carolyn Miller]

I truly wish this book was longer

This book is needed now more than ever. Everyone needs to live life to the fullest. I finished reading this right after my mother passed away, and I know that she lived her life and the way she wanted. I deeply enjoyed this book and, as always, I wish Siobhan‘s books were longer.

[Emma Crowley]

It’s very rare these days that I give five stars to books. In fact, I can’t actually remember the last time that I did but Siobhan Curham’s new book, The Club for Rebellious Ladies, certainly deserves five stars and much more. From start to finish it was a sublime read which only got better with each turn of the page. There were twists and turns aplenty right up until the very end which kept the reader engrossed and trying to guess what the eventual outcome would be. In her end notes, the author mentions that this was her first historical fiction book which wasn’t set during World War Two and that it was a departure for her. Well all I can say is this reader very much enjoyed the departure and would love more in this vein in the future. Based on the title I presumed this book would be about a club girls set up during World War One to try and do their bit for their country. But my assumptions couldn’t have been more wrong but in the best of ways for what I got was a rich, emotional and compelling tale which showed how Elodie was a woman ahead of her time and was someone who was determined to control her own destiny and not be led by others.

The story is told in the dual timeline format, of which I am a huge fan, and in this case it is done particularly well and it’s made even more enjoyable for the fact that it is set during World War One. I feel there isn’t enough books set in this era in the historical fiction genre and would love even more. The war is not the sole focus. It plays a very small part, in that a character goes away to fight and I was glad of this because instead the female characters and what they were going through and coming up against was allowed to be explored in great depth. The characters shone through throughout and yes there was a solid, intriguing and stable plot but without such fantastic character development it would have been all for nothing. The two balanced each other exceptionally well and those surprises and reveals that kept coming until the last possible moment only enhanced the story and kept even the characters guessing as well as this reader.

A brief prologue set in Provence in France in 1918, details a female teacher reading a diary that makes her angry, sorrowful and shocked. Reading of awful details of things she knew were going on but that she did nothing about makes her feel guilty. But what is the woman talking about and what could have been done? So starts the story proper and a story of romance, mystery, secrets, hardship unfolds and this reader couldn’t get enough of it. In September 1918,Elodie starts her diary to recount her time at the L’Ecole de la Rose Blanche, where she has spent the past twelve months. Her parents sent her there to learn how to be a lady so as to gain her entry into society and secure herself a husband. But Elodie is distinctly unhappy, she feels curtailed and restricted but the absurd rules and regulations enforced by the school not to mention the ridiculous lessons she has to endure. She is a person who longs for freedom and to dance to her own beat. These are two sentiments that she sticks to throughout the book as her story ventures through many phases. Her time at the school deeply affects her and is cut quite short through an incident which leaves her dead or so it is presumed.

Elodie was a brilliantly crafted character who refused to have her spirits broken by the ridiculous restrictions imposed upon her by the school. So writing in her diary allows her to express her thoughts and strengthens her will which she is determined will never be broken. She forms the rebellious ladies club of the title called the Wildflowers with two other girls who have become firm friends and are of the same mindset as her although it is Elodie who is the driving force. Their motto is ’The Wildflowers will grow wild and stride not glide and our stems will bend exactly how they please’. Elodie remains true to this sentiment throughout the most harrowing, disturbing and traumatic of times.

Elodie is passionate, free spirited and a rebel and I adored these qualities in her. She is all about female empowerment and was a young woman well ahead of her time. Meeting Etienne, the son of the local vineyard owner, is a moment of transformation for Elodie, the individuality the school has stamped out of her starts to return and for the first time love features heavily but briefly in her life as Etienne has to return to the front. Yet, the connection that is formed will form the later half of the book and when the story takes us to Paris a whole new world is opened up which again proved insightful and fascinating.
Elodie, endures an event that no woman should have to suffer, the details of which I won’t go into. Suffice to say it fuels her fire and passion even further. She knows she can’t allow other people to determine who she is and what she does and her art will come first and foremost although there are plenty of trials and tribulations sent in her direction. She is feisty and never goes down without a fight and as the truth to her life and many secrets are revealed through investigations in the present the depth to her character is revealed. I just became totally lost in Elodie’s world because the character was so well written and was someone who didn’t want to be starved into obedience. She was a light that needed to shine, a trail blazer and a woman who lived life on her own terms. Therefore she earned my admiration and respect and by the time I reached the end of the book I was sad to leave her and the characters behind.

In the modern day, Rae needs a break from California following legal wrangling with her husband Dave over their divorce. Now for the first time in years she is in control of her destiny and straight away the similarities between herself and Elodie start to appear. She heads to France to put her carefully constructed, restricted marriage behind her. Lo and behold she comes across the chateau once used by the school and Madame Devereaux the current occupant wishes to sell it. Rea, soon founds herself the owner of the chateau and sets about renovating it but when she finds the diary a mystery unfurls where she is transported back to France and Elodie’s time. Secrets begin to be revealed and an injustice uncovered. The many layers start to be peeled back and numerous comparisons can be drawn between the two strands of the story. I loved Rea’s aspect of the story as it was binding things together, but Elodie’s just edged it out for me ever so slightly. Rea has her own challenges to face in the present and alongside an unlikely ally she does her best to navigate them and reconcile the past with the present so justice, retribution and understanding can be found.

The Club for Rebellious Ladies is a book that I can’t recommend enough. I’ve previously said one of Siobhan’s more recent books was her best yet but this tops it and it’s the author at her very very best. Challenging societies expectations often begins with having the courage and tenacity to dream differently and Elodie proves that in spades. Friendship, hope and the enduring power of women are all strong themes that make this an excellent read.

[Julia]

The Club For Rebellious Ladies by Siobhan Curham is a powerful dual timeline novel that I absolutely adored.
The action is set-in present-day France, and also towards the end of World War I in 1918 in France. The two time periods are linked by location and family.
We witness family secrets. The silence of those who knew make them complicit in the abuse of a husband to teenage girls living in the school next door in 1918. In present day, descendants are appalled, distancing themselves from their long-dead relatives.
A secret diary is found that uncovers the truth. We learn the tale, along with the present-day characters.
We witness the devastating effects of World War I. Some died, others left their minds on the battlefields of France. “The things I saw in the war, it’s like I can’t escape the memories.”
At the start of the twentieth century, young girls were seen as ornaments and the property of males – first fathers, and then husbands. “Being trained in the art of becoming an ornament rather than a living, dreaming human being.” Girls’ ambitions were squashed. We see a group of girls determined to break free of the mould of society. They wanted to live their lives.
All the characters were well drawn and believable. We cheer the bravery and the guts of the leading lady in 1918. She rises above her circumstances; chooses her own North Star; and hangs on, breaking out of traditions.
The Club For Rebellious Ladies is a powerful read. It is a difficult read at times as there are scenes of abuse and male dominance – but we applaud the bravery of the leading lady in a society dominated by men.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
A word of caution: there are upsetting scenes of abuse that some may not wish to read. And if you, or anyone you know, is affected by these topics, please seek help and tell someone.

[Desiree Mosley - A Love Affair With Books]

★★★☆☆ The Club for Rebellious Ladies by Siobhan Curham

I enjoyed The Club for Rebellious Ladies and especially appreciated the dual timelines that connected the lives of two women separated by a century. The story follows Elodie in the 1920s and Rae in 2025, creating a parallel journey of self-discovery, courage, and finding one's place in the world. Elodie is an American student trapped in a French finishing school, longing to escape to Paris and pursue her dream of becoming an artist while worrying about her brother Edward fighting in the war. In the present day, Rae is a recently divorced American who impulsively travels to France and unexpectedly purchases the very building that once housed Elodie's school.

Both women face hardships and challenges as they struggle to define who they are and who they want to become. I enjoyed watching their stories unfold side by side and seeing the connections between their experiences. The French setting added charm to the novel, and the themes of independence, resilience, and rebellion against societal expectations were woven throughout both timelines.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was the mystery threaded through the story. It kept me engaged and eager to uncover the truth behind the secrets linking the past and present. I was genuinely surprised by some of the revelations near the end. Several things I had convinced myself were true turned out not to be, while other clues I had overlooked became important pieces of the puzzle. Although the pacing occasionally felt slow for me, the satisfying conclusion and unexpected twists made for an enjoyable read overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and Siobhan Curham for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie Hopkins]

I enjoyed the dual timelines of this story and Elodie and Rae’s story was equally intriguing and heartfelt. Rae’s dedication to finding out the mystery of what happened at the charm school and to Elodie kept me fully engaged in the story, and as the story unfolded, I kept thinking about which direction this story could go. I was pleasantly surprised by the conclusion and have been thinking about this story for days after reading it.

There are sad, and extremely emotional moments in this story including a tragic injustice that happened to Elodie that happens in society not just in those days but in today’s as well. I felt deeply distressed and heartbroken for Elodie. I will be thinking about her story for a long time.

Rae had just gone through an all too public divorce and her husband had no shame whatsoever in his public treatment of Rae. Wanting to escape it all and heal, she finds herself in Provence and the new owner of the school Elodie was a student at! Not long after she starts renovations, she begins to discover clues about its past. The more she digs, the mystery unfolds… I felt this mystery to solve is what she needed to heal from her own tragedy and it really adds to the story of resilience, hope and new beginnings.

A deeply atmospheric, emotionally compelling woven story that will transport you to time and place.

Stephanie
www.layeredpages.com

I obtained an ARC from the pubslihers through Netgalley for an honest review.

Side Bar: I must caution the reader that there is a rape scene in this story.

[SRQ Girl]

SPOILER ALERT

I really enjoyed The Club for the Rebellious Ladies. I loved the premise, the women, the friendships, and much of the story. It kept me interested throughout. Unfortunately, the ending felt anticlimactic and left me wanting a much stronger payoff after everything the book had built toward.

I also really disliked the romance with the much younger African man. The book itself continually emphasized their significant age difference, yet I never felt the author convincingly dealt with the social realities and complications this relationship would have faced—an older white American woman and a much younger Black African man in France. Instead of exploring those difficulties honestly, the relationship felt forced to me, as though a modern message was being inserted into the story. I wish authors would trust their characters and their historical settings rather than feeling the need to push a woke or liberal agenda into every story.

The vineyard owner was another frustration. He was portrayed as a complete jerk for most of the book, and then suddenly we're expected to accept this kinder version of him. That transformation needed far more development to be believable.

I still loved the book overall, which is probably why these things bothered me so much. There was a genuinely wonderful story here. I just wish the author had allowed the characters and period to speak for themselves instead of inserting modern political and social messaging where it didn't feel natural.

[Mystica]

A dual timeline with fearless women. Elodie in 1918 finding it very hard to fit in a very rigid finishing school, meeting up with a man who becomes the love of her life, being raped by the benefactor of the school, ignored by her teachers and finally running away to Paris where she carves out a niche for herself in tge art scene. Fast forward to 2025, we have Rae buying the ruin of the school on a whim, with the idea of renovating the place. She feels a sense of belonging to the place, but realises there are many secrets hidden in its walls. She faces the hostility of her neighbours head on and is determined not to give into the petty annoyances and hindrances put in her way.

The discovery of a diary and papers give details of Elodie’s life post school and Rae sets out to Paris with the few clues she has to put her to rest. Elodie is supposed to have died in a tragic accident on the cliff walk, but investigations prove that was a cover up for Elodie’s escape. Elodie established herself as an artist, met Etienne again and had a child. Rae is determined to find out the child’s relatives and the story takes off from there with wonderful results.

A real page turner and one which ends so happily was a joyous read.

[Kimberly]

4.75 rounded up to 5

I truly enjoyed this dual timeline story of Elodie and Rae. There was mystery and romance and strong female characters.

Early 1900s; fiery, determined Elodie is a trailblazer set on being more than a pretty accessory to a husband. She is a smart creative that wishes to forge her own path but faces some rather harsh obstacles along the way.

2025: Rae is reeling from a very public divorce from a weasel of a husband and sets off for the Tuscan hillside to recover when she stumbles upon a discovery from the past. This will then lead Rae down a path to figure out what happened to Elodie, all while dealing with a contentious new neighbor.

The story grabbed my interest and held on until I finished as I became quite invested in what happened to Elodie.

As I do like my historical fiction to be tied into real people in the past, I was a little disappointed that The Club for Rebellious Ladies was not based on an historical figure. This was my only negative.

The book itself is amazing and I definitely recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC!

[heyshelbyhi]

This had a dual timeline, and I enjoyed both, but especially liked reading about Elodie in the 1919 story. I loved her untamed spirit when we first met her and the other Wildflowers.

The 2025 timeline reminded me a little of “Under the Tuscan Sun” but with a slightly foreboding undertone, and in the 1919 timeline my heart broke for Elodie and the injustices of society at the time. This is the story of a survivor!

*Content warning: one of the main themes is a rape that occurred, and the way that incident altered the girl it affected. This is a story that will stick with you for a long time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Melissa * bookedwithmel]

Siobhan has definitely become a must read historical fiction author for me. I barely even read the blurb for this one before I signed up to promote it.

I was fascinated by Elodie and The Wildflower Club. They were barely legal women forced to go to finishing school by their families. They didn’t want any of it. They wanted to be strong independent women without worrying about their posture and which fork to use. All their families cared about was who they’d marry.

The things that Elodie went through at that school was shocking to me. As Rae learns more about what she went through, she’s determined to get answers.

I loved the dual POV. Watching the current timeline put all the pieces together is always so fun for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of this book.

[Melissa]

The Club for Rebellious Ladies is a compelling dual timeline following young women who dared to carve out their own paths, pushing against fear, powerlessness and the expectations placed upon them. Curham captures female resilience perfectly the strength, love, courage and quiet rebellion. The “Wildflowers” metaphor threaded throughout the story I thought was a powerful symbol, a reminder of how women continue to rise, endure and transform. Both timelines are filled with twists and turns, moments of heartbreak and moments hope. The story is balanced with death, fear and loss. A page turning, powerful, emotional and completely absorbing beautifully written book. I loved this 5 star book.
I would like to thank the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.
#TheClubforRebelliousLadies #NetGalley

[Paula]

The Club for Rebellious Ladies by Siobhan Curham is a story of people that have the manor in common. With ease the author takes the reader back and forth from 1918 to 2025. No confusion about the time or characters nor did I favor one time over the other. I thoroughly enjoyed both knowing from Rae Morgan’s story that something tragic happened during Elodie Sinclair’s 1918 time in the manor. What begins as seemingly unrelated characters I was amazed at how everything is connected in the end. There is a rich sense of place, a compassion for many of the characters within this deeply emotional story. I highly recommend The Club for Rebellious Ladies to all who love well written historical fiction.

[Libby Reidy]

A dual storyline novel that once you begin it, you will not put it down.. In the past, we meet Elodie, a rebellious young woman who has been sent to a French Finishing School. In the present , we meet Rae, who moves to France to begin a new life after a disasterous divorce. Both are strong women who encounter difficult situations to overcome. Rae,buying the old school, finds clues to what happened to Elodie in the past. I enjoyed the sections on Elodie, her ambitions and her struggle to become the womam she became. Rae also struggles to find out who she is and what she can acccomplish. A fascinating book that I will highly recommend.

[Charlotte]

I read a lot of dual timeline historical fiction, but usually the 'past' timeline is world war 2, so it was a refreshing change to read one set in world war 1. This book was full of secrets and mystery, I thought i had it all worked out, but I was only half way correct.

I've always thought that finishing school sounded like fun, but the one on this book must certainly did not! Whilst there's nothing wrong with having good posture, everything else about the school was terrible. Monsieur Rochforte was utterly odious, he had no redeeming qualities at all!

This was my first book by this author, but I'm definitely planing to read more as soon as I can.

[DianeLikesToRead]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I think this is one of my favorite Siobhan Curham books!
It follows friends in 1918 and then jumps to modern day 2025. I mostly read WWII fiction, so it was nice to read a book set during WWI.
This is one of those reads where you tell yourself "just one more chapter," only to realize you've flown through half the book. It is that good. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheClubforRebelliousLadies #SiobhanCurhamBookTour #NetGalley #Bookouture #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BookLove #Bookstagram #SummerRead

[Chronically Bookish Steph]

This book broke my heart, and then put the pieces back together.

I love a dual timeline story and this book executed it really well and I loved the journal format used for the flashbacks.

The characters were really interesting, although I wasn’t super invested in Kwame and would happily have just read about Rae and her journey of recovering from divorce and finding something to be passionate about again without the added new romance angle.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this gifted eARC.

[Amy_reads]

3.75

I really liked the message this book potrayed about women and women's rights. I was baffled by the things women had to experience in the twentieth century, and thought 'no way women actually went through this' but after little research, I discovered that these weird and awful things really were happening.

I enjoyed the past timeline a lot more than the present, which probably made the book not as good to me as to other readers.

All in all, this was an eye-opening read and I recommend it!

[Miriam]

This book had it all, romance, heartbreak and two spirited main characters that were completely different but connected through the house in France, the way women in the 1920s were expected to blend in invisiblely always makes me sad so Elodie refusing to conform made me smile. The dual timeline did add to the story as the reader gets the story directly and how Rae is able to piece it together through finding the diary.

[Tiffany (areyoutellingstories)]

Rebellious ladies, you say? Say less! I am always up for a story of women fighting against the oppression of their era. Elodie was one of those women, refusing to become a demure wallflower to snag a rich husband, she longed to be a wildflower, strong and free. I love that the dual timeline gives us Rae, a woman trying to find a new life for herself after heartbreak. Elodie and the rest of the wildflowers are just the inspiration she needs to live life full and free.

[Sharyn Maas]

Rae and Elodie

I liked this book since I have spent time in France and could visualize Paris in the 1900s.
Rae goes to France on a whim after her divorce. She buys a broken down estate that used to be a school for “young ladies” in the early 1900s.
This is where most of the story begins as she tries to piece together the supposed death of Elodie, one of the young students after finding an old diary.

[Katy Bristow]

loved the story! loved the characters! loved the outcome!!!

I absolutely loved the story, loved the characters, but most importantly, love the outcome not necessarily because of a happy ending of sorts, because it kind of wasn’t without wishing to ruin it for others I’ll leave it at that. It was well worth the read. I enjoyed the adventure. I look forward to reading more by the author.

[Lynn Reads]

The Club for Rebellious Ladies is a wonderful well-written book with lovely characters and a sprinkle of mystery. Both timelines were equally enjoyable, although quite different.
I would have liked to read more about Genevieve and Lucille to find out about their rebellious spirits.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this review copy.

[Carmen Thompson]

How to get over a divorce

Wow. One minute she's falling apart after her husband leaves her for someone else. She's not sure how she'll get over it. Next minute she's in another country buying a home and unraveling the mystery of the death of a young boarding school student. I too prefer mystery solving over crying over a ruined relationship.

[Bookish Venturess]

This was such a great story. A mix between current and past for the story line while both sets of people are going through troubles. I loved the back and forth and the reveal of some of the crazy secrets that were shared.

[Lottie C]

4⭐️


I’ve enjoyed Curham’s other works, but this one didn’t feel up to par. I’m getting a bit over dual timelines in historical fiction books, and I struggled to connect with the characters. The writing itself was genuinely strong though

[Linda Lewandowski]

Wonderful!

Not at all as I expected it to be. Serious, mysterious, even comical at times. A beautiful story, one I literally could not put down until the very end. An absolute good read.

[Renita D'Silva]

Love love love this author. She writes from the heart, but even the most heaviest of topics are handled so beautifully, with poignancy and care and a light touch and huge helpings of humour. Love her writing and this book was outstanding.

[Susan]

A deep, rich story about ladies and their friendships. A dual timeline where a hidden diary holds secrets of the women. I was intrigued. Highly recommend.