Review by Booklist Review
When the Countess of Duxbury invites three women "carefully selected for their intelligence and discretion" to form an underground reading group in the late 1890s, their shared secret hobby becomes a way to broaden their horizons and transform their sheltered lives. Their newfound courage leads to dangerous but necessary changes, particularly when one member faces commitment to an asylum by her abusive husband. Martin (The Booklover's Library, 2024) delivers a compelling tale of four Victorian women finding strength and friendship through forbidden literature, using evocative prose that captures the restrictions of their society and the liberation found in the written word. Fans of Martin's previous historical novels, Natasha Lester's The Paris Seamstress (2018), and Kate Quinn's The Rose Code (2021) will appreciate themes of social class constraints, freedom through literature, and the use of multiple narrators to weave a tapestry of female resilience. With a compelling blend of historical detail, female friendship, and shared connections, The Secret Book Society reminds us of the surprising power of literature in our search for connection, independence, and autonomy.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
