4.5 which I will gladly round up to 5 as I could not put the book down.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a captivating and compelling read that captured my attention from the first to last page.

Four neighbours who become life long friends bond over the book Feminine Mystic by Betty Friedan and for its time for it was very controversial.

The ladies decide to form a Book Club and they call themselves The Bettys.

There is Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy and Vi. All different personalitis and all have their own problems.

I absolutely loved how their friendship developed and how I wished I could join The Betty's Book Club.

The four ladies are their for each other no matter what through thick and thin.

I cried with these ladies, I certainly laughed along with them and I cheered them on.

Times are changing and its not so much a "man's world" as it once was. I thought of my Mum and how she too would have been in this era.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women will no doubt be a Book Club choice for many Book Clubs.

I highly recommend you grab your copy and I will warn you its hard to put down.

I will miss The Betty's.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus/Harper Muse for the privlege to read and review The Book Club for Troublesome Women.

I could not love this book more than I do. Imagine a gang of 1963 housewives getting together, forming a book club, and a book changes their outlook on everything. I fell in love with every single character and simply did not want this to end. I kept picturing this as a movie or limited series. Right now, it is my favorite book of 2025.

I did both the audio and ebook and both were outstanding. Please read this book.

3.5/5 stars

A very interesting premise. I liked the setting and the subtle details that seem to stick very true to the time period. The characters have bursts of progress in their storylines which kept it interesting. I would’ve liked to know more about Earlene and her world. While the pacing was not the best for me, I enjoyed the book overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

“The Book Club for Troublesome Women” by Marie Bostwick
a MUST READ book.
Yes, the four lead characters are female and white and married… BUT they could be any gender, any color, and any other different you can think of. It is a story of 4 people learning to find what makes them happy, glad to be alive, and happy to get up and live another day (not just face it). They do not ‘Have To’ accept someone else’s (society’s) vision of what should make them happy. Or, you can read this book just because it is a really good story. Marie’s best so far. Happy Reading ! !

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. In a time where the rights of women are being threatened and society has begun the momentum of backpedaling, it was nice to be reminded of the many positive changes that have come about and stayed since the 1960s.

Pulling from real-life inspiration of her own mother, author Marie Bostwick writes poignantly about four women in a popular suburb who accidently create a book club, starting first by reading The Feminine Mystique by Betty Freidan.

All four women have been something, a somebody, before marriage and children came along. While seemingly content on the outside, the housewives begin to question their lives.

I was enthralled. I loved the historical glimpses into the past. I liked how these four women, so different from each other, formed long lasting bonds.

This would make a fantastic book club pick!

I loved this story of four housewives from different backgrounds and statuses who join together to form a bookclub. We then follow them through their ups and downs during the year of 1963.
All the lead characters had worthy storylines and reflected the different issues that women faced at the time. An eye opening read that highlights the frustrations and many limitations that were imposed on women at the time.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollinsFocus for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Focus, Harper Muse and Marie Bostwick for giving me an ARC! I loved this book, it may be my favorite read of the year! The characters were lovely and well-developed. Their backgrounds helped round out the story and added depth to the broader stories being told. I loved them all and despised some of their spouses, and was so pleased with the way their stories were wrapped up at the end. I love historical fiction and this fit the bill in every imaginable way. Serious, informative, transformative, and just an all around well-written novel. Can't say enough and will be recommending this to others!

Fun, nostalgic read centering on 4 women in the 1960’s era. Women were limited in life choices, corralled into being housewives and mothers, serving the needs of others. Having been a young child in the ‘60’s, I enjoyed the reflections of the color of appliances then ( yellow), plastic covered kitchen chairs ( plastic was kind of new and was used everywhere then ), and of course books being published at that time… Betty Friedan’s book playing a significant role in this book.
I’d categorize this a light fiction, or women’s fiction… more than a beach read but not intense or triggering.
Not my usual type of genre but I enjoyed the book.

The title of this book really caught my attention. After a bit of a slow start, I became very invested in the four women friends, brought together in suburban Virginia in 1963. The first book their book club read was the Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan and it forever changed the trajectory of these women's lives. Historical fiction, set in the 1960's, pre-women's lib, the book highlights many of injustices women faced at that time - like not being able to open a bank account or getting birth control without a husband's consent.

Although the ending was a bit expected, I did like how the characters' friendship grew throughout the book. It really spoke to the strength of women and the impact one generation has on the next. I will definitely be recommending this to my own book club.

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

A friendship develops between women who are struggling with various issues back in the 50’s. Housewives, who aren't just satisfied with being homemakers and mothers. They are ok with that but want more out of their lives. When they first start the book club they are strangers but through the books, bonding and growing together they find a special friendship that helps them all. Each woman has a different struggle and each one wants to encourage and help the other. They are no longer just a book club they are stronger and going after their own goals and aspirations while maintaining their self, families and what is right for them. Well written by Marie Bostwick
I read the book and listened to the audio.
The story is heartfelt and gives you a look into what women had to go through back in the 50s if they wanted more than a husband and children. Many wanted that and a career which was not the norm in those days. It was slowly evolving. Truly a good book to show awareness on how life for women evolved to choices opening slowly for them in work and career opportunities.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse for the eARC of The Book Club for Troublesome Women. I do recommend this book as a good read it's informative accurate and heartfelt. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Muse, for the early read in exchange for my honest review.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick is set in 1963 against the backdrop of the civil rights movement and the shifting landscape of women's rights. The story follows four suburban housewives—Margaret, Viv, Bitsy, and Charlotte—who form a book club to explore literature challenging societal norms. Beginning with Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique, they examine women's societal roles and the cultural expectations of the 1960s, inspiring them to imagine new life paths.

As they engage in discussions, the women confront personal challenges: Charlotte navigates a toxic marriage, while Bitsy seeks self-worth amidst societal pressures. The book club becomes a supportive space where they form strong bonds and empower each other to pursue their desires and aspirations.

I loved how the author gave each woman their own story and voice. Although the story started a bit slow, I couldn't put it down once their lives began to intertwine! I have been on a historical fiction kick lately, and this one didn't disappoint!

Quotes I loved:
"You know what Eleanor Roosevelt used to say: "A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong it is until it's in hot water."
"You can have it all, just not all at the same time."
"Things have a way of working out when and how they're meant to. Youll see."
"Acquaintances abound, but true friendships are rare and worth waiting for."
"It is a man's world. And there's not a thing we can do about it"

This was a lovely historical fiction about a group of strong women growing together through a book club in the 60s. I loved all the characters and everyone's arc. The book dragged at points though and I was bored quite often, but it was heartwarming how everyone's story wrapped up.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the arc :)

This was a phenomenal read! Margaret, Bitsy, Charlotte and Viv were the epitome of what a book club in the 1960s would look like. Faced with real life issues, in and out of the household, these four women find friendship, support, and a place to share their personal thoughts and feelings that society had led them to have long kept to themselves.
This book was the whole package. It's very rare that I finish a book and don't have a single thought of what I wish was done a bit differently, but this book was absolutely an exception. Very well-written, moderately paced, and full of juicy gossip that kept me wanting 'just one more chapter'

What a moving story!! Margaret, Viv, Bitsy, and Charlotte - all suburban housewives in the 1960's seem to have perfect lives but feel something is missing. When they start a book club and read The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, it opens their eyes to new possibilities and helps them question the roles they've been given.

I loved the strong bond between these women. Their friendship gives them the courage to face their struggles, challenge society's expectations, pursue careers, and create fulfilling lives. The writing is heartfelt and easy to connect with. Overall, a touching story about friendship, self-discovery, and finding the strength in each other. I loved it and found it powerful and inspiring.

Thank You, NetGalley and the publishers for an opportunity to read The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick.

The title of the book attracted me right away and I was not wrong to want to read it.

I think even though it is set in the 1960s, a lot of the feelings of the four women feel so relevant even now.

To stir up trouble when the world wants you to be a silent spectator and not make them uncomfortable. That sums up what I feel about this book.

And absolute must read!

A fabulous read of 4 fierce females set in post war America, create a book club. Each from different walks of the 4 females are each fighting for gender equality, through their own way, a writer, a nurse, a “privileged” artist and an animal healer. I loved this one, great character arcs, social conversations and thought provoking. I think if you liked Lessons in Chemistry or The Giver Of Stars you’ll enjoy this one.

Marie Bostwick delivers a heartfelt and thought-provoking novel in The Book Club for Troublesome Women, a story of female friendship, personal growth, and the quiet but powerful resilience of four suburban women in the 1960s. Set in Virginia in 1963, the novel follows Margaret, Charlotte, Viv, and Bitsy-each unique in her own right-navigating the complexities of marriage, motherhood, career ambitions, and societal expectations. Their book club, sparked by The Feminine Mystique, becomes more than a gathering: it is a catalyst for self-discovery and change.

Bostwick's writing is immersive and captivating, introducing readers to the daily lives of these women while weaving in a historical context that highlights both the progress and persistent struggles of the feminist movement. The friendships at the heart of the story are superbly developed, showing the strength to be found in shared experiences and support, even as the women come from different backgrounds.

Although the novel is character-driven and slow-paced, the emotional depth and nuances of the narrative make it a rewarding read. At times, the challenges faced by the women are resolved too neatly, and the lack of diverse perspectives is noticeable, but overall, this is a compelling and inspiring book that reminds us how far we have come...and how far we have yet to go.

A must-read for lovers of historical fiction, feminist literature, and stories that celebrate the power of female friendships.

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

Set in the 60s, this is a story of four women - Margaret, Charlotte, Viv and Bitsy, who create a book club called The Betty's, after the first author they read. The book which kicks it all off is the real life book The Feminine Mystique by Betty Freidan.

The book sparks debate about the lives that the four women live. Raised to believe that their only goal should be wives and mothers and seek no other purpose, each character yearns for more from life, which creates tension within their lives and with their husbands. I never knew for instance that pregnancy tests back then were done through injecting rabbits with a woman's urine and the rabbits were killed afterwards to examine how the rabbit's ovaries responded, so a doctor could confirm whether a woman was pregnant or not (is this why when a product says its vegan friendly and not tested on animals they use a rabbit?) and it was interesting to see how limited women's lives were expected to be in that time period.

The story is very character-led and I did often feel like not much was actually happening and the pacing, for me, sometimes dragged. But it was still a lovely story and if you like women's fiction and historical fiction and a gentle, easy read, then this book is for you.

3.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for access to an early copy of this novel.

This was such a lovely story, each of our four main characters felt so real. I love that the characters had faults and flaws, but that’s what made them feel like real people that would be in your neighbourhood.

I love women’s fiction novels as they always make me feel seen and understood, i especially loved the time period this novel was set in as the conversations around women’s rights are always a topic i enjoy reading.

Although this book wasn’t anything new or groundbreaking for me personally, I really enjoyed my reading experience and would definitely recommend it!


I received a complementary copy of this book, all opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.5 stars rounded up

As a woman in a book club of fellow women that meets regularly, the title and premise of this book pulled me in instantly. I enjoyed the message and how it was conveyed throughout the four women's stories, but unfortunately, the pacing and the story itself missed the mark.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a historical fiction that follows the lives of four housewives over several months in 1963. Margaret, Viv, Bitsy, and Charlotte start a book club and the first book they choose is The Feminine Mystique by Betty Frieden, the inspiration for their book club's name, The Betty's. The book exhibits the realities and expectations for women in post-war society; staying home with the children, cleaning and cooking, always being available and happy to fulfill your husband's needs, lack of financial freedom, and millions of other nuances and invisible labor expectations that women of this time were expected to know and obey.

I appreciated seeing how each woman was "troublesome" throughout the story, from the quips back to a husband to altering life courses to follow lifelong dreams. After consuming so much media throughout my life that uses brutal violence against women to "prove a point", it was refreshing to have a book deal with hard situations but approach them with gentleness. In this same vein, however, I feel like there was not much to the story itself. Not much happened, and I was left wishing for more to happen at several points throughout my time reading. In my opinion, this book was heavily character-driven, which I can enjoy, but most of the time, these books do not keep me engaged (which is why I think it took me 2 weeks to finish). Another point that is important to make is this book approaches issues with a limited viewpoint, with all main characters being white middle-class suburban housewives. However, this book never came across to me as trying to describe the experience of all women during this time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.