On the surface, Margaret Ryan is the quintessential housewife, but her inner discontent feels like a quiet rebellion waiting to spark. Her encounter with the enigmatic Charlotte Gustafson ignites that spark, leading to the creation of a book club that becomes so much more than a literary gathering. With The Feminine Mystique as their catalyst, Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv embark on a journey of self-examination and collective empowerment.

The strength of this novel lies in its characters, who are richly drawn and complex. Margaret’s yearning for something beyond her white-picket-fence life, Bitsy’s struggle with societal expectations, Viv’s sharp wit, and Charlotte’s unconventional allure form the heart of this beautifully rendered story. Each woman brings a unique perspective, and their dynamic—marked by shared laughter, hard truths, and deep camaraderie—feels authentic and profoundly moving.

The novel captures the era’s culture with meticulous detail, from glossy magazines dictating the ideal woman’s role to the simmering undercurrent of the feminist movement. Yet, its themes resonate universally, offering a timeless look at the courage it takes to question norms and redefine one’s place in the world.

Bostwick’s prose is sharp and tender, balancing humor with poignant reflections. The group’s transformation from dutiful housewives to self-assured individuals is inspiring, and their nickname, “The Bettys,” serves as a tribute to Betty Friedan and to every woman who has dared to want more.

This is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and anyone who has ever felt the stirrings of something more just beyond their reach. It is uplifting, empowering, and unforgettable.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Four women in the 1960s form a book club and their first book is Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique (which I can't believe I've never read and have now added to my TBR). Sparked by the book and the friendship among the women, each of them goes on a journey to find their own power and strength. As a book junkie, I do wish there had been a bit more book/book club content, but I enjoyed seeing the women grow. Had the potential to be a five star read (think The Women meets The Reading List) but was missing that extra spark to put it over the top.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for providing me with an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Expected date of publication: April 22, 2025

Marie Bostwick is a new author for me, somehow, her other titles did not catch my attention. I quite liked this one, The Book Club for Troublesome Women.
The story involves a book club, formed among neighbors, in one of those suburbs that looked like odes to conformity back in the 50's and 60's. The book club ends up reading The Feminine Mystique for their first selection and things begin to change for all of the women.
There are multiple storylines to follow, but all of the women are so different from one another, I had no trouble following what was happening to whom. I liked the characters, and was there for the struggles and changes. I could have used a little more book-talk, but in the end, it was probably more realistic that they did not all read the book.
I have to confess that I have not read The Feminine Mystique; if this book club is staying true to the message, I must take author's word for it. I think what was clear from the women's stories was the general struggle against conformity and societal expectations. I was very engaged and interested in the different ways each character dealt with this struggle. The men were, surprisingly, treated pretty empathetically (some of them at least).
This one surprised me, there is more to it than you think.
Some of the narratives could be tightened up a bit, but overall, a very solid read.
Recommend.

Four Suburban house wife’s read the new book The Feminine Mystique and realize in the changing world that they actually do have options and they can choose to work outside of the home and not just be a plain Suburban woman who stays home and takes care of the family and house. The friendship they form and the support they give each other is life changing in so many ways for the four of them. They begin to take jobs outside of the home and realize that they have options that can make a difference to others.
This book is based in the 60’s era which was when I was born and grew up. I can personally relate to this story and the challenges that we as women have faced and overcome as going to the bank and doctors office and needing your husbands permission for an account or prescription.
Well done Marie!! Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Housewife Margaret has just moved into her dream house in suburbia. However, something is missing in her life. When the glamorous Charlotte movies into the neighbourhood, Margaret creates a book club to have something to invite her to. Charlotte agrees, but only if they read Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique. Margaret agrees and the Bettys bookclub is born. Over the course of this book the Bettys – Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy and Viv – read feminist literature and we see how what they read both reflects and influences the changes in their lives.

This is a very sweet and well-meaning book. It does highlight some of the indignities women experienced in this '60s and the consequences of these. Viv, for example, gets pregnant after her doctor refuses to prescribe her the pill without her husband present at the appointment. But then Viv's husband is fine with it, it doesn't affect their household finances at all, and Viv is not only able to keep working while pregnant, she is one of those lucky women who gets more energy while pregnant. Honestly, spare me! For many women in the '60s, unplanned pregnancies had real and terrible consequences, like death or serious poverty, so presenting this sanitised 1960s where the injustice women experienced is actually just an inconvenience is some pretty hardcore revisionism. The patriarchy and racism cannot be beaten by a bunch of galpals meeting up over vodka stingers, even though it would be nice if this were true.

However, the book's heart is in the right place, even if its accuracy is perhaps not great.

The Book Club of Troublesome Women centers around four women in 1963, who live in an upscale new neighborhood in Northern Virginia. The views of the women in this book begin to change when they come together at a book club and read Betty Friedan’s book, The Feminine Mystique, then a controversial book that raised issues relating to women’s roles at home and in society to national consciousness. The author does a wonderful job of portraying certain aspects of life in the 1960s. The characters are also very well developed. Although the book raises many topics with regard to women’s issues in the 1960s, the arc of each woman’s changes and the resulting changes in their lives are less than realistic. Still, many will find this an engaging read. With thanks to Netgalley for this ARC. I received a complementary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Given its references to The Feminine Mystique and the 1960’s suburban setting I knew that The Book Club for Troublesome Women could either be really great or completely tone deaf (and to no fault of its own, the recent election could have exaggerated its missing the mark). Lucky for me, and all future readers, this was an excellent book whose only downside is that I felt we are leaving the women in the book club, the Bettys, disappointed.

Set in the 60’s in Virgina we see Margaret, a bored mother and housewife with dreams to write, organize a book club to get closer to new neighbor Charlotte. Charlotte is intriguing, also a mother and housewife but unlike anyone Margaret has know for a long while given her boldness and drive to be an artist (and take no s**t). Rounding out the book club is Bitsy, who is newly married and struggling to have confidence in herself, and Viv, who is eager to get back into the workforce and starts out with the most mutually respectful relationship of all the ladies. The Feminine Mystique starts a conversation for them I imagine may not have gone so smoothly in other book clubs at the time, but in this case it helps form friendships that bond these women, brings realizations and confidence, and helps form a support network that they would all need as the plot continues.

I enjoyed reading this, for multiple reasons that also included the callback to events and the climate of the 60’s, including some rights (and a more generally casual set of societal expectations) that I take for granted. I highly recommend this for women and men, and while it wraps up very well for all involved, it still gives you a look at a society where women had one destiny in mind by the many around them, from a privileged view point, that has been muted and not often discussed by many but should be remembered at this time.

Hats off to Marie, this book was excellent!! As I devoured every page, I thought to myself how far women have come and then I thought I hope and pray I don't see the trend of falling back. I saw so much of my mother's generations life in this story, no checking account with a man's signature, no birth control without the husband signature, the wifey things but the story wad well written of these 4 women's lives, how they intertwined, she made you care, you fell in love with them.I hope you Give this book a whirl, I loved it from the beginning, I will tell my book lover friends.. I hope it touches your soul. Thank you Netgalley for sharing this read with me.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is the engaging story of the four women who comprise the titular book club. The group is made up of Margaret, Charlotte, Viv, and Bitsy, each a compelling character in her own right, and tells of the struggles and triumphs each women faces as a women in the early sixties, commencing in the year 1963.

All of the women are married. In addition, Margaret is a mother and sometimes writer, Charlotte, mother and aspiring artist, Viv, mother and part-time nurse and Bitsy, a stable hand. Some of them face troubles will spouses, others worry about finances and some worry about their career choices. All have very full lives, but their differences don’t stop them from coming together to form a book club and reading The Feminist Mystique, Betty Friedan’s manifesto about being a woman and sometimes feeling a wanting of more in their lives. Can what they want be found at home, or is it more than their quaint, planned Virginia suburb can offer them?

I really enjoyed this book. Marie Bostwick knows how to weave together a compelling narrative filled with interesting, multi-layered characters. The action was virtually non-stop and left me guessing at what would happen next, which is supreme praise from me on a work of fiction. I never found myself wondering when the book would be over or checking my percentage read as I have been known to do on books I feel are boring or dragging on too slowly. A delightful book that i wholeheartedly recommend.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

This was a fabulous peek into the past - although so many of the issues that the women faced feel still relevant and still problematic... The pace was slow but suited to the storyline. I enjoyed the smaller details, like clothing styles and the food at their gatherings, as they really brought the period to life for me. I would definitely have joined the Bettys!

It was fascinating to read a story about women set in the sixties. I found there was so much I didn't know about this part of history. The relationships between the characters was the highlight for me. Although the historical aspects were enlightening, I didn't think the author quite found the right balance between conveying the history and keeping the novel focused on the plot and the characters. I imagine it's very difficult to integrate the affairs of the time into the story without it sounding like a list of facts. I enjoyed the direction that the women's lives went in and I liked how each woman was so distinctly individual.

I rounded this one up from 3.5 stars. It was definitely a timely novel, and it hit a bit too close to home. At times it was enjoyable, and other times it became repetitive. I think the message was a good one though!

Betty Friedan's the Feminine Mystique centers this heartwarming tale of 4 women trying to find their own way in the suburbs of DC. An artist, a nurse, an aspiring writer, and an aspiring vet are married to men who at times mean well and at other times are just well, mean. The four start a book club and start calling each other the Betty's as they each take Friedman's messages to heart. There are ups and downs but the Bettys stick together, as one would expect in this kind of story. It's a fresh take though, using the Feminine Mystique, and the characters are well developed. Well done!

I loved this novel SO much and will be giving it out as gifts as soon as it is available in paperback! I thoroughly enjoyed the stories of all four of the main characters, and appreciate how the author gently introduced each one so as not to confuse me. It was a fascinating look into the lives of 30's-40's women in the 60's. I was in my early teens at that time, and the characters' stories has helped me to understand what my mother and grandmother had been going through when I was growing up. This is not only women's fiction at its finest, it is also excellent historical fiction. I learned a lot!

Thanks to Netgalley, and the author and publisher, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was entertaining and, for me, a walk down a nostalgic lane. I was a high school sophomore in 1963, so the context of the story is very real for me. The political and social historical elements are artfully woven into the story that features four women who join ranks in a book club inspired by Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique.” I loved that these women, from diverse backgrounds, find inspiration in their friendship in a wealthy suburb. While none of the woman emerged as a public figure for the revolutionary trend of women’s rights, each, in her own way, added her voice and her actions to the paradigm shift of the time. We all owe a debt to the “troublesome” women who refused to be satisfied with the status quo. This novel illuminates in a personal and relatable way the challenges they faced.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Particularly during this time in history, this was an excellent reminder read. Set in the 1960s, this story is about a book club who calls themselves “the Betty’s” after their first book is The Feminine Mystique. Margaret, Viv, Bitsy and Charlotte all have their own personal revelations during the book and the last chapter had me weeping at the change we have seen for women in the last few decades. A very good reminder that we cannot go back… there were a lot of “wtf” moments.

This was a really nice story about female friendship, set against the backdrop of a book club and a group of women who decide to read The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. It was a really interesting story about ambitious women, the people who inspired them and the challenges they face. I would recommend!

I, thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for entrusting me this book. I enjoyed it!

This book really made me think about the power of friendship and personal growth. The four women at the center of the story had such a strong bond, supporting each other through challenges. It reminded me of Sex and the City, but set in the 1960s, when women’s roles were much more restricted. Watching them push against those boundaries was inspiring.

What stood out most was how their friendship fueled their individual growth. Each woman took bold steps toward a life that felt more authentic because of the support they gave each other. The author’s writing kept me engaged, though the pacing slowed a bit toward the end. Overall, the book reinforced the power of sisterhood, ambition, and books to break free from societal limits.

If you enjoy stories about women finding strength in each other, this one is worth reading. It’s a great reminder of what we can achieve with the right support.

Great book. Read it in 3 days. 4 women staring a Book Club and their friendship for many years. This book is great for any book club, lots of tropics for discussion with this book.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is an uplifting story about friendship, community, and the power of literature as the four protagonists share the highs and lows of life during the 1960's when women didn't have a voice. I enjoyed how they supported and fought for each other to seek their own fulfillment in a world dominated by men. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.