The Secret Book SocietyThe Secret Book Society
What it's about
In London in 1895, three women trapped by oppressive marriages and society's expectations receive a mysterious invitation to tea at the home of the reclusive Lady Duxbury. There they discover a secret club that reads forbidden books, and their friendship gives them the courage to break free.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's a warm, empowering historical novel.
You'll love it if you liked
The Keeper of Hidden Books
The Booklover's Library
The Book Club for Troublesome WomenGood to know
It's light and hopeful.
By the numbers
- Readers48 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller15 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
On our reserve shelf: it's well reviewed, but isn't currently a prize winner, a lifetime bestseller or a book everyone's talking about, so we don't rank it. We check again every month, and it can still turn up in your 50 once you've read most of our ranked books.
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
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Quick answers
Is The Secret Book Society worth reading?
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. Its Must-Read Score is 60.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Secret Book Society about?
In London in 1895, three women trapped by oppressive marriages and society's expectations receive a mysterious invitation to tea at the home of the reclusive Lady Duxbury. There they discover a secret club that reads forbidden books, and their friendship gives them the courage to break free.
How long does it take to read The Secret Book Society?
About 8 hours (304 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Secret Book Society?
If you liked it, try The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin, The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin or The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick.