The Book Club for Troublesome Women: A Novel
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.
From the brand
Harper Muse
Illuminating minds and captivating hearts through story.
New and Upcoming
USA Today Bestseller
“Perfect for those who love book club, nostalgia for the 1960s, and stories of female friendship.” —Booklist
Historical Fiction
Women’s Fiction
Sonora: A Novel
“Sonora’s story is about not giving up in the face of setbacks. An inspirational tale.” —Booklist
Literary Fiction
Mystery and Adventure
Publisher : Harper Muse
Publication date : April 22, 2025
Language : English
Print length : 384 pages
ISBN-10 : 1400344743
ISBN-13 : 978-1400344741
Item Weight : 10.5 ounces
Dimensions : 5.4 x 0.95 x 8.35 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #1 in Suburban Fiction (Books) #1 in 20th Century Historical Fiction (Books) #4 in Friendship Fiction (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (17,373) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Original price was: $18.99.$10.98Current price is: $10.98.
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.
From the brand
Harper Muse
Illuminating minds and captivating hearts through story.
New and Upcoming
USA Today Bestseller
“Perfect for those who love book club, nostalgia for the 1960s, and stories of female friendship.” —Booklist
Historical Fiction
Women’s Fiction
Sonora: A Novel
“Sonora’s story is about not giving up in the face of setbacks. An inspirational tale.” —Booklist
Literary Fiction
Mystery and Adventure
Publisher : Harper Muse
Publication date : April 22, 2025
Language : English
Print length : 384 pages
ISBN-10 : 1400344743
ISBN-13 : 978-1400344741
Item Weight : 10.5 ounces
Dimensions : 5.4 x 0.95 x 8.35 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #1 in Suburban Fiction (Books) #1 in 20th Century Historical Fiction (Books) #4 in Friendship Fiction (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (17,373) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
13 reviews for The Book Club for Troublesome Women: A Novel
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Original price was: $18.99.$10.98Current price is: $10.98.
Kimberly Brandt –
Friendship of neighbors
Wonderful characters and great insight to what real life was like for a group of neighbors in the early 60s. Each friend in their bookclub has a unique story to share. Made me think a lot about my own mother and grandmother navigating that time. Hopes, dreams, disappointments, motherhood, marriage and friendship. I loved this book.
a reader –
1963 – Seen Through The Lives of Suburban Book Club
Although “The Betty’s” book club is ostensibly formed around Betty Friedan’s groundbreaking book, this isn’t a feminist read. It’s history as seen through 4 well-educated suburban DC women ranging in age from 22-42 whose daily lives are thwarted by being unable to open a bank account or get birth control without consent of their husbands or even get a part time “jobette” much less being paid the same as their male counterparts. The women are interesting, friendship abounds between them, & they’re easy to root for. 1 of the 4 husbands is a stereotype, but he’s easily dispatched. The writing seems to be more YA than adult and the last chapter is unnecessary – somewhat like a college “Class News after 40 years” – when the focus had been on the women’s choices in 1963. The unusual “letter to readers” from the author is odd & off-putting, but can be skipped. It’s a good read, especially for those who don’t know how women of all economic levels were affected by artificial rules just 1-2 generations ago.
Mary D –
A great, whimsical read!
Loved this book! I enjoyed the well developed characters and their unique whimsical personalities.Very enjoyable read with good historical tidbits!
Lori Ellicott –
inspirational and Fun
Belonging to the ‘baby boomer’ generation, it still amazes me how much has changed and how far women’s rights have advanced in my lifetime. Coming of age in the early 70’s, was a wonderful time of opportunities and growth! At 18, I got my first credit card(which I still have today with my maiden name and married name on). At 19, my first new car with loan and no co-signer required. Little did I know that would not have been possible only a few years earlier, if not for Good reads like this book to remind us that anything is possible!
Sabrina –
Lovely, enlightning, entertaining novel!
This was an excellent novel. The characters & settings were very believeable. I was born in the late 60’s & saw some of this first hand. I remember that I was in my 30’s when I found out how late it was that women were “allowed ” thier own bank accounts. Looking back on that, & looking at young women throwing away the rights that others fought so hard to gain, makes me crazy. This book should be recommended to every young woman, so that they can learn how very lucky they are now. Are things perfect? Of course not, but it’s a thousand times better than 50-70 years ago.The author mentions that she dreaded writing the last chapter, I agree, I was sad for the story to end. Books, I did not find typos, that made the reading so much better!
Lori –
interesting read
I was one of those women that grew up in this era. I had chosen a profession that was not popular with women, but because of my love of chemistry. I also loved math, and there were even less jobs in that profession. But I worked hard and achieved jobs that I did not think would ever happen to me. I was one of the fortunate ones as I saw many others who were stifled in their pursuit of doing better. Things have changed a lot since those days. This book brought back so many memories for me, and I loved the four main characters and their pursuit of what has brought a big change in the world for women in the workplace.
Carla –
Great story!
Really enjoyed the book! I already passed it on to a girlfriend
Amazon Customer –
Refreshing!
The title would indicated light or humorous content — and in many parts — it was exactly that, but a well written and utterly believable account of the 1960s housewife. I was lucky enough to miss that experience by a bit over a decade, marveling at the generation’s who survived: leaving college ambitions behind to snag a husband, receiving their weekly “allowance” from those same husbands, naive about birth control as they conceived their sixth (!) child, turning a blind eye when husbands knowingly “fooled around,” wearing dresses with hose (and carrying matching purses) to attend their weekly new-to-town misfits book club. As they chain smoking cigarettes and drank mixed drinks in late afternoon, the women read the “Feminine Mystic;” each of them questioning, perhaps doubting, for the first time the lives they were supposed to be living. Inch by inch they began to stretch the boundaries of what was “acceptable” for the times. This was not a story about crazed bra-burning feminists, but an authentic look at was WAS and what now IS, in large part because of the gentle, thoughtful but then swift rebellion that took place in suburbs around the country at the time. The character development was credible, the dialogue crisp, and each of the women’s outcomes caused a “you go girl!” response from the reader. Well done.
howdie –
Like the author I didn’t want the book to end – I will take many of its insights and lessons to use on my current life – how inspirational and yes I want to read it again!
Tamara M –
This was an entertaining and enjoyable read. I bought it on a whim to take on vacation down south and it was perfect. The story flowed nicely and the characters really resonated with me. I got into the story quickly and for the first time in awhile found myself utterly entertained by a book.
M. Double –
good price, especially with free delivery
Kindle-Kunde –
Interessant geschrieben, aber als “Wohlfühlbuch”. Gibt einen guten Einblick in den Lebensalltag verheirateter Frauen in den 1960er Jahren.
Elizahenn –
I really enjoyed reading this book. I was slow to start and kept putting it down and picking it it up again, but once I was about 40% in I didn’t want to put it down. I loved the characters and the wonderful bond they had together, gushingly! It was a reminder of how shocking it could be, to be a woman in a man’s world in the 1960s America.