Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published April 22, 2025.

Four women meet to start a book club, reading Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique”. They each go on to do great things and continue their friendship through the years. It could have been a great story but the plot didn’t really pick up for me until about 75% in.

This book took me three weeks to finish which tells me what I already know: it just wasn’t compelling enough. I liked the historical setting in the early 1960’s and felt it was a realistic portrayal of housewives during that time.

Perfect for Women’s History Month, The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a slice of life out of middle class America in the 1960’s. At the time, women were beginning to realize inequality more and more. With books like activist Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique”, the rights of women were being brought to the forefront of society. Author Marie Bostwick shows what life might have been like for women and their families at this time. She suggests that husbands could be also have struggled with the fact that society had rules for the place of both women as well as men. It’s a book that makes you realize the difficulties women faced at that time and the pushback against society’s rules that they have had to endure for years. Marie Bostwick has written this book with characters that are likable, others that are quite the opposite, and still others that at moments you want to slap and other times you sympathize with. It’s a book of friendship, of bonding, and of the struggles faced in everyday life. A group of friends all yearning for something more. I enjoyed this look at society in the 1960’s and its reminder that though women have come far, there’s still quite a bit of work to be done to make things better. I enjoyed the wrap up at the end highlighting what happened to the friends over the years between the 1960’s to 2006.
Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

3.75 stars
This book will be seen through a lot of different lenses: nostalgic for some, an eye opener for others. It features a group of suburban women in the 60s just beginning to get their consciousness raised. They form a book club and start with Betty Friedan. All of them, and their husbands, are affected or constrained by the double standard and sexism between men and women.

The women are wildly different, but they bond and form a friendship that helps them navigate personal, marital and societal challenges. Some of the male characters are truly awful, but there are also some good men who also need guidance in changing roles.

For younger readers, it must be quite strange to realize how different things were for women not that long ago. Sexism is still rampant today but women now don't need male permission to obtain birth control or credit. Women in the workforce is not the huge issue it was then, even if women still don't have paycheck equity.

An interesting and pleasant read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A sweet, easy read about an interesting and formative time in women's rights, I enjoyed this one for the most part but found it a little overly long.

The Bettys and their friendship are the real heart of the novel and definitely the best part of it all. I enjoyed their interactions and the glimpses into their very different lives. The book does an excellent job of showing the frustration of being a woman in the 60s, while giving us several moments of triumph to enjoy as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I really enjoy historical fiction and as soon as I saw someone compare this to The Desperate Housewives I had to request it.

I am so glad that I did on so many levels. Imagine The Desperate Housewives but set in the 60’s, I’m not saying that’s what the book is exactly like but you get the idea.

I was very quickly sucked right into this book and the lives of all the women in it. The characters were done brilliantly, and I enjoyed all of them. I love that if you were to think of each woman and their personalities separately, that you would never think they would get on, however together they made a great friend group.

I thought the storyline was brilliant, I loved seeing the ladies friendship progress but more than that, I enjoyed seeing each woman become who they are supposed to be.

I thought the marriages the women shared with their husbands were done realistically and very well.

Great writing and a great read.

I adored the ending of this book, I finished reading it with a huge smile on my face.

I was lucky enough to read this book via an Ebook and an audiobook where I thought the narrator Lisa Flanagan did an exceptional job of bringing these woman to life.

I definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR.

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

When Margaret Ryan decided to knock on the door of the newest family in her Concordia neighborhood, she had no way of knowing just how life changing that decision would be. Bored with the same old group of women in the neighborhood coffee klatch, Margaret was immediately drawn to Charlotte because she was the opposite of what was then the status quo. After a rocky start, a book club was born and the first book was The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. Viv and Bitsy soon joined the group. They were so energized by the book, that they began to call themselves the Bettys. The book club became so much more that just a place to read and talk about books. This group of women would grow and learn together and find and give support that none of them had experienced before. This book is an incredible testimony to the strength of women and the bonds of friendship. It is a beautifully written story and one that won't soon be forgotten.

If you liked Lessons in Chemistry, you’ll like this one! This book is set in the 60s and follows 4 women and their book club and a book that changes all their lives. It’s about equality and dreams.

Historical, literary and women’s fiction.

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

I really wanted to love this but I found the pace very slow and got bored often. There are some really entertaining chapters and the characters are likeable. The basis of the book is also great: feminism, marriage, identity and female empowerment. The plot just fell a little flat and the title is rather misleading…the book club women are far from troublesome.
This book was very jumpy and I was getting a bit lost in the beginning. I think with a good edit and reducing the length this could be better. Saying all this, I’d love to try another from this author as I think the historical fiction parts were right up my street.

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

This book beautifully captures the struggles and triumphs of women in the 1960s. It explores the importance of female friendships, their marriages, and their fight against societal discrimination. The characters are relatable and inspiring, each with their own unique story. The author portrays the complexities of their relationships and the power of their bond. A truly heartwarming and empowering read. A 5-star read from a housewife life me., 🥹

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

The Bookclub for Troublesome Women is a very entertaining and on point novel.It takes place in the 60s and tells of the lives and spouses and relationships of four women .The women discuss a new book called The Feminine Mystique and it is interesting to hear their stories!Many events and happenings from the 60s are mentioned -pantyhose and green stamps for example.Margaret, Charlotte ,Bitsy and Vivien are all well drawn characters.I loved Walt as well!You will enjoy this book if you like books about women’s friendships .Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse books for allowing me to read this ARC.

The Book Club of Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick is about four housewives from the sixties who form a bond after their book club reads The Feminine Mystique. I really enjoyed this story! I loved how we were able to watch as these four very different characters confronted their own challenges as women, and how they supported one another through it all. I adored each of the women and could easily relate to their experiences.

I loved how the author weaved in historical events, to add context to the time period and challenges that women faced. I appreciated how the author acknowledged the privilege of these women as white, middle class housewives. My one critique would be that I would have liked to see more from the perspective of women of color.

The biggest takeaway for me was the idea that books and reading can open up a whole new world, as it did for these women. I think this is so important and still very relevant in today’s world.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an advance copy of this book!

This was such a fun book! I really enjoyed reading about these four women and the bonds they form. The book club aspect is only a small part of the relationships that blossom among them. If you enjoy historical fiction featuring strong women, or if you enjoyed books such as Lessons in Chemistry, you will adore this book! Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an advance e-reader copy of this book.

Margaret, Charlotte, Vic and Bitsy are four 60s housewives that have a book club and portray the different challenges women of the 60s face. The title and description of this book really captivated my interest.
This was a thought provoking story. 60 years later and this book is a reminder of how women have fought so hard to have the rights and privileges we do today. We have come so far but still have so far to go.

Although I absolutely loved the concept of this story. This book unfortunately was not for me. I read 50% but was unable to finish due to the slow pace of the book.
Thank you netgalley, Harper Collin’s & Marie bostwick for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you for this arc #netgalley, I did not enjoy reading this book, I found the details to be too much information and not enough to keep me interested. The beginning of this book held such promise and interest but it did not continue like that.

Loved this book. It was such a great look at the importance and value of the women's friendships, navigating their marriages, and obstacles and discrimination women faced during the 1960s just for being female. While each of the women loved their families, they were moving in the direction of wanting fulfillment in their own identities in careers too, especially after coming out of post-ww2 when they had that opportunity in a way they previously didn't.

While women's autonomy and opportunities are certainly not perfect still, living during a time where your whole life was dictated by your husband or you're automatically discounted everywhere outside the home because you're a woman would be infuriating to me. The uphill climb that was well described but valiantly fought by these women was so commendable and inspiring. I'm thankful women decades past fought for the benefit I have to be a working mom now, as well as being seen for my own value in most cases without all their barriers.

The honesty and transparency that author gave each woman was just so well done. It looked at the difficulty and beauty of their marriages - and from a really different type of relationship that each one had with her husband, so it was very well rounded - was just so real. I think anyone who's been married for a decent amount of time could relate with one or other of the women at any given moment. But I loved how much they were determined to make things work, knew they weren't perfect, allowed themselves to bend when needed and stand up when also called for, to give their best and encouraged each other when they didn't feel like doing so. The author portrayed each in a way that I just loved each of them for their own reasons.

I loved the importance the book club and their friendships had too. They pressed boundaries, weren't afraid to be themselves once they got to know each other, made mistakes, took risks with each other, and were unfailing in their loyalty to each other despite their differences.

It honestly was pretty inspiring with all their imperfections and attitudes despite. Overall just a really great book and highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

It’s the early 1960’s and Margaret has just moved to a new “planned community” with her husband and kids. While running her typical errands, she sees a woman that truly stands out. When she finds out she lives in the neighborhood, Margaret decides to invite her to her new book club. Charlotte is in but not with their current read…if they read The Feminine Mystique, she is sold. The book opens the door for all four women to look at their life and try to figure out if they are truly happy, and if not, what changes they want to make.

Me? Read a physical book? Bookstagram say what??? Seriously, it has been so long since I could read an actual book and I got the bug and picked this one up and bam! It was such a great feeling! Helped of course by the fact of how much I enjoyed this story! Book club? Fight the patriarchy? Women coming into their own? I mean give me one and I’m sold but this one had it all! I loved all four women, each for their own reasons, and I was cheering for each of them every step of the way! I adored how their friendship blossomed and became such a huge part of their lives, and a force for change when they needed it. This book was everything I wanted it to be and more!

Thank you to @harpermusebooks for my gifted copy of this book!

I adored this book, partly, I am sure because it spoke of a time in America in which I grew up. The sixties were turbulent times indeed and were one in which women for the first time, found their strategies and new voices. The author really gave an accurate picture through her different characters of the times for women, and the maturation of them throughout their lives. Their relationships with spouses and with each other made for a great read and one with which I could identify. Reading it was like sitting down with an old and dear friend. I loved it!

What an interesting and insightful treatise about American women and their social, economic and political advances since 1963. Having been a young matron in the sixties I can attest to the validity of all the barriers Bostwick cited as well as the general lifestyle. Yep, we’ve come a long way, Baby!

As with all Bostwick’s books this one centers around female friendships and how women support each other through life’s trials and tribulations. I loved the historic personages and events that she wove into her story.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Harper Muse, in exchange for an honest review. As a longtime fan of Bostwick’s books, I think my fellow Bostwick book-lovers will be very pleased with this new direction in her writing. Highly recommended.

I really liked this book!! It's is set in the 60s in America's suburbs, with wives that are discussing if they are truly happy in their roles, or if it just the societal norms. The character development is great, and you can see the characters learn and grow together, forming a bond that lasts generations.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fair warning if you’re thinking of reading this book: it will probably infuriate you.

Author Marie Bostwick does an incredible job of portraying the issues women faced in the United States in the early 60s, having her protagonists experience several of the common challenges women dealt with. As a feminist who reads a lot of history I was already acquainted with these facts, so while I found it troubling (I had to pause the book several times and read one of the others on my weekly TBR), I didn’t find any of it surprising.

One of the saddest parts about this book, is probably how true-to-life it actually is. In light of what the US is experiencing right now, many women are becoming more familiar with what our mothers and grandmothers lived through, but there are still far too many who either remain unaware or believe that books like this exaggerate the truth when, in fact, the opposite is true; there is even more the author could have revealed.

I found it to be an excellent book; well written and engaging. It’s fast paced, but if you’re like me it isn’t the sort of thing you read in one sitting simply because you want a break from how annoyed you will be with most of the men in the book. The author does also make mention of the fact that the patriarchy harms men, a valid point that I thought well worth including, particularly in the way she wrote it into the plot. I don’t want to put any spoilers in here, but I gotta say that Walt ended up being one of my favorite characters in the book.

Writing the book against the backdrop of major historical events like the assassination of Medgar Evans, the March on Washington, and John F. Kennedy’s assassination while including and humanizing historical figures like the Washington Post’s Katherine Graham and Jackie Kennedy as secondary characters had to have been difficult, but it was a stroke of genius.

I don’t read a lot of historical fiction. I read a lot of history, so most historical fiction, to me, is boring and rife with inaccuracy, and I avoid it. A friend recommended this book to me, and I want to take a moment here, because they’re probably reading this, and say “You were right about this book. It made me mad, but I loved it.”

I would not be at all surprised if, someday in the future when we get rid of the current administration and begin putting the world back to rights, this book ends up on some professor’s required reading curriculum. Before that happens it’ll probably be banned, so get your copy and read it, because every woman should know about what’s in these pages.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am leaving a voluntary review.