The Book Club for Troublesome Women is set in the 60's and follows 4 suburban housewives as they start a book club and build strong friendships. Their first read is 'The Feminine Mystique' and they are awakened to the sexism that they face on a daily basis. Each of them appears to have a happy life but are none of them are fulfilled. I loved getting to know these characters and the struggles that they faced. Some of which were very shocking. A wonderful book that I can't wait to recommend.

This is going on my list as one of the best books of the year (and that's high praise considering how many titles a year I read.) I loved every word of this book and hated for it to be over. It was triggering in light of current events, but a much needed reminder that we've been here before and we will make it through. What a timely read and the characters were the best. I want to be a Betty - and have "The Feminine Mystique" on order. Maybe it's time for a new group of Bettys!

I loved this book more than I thought I would, honestly. It gives a good perspective of what it was like in that time, while also feeling eerily similar to what we are currently reverting back to. The author did a really good job with descriptive text, but I wish we had seen more of the troubled women part we were promised. Either way it ignited my female rage to the full extreme, so I feel like it did its job!

Thanks to @netgalley and @Harpermusebooks for the ARC. Book to be released April 22, 2025. 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. enjoyed getting to know each of the characters (including their fashion, recipes, daily lives and reactions to current events of the time), their individual struggles and their personal growth. I fell in love with the characters and they were so relatable in so many ways. I think every woman will be able to identify one way or the other with one or several of these characters.

I adore this book! Such an interesting insight to the mindset and societal views of women’s’ roles in the 1960’s. This is a brilliant historical fiction book with some surprising historical characters and events. A group of neighbors begin a book club and their first pick is a feminist writing that sparks paradigm shifts for them and causes an accidental revolution for them all. This book takes us on their journey through a year of book club picks and offers an insight into the power of reading and the importance of women’s friendships. It is very well written and thoughtful. I love these characters and wanted to join their book club myself!! Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with this ARC copy.

Thank you to Netgally Canada and publisher for the audio version in exchange for a honest review. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ story and utterly engaging narration.

*No spoilers*

Always enjoy stories around found friendships, in-depth character development and strong women who push the envelope; especially in the turmoil of historical events in the 1960’s.

The Betties was pulled together with 4 neighborhood housewives who decided to form a book club. One newly arrived housewife who is quite different from the 3 with the rich clothing, chain smoking and vocalized budding artist is approached to join. She had 1 stipulation: they have to read The Feminine Mystique by Bettie Friedan. The 3 women were baffled considering the controversy of the content being anything but what they were living….cookie cutter neighbourhood with abiding to strict rules and housewives who are all expected to fit the norm of care of the house, cooking and childcare… THE typical 1960’s housewife.

Thoroughly enjoyed the growth and supportive friendships these ladies brought to each other and any that came along their path. I felt connected and was inspired by all 4 of these witty, intelligent and uplifting women.

The years-later ending brought profound tears as I was invested in all of them.

Will be tackling the Feminine Mystique soon and analyze how similar or different women are today.

I LOVED this book! Four women in the early sixties sharing their trials of being a woman during this time. I love books about women who like to stir up trouble and come out on top.

4.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins/Harper Muse for the early review copy.

The audiobook was lovely, and the narration was done well. It took me a while to pinpoint who was who and which characteristics belonged to whom, but after a while, I figured it out, and it was easy going from then on.

This may be a bit of an out-of-left-field comparison, but hear me out. I highly enjoyed The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires when I read it, and what I really appreciated were the themes of domestic struggles and housewives finding their own voices. And yes, there's also a book club in there. Although Hendrix's book is set in the nineties and Bostwick's book is set in the sixties, both have those strong elements of women standing up for themselves in the eras they’re living in. So, basically, if you like one, you'll probably like both (unless you really don’t like supernatural elements in your books, then obviously skip Hendrix's book).

I would recommend this to everyone looking for a feminist historical novel. It portrays the time period incredibly well, and I often felt bad and frustrated for the four women we follow. The way they are held back by their circumstances felt very unfair. Although that is also what makes the plot a bit tricky. I think the book's major downfall lies in the opportunities these women get in the short amount of time we follow them. Some events felt too grand and explosive, which could have worked better if they were spread across more years or if some reactions felt more realistic, some moments felt too fictitious to me. I loved a certain part towards the end that integrated a real-world event into the life of one of the main characters. I really appreciated that, it showed how global events leave an impact on people, making the fictional characters feel more like actual, real individuals.

I’m really happy to have read this.

My Review: I received an advanced reader copy of The Book Club for Troublesome Women (release date: 4/22/25) through @netgalley and @harpermusebooks in exchange for my honest review. I had the opportunity to read both the Kindle and audiobook versions, and I truly enjoyed this book.

From the striking cover to the heartfelt story, this novel captivated me. At its core, it’s a celebration of female friendship, resilience, and the power of a book club that becomes so much more. I loved the dynamic between the women—their unique personalities, unwavering loyalty, and shared desire for something more in their lives. The “Bettys” and their book club felt so authentic and inspiring, offering a perfect blend of humor, heart, and empowerment.

Brief Synopsis: Set in the 1960s, The Book Club for Troublesome Women follows a group of women who find solace, strength, and sisterhood in their unconventional book club. As they challenge societal expectations and support one another through life’s struggles, they prove that being “troublesome” might just be the best way to live authentically.

I gave this book four stars and highly recommend it to anyone who loves stories about strong women, friendship, and the power of books.

#womenworthknowing #thebookcluboftroublesomecreek #newhistoricalfiction #historicalfiction

You just can't go wrong with a novel by Marie Bostwick! This is going to be a new favorite for book clubs! And the leading question will be "Who is your favorite character?".

So often with women's fiction, there are so many characters that it is difficult to keep them straight. That wasn't a problem for me with this book. All the characters had so much personality ... and they were all so unique. This book was so well woven. It was just perfect. I loved it!

I want to start describing the characters in detail, but Marie Bostwick does that best. So in short about the main characters ... a magazine columnist, nurse with 6 children who has prior war experience, an artist, veterinarian's daughter. But my favorite character wasn't any of these, one of the book clubs daughters stole my heart.

A great book. And a great book for your next book club. Worth the purchase ... or get your name on the waitlist now.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for approving my request to listen to the advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Expertly narrated by Lisa Flanagan who brought each of these unique women (and their own cast of characters) to life. The audio is 10hr 49 min (book version is 384 pages), this included a little bit of commentary from Marie Bostwick at the end saying that her mother gave her much inspiration for this book. Publication date is April 22, 2025.

I absolutely loved this novel. I enjoyed the time period (beginning in the early 1960’s) and following these wonderful characters during this period in time. I thought the narration was wonderful. Book clubs will surely enjoy discussing this book!

I received an ARC copy of this (thanks NetGalley), and truly enjoyed it.

This was a strong 4.5 for me because I’m all about the “feminine rage” sentiment.

The only part that really bothered me was that the entire book was about female independence and not needing a man. Then we get towards the end and all of a sudden Margaret is acting needy and like she could never survive without her husband.

Knowing this is a work of historical fiction, I understand the liberties that were taken with the characters and context of the story. With this in mind, I truly loved the characters and the banter between them. It did feel authentic and I appreciated the fact that the women stood proud in the sentiment to stop tolerating BS from a society that has continued to try to diminish the power of being a woman.

The parallels that women are facing in today’s world are becoming hauntingly echoed to what it was like for women in the 50s. I truly felt for these characters and wanted to rage alongside them with the unfairness they were all experiencing at the hands of men.

“In a war for freedom, segregation shouldn’t win.”

What a wonderful novel about 4 women who come together in the early 1960s to read Feminine Mystique. Each coming from different backgrounds and current situations and each woman begins to see their life transformed as they reflect on this book. A bookclub is formed and with each book read the women grow, learn more about each other and themselves. While labeled troublesome, they are truly regular woman trying to navigate what it means to be a woman in that time. This novel encouraged me to think back on my own mother’s experience as well as other women I knew. It also made me so thankful for all the small steps taken by these women in their lives so that I’ve been able to enjoy different freedoms and opportunities.

I want to thank Netgalley and Harper Muse for the audio arc!

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is incredible and I loved it. I feel like the time period in this book, the early 60s, is either idealized or vilified in storytelling and this story is so nuanced and has so much depth.

The primary characters, Margaret, Vivian, Bitsy, and Charlotte, feel so true that I checked a few times to see if this was based on actual events. Set in a fictional planned community in Northern Virginia in the months leading up to JFK's assassination, this is the story of four smart and capable women and how their quests to deeper meaning and fulfilling connections lead them to form a seemingly random book club. They face the traditional issues of the day, but the characters never feel two-dimensional. Four richly drawn women and the people in their orbit create a charming time capsule in which to visit. Loved the appearances from Katherine Graham!

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was really good. So many voices and points of view and I was never taken out of the story.

Why I have not read more books from Marie Bostwick? I will be remedying that!

Definitely recommend! Perfect for book clubs, vacation reads, or anyone looking for a wonderful post WWII historical fiction novel.

Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley and Harper Muse!

There are parts of this story that will stay with me! Marie Bostwick is a wonderful storyteller.
The audiobook is very well done and brings the characters to life. I listened at 1.5 speed comfortably. This story follows a group of housewives that start a book club and their experiences and struggles during the 1960's and the release of the book The Feminine Mystique. This is a character driven, historical fiction book so if you need a compelling plot this is not the book to pick up but if you need a quiet story that will infuriate you, give you things to think about and make you thankful for the societal changes on womens' roles you will want to listen to this one. For those who are concerned about such things, this is not a clean read but the difficult content is not overwhelming.
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to listen to it in exchange for my thoughts!

There’s a lot packed into Bostwick’s Book Club for Troublesome Women. This is both its strength and its flaw. Bostwick tries to include all the forces converging to change life for upper class white women in the 1960s - women’s constraints in medical independence, financial independence, their role in the paid workplace, and civil rights.

The weakness comes in the brief mentions of the very different opportunities for poor women and women of color along with prior feminist movements. I love that the author situates the 1960s movement in the broader context, but I think she tries to do too much with this one book. The narrative stays distant in the lives of the core book club members and, as a reader, I found I wanted more depth in their stories. By trying to both sum up the 1960s movement and show the ripples in real life narratives, both are slighted. I would prefer more depth into the lives of the main characters and more of their individual thoughts about The Feminist Mystique.

What a lovely group of women. Can I join this book club?

I received an advance audiobook of The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick.

This was a heartwarming, heartbreaking, fun book to listen to. I really enjoyed The narration.

The characters are well written with great character development. You can really feel their struggles and growth and all the emotions.

A 5 star historical fiction.

This book follows four 1960’s housewives: Margret, Charlotte, Viv, and Bitsy as they navigate life after reading The Feminine Mystique and are forever changed by it.

I would give The BookClub For Troublesome Women 4.5 stars. This was an uplifting and easy-read historical fiction! I loved the camaraderie of these four friends. I found myself rooting for each of these characters as they were balancing being a housewife and pursuing their passions. I loved watching each lady grow and overcome their own adversities. I appreciate how this book touched on many of the injustices of women and Black Americans at that time. I appreciate how Bostwick acknowledged the main audience reading The Feminine Mystique were privileged women who were being constricted by society and that not all women had the opportunity or means like those readers. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book and getting a glimpse into these four ladies' lives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the audiobook ARC of The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick and performed by Lisa Flanagan. All opinions in this review are my own. Expected publication April 22, 2025 #NetGalley #TheBookClubForTroublesomeWomen #HarperMuse

This book broke my heart in all of the best ways! This is a beautiful work of historical fiction that will resonate with many readers. As you follow the lives of the four core women, you see the highs and lows of their everyday lives. These women are wonderfully created, and you will walk away with so much about family, friendship, feminism, and the power of a good book. Margaret, Charlotte, Viv, and Bitsy navigate so many difficult topics from fertility to adultery, even what it's like to feel unfulfilled in your life. The theme of feeling unfulfilled radiates throughout the book, whether it's being unfulfilled in their marriage, in the world at large, in the workforce, or in motherhood. No matter what you've been through or are going through, you will find someone or something to connect with in this book.

Come to this book for the love of literature and how it can bring us together, stay for the power of friendship and resilience of women.

In The Book Club for Troublesome Women, Marie Bostwick transports us back to 1963, when four women decide that a suburban life of casseroles and conforming to their husbands’ every whim just isn’t cutting it. And what better way to shake things up than to start a book club, with Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique as their fiery inaugural read? These four housewives—Margaret, Charlotte, Viv, and Bitsy—who become known as “The Bettys,” are in for a wild ride that’s about as rebellious as you could get in the ’60s without burning your bra.

The Bettys begin as typical housewives of their time, navigating strict gender roles and overbearing husbands. But a few chapters into Friedan’s masterpiece, they’re hit with the shocking realization that maybe, just maybe, life shouldn’t revolve around ironing shirts and packing lunchboxes. As they dive into the world of second-wave feminism, each woman finds herself questioning everything, from birth control (that their husbands need to “approve”) to their access to bank accounts (also only possible with hubby’s signature). You know, real liberation vibes.

What follows is a blend of personal awakening and the chaos that comes from housewives growing a spine. Margaret, for instance, goes from perfect PTA mom to questioning why she ever traded her dreams for a “weekly allowance.” Charlotte, the artsy New Yorker of the group, practically hands out permission slips for rebellion and becomes the de facto feminist icon of the group, though still at war with her own controlling father. They even try to walk a mile in their husbands’ loafers—minus the golf outings and unchecked authority.

If the book’s focus on themes of independence, societal expectations, and female friendship sounds uplifting, that’s because it is. However, Bostwick doesn’t go light on the reality check. The sheer absurdity of having to fight for birth control or needing a signature to cash a check is enough to make you laugh, cry, or both. Sure, the “neatly wrapped up” happy endings might feel a bit idealistic, but hey, it’s nice to imagine that breaking free from patriarchy can occasionally come with a nice little bow.

Ultimately, The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a celebration of women who, despite being cast as side characters in their own lives, find their voices through the radical notion of reading a book. Bostwick blends nostalgia with an edgy critique of the ‘60s, showing us just how “troublesome” women can be with a little nudge—and the right book. So, if you’ve ever fantasized about rebelling against the patriarchy, one cocktail hour at a time, consider joining The Bettys.