Raw, real and beautifully written. Marie Bostwick has done a great job with this historical women's fiction. As a wife, mom and woman I truly appreciate seeing from multiple points of view and loved each of the characters.
I loved watching these women lift each other up and encourage each other.
I hate how going against society's road map labels women as troublesome. But feel the title of this book is fitting. These women weren't robbing banks or causing riots but they refused to sit silently at home and be told how to spend their day. I think looking back at this time period will impact a lot of people and I hope what this author has written will show light on how far we women have came over the years. I'm so thankful for authors like Marie who help women feel empowered and feel like we can be the change we need to see.

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

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is set in 1963 and follows a group of suburban women whose lives are changed by reading The Feminine Mystique and starting a book club where they read mainly feminist writings. The book delves into the realities women faced during that time - from not being able to open their own banking account without their husband's signature to being doubted or ignored altogether in the professional world.

I thought this book contained a lot of promise but failed to live up to it. This book centers on the experiences of middle class, white women, with little to no thought to how women of color would've experienced these times. (There's a small anecdote about a Black nurse that one of the main characters encounters, but the whole thing feels way too rosy.) That could be fine, but the characters tend to fall into rather neat stereotypes, without much depth. They too easily forgive their husbands. They cheer on Martin Luther King Jr. from afar, but don't seem to think critically about his speeches or teachings at all. There's the alcoholic artist with the cheating husband; the woman with 6 kids and a 7th on the way, who seems okay with this... While I was rooting for the characters to break free of the limits imposed upon them by misogynistic societal standards, their stories all ended too perfectly. Everyone either made up with their husbands after they magically became much better men or left their husbands. It just felt too...tidy?

3.5 stars, rounded up.

3.5 stars. The characters were loveable and definitely help push the feminie rage feelings the authours wanting to emerge in the reader. But i do wish there was a little more diversity in the class/struggles as it would have made it more interesting. The pacing left much to be desired and was so slow which for a book this length was tedious to get through. I adore books with multiple perspectives and this one did that beautifully.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a cozy novel about four women who live in an upscale Virginia neighborhood near Washington D.C. Set in 1963, Margaret Ryan introduces herself to her new neighbor, Charlotte, and invites her to join a book club. Charlotte recommends the club read The Feminine Mystique. From there the novel explodes into chapters exploring the lives of these four women and their expectations of marriage and career. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy novels with strong female characters and novels set in and around the Camelot years.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is 1960s take on female empowerment. It focuses on a book club formed by four female neighbors. The first novel they read, The Feminine Mystique, becomes a catalyst that causes them to question the limits of their lives and possibly, make changes. The characters are engaging and there is much to love. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperMuse Books for the ARC. Pub Date: May 23rd.

#TheBookClubforTroublesomeWomen

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Four friends are forever changed by reading a book, The Feminine Mystique. This is about housewives in the 1960’s who become closer through motherhood, community and feminism. Fans of uplifting historical fiction will love this book. I was cheering for Charlotte as she overcame a bad marriage and outsmarted her controlling father. I was rooting for Bitsy that she would see her worth and value. One thing that I appreciated was the acknowledgment that The Feminine Mystique was written for women of privilege who were manipulated into having a lesser role. Other women were already working multiple jobs out of necessity. These women got an “allowance” and were treated like children. It’s a book that reminds us why we read.

pretty expected but well-written and interesting despite. i love the four women characters. 4 stars. tysm for the arc. would recommend.

3.5!

I really enjoyed this book. All four women in the book club have their own troubles and strengths. Through each other and their book club pick, The Feminine Mystique, they gain the confidence to become more than just housewives. They learn how to be themselves without having to conform to the 1960’s society that they life in. Of course there were certain characters I resonated with more than others, however each woman was interesting to me! This is a story of feminism and finding yourself.

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.