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The Secret Book Society

Pages
336
Published
2025
Language
English

Synopsis

AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER 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 the author

Characters

Eleanor ClarkeProtagonist

A devoted mother stifled by her husband's control, who finds freedom through the secret book club.

Rose WhartonProtagonist

An American heiress married into the British aristocracy, struggling to fit the mold expected of her as a "dollar princess."

Lavinia CavendishProtagonist

An artistic young woman haunted by a dangerous secret within her own family.

Lady DuxburySupporting

A reclusive, thrice-widowed countess who hosts the secret book club; whispers surround the deaths of her husbands.

All characters in The Secret Book Society

Frequently asked questions

  • Has The Secret Book Society won any awards?

    It was a finalist for the 2025 Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction. The category was won by Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

  • Is The Secret Book Society part of a series?

    No. It is a standalone historical novel by Madeline Martin, published in August 2025.

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