Historical Fiction · Free kit
The Book Club for Troublesome Women
Concordia, Virginia, 1963: Margaret Ryan has the station wagon, the children, the picturesque suburb — and a nameless hunger she can't put on the grocery list. When intriguing new neighbor Charlotte Gustafson arrives, Margaret invents a book club and ropes in Viv Buschetti and Bitsy Cobb. They christen themselves the Bettys, open Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique, and discover that friendship, cocktails, and the right book can turn a "perfect" year into a free one.
“On paper, she has it all. So why doesn't that feel like enough?”
Complete free book club kit
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Plan your meeting
BookClubee take
Vibe check
Our editorial snapshot of how this book tends to land at club night — not a crowd average.
Craft
- Overall4
- Plot4
- Characters5
- World building4
- Ending4
How it feels
- Spice2
- Tears2
- Surprises2
- Humor4
- Comfort4
What’s in this kit
Everything below is free — open a section, use it at your meeting, or print what you need. No account required.
- Discussion Questions20 book-specific questions labeled warm-up, debate, and deep dive.
- Icebreakers15 fast warm-ups about the reader — not the plot.
- CharactersProfiles, dynamics map, and superlative awards.
- Trivia20 interactive questions from easy to hard.
- Would You Rather25 impossible choices inspired by the book.
- BingoPrintable book-club bingo for reading and live discussion.
- This or That40 rapid-fire choices plus a 60-second speed round.
- Speed DebatesPick a side and defend it against the clock.
- Hosting GuideShopping list, timeline, surprise touch, and wrap-up.
- PrintablesStickers, quote cards, invites, and review sheets.
How to run your meeting
1. Warm up
Start with icebreakers or a quick trivia round.
2. Discuss
Use the labeled discussion questions — warm-up to deep dive.
3. Play & wrap
Would You Rather, bingo, or a speed debate — then rate the book.
Frequently asked questions
Is this The Book Club for Troublesome Women kit free?+
Yes. Everything on this page is free — discussion questions, games, trivia, and hosting tips. No account required.
Does this kit spoil the novel?+
Discussion and trivia include spoilers about the Bettys' transformations (work, marriage conflicts, publishing fights, and how the club sustains them through 1963). Icebreakers are safe warm-ups. The book engages midcentury sexism, marital strain, pregnancy/family pressure, and period social constraints — preview with your group.
What's in the Premium Kit?+
The Premium Kit on Etsy is the full printable pack: discussion guide, character cards, trivia, bingo, games, hosting checklist, and review sheets — ready to print for your meeting.
How long should our meeting run?+
Plan 70–80 minutes: 10 minutes icebreakers, 30–35 minutes discussion, 15 minutes of a game (this book loves a good debate), then wrap-up. Meta bonus: you're a book club reading a book about a book club — lean into it.
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