A complex and thought-provoking story woven with joy reminiscent of watching Desperate Housewives. An honest portrayal of the lives of housewives in the 60s, The Book Club for Troublesome Women sheds light on lives that in popular literature are most commonly shown from a standpoint of mocking or privilege.

I loved (LOVED) this audiobook. I haven't ever taken the time to dive deep into women's revolutionary acts beyond the suffrage movement, and I feel like I left this book so much more knowledgable than I had anticipated. It isn't bad that the characters are also so dynamic, complex, and hilarious. Each character struggles in some facet of their life, from children to husbands to career, yet they all come together once a month to read feminine literature (while also gossiping, duh).

The pacing of this book is amazing, and I kept thinking to myself, "Wow, this would be a great TV show!"

5 stars for me :)

The audiobook for The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a captivating journey into the lives of four women—Margaret, Charlotte, Vivian, and Bitsy—in 1963 Concordia, VA. They form the book club, "the Betty's", and dive into The Feminine Mystic. The narrative offers a thoughtful glimpse into the minds of women during a pivotal era of change in the USA. The narration is engaging, and the character-driven storytelling feels like a window into the time of my grandmothers—insightful, nostalgic, and deeply resonant.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this audiobook.

5 Stars!

This was fabulous slow burn!! Based on a real book in 1962, The Feminine Mystique, that changed women and how they viewed themselves. It’s also about some real women, fictionalized but told in a Desperate Housewives style of the 50s and 60s up to the 70s.
4 women that come together monthly over a book club and leave stronger . Just finished and it always leaves me inspired and humbled because some women couldn’t even divorce or, as we know, get credit cards/bank accounts… couples couldn’t even get contraception until 1965.

Loved this historical fiction! Loved the Author's Note, it brought everything together.
The content is pivotal right now as we (women) face uncertainty with the current administration and wanting to take women back to the kitchen.

THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN is a story of housewives in the 1960s coming to learn about how they can claim some empowerment for themselves, all through the power of female friendship and thought-provoking literature. I really enjoyed most of the characters, but ultimately I felt like it was a book I have read a thousand times before. Not a lot new happening in this story - which isn't necessarily a bad things. Good books are good books for a reason ... I have the feeling though that the familiarity of the plot of this book is what kept me from fully investing, because at no point did I feel I could be truly surprised or drawn into a new kind of feeling.
The narrator was fabulous for the audiobook. She did an amazing job.

The book explores the meaning of friendships and building each other up as women. This is about housewives in the 1960’s who become closer through motherhood, community and feminism. The 1963 northern Virginia suburb setting felt super raw and real. Marie Bostwick did a phenomenal job making each woman feel real and distinct, and I was completely engrossed in their journeys. The frustration of where women were and are now is palable but also sad because as far as we have come there is so much more to go. The characters show how women during this time were marginalized and encouraged to be satisfied with motherhood and caring for their families and their homes. I 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. There are many other historical references in the book, such as Margaret being unable to cash a check in her own name or open a bank account without her husband signing the bank card, as well as historical events surrounding JFK and Dr. Martin Luther King. The way each of the women fights for their own independence while also supporting their family and, in some cases, seeing things from their husband's perspective too makes this such an interesting read. It is not at all a book about bashing men or husbands. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher.

Perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand's "Summer of '69", this is a great book about female friendships, romantic relationships, living as a woman in the 1960s, and how we all have different dreams in life.

Margaret, Viv, Bitsy, and Charlotte are all fantastic characters with vastly different stories and backgrounds, and somehow they come together to form a bookclub to discuss the newly released (and very controversial) "The Feminine Mystique". They don't know it at the time, but this will start them all on a path to becoming more comfortable in their own skins and changing their lives.

I think my true rating for this story is a 3.5 rounded up to 4, because I did really and truly enjoy this book! The characters were all enjoyable, there was enough plot and character building to keep me coming back, and I truly did care about what happened in the end. I knocked off some points for the fact that I think there was more that could be done regarding Viv and Bitsy. While they had chapters dedicated to them, Margaret was definitely the star of the story, with Charlotte taking a close second. It felt like we could have gotten a little more background from them, as well as more information about Bitsy's life in the epilogue since she's the one whom we know the least about.

Overall though, this was a really enjoyable book that I think most women will enjoy reading (maybe even as a bookclub pick!). Definitely give this one a try if you like women's historical fiction!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for the ARC of this audiobook.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about a group of four women, living in a Northern Virginia suburb in the 1960's. The author does a great job conveying this time period and giving the reader an accurate picture of the many struggles of women during this time in our history. This story focuses on the bond of friendship that these women develop as they start a book club, with their first book being the controversial book, The Feminine Mystique. By reading this book and others, the women get to know each other and themselves as they navigate their changing roles as women, wives and mothers. I have listened to previous books narrated by Lisa Flannagan and once again she does a wonderful job helping the listener engage with the story and characters. This is my first book by this author, and I hope to explore more of hers in the future.

I listened to it on audio and it was really good. It followed four friends throughout their lives. I loved the friendships and the personalities of the characters. This is a read for any age.

Wow…..this was fabulous! What an inspiring and empowering work of historical fiction from Marie Bostwick. This book felt like a breath of fresh air.

Through a book club that came into being on an unintended spur of the moment, I learned of the obstacles and injustices faced by women in the US in the 1960’s; the many social and political changes taking place during this time period; witnessed a group of women become the most solid of friends and also flourish as individuals in ways they could never have imagined. The characters really grew on me as the plot progressed, so that I felt invested in the outcomes of each one of them. The construction and the development of this story is wonderful, and along with the fantastic dialogue and humour, makes this a book that I highly recommend. I sincerely hope that Marie Bostwick reaps the rewards for this piece of work in which she has clearly invested her heart and time (do read / listen to Marie’s author note at the end - this was really moving).

The audio narration from Lisa Flanagan is outstanding - very clear and perfectly paced. She eloquently brings to life the wonderful array of characters regardless of gender, social class or age.

I received a complimentary audio copy of this book from the publisher, HarperCollins Focus. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you’ve read The Briar Club or The Women, this book has the same feeling of female friendships, not letting anyone down, and coming together from all walks of life to support each other. This is great historical fiction, set during a time when women couldn’t get a checking account themselves. It shows that you don’t have to be rich to lead a rich life. Navigating life is a challenge and having friends to support is vital, and this book shows it in a way that is hopeful and always engaging. These characters become friends over the course of this novel. You will feel empowered and hopeful and will be moved by this wonderful book.

Thank you to Harper Muse, Harper Muse Audiobooks and NetGalley for sending me an ARC and Audio-ARC of The Book Club for Troublesome Women in exchange for review.

Firstly let me just say, I absolutely adored this book and am very grateful I not only got to read it but then immediately after I finished was able to listen to the audio version as well.

This book is a wonderful combination of women of different backgrounds coming together to form a strong bond and endure life’s injustices. It’s hilarious and sad, with the perfect amount of feminine rage.

Being born in the 90s I very luckily missed this time of cruelty towards women of the 1970s. However does it really ever end? We still are fighting for our rights. Though these days we ARE able to open our own bank accounts.

The stories of each of these women being based in truth makes it feel so real. Along with the writing, I felt like I knew these women. I could picture each of them and their struggles. The narrator also did a wonderful job differentiating between voices for each of these women so if you want to read or listen to this book both ways are fantastic.

I felt on a high listening to the end of Charlottes story. It was just so good. They all took back their power in the most meaningful ways. I can’t stress how much I liked this book enough! They were all so relatable.

Thank you so much for the magnificent read!

this was an all around good and fun read/listen. The story, the characters, everything was well put together

This was such an insightful narration about women and how they were perceived in the early 60’s! Four different women find friendship and comradery as they try to navigate their roles as wife and mother. After reading “The Feminine Mystique”, during a newly formed book club, they begin to question what more they want from life. As they face blowback from what society expects vs what they want, the “Betty’s” support one another. Being a child of the 60’s I witnessed many of the changes and this book captures the true feelings of women AND MEN in that time.

Thank you to author Marie Bostwick, NetGalley, and Harper Collins Focus for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Book Club For Troublesome Women.

This book is based in the 1960s when women were expected to be seen and not heard. Traditional roles were at the forefront- get married, birth and raise babies, and have meals on the table three times a day. It was frowned upon for women to want more for themselves.

Four women- Margaret, Viv, Bitsy, and Charlotte- create a book club on the premise of reading a controversial (at the time) book. These four women create an unbreakable bond in a time where women most needed encouragement to be more and do more than just be an everyday housewife. Watch their lives come full circle in this beautifully written historical fiction novel.

First of all, my biggest thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Focus for accepting my request to be provided with the ARC of this audiobook. I know it seems exaggerated, but honestly, I AM grateful. After getting so many rejections, I've learnt to be grateful for the approvals I get now!

OH, AND BEFORE I CONTINUE, I'd also love to express my gratefulness and admiration for the narrator! I've always said that a good narrator plays a vital role in how enjoyable a story can be, and I stand by it. The narration was done wonderfully!

When I had first sent my request for the audiobook, it was with the intention of having it as an easy side-read while doing tasks that require eyes and hands going 5-10% by day. But I started it after finishing my audiobook of 1984, and I just wanted to be able to listen to the entire book in one day! Unfortunately, life goes on, too fast. So, I had to set it aside to do my other tasks where I can't focus simultaneously on an audiobook. Day 3 of reading, where I started at 31%, and here I am, at 4:30 pm, writing my review while still buzzing after the end of the book.

Reading the book, I felt as if I was a part of it! Not just as a reader, but someone in the book. Maybe Denise? I don't know, I didn't relate on a PARTICULAR level with either of them, but I know a lot of women who would, on a deeply personal level. That's what made this book so special. Women, all with different personalities, different sort of problems, all forming such a lovely bond with each other, that you can't even be envious of it, just admire it with the proudest smile. At least, that's what I felt.

As a girl, and a feminist, seeing women uplifting each other, being there for each other, being determined to get what they deserve, all of it just gives me the inexplicable joy that's hard to translate into words, but I'm certain several other women must have experienced it too at some point! The book not only highlights women's issues, but the men's too. I do not want to spoil the experience for you, so I won't say much. But let's just say that the women aren't the only part I grew to love in the story. Every character was exceptionally well-written.

It's rare for me to give a book 5 stars. Specially one that didn't make me lose my shit. But I feel that this book deserves it. I would even call it a comfort read, in fact! It wasn't all sunshines, obviously. There were ups and downs, highs and lows, but their pacing, and the ending was so perfectly executed that you just can't help but love it, and love the characters!

Afterthoughts:
This book is set on the situation of 1960s, which would make one think that you can't relate to it. Enjoy it, maybe? But relate? How? It's been over half a century since the book was written, surely a lot must've changed! Right? I wish. Yes, a LOT of changes have taken place since that era, women have their own rights now (at least, more than they did, I guess), but there are still so many parts of the world which went backwards drastically. Worse than what we could've imagined! Will this ever end? Will women ever get the privilege to have to stop fighting for their rights, or that of other women in different parts of the world?

This book was so good!! It's the first book I've read by this author and won't be my last. The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a delightful, thought-provoking story of friendship, hardship, sexual inequality, determination, strength, and acceptance. Set in the 1960s, four women form a strong bond after Margaret Ryan starts a book club on a whim, dissatisfied with her lot in life and hoping to meet others who don't just want to be a housewife. There are multiple POVs, and through these the reader is drawn into the life of each woman. There is a lot of 'man-bashing' in this story, but it is levelled out by positive interactions as well as recognition of the struggles men deal with as well. It was such a thought-provoking and educational story for me and I kept reminding myself how far we have come as a society. While set in the 1960s, some of the struggles and emotions are very relevant and current, such as the desire to have a family, a career, hobbies, and then having to juggle them all. The characters were well-developed and relatable, with some great humour, and a few heartbreaking moments. The narrator was excellent and gave each character their own voice and personality - I loved the narration as much as the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Focus, and the author for an ALC for review. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntary.

By the title, I knew I had to read this book! I loved each of the Bettys—their journeys, lessons, and changes as reflected by the books they explore in their club. The male characters were perhaps a little cartoonish—most either absolute angels or total buffoons but this was not their story so I did not mind. I appreciated the judicious sprinkling of real people and events, which were helped to ground the book in its not-so distant historical time period. Nice job by the narrator, deftly differentiating each character and bringing the whole story to vibrant life.

Marie Bostwick’s The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a heartfelt, empowering novel about friendship, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams.

The story follows a group of women, each navigating personal struggles, who find strength and solace in their book club. When they read a radical feminist book, it not only broadens their perspectives but also helps them support one another through real-life challenges. Bostwick does a wonderful job of weaving together multiple perspectives, making each character feel distinct and deeply human. Lisa Flanagan’s narration is outstanding—she truly brings each woman to life with her dynamic performance.

I loved how this book highlights the power of female friendships—the way they uplift, challenge, and heal. The writing is warm and engaging, balancing humor with emotional depth. Additionally, the book serves as a timely reminder of how things were and the ongoing importance of women’s rights.

If you enjoy stories about strong women, second chances, and the transformative power of books, this one is a must-read. I have no doubt it will be a hit in book clubs!

Thank you to HarperCollins Focus and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC.

The story follows four women living in a suburban neighborhood in DC in the 1960s. Married and in different stages of life, the women initially bond over the controversial book "Feminine Mystique." Maggie Ryan seems to be the leading character, but each woman gets a storyline through their own chapters.

I received a copy of the Kindle and audiobook editions and chose the audiobook. I would rate this as a 3.75-star book. I enjoyed following along with the women and was happy to see them get all they deserved. However, taking place in the 19060s, it only briefly touched on the lives and struggles of women who were not white and suburban. I also felt the last section dragged. Again, I was happy to see all the HEAs but I felt it could have been more streamlined.

Also - I kept mixing up the title with the The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek. oops.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women was my first book by Marie Bostwick. I’m looking forward reading more of her books. I loved this story of the ladies in the bookclub “the Bettys” named after the author of their first selection The Feminine Mystique. An entertaining tale of what it was like to be a woman in the early 60s. So grateful for this generation for paving the way for future generations.

Fans of historical fiction, especially the MadMen era, will really enjoy this delightful story.

Lisa Flanagan excellently narrates each character.

Thanks NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for an early copy. All opinions are my own.