Four dissatisfied sixties-era housewives form a book club turned sisterhood that will hold fast amid the turmoil of a rapidly changing world and alter the course of each of their lives.

Such an easy, enjoyable, yet so thought-provoking and full of heart. Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv are all such interesting and distinctive characters, each so very well fleshed out. Their friendship felt very natural and authentic, and it was a joy to follow. It was so easy to care for these women, and to find yourself rooting for them through everything that happened to them. It was such a great deception of women's struggles at the time, and it definitely didn't hold back when it came to that, which I liked. It's a celebration of womanhood and female friendship, and it's so beautifully done. I also really enjoyed how it wrapped up, I found myself tearing up as it neared the end, but it felt very satisfying in a way, and I loved watching where these characters I cared for so much ended up,

I listened to this, and it was absolutely fantastic. The narrator did an incredible job bringing each of these characters to life and making the story even more engaging than it already was.

Many thanks to Harper Muse Audiobooks & NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Vivian are each individually stunning characters. The breadth of each one of their stories is both enchanting and captivating. I listen enraptured to each one's story as it unfolded in this marvelous historical fiction. The 1960s were a difficult time in American History for lots of disparaged minorities. Each woman faces setbacks in their journey to discovering who they are in a society that only values women in Motherhood. I love that the book club finds it's bearings in The Feminine Mystique! Marie Bostwick brilliantly faces the topic of women being second class figures in society during this time-frame. It felt balanced that she honored the Civil Rights Movement also occurring in that time.

The audiobook is excellent! Charlotte's character came through vividly.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for this Audio ARC!

The Book Club for Troublesome Women follows the lives 4 housewives in the 1960. "The Bettys", as they call themselves, grew on me more an more throughout the novel. Each of them is in a different place in their lives and going through something different, yet they are able to find a connection in one another through reading the ground breaking novel The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan.

Marie Bostwick paints an accurate picture of live for the average housewife in 1960s America. Even when they wanted to change things in their lives, their wasn't much they could do without money and the support of a man. I enjoyed rooting for "The Bettys" and their growth into independent women during a time when such a thing was discouraged.

This novel seems to start off a bit slow, but the pace of the storytelling throughout is more of a stroll, which suits the plot. Don't give up on it. It's a worth while read. This is the first novel I have read by Marie Bostwick and will be looking for more.



*Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an ARC audio copy in exchange for my honest review.*

Oh Marie Bostwick, you’ve done it again. The Book Club for Troublesome Women was an absolute amazing read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Lisa Flanagan does a fabulous job making the story come to life with her narration!

Its the 1960s and four suburban housewives from different walks of life form an unbreakable bond through their book club, forever altering the course of their lives.

I loved that the first book that the women read is the The Feminine Mystique which focuses on the core issue of these housewives and their dissatisfaction with domestic life. With the radical socio and economic changes headed their way, the reader gets a front row seat into the characters lives as they face motherhood, community and feminism. The Bettys are very likeable and relatable. This is a fast paced and entertaining read!

Highly recommend!

The Book Club for Troublesome Women was my first read by Marie Bostwick and I really enjoyed this one! This is a new historical fiction releasing in the spring (April 2025) and I really enjoyed the audiobook.

This book follows a group of four dissatisfied 1960s housewives who form a book club turned sisterhood. They start off by discussing the controversial, new release of The Feminine Mystique. This groundbreaking book helped a generation of women, including the women in this book, realize they weren’t alone in their dissatisfactions or their longings and dreams. It helped lift their eyes to new possibilities. But is it the book that truly makes this happen, or the women’s bond and influence on one another?

I really enjoyed the audio for this! I loved the different women we follow and seeing their hopes, dreams, struggles, realities, relationships, and everything in between. The 1963 northern Virginia suburb setting felt super raw and real. I liked the conversation about books and how they don’t always change your life, but they can send you on a search for a better life and bring people into your life. I kinda felt that way about this book, while I enjoyed their story, the book as a whole and the reading experience of it just made me think and wonder about and have a different appreciation for the women who have come before.

I received an audio ALC from the publisher, all thoughts in this review are my own.

3.5 stars, rounded up

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a charming, feel-good novel that delivers exactly what it promises—a heartwarming tale of friendship and empowerment.

The novel is uplifting and easy to read, with likable characters and plenty of moments that will make you smile. The themes of female friendship and personal growth are inspiring, and the book carries a cozy, comforting tone throughout. However, at times, the story feels a bit too sugarcoated—conflicts resolve a little too neatly, and the characters’ struggles never seem too overwhelming. While this makes for a pleasant escape, it also makes the book less memorable in the long run.

That said, if you’re looking for an entertaining, feel-good read with a positive message, The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a solid choice. It may not leave a lasting impression, but it’s a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

Rating: 3.5 Stars
Format: Audiobook (ALC)
Genre: Historical fiction

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC and ALC for this book. All opinions are my own.

This book follows a group of women in the early 60s who are adjusting to post-war life and considering their place in the world. We see them wrestle with their desires and dreams in a culture that allowed them a bit of freedom when their labor was useful during the World Wars, but now that men have returned home, they were expected to go back to their subservient home-making roles.

Though the themes of this book and the core feminist ideas are nothing revolutionary for historical fiction, this book excels with its characterization and plotting. It does a couple things that I really loved. First, it shows a variety of womens’ wants and goals. There are women who want to be homemakers, women who want careers, and women who want a mix of both. The narrative and the characters didn’t demonize any of these choices that women might make. I also appreciated the array of men and the relationships that the women have with the men in their lives. Some of the husbands are giant pieces of garbage that I despised, but we also got representation of men who grow and change and strive to do better in how they treat their wives and families. The narrative doesn’t shy away from the harmful impacts of the patriarchy, but it also doesn’t demonize all the men in the story. They felt like real characters whose actions have been influenced by being raised in a patriarchal society.

The note at the end that provided context to what was fact vs. fiction was lovely to listen to and the audiobook overall was excellent. I enjoyed the narration and think it’s a great method to read the book.

I really enjoyed this story of 4 neighbors who became friends by forming a book club. Their first book, The Feminine Mystique, started off so many good conversations as each of the ladies examined their lives and their happiness levels. It was interesting to see slice of life examples of typical woman in then 60’s and to compare that to things we still see today. Ultimately this felt like a book about sisterhood and found family and the power of women supporting women. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was great!

It’s wild to think that the 1960s are now considered historical, but here we are…

Four suburban housewives from different walks of life form an unbreakable bond through their book club, forever altering the course of their lives.

Lisa Flanagan’s narration was fantastic—she truly brought each character to life. I highly recommend experiencing this story via audiobook.

While the beginning was a bit slow for me, things really picked up around the 60% mark, and from there, I was completely hooked. The story celebrates female empowerment without diminishing men, which I appreciated. It also highlights the presence of good husbands—Walt, in particular, was an absolute gem.

The ending left me with all the warm and fuzzy feelings. I’m really going to miss the Bettys! 💜

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the audio book version in exchange for my review!!!

I loved the community the women build even while facing adversity. It was scary to me because of the current climate women are facing, and the fear to go back to this time period. Towards the middle some parts dragged on a little but overall I enjoyed this book. I appreciate the freedoms I have because other women paved the way for me