I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. I suppose part is due to the fact that I grew up in the sixties and 1963 is a year etched deeply in my memory. Women couldn’t get birth control without their husband’s approval in 1963, nor could they open a bank account in their own name, even though they were simply trying to cashing their own pay checks. How quickly we forget, but now my Granddaughter is roughly the same age that I was in the early 6o ‘s and I see her rights being stripped away.

The story of four neighbors ( Margaret, Betsy, Viv, and Charlotte, begins in March 1963 when they form a book club called The Betty’s after reading Betty Friedan’s classic The Feminine Mystique. Books can change lives and be the catalyst for change, and throughout the book we see how friendship can facilitate important transformation in the lives of these women, as they strive to live their best life. I thoroughly enjoyed this trip back into the past and it’s a good reminder that women still possess the strength to go after what they are due. We have plenty left to fight for.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance audible of The Book Club for Troublesome Women. I loved it! The narrator was amazing and I enjoyed every minute. I was also fortunate to receive the ARC for the book also. I guess I'm odd and I like to listen and read at the same time. I flew through this story. The time period of the 1960's was interesting since I was born in 1960. I imagined my mother and her friends having coffee klatches and boo clubs. I have already recommended this book/audible to my book club members and friends. One of my favorites now! Thank you again!

This is the first book I have read from this author. I definitely will be reading more.
The book will be released in April of 2025.
Four ordinary housewives that have all met through being neighbors. They decided to start their own book club. The first book picked by one of the newer neighbors that gives off the vibe of being wealthy by always wearing a mink coat will only join if they read one of her favorite books The Feminine Mystique. With the book being read by all of them they start talking about what if women could go to work and still have the roll of taking care of the family.
The book then follows these four very diffrent women on their journey.

This was a punchy, cocktail-fueled slice of girl-power historical fiction—Big Little Lies with a splash of Mad Men and a heavy pour of mid-century discontent.

A book club, some booze, and a collective existential crisis—the OG girls’ night. This book takes the pristine, casserole-scented fantasy of 1960s suburbia and pokes at it until something wobbly and suspiciously green oozes out. Spoiler: it’s frustration, whiskey, and the creeping realization that “having it all” mostly benefits the guy leisurely reading The Wall Street Journal while you bleach the kitchen grout.

Margaret Ryan is living the dream—or so says A Woman’s Place, the magazine her husband oh-so-thoughtfully subscribed her to as a gift. Sigh. But between the PTA meetings and perfectly curated coffee klatches, something feels off. The solution? A book club, a few carefully mixed drinks, and a deep dive into Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique. Let the midlife revelations commence.

This book is sharp, funny, and painfully relatable, nailing that pivotal moment when women started side-eyeing the American Dream and wondering if they’d been sold a total lemon. The dialogue crackles, the friendships feel refreshingly real, and the humor cuts through the heavier themes with just the right amount of bite. Sure, some moments tie up a little too neatly, but who am I to deny these ladies their catharsis?

Final Grade: B+, an aspiring troublesome woman

*Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an advanced audio version of this book in exchange for my always honest reviews*

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick, was a great women's historical fiction look. It is about how a group of women form a Book Club, starting with reading the Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan and other books with "troublesome" them, examining the roles women fill on our society, that allow the group image a new trajectory for their lives, breaking the bonds of the cultural expectations for women of the 1960's. Through the book club and the exploration of their lives, these women develop strong bonds and support each other in achieving their own agency.

This book paints the historical events of the time including the civil rights movement. I am sure some people will be upset that the book did not address some of the other politics around race at the time, I appreciated that this book only focused on the characters in the book and their experience, instead of trying to be all things for all audiences.

Written in the spirit of The Women by Kristin Hannah and Mona Lisa Smile by Deborah Chiel, it demonstrates the importance of women's friendships and the need to support each other. I hope that this book inspires a new generation of women to read the classics mentioned in this book.

I had the good fortune to listen to the narration of this book by Lisa Flanagan. She is an amazing narrator with enough range to ensure that each character had a distinct voice, including the male characters. I look forward to listening to her narrations in the future.

I want to thank HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. My Opinions are my own.

The Book Club for Troublemaking Women by Marie Bostwick is a heartwarming and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of friendship, personal growth, and the power of literature. The story follows a diverse group of women who come together to form a book club with a unique mission: to read books that challenge their perceptions of the world, confront difficult truths, and ultimately, help them lead more fulfilled lives.

Bostwick’s writing is both accessible and engaging, with well-developed characters that feel real and relatable. Each woman in the book club is grappling with her own struggles, whether they involve personal relationships, career choices, or the challenge of finding one’s true voice. What stands out is how Bostwick shows that books can be a catalyst for change—offering not only an escape but also a tool for self-discovery and empowerment.

The book skillfully balances light-hearted moments with deeper, more serious themes, creating an emotional rollercoaster that is hard to put down. There are moments of humor, tears, and profound reflection as the women navigate the ups and downs of life, all while growing together in unexpected ways. The dynamics between the characters are rich and complex, making it easy to root for each of them as they evolve.

What makes this novel particularly enjoyable is the way it highlights the importance of community. The women in the book club learn to support each other, challenge one another, and celebrate their differences. Their collective journey is a testament to the strength found in friendships that encourage growth, vulnerability, and change.

The pacing is steady, and the plot is full of twists and turns that keep readers engaged. The author’s choice of books the club reads also ties in seamlessly with the story, enhancing the overall theme of personal growth and discovery. If you’re someone who loves reading about strong, dynamic women and the relationships that shape them, this novel will be a delightful read.

Overall, The Book Club for Troublemaking Women is an inspiring and uplifting read that reminds us of the transformative power of friendship, literature, and the courage to challenge the status quo. It is a beautiful tribute to the idea that sometimes, a little bit of trouble is exactly what we need to change our lives for the better.

I absolutely loved this book. This is one to watch! If you loved Steele Magnolias, Lessons in Chemistry or Behind Every Good Man, you will adore this book! I loved all the characters and felt like I was in the book club with the characters.

The Bookclub for Troublesome Women is an engaging historical fiction novel set in 1963, following a group of four women in a small neighborhood who form a book club with their first title being the inspiring novel, The Feminine Mystique. What begins as a casual gathering soon turns into a powerful movement as these women challenge the societal norms that have long defined their roles. As someone who is in multiple book clubs, the title immediately piqued my interest, and I was not disappointed. The characters are both relatable and inspiring, each one navigating the complexities of their personal lives and society expectations. These women banded together to defy tradition and pursue their own dreams. There were historical events and people that were woven into the storyline, enriching the story and offering a look at how things were for women in the 1960s. I highly recommend The Bookclub for Troublesome Women to fans of historical fiction and anyone seeking an inspiring, thought-provoking read.

In the Book Club for troublesome Women Marie Bostwick returns to her historical fiction roots and tells the story of 4 women forming a book club in an affluent Virginia suburb in 1963. Virtual strangers at the beginning, they start with Betty Friedans groundbreaking the Feminine Mystique. It starts a discussion of women's roles and choices, and turns a book club into an unbreakable friendship of very different but strong women.

It did take me a while to get immersed in the story, but once I did I really enjoyed watching each of our characters grow as well as being reminded of how hard it was for women to be independent in the sixties. I also enjoyed how the author incorporated real life characters of the time into the novel, such as Katherine Graham and Jaqueline Kennedy.

The audio book was excellent. I had no trouble discerning the various women's voices and the male characters were also well done. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to net galley and harper muse and harper muse audio for the e galley and audio.

In early 1960s Virginia, four women come together to create a book club to briefly escape their lives as housewives, intrigued by the book, The Feminine Mystique. Realizing they’re unhappy with their lives, each ventures out to change their circumstances, from becoming a writer to having the courage to leave a marriage. Their bond continues to grow into a true sisterhood as they find support and new beginnings in a time where women typically did not receive opportunities like modern age.
This was a beautiful story of sisterhood and not settling, that gave similar vibes of Lessons in Chemistry meets Desperate Housewives. I was instantly drawn in by the title and it did not disappoint. Each woman’s story can resonate with almost any reader, and i couldn’t put this down. The narration by Lisa Flanagan brought each woman’s experience to life in their own unique ways.
Thank you to Harper Muse and HarperCollins Focus for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Net Galley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. Set in the 1960’s, neighborhood ladies start a book club reading the newly released book Feminine Mystique. The characters are intriguing in their battles and reminder of how many women have fought for feminism for years. I would have liked a more diversity in the ladies. This really is a good book club read as there’s so much to digest and dissect making connections past to present. Narration for this book is well done- the tone felt like the time period.

The writing of this novel has a bright voice that makes it easy to keep the pages turning. The main characters are all very different, but their growing friendship was still believable. I have gotten to know people over the discussion of books and wonderful friendships can grow from it.

It was interesting how the author wove actual historical events and important people into the narrative to make the time period come to life more. Using The Feminine Mistique specifically as the backdrop was a such a good choice. It was a huge turning point on feminism when it was published and I am sure a lot of women never truly were able to put their feelings into words before having access to the book.

The book very briefly touches on how the characters have more privilege than those if lower economic status or Black people in the midst of the Civil Rights movement, but it seemed like these were shoe horned in to be included without going into any depth. I know the characters were white and fairly well off, but one could bring up how important intersectionality is without taking up too much space in the book.

In all, I did enjoy the book and seeing where everyone ended up in the end. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Book Club For Troublesome Women was a wonderful, inspiring read filled with hope and heart. Immersive story telling, with a charming cast of characters that I was very excited to learn more about with each turn of the page. I loved the political undertones of the plot, and the focus on reproductive rights, divorce, and women's rights. I feel like the author approached these themes gracefully and accurately with regard to the historical time period. Overall I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the plot, or historical fiction as a whole.

“But if your peers were ordinary people destined to lead ordinary lives, and you understood that you were the opposite, why would you waste time trying to fit in?

You wouldn’t.”

This story was a beautiful and at times heartbreaking portrayal of the quiet lives women were forced to live and how they climbed out of the expected molds in both small, and big ways. The cast of characters were diverse in their feelings toward the expectations of women, each with a husband showing the unfair expectations set on women by the men in their lives. While each women faced different challenges, some larger than others, each one had to find their own way to create a life outside of their expected role of mother and wife. I loved that they connected through a book club and learned to find themselves both through the books they read, and the “troublesome women” they surrounded themselves with.

The narrator was animated in a way that I appreciated as it really helped me disappear into the story and forgot I wasn’t a member of this book club - though I truly wish I was.

While much of this story broke my heart, seeing the way women were forced to fit into the “correct” box, I also found myself laughing along with these women as they joked, scoffed and were angered by the way those around them treated their unorthodox thoughts about gaining independence.

Overall, this story was a generous combination of hard to swallow truths about women’s expectations, and a comical, breath of fresh air living alongside women who spoke up for themselves, fought for what they wanted, and ultimately found their own ways to break the hold expected of them. I was inspired by these women jumping off the page at me and truly loved every word.

Set in the 1960s, this story does a great job of conjuring up the flavour of that era. What begins as an excuse to meet someone, becomes a completely legitimate basis for 4 women to gather to relax and discuss books, including the controversial feminist works beginning to emerge during this time.

Nicknaming themselves the four Betties in a tribute to the feminist pioneer Betty Friedan, the opportunity to gather for cocktails and conversation eventually becomes a sisterhood that the quartet will draw upon for the rest of the lives.

This is an inspiring, emotional, and at times humorous read that will appeal to all the other troublesome women out there - and perhaps too, the men that support them.

Four women who live just outside of Washington DC in the early 1960's become friends, united by being in a book club where they first read Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique. The "Betty's" become close as they go thru struggles between their traditional roles as wives and mothers while also wanting careers and passions. One is an aspiring magazine writer, one is an equine vet assistant to her husband, one is an aspiring artist from a judgmental wealthy family, and one is a former combat nurse with six kids. These four friends explore who they are and what they want out of their lives, set to the backdrop of the mid-1960's.

This was a great historical fiction book. It felt like the spirit sister to The Women by Kristin Hannah, so if you liked that one, you might like this one too. I thought the four women were great and so well written and different enough from each other that I didn't have any trouble keeping them straight (so refreshing!) I loved the rural Maryland setting and the time period, with a few touches of well-known names to help center the cultural time period. I listened to this on audio and read it and really liked both versions. They audio was great and kept the pace moving well.

I would highly recommend this historical fiction novel for readers of Kristin Hannah and Beatriz Williams. Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy and audio for review.

I was drawn to this book for its title and cover. I lost my mother a little less than 6 months ago and it felt like it was her sitting on that book cover . That book cover brought back so many fond memories of my parents and grandparents. This book isn't a 5 star that you just can't put down but I was vested in the characters and wanted to see how their lives changed for the better or worse. I am torn on how I feel about the "feminist" movements . I don't like when women were treated like children and given an allowance. Heck a lot of women in that day din't know how to drive so they felt truly stranded. I loved hearing my mother talk about my dad teaching her how to drive and making sure she felt safe and secure. I do think your spouse should treat and talk to you like an adult. However, I feel that parents missing from the household because they both have so much to prove in their careers is what has happened to cause a rise in troubled teens. I hate that women felt they had to leave their homes and children to feel a worth on this earth! Shame on anyone for making them feel like they haven't accomplished anything if they don't hold down a full time job and make their "own" spending money. I am so thankful for a dad who appreciated my mother for all the hard work she done on the home front and never treated her like she was less than him ! Reach for your dreams ladies and gentleman BUT don't let your family suffer while doing so! Thanks to NetGalley for the audio version of this book. I enjoyed the narrator as well

As soon as I saw the title of this book, I knew it was something I had to read. The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a fantastic novel set in the early 1960s, when women were expected to be housewives and mothers, with little need or time for their ambitions. The story is focused on four women dissatisfied with their current circumstances, especially after reading The Feminine Mystique. The foursome come together, forming a book club, and encouraging each other through hardships and domestic inequality as they fight to change their lives.

Bostwick did an incredible job of finding the perfect balance of humor, heart, and feminine rage within the pages. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster ride of emotions throughout the story; angry that women have had to push so hard for the same things men are given, but also so proud of the women who fought back and helped change the course of history. The beautiful characters in this story felt so real like their story could have been my grandmothers' or my great aunts'.

This story consumed me while I listened, and Lisa Flanagan's narration was a big part of that. The way she voiced the characters made this story come to life and made me feel like I was among friends, experiencing their trials and triumphs right alongside them. I highly recommend this audiobook if you enjoy historical fiction and books about found family and sisterhood.

4.5 Stars

Huge thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for this ALC!

Great narrator! 👌🏻🎧

I enjoyed the time period of this book and you will too, if you'd like to step back into history and peek at earlier generations of women. While I liked getting to know each character and could sympathize with their plights, most of the situations resolved a bit too easily. There is a lot of teaching and telling going on here and while the themes in the book are wonderful food for thought, it is sugarcoated at times. I saw some opportunities for a deeper dive into issues, but perhaps this book was meant to only point at women's difficulties during that time and keep to a lighter story involving more friendships and book talk. That's why this would make a nice choice for a book club read. Libraries rejoice at the easy pick!

Thanks to Harper Muse for a chance to read this ARC!

I absolutely loved The Book Club for Troublesome Women! Marie Bostwick brings together a group of women bonded by books—especially The Feminine Mystique—and turns their meetings into something so much bigger. Their friendship felt so real, and I wanted to pull up a chair and join them.

At first, their lives seem picture-perfect, but as the story unfolds, you realize they’re all facing their own struggles. Watching them lean on each other, grow, and find strength together was such a joy. This book is all about friendship, life’s curveballs, and the power of having people in your corner. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this wonderful audiobook!