Marie Bostwick's novel, The Book Club for Troublesome Women, is a historical fiction novel that takes place in 1963 suburban Virginia - just right outside of our nation's capital. Four women gather in their new subdivision to discuss Betty Friedan's book, The Feminine Mystique. Not everyone finishes each of the assigned books - but they do share their thoughts on the concepts of life as women in the 1960s. Each women brings something different to the discussion, Viv is a happily married former army nurse with 6 children and one more on the way. Charlotte is an aspiring artist from a wealthy family. Margaret is a housewife trying to find her purpose, and Bitsy is a young wife trying to conceive a child but with aspirations to be come a veterinarian. The women call themselves The Betty's. Through the novel we watch their friendship go beyond the book club - as each member of the book club grows and evolves after their first meeting - and experiences the ups and downs of regular life.

The character development is phenomenal and the historical details were on point. The concept of friendship and purpose that women seek still ring true today. I highly recommend this book as an inspirational read to women everywhere seeking out their purpose.

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

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a feminist book showing the importance of reading and the influence it can have to enact positive change or empowerment. It reminded me a lot of Lessons in Chemistry in themes and time period, but it was more of a joy to read. I loved the relationships between the Bettys and how different each of them were and their struggles, yet they were all brought together by this book club and became great friends. It was quite an easy read and the pace moved us along quickly, yet it packed a punch, I really enjoyed it!

Fun nostalgic story about friends who become sisters in power in their own situations. Kind of reminded me of a culmination of movies on the topic about that era, and would make a good film too. I liked it, but wanted the story to go deeper and darker. It seemed a bit safe. Still enjoyed.

The story takes place in early 1960s suburban Virginia, and the author did a fantastic job of setting the ambiance of the time.
Many of the themes discussed such as equal rights, gender roles, and free speech are still incredibly relevant today.
Beneath the surface, these women were struggling—and it was books and real connection that helped them break through and grow.

You will grow to love the characters in this book and be anxious to see what happens next in their lives. And yes, women really did experience the kind of discrimination and limitations described in the book.

The theme of women supporting women is a universal theme that all women can appreciate. Thank you to Marie Boswick for giving me a better understanding of the discrimination women went through in the 1960's.

Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book.

This book has an engaging premise, focusing on suburban women who form a book club around Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique.
It is March 1963, and the planned community of Concordia, VA, just outside Washington DC, is welcoming new families to one of its four model homes, each with its own required color scheme and landscaping. Margaret Ryan, 33 and mother of three, seeks friends beyond the neighborhood coffee klatch that has quickly sprung up.

She is interested in – even intrigued by - three other women, and approaches them with the idea of starting a book club. The wealthy, iconoclastic (and often caustic) Charlotte, 39, mother of four, suggests the Feminine Mystique – and the rest is herstory.

In addition to Margaret and Charlotte, the group includes newly married Bitsy, 23, animal lover married to an older man, and Vivian, 41, a happily married former combat nurse, pregnant with her seventh child.

Through the following year, these women challenge and champion each other as they read what would become known as “consciousness raising” books, and reconsider their choices and behaviors. They also come to critique the narrowness of The Feminine Mystique, seeing how it does not address the situations of women who do not have choices to work or stay at home, nor does it consider the expectations and traps into which men also fall.

There are cameo appearances by publisher Katharine Graham, reporter Susan Stamberg, and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, just before that fateful November trip to Dallas.

The story is absorbing, but the outcome of fairy-tale endings for all four friends make it less impactful. That is why I gave this
quick, thoughtful read the four star rating, rather than five.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the book club setting. The storytelling was engaging and explored a number of themes, such as deep friendship and an empowering message. The women were relatable, and I appreciated the balance of humour alongside the poignant moments. The book had a strong sense of place, and I enjoyed the small-town setting. The women are all imperfect, but they support each other, creating a powerful bond. Sometimes the pacing felt a little slow.

I received a copy from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

If you enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry, this may be the book for you! Set in the fifties, stereotypical housewives learn to make changes in their lives. I was invested in each character, and cheered for them (and was enraged on their behalves at times). There are ties to historical events which became more personal for me while reading this book. I highly recommend! Thank you to Netgalley for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book helps you understand a different time of women’s opportunities. These women, though, were strong and resilient and worked together to fight for what they wanted and deserved in life and out of the husbands surrounding them. All because of a book club! It was fun to root for these ladies!

Four suburban housewives in the 1960s find unexpected courage, purpose, and friendship when a book club—and a bold new neighbor—opens their eyes to a world beyond the picket fence.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick is a heartwarming story of friendship, self-discovery, and the power of change. This book completely exceeded my expectations—it was heartfelt, powerful, and beautifully written. I fell in love with all four women, each on her own journey of rediscovery and empowerment. Set against the richly detailed backdrop of the 1960s, their struggles felt deeply personal and achingly real as they dared to reclaim long-buried dreams in a world that expected them to settle.

The strength of their friendship, forged through honesty, books, and unwavering support, became the heart of the story. I especially loved how they challenged one another to grow—even when it wasn’t easy. By the end, I didn’t just admire the characters—I felt like I was a member of the Bettys. This was my first book by Bostwick, but it certainly won’t be my last. I’ll definitely be checking out her backlist!

Thank you Harper Muse and NetGalley for a gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Its very easy to like the four main characters - Margaret, Bitsy, Viv and Charlotte. Representing different kind of interests, the four women intersect in a gentle suburbia with controlled color coordination and clean lawns. Everyone has husband, a male figure dictating everyday life, children to look after and errands to run. The novel setting starts with the four women reading <i>The feminine mystique</i> for their book club and the way their lives start to deviate from the carefully paved paths for women in the 60s.

While the setting of the era, everyday expectation and discrimination makes the content relatable with the time, the story as such wavers on its foundation and breaks off to tangential plots that essentially could be ignored. While each women exhibit a strength of their own, the plot struggles to persist for a good chunk in the middle. It ends quite positively, which is lovely, but it can seem a bit disoriented, given the way first quarter of the book is written.

Engaging, thought provoking moments aside, <i>The book club for troublesome women</i> leaves you with an yearning for a tighter knit story and a wider discourse.

<i>Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Focus for providing me with a free copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

The author Marie Bostwick has written over twenty "uplifting" historical and contemporary novels. This is one of them that frankly had the opposite effect. A group of women form a book club in a suburb with the first selection being The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. This is the sixties where women cannot get a bank account without their husband's signature. Timely in its look non at women's rights for the current political arena, choices limited in all eras. The first half is a bit on the boring side but things start happening after that. Love the book references.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Margaret is a suburban housewife in the 1960s. She has everything she is supposed to want - three children, a single family home in the suburbs, and a husband who is successful enough to buy her the latest appliances. But when a new woman moves to town and their book club reads The Feminine Mystique, Margaret realizes that her persistent feeling of discontent is shared by others. Spurred on by Betty Friedan’s words and her friends' support, first Margaret (and then the other Bettys, as the book club women call themselves) start taking a deeper look at their lives and working towards finding fulfillment.

This book took a surface-level look at difficulties that women of a specific class faced in the 1960s, but it did not tread any new ground. The reader really has to suspend their disbelief in order to believe that these Bettys would have all really been able to find the fulfillment they were looking for, but if you are able to take this book for what it is (a breezy historical novel about friendship) it can be enjoyable. While the novel is overly sentimental for my taste, the characters are worth rooting for so I can see why this book has been popular. For a book with similar themes that I found more enjoyable, I’d recommend Karma Brown’s Recipe for a Perfect Wife.

Read this if you like: light historical fiction and/or Lisa Wingate’s novels.

Skip this if: you prefer a book to grapple deeply with its themes.

Oh boy. I really had to commit and push through this book. Perhaps, it’s a “me” problem, but the first half of it was slow and a struggle to get through. I stopped and started several times. The last ~40% was an excellent read. I hope I’m not giving anything away, but I really enjoyed the character development of each character. Especially when one of them finally recognizes their privilege of being white middle class women. I absolutely love the sisterhood that connects these 4 very different women. That in itself was a joy to read.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Muse, Uplit Reads and the author for the arc!

I really, REALLY enjoyed this book. Maybe I found it relevant because my mother was also a stay at home housewife in the 60’s & 70’s & she would have fit seamlessly into this group without missing a beat … right down to the bright Avon lipstick, the “odd” recipes clipped from magazines & the Newport cigarettes! These women could easily have been her besties!

I felt the writing was absolutely magical, raw, real & true to the life of this era & I had no problem plopping myself right into the circle of “Betty’s” & connecting with each woman & their individual story. It’s humorous, frustrating, sad, inspiring & entertaining & I was rooting for these incredible gals & the pursuit of their dreams all the way!

I love books where I feel like I’m part of the journey & this one did just that for me! I think this would make a fantastic book club choice for those trying to find something that will spur engaging discussion! A very nostalgic story that pulled on all of my heartstrings!

It’s the 1960’s and four unhappy housewives decide to form a book club. Their first book discussion is The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. Although they were hesitant to read it, they do, and each wife is very much affected by this book.

Margaret, Viv, Bitsy and Charlotte all embark on their own journey to happiness. It’s not easy and it takes more than reading a book to do it. Fortunately, they have each other to lean on during the tough times.

The 1960’s were a turbulent time, and women didn’t get many opportunities to succeed, but these four women are determined. They each hit many bumps along the way, but they have every intention of reaching their goals.

I have always enjoyed books set in this timeframe and this book is no exception. I loved every minute of it. I felt as if I was right by their side, cheering them along. It, also, reminded me that women have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.

The author did an excellent job of bringing each character to life. They are realistic people placed in real life situations. It’s both a heartbreaking and inspirational read. Sometimes a book just resonates with you and this one did for me. My eyes filled with tears at the end. I’m already missing these characters. It truly touched my heart.

This is my first Marie Bostwick book but definitely won’t be my last.







FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Set against the tumultuous social and political landscape of 1960s America, The Book Club for Troublesome Women tells the story of an unlikely friendship formed between four suburban housewives, united by their complex and often contradictory desire for ‘more’.
They form a book club of sorts, choosing as their first read Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique - a work that compels them to confront the cultural norms they had previously accepted without question. Friedan’s novel acts as the catalyst for these women to begin questioning the domestic ideals and limitations imposed on women, and begin to embark on their own quiet revolutions.

Bostwick effectively captures what Betty Friedan coined ‘The Problem That Has No Name’ - the unhappiness and dissatisfaction experienced by women in the 1950s and 60s, rooted in society’s insistence that fulfilment could only be found through domesticity, motherhood, and being a good wife. The guilt and confusion that arises from this internal conflict between societal expectations and personal desire is what brings the “Bettys” together, as they navigate personal troughs and triumphs, and dare to want more for themselves.

While the novel offers a thoughtful discussion of women’s roles in the face of second-wave feminism, the novel doesn’t do anything groundbreaking. Much of it can be described as “feel-good fluff’, and although each character faces personal hardships, their arcs resolve a bit too neatly, with endings that feel unrealistically optimistic and overly tidy. The focus on the cushy lives of four middle class white women does little to reflect the struggles of most women during this time, glossing over the broader and more complex realities faced by women of colour and working-class women, many of whom lacked the privilege to defy societal norms in the same way. Additionally, ‘troublesome’ as a label for these women seems a stretch - aside from Charlotte, the archetypal eccentric, ‘unruly’ woman, the women are far from ‘troublesome’. Their rebellions are mild, the character growth modest, and their interpersonal conflicts often resolved with quick forgiveness or polite silence. While the premise is good, the novel is twice the length it needed to be, and a lot of the dialogue made me physically cringe.

That said, the novel is still an enjoyable, thought-provoking read, an easy foray into feminist history with the empowering sisterhood of Sex and the City, which most readers will enjoy and relate to.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC.

Unexpectedly engrossing, but once the story got its hooks into me I couldn't put this down until I reached the end. Really made me wish my late grandmother (who would have been a contemporary of these characters) were still alive so we could talk about her experiences during this time. Also made me want to pick up The Feminine Mystique. Can't wait to start my own Betty group, with this as our first read.

Feature four housewives each in unique circumstances and drop them in 1960's Washington, DC suburbia. Add a big dash of book club bonding, and then you have the recipe for lives transforming during an era in which the country is on the brink of civil rights activism.

The book club starts with reading The Feminine Mystique. This books awakens a dormant spot within each woman that will spark self-awareness and change.

I appreciated the authenticity of the 1960's setting and the growth of the characters.

I received this book for free from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The 1960s weren't exactly kind to women, and "The Book Club for Troublesome Women" doesn't shy away from showing us how claustrophobic life in a "perfect" planned community could be. Margaret, Viv, and Bitsy are suburban wives with well-manicured lawns and deep-rooted dissatisfaction, but no one dares say the quiet part out loud - until Charlotte moves in.

Charlotte is the kind of character who might feel a little too on the nose at first: artsy, bold, single, and straight out of Manhattan. But she serves her purpose well—she's the catalyst. When the women crack open "The Feminine Mystique" in their newly formed book club, they question everything. And I mean everything.

Yes, the story can feel a little too neatly packaged at times. And yes, you might see the emotional beats coming a mile away. But there's something compelling about watching these women push back against the roles they were handed. Their frustrations feel real. Their growth, while occasionally heavy-handed, is still satisfying.

Marie Bostwick does what she does best: creates characters who are imperfect, earnest, and trying their best. This isn't a story of instant transformation - it's about inching forward, even when the world is dragging you back. It's also a reminder that change, especially in an environment built to prevent it, is never just personal - it's political.

"The Book Club for Troublesome Women" hits all the right notes. If you're in the mood for historical fiction that explores female friendship and simmering rage with a side of mid-century malaise, give it a read!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for an advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved how it looked at the lives of women in the 60s and how unfair things were. Each woman in this book had a different story to tell and have their own struggles. Margaret helped bring them all together by forming The Book Club (The Betty’s) and The Feminine Mystique started it all.

The character development in this book was great. It really helped me relate to the characters and it made them seem real. While this book did focus mainly on the women characters, I love how it brought Walt into it and showed that he grew as well. At the beginning of the book, I wasn’t sure about him but as time went on, he saw how talented Margaret really was and that helped encourage him I think.

This book is very relevant to some things that are going on in our world today and it is definitely worth the read!