The Secret Book Society, Madeline Martin
The Secret Book Society, Madeline Martin
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The Secret Book Society
A Novel

Author: Madeline Martin

Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld

Unabridged: 7 hr 47 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/26/2025


Synopsis

A captivating new historical novel from Madeline Martin, set in Victorian London about a forbidden book club, dangerous secrets, and the women who dare to break free.
 
You are cordially invited to the Secret Book Society…
 
London, 1895: 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.
 
Eleanor Clarke, a devoted mother suffocating under the tyranny of her husband. Rose Wharton, a transplanted American dollar princess struggling to fit the mold of an aristocratic wife. Lavinia Cavendish, an artistic young woman haunted by a dangerous family secret. All are drawn to the enigmatic Lady Duxbury, a thrice-widowed countess whose husbands’ untimely deaths have sparked whispers of murder.
 
As the women form deep, heartwarming friendships, they uncover secrets about their marriages, their pasts, and the risks they face. Their courage is their only weapon in the oppressive world that has kept them silent, but when secrets are deadly, one misstep could cost them everything.

About Madeline Martin

Madeline Martin is a New York Times, USA TODAY, and international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance with books that have been translated into over twenty different languages. 


Reviews

Goodreads review by Rosh ~catching up slowly~ on September 05, 2025

In a Nutshell: A historical fiction that goes much beyond a secret book society. Partly a book about books. Mostly a book about male machoism and female frustration. Interesting female characters, stock male characters. Goes wide rather than deep in themes and topics. The final quarter is quite dark......more

Goodreads review by MillennialMomReading on July 24, 2025

I LOVED this historical fiction that I received from Harper Collins as part of The Hive. The Secret Book Society is the kind of historical fiction that still resonates today, especially for women in 2025. Lady Duxbury, Lavinia, Rose and Eleanor each have their own journey spawned by and fostered wit......more

Goodreads review by Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) on August 22, 2025

4.25 stars "A captivating historical novel set in Victorian London about a forbidden book club, dangerous secrets, and the women who dare to break free.  You are cordially invited to the Secret Book Society… It is London, 1895, and Lady Duxbury starts a ladies' tea to assist women in society who are r......more

Goodreads review by Erin on August 19, 2025

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication date: Aug. 26, 2025 Madeline Martin’s “The Secret Book Society” is a historical fiction novel, set in Victorian London. Three women, residing......more

Goodreads review by Jan on May 12, 2025

Although I’m usually a sucker for stories about the power of books and women banding together, this one did nothing for me. I found the women characters pretty thin and the male characters wholly negative villains. It is set in Victorian times. There are four main characters. The woman who calls this......more