The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

London, 1885: Trapped by oppressive marriages and societal expectations, three women receive a mysterious invitation to an afternoon tea at the home of the reclusive Lady Duxbury. Beneath the genteel facade of the gathering lies a secret book club — a sanctuary where they can discover freedom, sisterhood, and the courage to rewrite their stories.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

August 2025; Hanover Square Press; 978-1335001153
audio, ebook, print (336 pages); historical fiction

I've read most of Madeline Martin's historical "bookish" novels (she also has several historical romance series but I haven't read any of them). All of the ones I've read (there's only one I haven't read) have been set during WWII. I assumed this one would be too. I was a little surprised and worried. The Victorian Era is not really a period I care for. 

Because of the time period, I had trouble getting into the novel. The chapters rotate to focus on one of the main characters - Rose, Eleanor, and Lavinia. It took a while to remember which character was which because when addressed by the other characters, it would be Mrs. Wharton and Mrs. Clarke (Lavinia was referred to as Lady Lavinia), but in their chapters is was Rose and Eleanor so it was confusing.

I also struggled because it seemed that all the men in the book were awful. I know women didn't have a lot of freedoms and were often married off for reasons other than love, but surely not all men of that time hated their wives and wanted to control every little thing. 

But as I learned more about the women and their lives, I became invested in their stories. Between that and the pretty big hook presented in the prologue, I found myself devouring large chunks of the book. 

The ending was satisfying, and the whole book was entertaining.

Buy The Secret Book Society at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

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