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