The Book Club for Troublesome Women: A Novel

Written by Marie Bostwick

Narrated by Lisa Flanagan

USA TODAY BESTSELLER · SOUTHERN INDIE BESTSELLER · A BRENDA NOVAK BOOK GROUP PICK · GLOSS BOOK CLUB PICK · THE GIRLFRIEND BOOK CLUB PICK · A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2025 (SheReads) · Margaret never really meant to start a book club . . . or a feminist revolution, for that matter in this bold and plucky novel from New York Times bestselling author Marie Bostwick.

"Ideal for fans of historical fiction and those who enjoyed Bonnie Garmus's Lessons in Chemistry." --Library Journal, starred review

"Readers will cheer." --Kirkus

"Perfect for those who love book club, nostalgia for the 1960s, and stories of female friendship." --Booklist

"A feel-good beach read with . . . elements that spark a revolution." --Southern Review of Books

By 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan is living the American woman's dream. She has a husband, three children, a station wagon, and a home in Concordia--one of Northern Virginia's most exclusive and picturesque suburbs. She has a standing invitation to the neighborhood coffee klatch, and now, thanks to her husband, a new subscription to A Woman's Place--a magazine that tells housewives like Margaret exactly who to be and what to buy. On paper, she has it all. So why doesn't that feel like enough?

Margaret is thrown for a loop when she first meets Charlotte Gustafson, Concordia's newest and most intriguing resident. As an excuse to be in the mysterious Charlotte's orbit, Margaret concocts a book club get-together and invites two other neighborhood women--Bitsy and Viv--to the inaugural meeting. As the women share secrets, cocktails, and their honest reactions to the controversial bestseller The Feminine Mystique, they begin to discover that the American dream they'd been sold isn't all roses and sunshine--and that their secret longing for more is something they share. Nicknaming themselves the Bettys, after Betty Friedan, these four friends have no idea their impromptu club and the books they read together will become the glue that helps them hold fast through tears, triumphs, angst, and arguments--and what will prove to be the most consequential and freeing year of their lives.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a humorous, thought provoking, and nostalgic romp through one pivotal and tumultuous American year--as well as an ode to self-discovery, persistence, and the power of sisterhood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harper Muse
• Release date: Apr 22, 2025
• ISBN: 9781400344765

Marie Bostwick

Marie Bostwick is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of insightful, uplifting fiction for women. Marie lives in Oregon with her husband. When not writing books, she enjoys quilting, hiking, cooking, and creating posts on her lifestyle blog, Fiercely Marie. Marie travels extensively, speaking at libraries, bookstores, quilt guilds, and conferences.

Reviews for The Book Club for Troublesome Women

[Callen Miller · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely loved this book. So grateful to the women who came before me who paved the way to a better life for women.

[Grace L · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

4.5⭐ rounded up.
I really enjoyed the stories of these four women, the friendship they formed and how each of them worked to get the life they wanted at a time when women were really restricted.

[Jane Reneau · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was excellent! Great story, interesting characters… I enjoyed it so much!

[dianekeenoy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book seemed so familiar. Then, I realized that was because I lived through most of the times the book was about! I was a little young for Betty Freidan's book, The Feminine Mystic when it came out, but, I remember some wives in my parents' neighborhood leaving their husbands (and, sometimes their children as well) to live on their own.

It was a little shocking to think that there are several generations of young women who don't know how far women have come since the 60s. Once, I got past all this, I was able to enjoy the story of four women who form a book club which changes their lives.

[vancouverdeb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In 1963 , Margaret is wife and mother , living in a Virginia suburb, Concordia. When a new woman moves into town, Charlotte, Margaret decides to form a form a bookclub. Four women meet, and decide to read The Feminine Mystique. Margaret is frustrated housewife, who would like to write for a magazine, Charlotte is woman who drinks a lot and whose husband is seldom home. Viv would like to go back to work, but has 5 children, and Bitsy cannot seem to get pregnant. Bitsy had wanted to go to veterinary school, but but since women could not get in, she finds herself unhappily married to a veterinarian named King.

The four find much is missing in their lives, and thanks to the book they read, and their determination , they make changes in their lives. Interesting , very readable , a book about friendship, marriage , being a mother and women's liberation.

Highly recommended.

[Amy Hagberg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This one reminded me so much of Lorna Landvik’s Angry Wives Eating Bon Bons—strong women, suburban setting, and a whole lot of heart. Set in early 1960s Virginia, The Book Club for Troublesome Women follows four women who start reading The Feminine Mystique and suddenly start seeing their own lives in a new light. From tea and cake to personal revolutions—it escalates quickly.

The real beauty of this novel is in the friendships. Margaret, Bitsy, Charlotte, and Viv are flawed, funny, brave, and loyal. Their bond feels authentic, and their individual arcs show how liberating (and scary) it can be to start dreaming again after years of playing it safe.

That said, I found the tone a little heavy-handed when it came to the men—some definitely deserved the heat, but not all. And the ending? A bit too neat and fast for my taste. Still, I was shocked to read that in the early ’60s, women needed their husband’s permission just to open a bank account. That kind of detail makes this book hit harder.

A great pick for fans of historical fiction, feminist themes, and stories about reclaiming your life—one book club meeting at a time.

Rating: 4 stars

[sue222-941906 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a fun read that covered many aspects of the beginnings of the women’s movement in the early 1960s. The members of a suburban women’s book club formed in 1963 to read Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique bonded as friends as they gained independence and self-awareness. I was inspired by the choices these women made, and somewhat saddened that it is all still so relevant.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[erinclark_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an interesting, well researched and well written story about a group of four women who form a book club in 1963 and who remain lifelong friends. The first book they chose to read was The Feminine Mystique by Betty Freidan and this becomes a catalyst for deep and meaningful discussion between the four housewives. They begin to question their roles as mothers, wives and women and what more they would like out of life. As historical fiction goes this is right up there with some of the best I have read. I read The Feminine Mystique in college and it certainly changed my view of women's roles in the world. I can see how it would incite some serious discussion between readers in the 1960's. Highly recommended. I listened to the audio version of the book and the narrator was fantastic.

Many thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse for a chance to listen to an ARC version of this book. All opinions are my own.

[lisaghudson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A WITTY, INSIGHTFUL, AND NOSTALGIC JOURNEY

Margaret Ryan was living every woman’s dream in the 1960s. She had a loving husband, three beautiful children, and a station wagon. She lived in Concordia, North Carolina, an exclusive and picturesque suburb. Yet, like many women of this age, Margaret felt restless.

Upon meeting the newest neighbor, Charlotte Gustafson, Margaret is intrigued and wants to know her better. She devises a Book Club get-together and invites two other neighbor women, Bitsy and Viv. The thing I love about this group is that these four have nothing in common except they are neighbors! Margaret is pretty happily married with three children. Viv is married to a career Navy man with six children. She served as a nurse during the War, too. Bitsy is still a newlywed and married to the local veterinarian, who is much older than her. Charlotte is the Wild Card. She has moved from New York and dresses in Designer Fashions every day! She is an aspiring painter and quite liberal in her thinking compared to the other three women. For the Book Club’s first Book, they chose “The Feminine Mystique.” As they share cocktails, they also share secrets and goals, and friendships start to form. They realize they all feel like they are missing out on something. They decide to name themselves the Bettys after Betty Friedan.

The Book Club, which started without much thought, soon became a lifeline for the Bettys. They become a type of family, and each will need it in one way or another before the year is out. I like how the author gives each character a part of the story. It makes for a much more interesting book. They learned so much about each other and even more about themselves that year. They understand that each of them is smarter than they thought, loves deeply, will step in to help one another immediately, and is wise beyond her years.

Harper Muse and NetGalley provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. However, my opinions are entirely my own and uninfluenced.

[jasminehere-398982 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received a free ALC for this book. All thoughts presented here are 100% my own!

This is my first time reading for Marie Bostwick but I am hooked!

'The Book Club for Troublesome Women' is a historical fiction book set in the 1960s in a Virginia suburb featuring four housewives from different backgrounds at different stages of life. What starts off as an awkward, haphazardly thrown together, book club ends up not only bringing them together but changing the projections of their lives altogether.

While at the beginning the group starts by reading 'The Feminine Mystique' by Betty Friedan, the reactions of each of the Bettys and what they make of what they read is the actual focus of the book. Feminism, motherhood, community support, societal pressures, working mothers, financial independence and many more topics get explored through the Bettys' journeys.

I was surprised to find myself relating to not only one or two of the ladies, but all of them. They are all distinct, relatable and very likeable once you get to know them more. Even the secondary characters were memorable and well-done.

The pacing was pretty good! I didn't feel like any particular part overstayed its welcome. I found myself just breezing through the book which is an impressive feat while juggling four different POVs.

Regarding the subject matter, I thought the book covered the struggles women faced then (and now) very respectfully. I took down many notes about further topics and other books recommended by the characters in the book. I especially appreciated the characters (I believe it was Viv) pointing out that many of the conversations being had at the time (again, and now) are limited to women with privilege. That we need to bring in voices from all backgrounds and walks of life to the table if we truly wish to achieve true equality.

I think the only thing I wish we saw more of is more agency for one of the Bettys, Bitsy. While Charlotte and Viv were active drivers in how their lives turned around in my opinion, I can't help but feel that Bitsy's life change was more the result of a decision by her husband. While many women can find themselves in her shoes and perhaps even make the same choices, I think I was still rooting for her to be an active decision maker in her life considering the message of the rest of the book.

For Margaret, I feel she did speak up for herself and was actively balancing her life goals and pleasing her husband. I was a bit surprised by her husband's transformation feeling it a bit sudden despite the circumstances that led to them. Perhaps it's the cynic in me but I think I didn't expect him to change that fast. But still, it was refreshing seeing a husband like him choosing to change for the sake of his mother, wife and daughters.

Specifically for the audiobook, I want to applaud Lisa Flanagan for her narration. She did a fantastic job bringing all four ladies and all the secondary characters to life giving them each a distinctive voice that makes you sometimes forget they're all voiced by the same narrator! I am actually currently looking for other audiobooks specifically narrated by her because she's THAT good!

Overall, I really loved the book and have been recommending it to everyone I know! While going through the book, and now that I'm done, I have found myself constantly thinking about moments from it. Similar to what the Bettys themselves say in the book, while this book in itself won't dramatically change your life, it offers an enjoyable story that will leave you relating and thinking. Changing you in small but meaningful ways.