So so many things that I love in this book! ~ Sheila

It’s the early 1960’s and housewives Margaret Ryan, Viv Buschetti, and Bitsy Cobb live in the same neighborhood in Virginia. Looking for ways to have a little time to bond away from children and husbands, the three decide to start a book club, starting with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Enter a new neighbor, Charlotte Gustofson, coming from Manhattan. To the other ladies, she seems sophisticated and worldly – she smokes, she drinks, she is outspoken… and when invited to the Book Club, she agreed, as long as they would read and discuss the newly released, The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan.

And so it begins… with the assistance of the selected controversial title, and with the help of some of the beverages mixed by Charlotte ( IE, Truth Serum), the ladies, during their time together, find they can relax, put down their guard, and open up. It becomes a relief to share about the struggles of being a woman not recognized as independent of their husbands, as well as the dreams they had of doing more, being more.

As the women bond, it’s hard to tell if it is the book that inspires them or if it is the friendship that strengthens their resolve to choose their destiny.

One of the first things I mention when asked about what I like in books is strong female characters and women’s friendships. To my delight, The Book Club For Troublesome Women was packed with both (if they know it or not!) From the opening pages, I was all in…

It still fascinates me to think it was really not all that long ago when it was believed that a woman’s place was in the home, that her husband’s voice was the one that mattered, that dreaming to be someone, have passions, dreams, goals… was not for our gender. You got married, you had children, you kept up on the home.
Personally, I don’t know how I would have survived being put in that tight box of stipulations.

This was quite literally unputdownable. I enjoyed this book so much, and as it is our book club read for August, I am so excited to discuss this book wth our amazing group!
I also need to mention the food mentioned – I love food in books and I like taking the food as well as drinks to be a part of the book discussion… fitting the theme when possible 🙂 (Fair warning to the Book Club… I am picturing 60s-style attire)
PS… I bought the book The Feminine Mystique as well

Rated: 5 out of 5
Read Author Before: I do not believe so
Read Author Again: I would love to!
Where Read: Audio – gardening/mowing – road trip to Walker
Discussion worthy: Oh yes! There are so many great topics – the rights of women in the 1960s, how our own mothers or grandmothers navigated them, the rights of women, and the importance of making time for friends…

UPDATE:

8/12/25 – Bookies Book Club has a lovely evening by the lake reviewing this book. We made the “Truth Serum” – AKA Vodka Stinger from the book (brought by no other than our worldly Charlotte). The drink is two parts vodka and one part white crème de menthe. The pic below is the Bookies all trying this drink together (for most of us I think this was a “yucky” although I can see why it was called truth serum. ;P

I have to say this is one of the top discussions in a long time – not only was there so much to unpack in this book, but the Book Club Questions ( as found on Marie Bostwick’s website) were some of the most thought-provoking, discussion-worthy questions! If you read this book for a group discussion, absolutely use the questions linked here. Our discussion was longer than usual, but in good ways, the questions provoked meaningful discussion, and even learning some new things about our members whom I have known for years.
Last night was also the Bookies’ 24th Anniversary…. we could not have selected a more wonderful read for the occasion.