Victorian women and freedom!

The Secret Book Society: A Novel by Madeline Martin          

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Three women are brought together by Clara Chambers, the Countess of Duxbury,  ostensibly for afternoon tea. In reality they are being invited to form a Secret Book Society, encouraged to read literature, and discuss a variety of issues. Whatever they like. As they meet the women unfurl and friendships are formed. All hide shameful secrets.

Elenor Clarke has a controlling husband who tells her what to wear, forbids her from reading, monitors her time with her son and beats her.

Lady Lavinia Cavendish has a passionate nature whose family are fearful she will suffer from hysteria and have to be committed to a lunatic asylum. 

Rose Wharton is an American. She and her husband are in love but when her husband becomes the heir to the current Earl, he changes. Both her husband and his brother berate and belittle her. They require Rose to change, to fit into society. 

A sympathetic tale that exposes the harsh realities of Victorian England thought about women and hysteria. The story exposes the use of asylums for families to rid themselves of troublesome females. It also highlights the power of women supporting each other, bearing each other up.

A formidable read!

A Harlequin Trade ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.