Thank you to NetGalley, Marie Bostwick, and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I'm rounding up my rating to 3.5 stars. The story is entertaining but I kept waiting for something big to happen. I never felt that engaged with the characters, it just wasn't a page turner for me and felt a bit predictable. Nevertheless, I'm happy to have read the book and women are still fighting for equality in 2024.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperMuseBooks for allowing me to read this book in advance. All opinions stated below are my own.
I am quietly new to the genre, but I really liked “The book club for troublesome women”: to think that going even a little bit off from “normalcy” would define a woman as “troublesome” is one of the points highlighted in the book, that, from a modern perspective, helps even more to understand what life was like for American women in the Sixties. Before the first half it bothered me how all the main characters are white, but I then found snippets and parts about race and equality that sounded right to me both in context and execution, so I’m satisfied with that.
What’s not to like in a book of uplifting historical fiction about women who find their way despite the hardships they have to go through just because of their gender? The writing was well paced and fluent, and all of the four women’ depictions and thoughts are thorough, making them memorable and easy to identify with. My favourites were Charlotte and Bitsy, and Denise, because I’m quite the odd duck myself.
I am not familiar with The Feminine Mystique and, as an Italian, I couldn’t appreciate some of the cultural nuances, but I still could connect with the characters and their experiences. Most of all, I liked how the author emphasized how the patriarchy wounds both women and men in how Walt’s character evolved.

I enjoyed this! I read a lot of historical fiction, and while I read books about this era (early 60s), I enjoyed the book club’s take on it.

This is a fun trip through the lives of four women in the early 1960s as they discover that suburbia isn't all it's cracked up to be and become lifelong friends. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and will be recommending it to my book club. I love how each woman grew and became a fuller version of herself. The story is captivating, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. It illustrates how far women's rights have come in 60 years.

What I especially love about this book is that it highlights the special relationships women form in book clubs. You take a group of women who are all so very different and they join a book club. When looking at these women, one would think that they have nothing in common. They are all from different backgrounds and walks of life. And yet, they all face the same problems. What I adore about this book is it highlights those special relationships that form between the most unlikely characters. It highlights the struggles women face and how they come together in life’s most difficult moments. If you are in a book club or a lover of books, this book is for you!

I had a great time reading this book! It causes you to slow down and consider the way that you consume stories.

"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."

The Book Club for Troublesome Women starts with Margaret, a 'normal' 60's housewife, wanting to connect with her cool new neighbor, Charlotte by suggesting a book club. Charlotte is stunning and eccentric and lonely. She sends her new found friends on a radical journey when she suggests they read the brand new book, The Feminine Mystic by Betty Friedan. Soon they are calling themselves The Bettys and encountering new ways of thinking about their lives and the lives of those around them.

Margaret Ryan loves her husband and her children but something has changed recently. Her husband seems distant and her life suddenly seems small. A women's magazine writing contest sparks her interest, reminding her of her old ambitions and leads to a new opportunity.

Viv Bushetti has 6 children and no time for anything else, or so she thinks until her army nursing career comes in handy, opening new doors for her talents and compassion to emerge.

Bitsy Cobb has found herself at a young age childless with dead dreams. Trying to find joy in a life with her handsome husband and the horses she so loves is challenging. When a horse is in danger her next decisions will change her life.

Charlotte Gustafson was an emerging artist until her husband suddenly up and moves them to the suburbs. Struggling to find her way in a world that holds women back she is about to be just as changed as her new friends.

Instead of sticking with the same old themes of men are the problem, this book takes a deeper look at the roles society wants us to play and how they affect everyone, not just the women.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." I loved this book. Each of the characters was thoroughly describe with loveable and annoying qualities (makes them very realistic). The power and importance of female friendship is the main focus of the story. Strong women encouraging each other to bring out their best qualities. I will honestly say, I was nervous about the whole feminism thing but it was tastefully done. My favorite quote was " If Women stuck up for one another the way men do, this would be a very different world" Enjoy this one it was great. Happy Reading!!!

The Bookclub for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick is such a wholesome yet important read. Definitely one I would recommend to my grandmother and anyone who is fascinated and enchanted by historical fiction.

Set in the 1960’s, it follows the lives of four women living the ‘American Dream’ in a neighbourhood called Concordia. Each have their own families, husbands, children, struggles and dreams. When newcomer Charlotte arrives, Margaret is drawn to her for the simple fact that she does things differently and isn’t so easily defined or motivated by these standards. The women soon form a bookclub and after reading Charlottes risqué book choice, come to realise they all have some sort of constraint they want to break free from, some dream other than what’s expected of them.

The first few chapters were a little hard to get through, as there was such a detailed ‘get to know you’ for each character, however once we zoned in on one, that’s when I found I began to enjoy the book and settle into the story. Bostwick showed incredible skill in her ability to so vividly bring to life these characters modelled off and inspired by people and an era so long ago. There is also still plenty of relevance in todays society to be found in the book.

At times I was almost brought to tears when these four women would band together, such a compelling and emotional read and it really makes you recognise and appreciate the progress that has been made in the world towards equality and freedom. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for my ARC.

This book follows a group of four women in the 60s who read The Feminine Mystique as their first book club book and begin to evaluate their place in the world and their desires in life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was a heartwarming read and I found the characters were well-rounded and unique. Following their friendships forming felt authentic and natural and I truly cared about all of their stories.

There were so many blatant examples of sexism and oppression in the book and whilst I understand that making a statement was the goal, I wonder whether others may feel this was too much. However, I felt like it was a very realistic depiction of the battles women faced at that time, unfortunately. There was definitely no subtlety when it came to making its point, but I liked that about the book!

I read it on my Kindle so there were quite a lot of formatting and spelling mistakes which were a little off-putting but other than that, I found that this was a wholesome read despite the feelings of female rage that it evoked in me. I say this because the characters overcame their barriers fairly easily and their endings were generally happy ones - something which sadly wasn’t always the case. Some may criticise the reality of this, but as I was rooting for the women throughout, it was nice to read something that did end (mostly) the way I wanted it to!

I particularly felt that the memories and stories of the women’s pasts helped paint a picture of their present situations and personalities and I liked the way the author weaved these in.

Overall, the writing was generally good and managed to portray some of the struggles of 1960s women in small-town America whilst remaining lighthearted and feel-good. Thank you NetGalley for providing this arc.

I really enjoyed following these characters and I appreciated that it shed some light on how the patriarchy affects both women and men. It also touched on some intersectional feminism, but keep in mind that we follow four straight white women of middle- to upperclass. It's not a book with a high-stakes-plot, but seeing the dynamics between women and an employer or women and their husbands, was very interesting to me.

Book Review: The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick

Marie Bostwick’s The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a heartfelt celebration of friendship, resilience, and the unexpected ways life can surprise us. Set against the backdrop of a charming small-town book club, this novel brings together a group of women whose paths might not have crossed otherwise, each grappling with their own struggles and secrets.

Bostwick’s gift lies in crafting relatable characters with depth and nuance. As the story unfolds, readers are drawn into the lives of these “troublesome” women, rooting for them as they navigate challenges, rediscover themselves, and find strength in their shared bond. The book beautifully explores themes of forgiveness, self-acceptance, and the power of community, leaving readers inspired and uplifted.

With its warm humor, poignant moments, and a dash of literary charm, The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a must-read for fans of women’s fiction and stories about the transformative power of friendship.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this delightful novel. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I received this book for free and write this review voluntarily. The Book Club for Troublesome Women explores the period after WWII in US from eyes of The Bettys, a four women book club. All these women lost opportunities just because of being a woman, in a period where human rights movements at its highest in US. Reading Feminine Mystique, characters find a voice that they always hear but not into their lives. Both their lives and their country will be changed forever in 1960's fast years.

I really liked this novel because it covers the same problems that women are going through. It is worth to note how women fight for their right to vote, right to get equal payment and even right to get their anti pregnancy medicine without their husbands' signature. The novel delivers how men decide what rights women get, via this four unique characters. I loved Charlotte the most, and no idea why but portrayed her as Helena Bonham Carter while reading. I would recommend this novel to anyone who needs an inspiration to fulfill their dreams.I thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this chance to review this novel.

One book in the 60s changed the lives and opportunities of women across the country. This is the story of 4 of those women in a Virginian suburb supposedly living the Dream.

📖 Historical fiction
📖 Power of sisterhood
📖 Civil rights era
📖 Empowerment

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5

Viv is a no bs, nurse and military wife mom of 6 who says how it is to most people. Bitsy is a young woman in a new marriage with her older, equine-focused vet husband. Charlotte is the rule-breaking, freespirited artist mom who moved in down the street. And Margaret is supposed to be the mom who has it all! Great house, working husband, 3 kids. But she can’t pinpoint what is still missing. None of them can. Not without being called ungrateful or odd. Until one book release awakens something they didn’t know was even dormant.

Will one book change their lives? Or will it be the newfound bonds and friendships these women forge in a time of change and chain-breaking for women everywhere?

A beautiful ode to the different journeys of womanhood. To those who did what they had to, to those who constantly pushed the boundaries, and to the women who forged full steam ahead to allow a path for the rest of us. I found this a beautiful homage to every kind of woman. Terrible to read how women’s curriculums were changed, their guidance counselors counseled how to find husbands, and professional programs didn’t allow women because they would ‘leave to start a family anyway’. But honorific in a way of how far we have come, and how far we still have to go.

Viv and Tony are my favorites. No notes. Watching how husbands acted then and still act now was horrifying and heartbreaking because women were taught to take what they are given and be grateful. I am proud of women now and the journey it has taken to get here. This book reminded me of that. I cried, I laughed, I cheered.

Favorite quotes:

“Somewhere down the road, maybe you’ll help pave the road for somebody else. That’s how the world gets better. One generation helping the next.”

“There may be many destinations in a woman’s journey, many seasons in her life.”

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

4.5

A nicely written piece and the ending felt plausible (not contrived). In places, the writing lasped a little bit and it became a little bit slow moving but overall a nice enjoyable read.

It felt like quite a long book (I'm reading on my phone so no idea of actual page length), could potentially do with some whittling down. I think that could make the writing flow a little bit more.

I absolutely loved this book! I enjoyed the different character vantage points throughout the different stages of their lives. I found the historical references to be so interesting from a women's point of view. The author did a wonderful job of sharing the challenges women have faced over the years and just how far we still have to come. I wish everyone had a group of "Bettys" to get them through life!

Uplifting novel about American suburban women in the 60s. It is about their friendship, emancipation and social status, where for example a woman couldn’t walk in the bank and make a deposit on her name without man’s escort (😧). The characters are believable and the topics are very educational on one hand, but on the other hand the story is idealized to an extent, that it was to sugarcoated for my taste.

This was a light hearted read. I enjoyed the story and liked most of the main characters. I would read something by this author again. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me access to this arc

I liked the premise of the book but I felt the writing weak. I appreciated that the author addressed some contemporary issues within the context of the time really well. Often, in historical fiction, you can see the author writing about a time through a modern-day lens. Bostwick did that really well--she discussed how the Feminine Mystique left out input from women of color, women from other social classes, and, dare I say it, men.
But there were other times where I felt that the writing was a little immature--taking the book club group name just a little too far and everything ending so nicely and primly for every character.

Loved the premise. Didn't love all of the writing.

Set in a relatively conservative, homogeneous community in the turbulent 1960s, this story follows the gradually evolving relationship between four very different women, and how those bonds sustain them in the years thereafter.

As the first wave of the feminist movement gathers pace, the quartet of Margaret, Charlotte, Betsy and Viv gather to discuss the books they are reading as part of their book club picks. In the process, some of the changes in society begin to have an impact on these privileged housewives who apparently have every thing that they need. Or do they?

A well observed look into a time of great change and those who lived through it - and were profoundly impacted by it - this book is a piece of Americana worth checking out. It gets 3.5 stars.