I loved the characters, their individual stories and the time period the story was set in. At times I found the story really dragging on.

This book was a perfect blend of things I love in a story: books, friendship, and the 1960s.

Margaret Ryan, the typical 1960s housewife and mother, starts a book club, and with their first book, The Feminine Mystique, the four ladies realize they are all unsatisfied with their lives.

While this was a fantastic trip back to the early ‘60s, I loved becoming engrossed in the lives of each of these women. The author did an excellent job of making them dimensional characters; they were wives and some mothers, but they all had dreams and desires that had been brushed aside. As friends, they were sometimes brutally honest with one another, yet they were also supportive and longed to see each other succeed.

I loved how the books they read were integral to their friendship, binding them and inspiring them. They even named themselves “The Bettys” after Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique.

Even with the historical references to popular culture and societal norms reminding me of the time and place, this incredible story of marriage, motherhood, feminism, and friendship was remarkably relatable at times. I didn’t want it to end; I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with these ladies and being part of their book club, even if only within these pages.

🎧Lisa Flanagan excelled in her narration, skillfully capturing the unique voices and personalities of these women.

Thank you @mariebostwick @uplitreads and @harpermusebooks for these gifted books.
Thank you @harpercollins @harpercollinsfocus for the gifted audiobook.

Marie Bostwick has crafted a true gem with this witty and fast-paced historical fiction novel. A journey back to the vibrant 1960s!
A character driven novel which is full of strong, likable female friendships. In a decade where societal expectations often confined women to the role of the demure housewife, the spirited members of Bettie's book club – Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv – dared to dream of something more. Since its inception the Bettie’s book club, has evolved into a tight sisterhood of long lasting friendships between Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv. It has blossomed into a powerful sisterhood, a sanctuary where these women can openly discuss the meaningful issues shaping their lives. Bostwick beautifully portrays the evolution of their friendships, how they built each other up, championed each other's aspirations, and found their voices over cocktails and candid conversations, blessedly free from their husbands' input. It's a joyous and empowering depiction of women carving out their own space in a world that often feels designed for men.

If you adore historical fiction set against the backdrop of the 1960s and stories that celebrate the strength and solidarity of women, then I wholeheartedly recommend you pick up this book. It’s a feel-good, empowering read that will leave you with a smile on your face and an appreciation for the power of female friendship.

The narrator - Lisa Flanagan's pronunciation is impeccable, and her ability to capture the distinct personalities of each woman through subtle inflections is truly masterful. She doesn't just read the story; she embodies it, making you feel as though you're right there. It's like receiving a beautifully sealed letter filled with secrets and laughter that you simply can't wait to unfold.

A huge thank you to Marie Bostwick, publisher Harper Muse, NetGalley and the incredible Lisa Flanagan for bringing this wonderful and fun book to life.

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This was my first book by author, Marie Bostwick and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The narrator of the audiobook was Lisa Flanagan and she did a great job. I loved the main characters, Margaret, Bitsy, Viv, and Charlotte. The book centers around their newly formed book club. I love that their first book was The Feminine Mystique. The ladies form a tight support group to help with the dissatisfaction with their current lives and help each other to make changes that help to fulfill each of them. I love a book with strong women, especially if they are helping lift each other up! I highly recommend!

Synopsis:
By 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan is living the American woman's dream. She has a husband, three children, a station wagon, and a home in Concordia--one of Northern Virginia's most exclusive and picturesque suburbs. She has a standing invitation to the neighborhood coffee klatch, and now, thanks to her husband, a new subscription to A Woman's Place--a magazine that tells housewives like Margaret exactly who to be and what to buy. On paper, she has it all. So why doesn't that feel like enough?

Margaret is thrown for a loop when she first meets Charlotte Gustafson, Concordia's newest and most intriguing resident. As an excuse to be in the mysterious Charlotte's orbit, Margaret concocts a book club get-together and invites two other neighborhood women--Bitsy and Viv--to the inaugural meeting. As the women share secrets, cocktails, and their honest reactions to the controversial bestseller The Feminine Mystique, they begin to discover that the American dream they'd been sold isn't all roses and sunshine--and that their secret longing for more is something they share. Nicknaming themselves the Bettys, after Betty Friedan, these four friends have no idea their impromptu club and the books they read together will become the glue that helps them hold fast through tears, triumphs, angst, and arguments--and what will prove to be the most consequential and freeing year of their lives.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the advanced digital copy of the book.

A great historical fiction! A well written tale set in the 60s- a time when women couldnt have a checking account or get birth control without their husband’s signature. It will infuriate you, but also have you laughing and have you longing for sisterhood. Maggie is captivated by a woman who stands out against societal expectations and creates a book club in order to befriend her. The newcomer picks the first book: The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. They then name themselves The Bettys and they will have you suddenly inspired to start a bookclub and strip yourself of “a woman’s place”.
Released April 22, 2025.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for sending me this arc read in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for an advanced copy of this book. I consumed this as both an audio and ebook. Either way, the story is engaging and emotional. The reader truly connects with these four women: Margaret, Bitsy, Viv, and Charlotte as they discover who they are as individuals in 1960s America. After forming a book club and reading a book on female empowerment, these ladies each decided they owed themselves to discover who they are beyond the typical housewife. I found myself wanting the best for all of these characters and rooting them on in each endeavor.

My biggest gripes with the book are as follows:
1. It dragged at times! The story could have been shorter and removed the monotony, namely in the middle. I also did not see a need for the final chapter. If you are one who likes your stories wrapped up in a nice bow, the final chapter is for you! Personally, I didn’t find it necessary.
2. I needed to know more about Walt, Margaret’s husband, before his transformation for it to be more believable for me. I didn’t know enough about him as an individual prior to his “change” for it to really make that big of a difference to me.

Overall, if you are a historical fiction fan, I do believe you will enjoy both the audio and print of this book.

*Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.*
When I see a "book about books" with a historical setting and strong female characters, I'm immediately excited to read it. The Book Club for Troublesome Women checked all these boxes and more for me! I found the four main characters delightfully unique from each other and interesting to spend time with. Maggie, Charlotte, Viv and Bitsy are northern Virginia housewives who form a book club in the 1960s, beginning with Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique, and along the way become close friends who empower each other to strive for more than the roles of wife and mother that society wishes to limit them to. I thought the characters' struggles with career, ambition, balancing priorities, and independence were realistic and relatable. I was also impressed by how funny some of the dialogue was, even as they dealt with serious issues (infidelity, suicide, alcoholism, pregnancy, and more). I would recommend this to fans of Natalie Jenner's Bloomsbury Girls, and Jennifer Chiaverini's Canary Girls. 3.75/5 stars

Four Sixties-era housewives, all a bit dissatisfied with their lives get together to form a book club to discuss a brand new, ground-breaking book called The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. These ladies barely knew each other, or had never met yet, but their journey together discussing this book and getting to know each other and the struggles in their lives, bring them together in a wonderful way.

I personally was so invested in each of their stories, I could not put this book/ audio down until I had finished!

My thanks to Net Galley and Harper Muse for an advanced copy of this e-book and audiobook.

I went into this one totally blind (aside from loving the cover and knowing it was set in the 60s) and it did not disappoint. It follows four women who start a secret book club, The Bettys, after reading The Feminine Mystique, and from there, they start questioning everything about their lives, their marriages, and what they really want.

What to expect:
✨ Female friendships
✨ 1960s setting
✨ Books that bring people together
✨ Motherhood, marriage, and the lack of women’s rights

I love a good historical fiction with strong characters. I was especially drawn to Margaret’s drive, Bitsy's quiet strength, and Viv’s dedication to her family and career. Even Charlotte (who I didn't love at first) grew on me.

If you love character-driven stories or need a good beach read with some depth, definitely pick this one up!

When life gets messy, four women form a book club and end up rebuilding their lives too. Full of humor, hope and unforgettable friendships, this story proves it's never too late to find your people.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

The book takes place in a suburb of Virginia in the 1960s and it seems like these women have it all, but as the story continues the reader sees each woman’s struggles.
I enjoys the dynamics of the Bettys - they are four women at different points of their life but they come together to form a sisterhood. It was a pleasure to spend time with these women. This book really shows how powerful female friendships are. Also since the book surrounds a book club, it’s a book about books - which is always a good read.
Thank you NetGalley for the advance audiobook, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Margaret Ryan, in attempt to add more to her daily routine, ends up starting a book club. It begins with a trip to a new neighbor's house to introduce herself. The neighbor, Charlotte, is aloof and cosmopolitan, not at all like Margaret. Charlotte suggests a book, The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. So as to make the new neighbor feel welcome, Margaret accepts the book suggestion and sets about gathering more readers to the small group.
Other women who join are young 20-something Bitsy, married to an older man and also Viv who has a passel of kids and a great husband. But, she finds out soon into the story that she's expecting, again, just as she set about going back to work as a registered nurse.
This book is important in sharing a slice of history with those of us who have benefitted from the advancements of the 1950s and 1960s for women, without living through it ourselves. I think the author did a tremendous job tackling societal issues.
Pick up this book - you won't regret it.

I listened to about two hours of this and honestly just couldn’t bring myself to care about the story or the characters. I almost DNF’d but eventually picked it back up as background noise while mowing. I understand that life was very different back then, and I’m thankful for the rights we have today as women, but this book really came across as a bitter, man-hating feminist narrative. The characters felt callous and cold, and overall, it just wasn’t an enjoyable experience for me.
Thank you, NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Harper Muse, for the opportunity to listen and review this advanced copy.

A moving and emotional portrayal of women in the 1960s coming to terms with their own power. I really loved the beautiful but raw way each of their stories highlighted the obstacles women in their class faced at the time, and the way they shared their experiences with each other, becoming a true found family. The narrator handled each character with nuance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

Suburban women rising up against the patriarchy in the ‘60s? Yes, please. In this historical fiction novel, you’ll find a cast of characters who ban together to each find her own way in this world. Each character is developed carefully, and I loved them all. Really the only reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is that the women featured are all coming from a place of privilege that afforded them the opportunities to take chances most didn’t have.

If you’re into historical fiction and stories about women pushing boundaries, this one is for you. It kind of reminded me of Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garman—both are set in the early ’60s and feature those unforgettable, unconventional female protagonists who aren’t afraid to break out of the box society tries to put them in.

But here’s where it really shines: unlike Lessons in Chemistry, this book is all about transformation. The women in The Book Club for Troublesome Women start out as traditional wives, stuck in the roles that the world expects of them, but they grow. They move from those old-school expectations to becoming empowered, independent women—there’s something so satisfying about watching them take their own lives into their hands.

The story centers around a book club called The Betty’s, named after a novel that sparks a huge shift for the women. Each of their stories felt like a little journey of its own, and by the end, I was totally invested in what would happen to each of them next.

If you love historical fiction with strong female characters challenging norms, this is a must-read. It’s the perfect blend of heart, growth, and change, and I think it’ll resonate with anyone who loves a good indie bookstore find. Definitely add it to your bedside book stack!

This was written so well. Other authors would have had different chapters for each character, but Bostwick's choice to have all points of view within each chapter was well played. The listeners feel like they are in the room with the Betties.
Well done.

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑩𝑶𝑶𝑲 𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑻𝑹𝑶𝑼𝑩𝑳𝑬𝑺𝑶𝑴𝑬 𝑾𝑶𝑴𝑬𝑵 𝒃𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒆 𝑩𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒄𝒌 is out from @harpermuse this week, and I was so lucky to be a part of @uplitreads book tour for this fantastic historical fiction! I began able to add the audio via @Netgalley and it was a wonderful addition, narrated by Lisa Flanagan, who did a great job capturing each character in this story!

This is a story that brings Margaret Ryan and her perfect traditional wife role into examination. She loves her husband, her three children, and her lovely home, so why does she feel like there is something missing? When She meets Charlotte, a new resident of this enclave, she creates a book club in an effort to entice this intriguing woman to become friends, along with two other women, Bitsy and Viv. The women choose a controversial book, The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan as their first choice and then call themselves the Betty's, while opening up about the secret longings they all share.

This is certainly a friendship book that touches on the roles of women, but it is also a book of self-discovery. I loved how the women came alongside each other in this tumultuous year, each helping the others in their own unique paths. Each woman brought a strength to the group that they all needed, and I was made so grateful for the women in my life who do the same for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

(Possible spoiler here, so pass the rest of this paragraph if you want to be surprised by a character!) I have to also give a shout out to Margaret's husband. He had his struggles with this new direction for his wife, but in the midst of so many insecure men, it was great to see one who didn't feel like his wife's success would take away from own, but would add to it. I feel lucky, again, to have married one like this.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the audiobook. The narrator was superb.
I love a good book about books and Troublesome did not disappoint. I want to read all the books! The 60s was the decade before I was born and I'm thankful for this generation of exceptional women who pushed back. Bostwick created characters that I wanted to hang out with. Happy endings are hard to pull off, we think we want them but then it all wraps up a little too neatly. I was almost at 5 stars, but I drifted a bit at the end. Overall great read and I would definitely recommend!

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a thoughtful, emotionally resonant novel set in 1963, following four suburban housewives who seem to have it all—husbands, homes, routines—but feel an aching dissatisfaction they can’t name. When they read The Feminine Mystique together, their book club becomes more than a casual gathering—it becomes a catalyst for personal reckoning and change.

Margaret, Viv, Bitsy, and Charlotte each bring unique struggles and perspectives to the group. As they talk honestly about their lives, frustrations, and longings, they begin to question what’s expected of them as wives and mothers—and whether it’s enough. The novel captures the limitations placed on women in mid-century America and the quiet courage it takes to challenge the status quo.

Bostwick’s writing shines in her portrayal of friendship and the small but significant rebellions that can change lives. There’s warmth, humor, and heart in how these women evolve and support one another. However, the pacing lags at times, and some character resolutions feel a little too tidy for the story’s weight. The book club itself plays a smaller role than the title suggests, which might disappoint some readers hoping for deeper literary discussions.

The audiobook, narrated by Cassandra Campbell, adds another layer of richness to the story. Campbell captures each character’s voice with authenticity and brings out the emotional undercurrents beautifully. If you enjoy audiobooks, this is a strong one to experience that way.

Overall, this is a moving, imperfect, but ultimately powerful tribute to sisterhood, courage, and self-discovery.