The Secret Book Society

By Madeline Martin

Book Overview

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, 1885: 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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1335001158
• ISBN13: 9781335001153
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Hanover Square Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

3.5 stars

THE SECRET BOOK SOCIETY by Madeline Martin Eleanor Clarke, Rose Wharton, and Lavinia Cavendish are invited for afternoon tea at the home of the reclusive, and thrice widowed, Lady Duxbury. Though these women don’t know each other, they were selected because they’re being mistreated and/or oppressed by those around them. I love the way Eleanor, Lavinia, and Rose develop a bond over their love of literature, reading and writing. Their time at Lady Duxbury’s becomes a safe space to be themselves in a time where women were mistreated, restricted, and oppressed. While I appreciate the author’s message as a whole, I felt the plot was predictable, and too much of a “Hallmark HEA” book. Not that there’s anything wrong with that —it just isn’t my favorite. That said, this is a well researched, and heartfelt story of female empowerment, friendship, and found family. Recommend for cozy historical fiction fans. Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️ Pub Date: 08.26.25 **ARC courtesy of Netgalley and HarlequinBooks