The Radcliffe Ladies’ Reading Club

In 1955, Tess, Caroline, Merritt, and Evie, four young women from very different backgrounds, are assigned to be roommates for their freshman year at Radcliffe College. When Tess, a bookish English major, stumbles on Alice Campbell’s recently opened Cambridge Bookshop, she asks her roommates to join the store’s monthly book club with her. Selecting books with challenging themes, Alice sparks introspection and a lively discussion of women’s issues, and eventually becomes a trusted ally during difficult times. Each of the five main characters possesses a distinct personal history and viewpoint, realistically blending or clashing depending on the topic, and all struggle with the gender expectations of the era. Readers who enjoy character-driven narratives will appreciate the gradual but notable changes in the friendships and how the women relate to one another. They may also be inspired to pick up the classic novels discussed by the book club.