Richmond Reads is a community one-book program designed specifically for the Richmond Memorial Library community. The goal of the program is for the community to join together in reading the chosen title, and then to participate in subsequent discussions and programs.

About the Book
Margaret Ryan never really meant to start a book club . . . or a feminist revolution in her buttoned-up suburb.

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. (from publisher summary)

2026 Richmond Reads Title: The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick 

2026 Author Visit: 
Thursday, October 15 at 7 pm at Richmond Memorial Library 

No registration required, seating will be first come, first served.

How to read the book:
Borrow the book at the library in regular or large print, or on Libby and Hoopla as an eBook or Audiobook. 

Copies of the book are available to purchase at the library through our bookselling partner, Author's Note Book Store as well as on their website or in store.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women: $20.51
Select other titles by the author also available: 
Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly, The Restoration of Celia Fairchild, A Single Thread

Book Discussions
Monday, October 5 at 6:30 pm and Wednesday, October 14 at 9:30 am 
The only requirement to attend is to read the book!

Richmond Reads Program at GCC
Thursday, October 15 at 11 am
Can't make the evening program? Join us for the daytime program at GCC. All info here.

Congratulations to our 2026 Review Contest Winners!
One patron and one GCC student are chosen each year to attend dinner with the author and program committee. Reviews are judged anonymously by the Richmond Reads committee.
This year's winning reviews are below!

Winning Patron Review- Jessica B: 

At a superficial level, Bostwick's novel provides a litany of the imbalances and inequities towards women in the early 1960s. The reader may muse that these experiences are common and well-known. However, a deeper reflection shows that the novel is actually a commentary on the human condition expertly portrayed by the author through shared emotions, the wondering of the women on how they are contributing to life beyond the everyday, and how to feel true fulfillment. How do we navigate the human condition to find our true purpose? Bostwick's novel provides a simple answer: by finding a support system with others. This inspirational tale shows that (for the most part) we can't do it alone. We need encouragement through the tumultuous and triumphant moments of life to keep us moving forward to reach our potential, whether that is reaching a sought after goal, changing our lot in life, or overcoming our fears of moving up to the next rung on the ladder. Read this novel if you need a little nudge for you (and your fellow book club members) to become the best versions of yourselves!

Winning Student Review- Phuong L. 

"As an international student, this was the first novel I have read entirely in English. The Book Club for Troublesome Women tells the story of a group of housewives who unexpectedly form a book club. It becomes a place where the women can share their stories and learn more about women’s rights and the limitations women faced in the 1960s. I was surprised and even angry when I learned that women could not get birth control without their husbands’ presence or open a checking account without their husbands’ signatures. I could not believe how unfair life could be for women. Before reading this book, I thought gender inequality was more common in Asian countries. In Vietnam, women have traditionally been expected to take care of their homes, children, and husbands. This book made me realize that women’s struggles for independence have crossed cultures and generations. Charlotte especially fascinated me. Her confidence and belief that women deserve opportunities to use their intelligence and build their own careers made her unforgettable. This book did more than tell me a story—it reminded me that women’s rights today were built by women who dared to speak up and ask for change."

About the Author - Marie Bostwick
Marie Bostwick is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than twenty works of uplifting contemporary and historical fiction. 

Translated into a dozen languages, Marie’s novels are beloved by readers across the globe. Her 2009 book, A Thread of Truth, was an “Indie Next Notable” pick. Three of her books were published as Reader's Digest “Select Editions.” Marie lives in Washington state with her husband and a beautiful but moderately spoiled Cavalier King Charles spaniel. (bio from publisher) 

Learn more at mariebostwick.com

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Past Selections 
2019-2025

2019- Southernmost  by Silas House

2022- The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

2023- Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls

2024- The Last Ranger by Peter Heller

2025- The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

2020- Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens

2021- The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin

Richmond Reads Program Committee 

Samantha Stryker - Program Coordinator
Sue Briggs
Leslie DeLooze
Cindy Hagelberger
Jennifer Reardon
Rita Nan Tresco

Support the Program 

Richmond Reads is funded by The Richmond Memorial Library and the Friends of the Richmond Memorial Library.
Donations to the program are gratefully accepted by cash or check made to The Friends of Richmond Memorial Library with a designation for Richmond Reads.