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The Angry Wives Club
Domestic noir with a chick-lit a story of laughter, sisterhood, and women daring to do things differently. Perfect for fans of Jane Caro's The Mother and Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies.
Welcome to Shellwater Bay, where the sea is calm, the scenery idyllic ... and three women are quietly planning a revolution.
Joany appears to have the perfect life, but behind closed doors, she's hiding a dangerous secret. Heather thinks her marriage is rock-solid until her husband demands a divorce. Steph is raising kids with a man who thinks 'helping out' means calling his mother.
Bonded at their gym by sweat and fury, the women swap stories about the silent bargains they've made to keep the peace in their relationships.
But peace has its price. And when the simmering rage starts to bubble over, these new friends decide a crime or two is in order ...
'A fun and funny romp with female friendship at its heart.' - Kathy Lette, author of The Sisterhood Rules
'From angry teachers to angry wives, Gabbie Stroud's humour, empathy and - yes - fury about women's lives make for a deeply satisfying and cathartic read.' - Jane Caro, author of Lyrebird
Welcome to Shellwater Bay, where the sea is calm, the scenery idyllic ... and three women are quietly planning a revolution.
Joany appears to have the perfect life, but behind closed doors, she's hiding a dangerous secret. Heather thinks her marriage is rock-solid until her husband demands a divorce. Steph is raising kids with a man who thinks 'helping out' means calling his mother.
Bonded at their gym by sweat and fury, the women swap stories about the silent bargains they've made to keep the peace in their relationships.
But peace has its price. And when the simmering rage starts to bubble over, these new friends decide a crime or two is in order ...
'A fun and funny romp with female friendship at its heart.' - Kathy Lette, author of The Sisterhood Rules
'From angry teachers to angry wives, Gabbie Stroud's humour, empathy and - yes - fury about women's lives make for a deeply satisfying and cathartic read.' - Jane Caro, author of Lyrebird
440 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
June 4, 2026
This one was very much about the collective female circle. Not always ragey, but most times? Absolutely. The subject has been done to death, rightly so, and I’m always left wondering “well, what about the good ones?” But that’s not always the point, and this one firmly has its place to highlight this.
These gutsy, ballsy, strong women (lots of surprises among themselves as to the testament of said strength) pulled their collective wiles together exactly when needed, supporting each other through their myriad of issues. What I loved was that each woman had something unique to give through her own life experience, flowing with vigour just when it was needed.
Approaching humour and proper seriousness in equal measure, we laughed at the queef - the yoga fart - yet also squirmed at the age old sexual, coercive, financial and emotional abuse flagrantly flapping in in the breeze for all to bear witness. This was all done remarkably well. The group dynamic made me feel so much better as each woman shared her story.
Lots of men to despise, one who made me feel just ok and even a mother in law to despise (one of my favourite tropes).
An unlikely crime element added a bit of fun whilst almost fanciful, not tipping to the realm of silly. This was a fabulous read where I felt like I had an amazing group of good friends around me.
|You should smile more|You wanna see my teeth, Claude?|Here we go…I’m just saying you’d be pretty if you smiled more.|
And how good was Joany? I loved her to bits.
Thank you to the publisher and Gabbie for my little pack and apologies for the late review, have my own little angry wives club going on here, just a whole murder of brain fog 🫠🤦♀️
❓Do you enjoy feminist themed fiction titles, any recs for me
These gutsy, ballsy, strong women (lots of surprises among themselves as to the testament of said strength) pulled their collective wiles together exactly when needed, supporting each other through their myriad of issues. What I loved was that each woman had something unique to give through her own life experience, flowing with vigour just when it was needed.
Approaching humour and proper seriousness in equal measure, we laughed at the queef - the yoga fart - yet also squirmed at the age old sexual, coercive, financial and emotional abuse flagrantly flapping in in the breeze for all to bear witness. This was all done remarkably well. The group dynamic made me feel so much better as each woman shared her story.
Lots of men to despise, one who made me feel just ok and even a mother in law to despise (one of my favourite tropes).
An unlikely crime element added a bit of fun whilst almost fanciful, not tipping to the realm of silly. This was a fabulous read where I felt like I had an amazing group of good friends around me.
|You should smile more|You wanna see my teeth, Claude?|Here we go…I’m just saying you’d be pretty if you smiled more.|
And how good was Joany? I loved her to bits.
Thank you to the publisher and Gabbie for my little pack and apologies for the late review, have my own little angry wives club going on here, just a whole murder of brain fog 🫠🤦♀️
❓Do you enjoy feminist themed fiction titles, any recs for me
April 5, 2026
As nasty as the women in this book are to one another, the men are worse. There’s really not a single redeemable fellow in the whole cast. Content warnings abound, for domestic violence, sexual assault, and child loss. I’m not sure that mix of serious issues of violence against women with “whacky hijinks” really works in this case.
My full review of The Angry Wives Club is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of The Angry Wives Club is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
April 5, 2026
This was not what I thought it was going to be but in a good way. The story took an unexpected turn so I think readers should know about some trigger warnings before continuing.
These trigger warnings could spoil the story so look away now…
Last chance…
Trigger warning: sudden infant death (SIDS), gang rape, coercive control, mental abuse, divorce, affair, PTSD
Okay now that you have read further please let me tell you how amazing this book was! I think it was one of my best of the year. I stayed up until midnight finishing it last night and have stewed all morning on what I was going to say.
**screams into the void. Rage intensifies.**
I support women’s rights. But more importantly, I support women’s wrongs. I’m so glad I am no longer married. Sometimes I might wish for love and then I look around and think “nah I am good.”
This story follows three women who meet at a gym and they are of various ages and different stages of their life.
There’s Joany and she’s in her early 70’s and a bit secretive about her personal life. But she’s learned to be secretive due to her controlling husband Tony. Tony and Joany’s relationship is a prime example of coercive control which has been big in the news in Australia in the last few years. We have new laws about it now too. Joany can’t do a damn thing without her husband controlling or questioning her about it.
Then you have Heather who is married to Byron. They were high school sweethearts. Byron called her while her phone was hooked up to the gym speakers and said he’s leaving her. After 32 years. He’s having an emotional affair with their office manager who is nearly 30 years younger then him. Typical.
Lastly, you have Steph and Harry in the thick of young parenting. Poor Steph is trying to get back into the gym but Harry keeps offloading the kids onto her when she tries for some me time. He’s the type to say he’ll babysit his own kids but usually pawns them off to his mum. And his mother severely lacks boundaries and I could feel Steph’s rage seeping from the book. I’ve been through it all. Through a combination of all three!
This made me so full of rage. Is it Australian men? I think it is Australian men. I’ve been living here for 25 years and they seem to be typical in that they over consume alcohol, have a boys will be boys/boys protect boys culture, do not help with family or around the house and seem like absolute idiots.
I would like to be proven wrong about this but I have not seen it yet.
In an example with Harry, Steph’s husband, he was telling her that what another tradie (tradesman) was saying about women on the job site. She argued with Harry and said you do need to call out bad men’s behaviour too. I wish Steph’s husband would have! Grow some balls 🤣
“You saying nothing gives him permission. It gives him an audience. Your silence doesn’t say enough.”
Harry also is a man who won’t talk to their mother about overstepping. “You are married to me. I should be number one.” I screamed so loud at that because for 20 years I dealt with it. Also, you are not babysitting/minding your own kids 😡
The three girls from the gym get together and commit a few fun hijinks that could be classified as minor criminal activity. First they steal the bikes from the gym that were designed for men and always hurt them in some way. Then they stole the absolutely sexist misogynistic statue outside a butcher shop called A Piece of Meat.
But it wasn’t until they really started getting to know one another that the book finally started. They are all suffering in their relationships in some way and start to comfort each other and encourage each other. Heather even has a repressed experience—I love that term of phrase instead of repressed memory. Because it did happen. I won’t spoil this part but please check the trigger warnings.
I could honestly write an essay on this book but I will stop there. Just read it and enjoy it and laugh your ass off when they are taking selfies with Tony wrapped up in the carpet 🤣🤣🤣
“This is going to sound weird but does anyone have baby shark stuck in your head?”
I stayed up until midnight finishing this and even screamed FUCK YOU when Byron came to get the kids and they didn’t want to see him. He just fucking watched and let it happen. Of course he is not a safe person to be around for his kids. He should be punished. I hope Zoe leaves him too and Heather gets everything she deserves in the divorce.
Quotes (I’m slowly adding these to the Goodreads quotes section but it only lets me do one per day):
“You saying nothing gives him permission. It gives him an audience. Your silence doesn’t say enough.”
“It’s the age old question. Why do we stay?
I know. But the question should be, why do men do it?”
“Don’t you get sick of it? Doing things for men that they could do for themselves?”
“I think the wise thing to do would be to accept and acknowledge our privilege but we can still burn shit to the ground.”
“He never hits me.
But why is that our measure? It’s not too bad until he hits us? What about all the hitting he’s done in here?”
She tapped her head and then her heart.
“I think all women feel that. We’ve got a lot to be angry about.”
“Will you get divorced with me?”
“Women shouldn’t make decisions based on what’s hard for other people. We’re not here to make life easier for everyone—especially not for men.”
“I’m a woman. There’s always something to be scared of.”
These trigger warnings could spoil the story so look away now…
Last chance…
Trigger warning: sudden infant death (SIDS), gang rape, coercive control, mental abuse, divorce, affair, PTSD
Okay now that you have read further please let me tell you how amazing this book was! I think it was one of my best of the year. I stayed up until midnight finishing it last night and have stewed all morning on what I was going to say.
**screams into the void. Rage intensifies.**
I support women’s rights. But more importantly, I support women’s wrongs. I’m so glad I am no longer married. Sometimes I might wish for love and then I look around and think “nah I am good.”
This story follows three women who meet at a gym and they are of various ages and different stages of their life.
There’s Joany and she’s in her early 70’s and a bit secretive about her personal life. But she’s learned to be secretive due to her controlling husband Tony. Tony and Joany’s relationship is a prime example of coercive control which has been big in the news in Australia in the last few years. We have new laws about it now too. Joany can’t do a damn thing without her husband controlling or questioning her about it.
Then you have Heather who is married to Byron. They were high school sweethearts. Byron called her while her phone was hooked up to the gym speakers and said he’s leaving her. After 32 years. He’s having an emotional affair with their office manager who is nearly 30 years younger then him. Typical.
Lastly, you have Steph and Harry in the thick of young parenting. Poor Steph is trying to get back into the gym but Harry keeps offloading the kids onto her when she tries for some me time. He’s the type to say he’ll babysit his own kids but usually pawns them off to his mum. And his mother severely lacks boundaries and I could feel Steph’s rage seeping from the book. I’ve been through it all. Through a combination of all three!
This made me so full of rage. Is it Australian men? I think it is Australian men. I’ve been living here for 25 years and they seem to be typical in that they over consume alcohol, have a boys will be boys/boys protect boys culture, do not help with family or around the house and seem like absolute idiots.
I would like to be proven wrong about this but I have not seen it yet.
In an example with Harry, Steph’s husband, he was telling her that what another tradie (tradesman) was saying about women on the job site. She argued with Harry and said you do need to call out bad men’s behaviour too. I wish Steph’s husband would have! Grow some balls 🤣
“You saying nothing gives him permission. It gives him an audience. Your silence doesn’t say enough.”
Harry also is a man who won’t talk to their mother about overstepping. “You are married to me. I should be number one.” I screamed so loud at that because for 20 years I dealt with it. Also, you are not babysitting/minding your own kids 😡
The three girls from the gym get together and commit a few fun hijinks that could be classified as minor criminal activity. First they steal the bikes from the gym that were designed for men and always hurt them in some way. Then they stole the absolutely sexist misogynistic statue outside a butcher shop called A Piece of Meat.
But it wasn’t until they really started getting to know one another that the book finally started. They are all suffering in their relationships in some way and start to comfort each other and encourage each other. Heather even has a repressed experience—I love that term of phrase instead of repressed memory. Because it did happen. I won’t spoil this part but please check the trigger warnings.
I could honestly write an essay on this book but I will stop there. Just read it and enjoy it and laugh your ass off when they are taking selfies with Tony wrapped up in the carpet 🤣🤣🤣
“This is going to sound weird but does anyone have baby shark stuck in your head?”
I stayed up until midnight finishing this and even screamed FUCK YOU when Byron came to get the kids and they didn’t want to see him. He just fucking watched and let it happen. Of course he is not a safe person to be around for his kids. He should be punished. I hope Zoe leaves him too and Heather gets everything she deserves in the divorce.
Quotes (I’m slowly adding these to the Goodreads quotes section but it only lets me do one per day):
“You saying nothing gives him permission. It gives him an audience. Your silence doesn’t say enough.”
“It’s the age old question. Why do we stay?
I know. But the question should be, why do men do it?”
“Don’t you get sick of it? Doing things for men that they could do for themselves?”
“I think the wise thing to do would be to accept and acknowledge our privilege but we can still burn shit to the ground.”
“He never hits me.
But why is that our measure? It’s not too bad until he hits us? What about all the hitting he’s done in here?”
She tapped her head and then her heart.
“I think all women feel that. We’ve got a lot to be angry about.”
“Will you get divorced with me?”
“Women shouldn’t make decisions based on what’s hard for other people. We’re not here to make life easier for everyone—especially not for men.”
“I’m a woman. There’s always something to be scared of.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2026
Big thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending us a copy to read and review.
What happens when you get inspired by and cook up bits of Desperate Housewives, Why Women Kill, The First Wives Club and Ruthless People.
Mix to perfection and out comes…..
The Angry Wives Club.
A deliciously wicked and delightfully entertaining read.
Welcome to Shellwater Bay where melodrama is not far from your front door and behind that same door is a bunch of secrets.
Introducing the three women who are about to cause turmoil.
Joany lives a quiet life with her husband but hides a secret or two.
Steph is the one looking after the kids and when trouble begins her husband calls his mother for help.
Heather has the perfect life until her husband reveals a deception and wants a divorce.
This threesome form an alliance and bond at the gym.
But soon the drama turns dangerous as it all comes to a head with a deadly crime.
Loved, loved, loved this book.
Female friendship is at the heart of this story and they take back their power and make their own narrative.
Strong female characters, a solid plot and an aura of mystery, all make this book a definite success.
Get onto this book now and you can thank me later.
Five bright and shiny stars.
What happens when you get inspired by and cook up bits of Desperate Housewives, Why Women Kill, The First Wives Club and Ruthless People.
Mix to perfection and out comes…..
The Angry Wives Club.
A deliciously wicked and delightfully entertaining read.
Welcome to Shellwater Bay where melodrama is not far from your front door and behind that same door is a bunch of secrets.
Introducing the three women who are about to cause turmoil.
Joany lives a quiet life with her husband but hides a secret or two.
Steph is the one looking after the kids and when trouble begins her husband calls his mother for help.
Heather has the perfect life until her husband reveals a deception and wants a divorce.
This threesome form an alliance and bond at the gym.
But soon the drama turns dangerous as it all comes to a head with a deadly crime.
Loved, loved, loved this book.
Female friendship is at the heart of this story and they take back their power and make their own narrative.
Strong female characters, a solid plot and an aura of mystery, all make this book a definite success.
Get onto this book now and you can thank me later.
Five bright and shiny stars.
April 16, 2026
Women shouldn’t make decisions based on what’s hard for other people. We’re not here to make life easier for everyone - especially not for men.
If I had to sum up The Angry Wives Club by Gabbie Stroud in one word, it would be: relatable. Honestly… painfully relatable.
This story follows a group of women (Joany, Heather, and Steph) who come together at a time in their lives when everything feels just a little too much. Between an interfering mother-in-law, sexist alpha males, creepy old blokes, and that all-too-familiar male incompetence, their frustrations bubble over… and what forms is something powerful, raw, and unapologetically real.
There were so many moments in this book where I wanted to yell “yes, FUCK yes, I hear you sister!” It hits hard because it’s true. There’s a little bit of each of these women in all of us.
I loved the friendships that formed, the kind you stumble into exactly when you need them most. I wanted to jump right into their group hug!
But beneath the humour and rage, this book digs deep. It shines a light on the everyday misogyny women face, and importantly, shows how domestic abuse isn’t always physical. It can be subtle, insidious, and just as damaging.
At its core, though, this is a story about sisterhood. About finding your people. About standing together and, when necessary, burning the patriarchy to the ground.
If I had to sum up The Angry Wives Club by Gabbie Stroud in one word, it would be: relatable. Honestly… painfully relatable.
This story follows a group of women (Joany, Heather, and Steph) who come together at a time in their lives when everything feels just a little too much. Between an interfering mother-in-law, sexist alpha males, creepy old blokes, and that all-too-familiar male incompetence, their frustrations bubble over… and what forms is something powerful, raw, and unapologetically real.
There were so many moments in this book where I wanted to yell “yes, FUCK yes, I hear you sister!” It hits hard because it’s true. There’s a little bit of each of these women in all of us.
I loved the friendships that formed, the kind you stumble into exactly when you need them most. I wanted to jump right into their group hug!
But beneath the humour and rage, this book digs deep. It shines a light on the everyday misogyny women face, and importantly, shows how domestic abuse isn’t always physical. It can be subtle, insidious, and just as damaging.
At its core, though, this is a story about sisterhood. About finding your people. About standing together and, when necessary, burning the patriarchy to the ground.
April 1, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
As you can guess from it’s title, feminine rage in suburbia is at the forefront in The Angry Wives Club.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Joany, Heather and Steph, and how one small act of rebellion brings them together to explore and exact some more of their own justices in their small Australian town.
Dealing with some dark and serious topics, this was such a good read and I liked the Australian references throughout. The main three characters were easy to like and sympathise with and all the secondary characters were well considered. That being said, Joany had my heart from the very beginning.
Definitely worth a read!
Thank you to Netgalley and Allen & Unwin for the arc for review.
As you can guess from it’s title, feminine rage in suburbia is at the forefront in The Angry Wives Club.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Joany, Heather and Steph, and how one small act of rebellion brings them together to explore and exact some more of their own justices in their small Australian town.
Dealing with some dark and serious topics, this was such a good read and I liked the Australian references throughout. The main three characters were easy to like and sympathise with and all the secondary characters were well considered. That being said, Joany had my heart from the very beginning.
Definitely worth a read!
Thank you to Netgalley and Allen & Unwin for the arc for review.
April 27, 2026
I really loved this book. While it touches on some heavier and more sensitive topics throughout, they’re handled with care and thoughtfulness, which I really appreciated.
There are some genuinely hilarious moments woven through the story, balancing the deeper themes beautifully. It’s an engaging, well-written read that explores friendship, loyalty, and the importance of having strong, supportive women in your life who you can trust and lean on.
A fun, heartfelt, and at times cathartic story that stayed with me for all the right reasons.
There are some genuinely hilarious moments woven through the story, balancing the deeper themes beautifully. It’s an engaging, well-written read that explores friendship, loyalty, and the importance of having strong, supportive women in your life who you can trust and lean on.
A fun, heartfelt, and at times cathartic story that stayed with me for all the right reasons.
June 5, 2026
The Angry Wives Club by Gabbie Stroud
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️⚠️Spoilers ⚠️⚠️
This book has great reviews of being a humorous feminist novel so I was somewhat disappointed. I struggled with the forced and at times inappropriate humour (Queefing, Grey public hair and incontinence references) amongst themes of child sexual assault, non consensual sex, family violence and coercive control. I felt it was at times disrespectful towards victims.
Bread crumbs that a murder had occurred was sprinkled at the start of each chapter preparing the reader with suspense and intrigue, only for an odd rather unrealistic and strange event to occur at the end.
I have worked in family violence outreach and in Women's Refuge systems in my career and struggle with the serious content and blasae nature of the book. The misogy made me feel very uncomfortable- the narrator's constant language of tits, arse for example was distasteful. When a character disclosed her gang rape to her children that included their fathers role, left a bad taste in my mouth and I was done.
I also question the friendship, it felt superficial and I hated how the women bagged out all other women in the book. The women didn't say one nice thing about another female.
Overall this could of been a great book if it was written respectfully. Saying this it was ⭐️⭐️⭐️. The characters had substance and the plot was there. So I didn't hate it. I just really wanted more.
Please note this are my own thoughts and reflections.
#aussiebookbloger #aussiebooklover ##aussiebookstagram ##aussiebookreviewer ##aussiebookreview
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️⚠️Spoilers ⚠️⚠️
This book has great reviews of being a humorous feminist novel so I was somewhat disappointed. I struggled with the forced and at times inappropriate humour (Queefing, Grey public hair and incontinence references) amongst themes of child sexual assault, non consensual sex, family violence and coercive control. I felt it was at times disrespectful towards victims.
Bread crumbs that a murder had occurred was sprinkled at the start of each chapter preparing the reader with suspense and intrigue, only for an odd rather unrealistic and strange event to occur at the end.
I have worked in family violence outreach and in Women's Refuge systems in my career and struggle with the serious content and blasae nature of the book. The misogy made me feel very uncomfortable- the narrator's constant language of tits, arse for example was distasteful. When a character disclosed her gang rape to her children that included their fathers role, left a bad taste in my mouth and I was done.
I also question the friendship, it felt superficial and I hated how the women bagged out all other women in the book. The women didn't say one nice thing about another female.
Overall this could of been a great book if it was written respectfully. Saying this it was ⭐️⭐️⭐️. The characters had substance and the plot was there. So I didn't hate it. I just really wanted more.
Please note this are my own thoughts and reflections.
#aussiebookbloger #aussiebooklover ##aussiebookstagram ##aussiebookreviewer ##aussiebookreview
March 28, 2026
ARC review: The Angry Wives Club by @gabbiestroudauthor and published by @allenandunwin
Release date: 31 March 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Now this is the type of feminine rage I like to see in suburbia. We follow 3 FMCs who each have their own POV - Joany (72 years young), Heather (late 40s and mother to 2 teens) and Steph (30s stay at home mum to 3 kiddos) who meet at their local gym and soon form a strong bond and friendship. What’s the one thing they have in common in their lives? Men who don’t listen to or support them.
After committing a little petty crime against their gym without getting caught, the women are soon emboldened to see what else can they get away with while taking back some of their power.
Two quotes I loved towards the end of the book:
“Women shouldn’t make decisions based on what’s hard for other people. We’re not here to make life easier for everyone - especially men.”
“Powerful things happen when women look after women.”
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the depictions of female friendship that can occur at any age.
Release date: 31 March 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Now this is the type of feminine rage I like to see in suburbia. We follow 3 FMCs who each have their own POV - Joany (72 years young), Heather (late 40s and mother to 2 teens) and Steph (30s stay at home mum to 3 kiddos) who meet at their local gym and soon form a strong bond and friendship. What’s the one thing they have in common in their lives? Men who don’t listen to or support them.
After committing a little petty crime against their gym without getting caught, the women are soon emboldened to see what else can they get away with while taking back some of their power.
Two quotes I loved towards the end of the book:
“Women shouldn’t make decisions based on what’s hard for other people. We’re not here to make life easier for everyone - especially men.”
“Powerful things happen when women look after women.”
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the depictions of female friendship that can occur at any age.
April 22, 2026
It was an enjoyable, angry listen! Loved the banding together of the gym crew! Disliked many men!
The ending started to get a bit far fetched and ridiculous and while enjoyable to listen along to - it sort of diminished the messaging, in my opinion.
Well worth a read or listen!
The ending started to get a bit far fetched and ridiculous and while enjoyable to listen along to - it sort of diminished the messaging, in my opinion.
Well worth a read or listen!
April 20, 2026
I loved the characters and the way each had their own story. I loved how the strength of women is shown in this story throughout.
May 11, 2026
I thought I was in for something similar to the show Why Women Kill; that’s the vibe I got from the cover. But this is man-hating disguised as female empowerment. Frankly, I thought this book was rubbish and the more I think about it, the more solidly my mind is made up.
What started out as an enjoyable story of three women and their uniquely challenging marriages quickly deteriorated into misandry masquerading as feminism. One of the characters was saddened about birthing a son due to her reluctance to bring another man into the world. There is not a single redeemable male character in the entire book; they are either perpetrators of sexual assault/harassment, accessories to sexual assault, DV perpetrators, or so spineless it’s amazing they can stand upright. On top of all that, I found the climax to the story was so thin and poorly constructed it didn’t make the slog through the second half of the book worth it.
Wouldn’t recommend.
What started out as an enjoyable story of three women and their uniquely challenging marriages quickly deteriorated into misandry masquerading as feminism. One of the characters was saddened about birthing a son due to her reluctance to bring another man into the world. There is not a single redeemable male character in the entire book; they are either perpetrators of sexual assault/harassment, accessories to sexual assault, DV perpetrators, or so spineless it’s amazing they can stand upright. On top of all that, I found the climax to the story was so thin and poorly constructed it didn’t make the slog through the second half of the book worth it.
Wouldn’t recommend.
June 6, 2026
“The Angry Wives Club” is a good read with a heavy hand, and I won’t pretend it didn’t make me want to castrate a few of the blokes with garden secateurs. Granted, not my most elevated critical response. Still, sometimes a book hits the right nerve and you have to honour the truth of the matter.
Shellwater Bay looks idyllic from the outside, because these places always do. Calm sea. Nice houses. Respectable marriages. Women smiling in public while eating shit in private. Joany looks like she's got the perfect life. Heather is blindsided by a husband who wants out despite them building a local icon together. Steph is raising kids with a man who reckons “helping” means asking his mum to pick up his slack. Then the women meet at the gym, sweat through the polite crap and decide a crime or two might be in order.
Honestly, who can blame them?
Stroud is best at female friendship when she keeps it practical. The gym works because the sexism has nowhere to hide once everyone is sweating, sore and pissed off. Anger becomes physical there. Breath. Sweat. Impact. Women clocking each other properly for the first time and recognising, with the force of revelation, that no, actually, that’s fucked. The book caught me out there as a bloke too. Not because I’m shocked men can be awful, but because it shows how many violations women absorb in ordinary spaces, and how easily even decent men can miss abuse they can’t imagine being normal.
That’s the book at its best. It understands the little bargains women make to keep homes, marriages and reputations intact. Smile. Smooth it over. Don’t make a scene. Don’t embarrass him. Don’t upset the kids. Don’t say the obvious thing out loud, because then everyone has to do something about it. Stroud’s politics are blunt, but not wrong: men misuse power, women absorb the cost and small acts of sabotage start looking less like crime than chickens coming home to roost.
The trouble is the book doesn’t always trust its own anger. It keeps reaching for catharsis when complication would have cut deeper. Too many of the blokes are so utterly useless, cruel or diabolical they may as well arrive with a little villain’s moustache and a blood-curdling laugh. I get it. Far too many blokes are, in fact, the problem. Still, one or two men with an actual inner life wouldn’t have killed the thing. As it stands, the moral machinery is satisfying but pretty bloody blunt. More steamroller than scalpel.
The bigger missed chance is women hurting women. That’s where the book could have got properly interesting and appropriately nasty. Steph and Tanya had real potential here. Because patriarchy doesn’t survive on hopeless husbands alone. It survives because people enforce it. Women included. Through judgement, gossip, shame, quiet punishment, arse-covering and all those little bullshit tribunals held over school gates, family visits and whose kid has worn a dirty shirt to school three days running. Stroud gestures at that, then softens it. Wrong call. That was the uglier and better book trying to get out.
Tone is a bit of a problem, too. I like crude jokes, so I loved the jokes about fanny farts and wild grey pubes as much as the next ragamuffin. Still, broad comedy sitting right beside repressed gang rape, a husband’s cowardice and gaslighting, coercive control and the unreconciled trauma of a dead child jars a bit. The lightness makes the book readable, but it also protects it from its own darker material. It raises the stakes, then backs away before the bruise can properly come up.
The happy ending didn’t annoy me, exactly. I’m not a monster. Let the women have some bloody relief. Still, the same mechanism that gives the book its redemptive kick also makes Joaney’s capture feel less deep than it should. The book wants to be furious and comforting at the same time. That’s possible, but only if the fury is allowed to leave a mess on the carpet.
Still, I enjoyed it. It’s not high literary fare, but it’s not pretending to be. It’s a good yarn with a good heart, a useful amount of rage and a decent sense of how women find each other when needed.
A firm 3.15 stars. “The Angry Wives Club” is blunt, readable, fired up and a little too neat. Good heart. Heavy hand. Several blokes lucky to retain all original equipment.
Shellwater Bay looks idyllic from the outside, because these places always do. Calm sea. Nice houses. Respectable marriages. Women smiling in public while eating shit in private. Joany looks like she's got the perfect life. Heather is blindsided by a husband who wants out despite them building a local icon together. Steph is raising kids with a man who reckons “helping” means asking his mum to pick up his slack. Then the women meet at the gym, sweat through the polite crap and decide a crime or two might be in order.
Honestly, who can blame them?
Stroud is best at female friendship when she keeps it practical. The gym works because the sexism has nowhere to hide once everyone is sweating, sore and pissed off. Anger becomes physical there. Breath. Sweat. Impact. Women clocking each other properly for the first time and recognising, with the force of revelation, that no, actually, that’s fucked. The book caught me out there as a bloke too. Not because I’m shocked men can be awful, but because it shows how many violations women absorb in ordinary spaces, and how easily even decent men can miss abuse they can’t imagine being normal.
That’s the book at its best. It understands the little bargains women make to keep homes, marriages and reputations intact. Smile. Smooth it over. Don’t make a scene. Don’t embarrass him. Don’t upset the kids. Don’t say the obvious thing out loud, because then everyone has to do something about it. Stroud’s politics are blunt, but not wrong: men misuse power, women absorb the cost and small acts of sabotage start looking less like crime than chickens coming home to roost.
The trouble is the book doesn’t always trust its own anger. It keeps reaching for catharsis when complication would have cut deeper. Too many of the blokes are so utterly useless, cruel or diabolical they may as well arrive with a little villain’s moustache and a blood-curdling laugh. I get it. Far too many blokes are, in fact, the problem. Still, one or two men with an actual inner life wouldn’t have killed the thing. As it stands, the moral machinery is satisfying but pretty bloody blunt. More steamroller than scalpel.
The bigger missed chance is women hurting women. That’s where the book could have got properly interesting and appropriately nasty. Steph and Tanya had real potential here. Because patriarchy doesn’t survive on hopeless husbands alone. It survives because people enforce it. Women included. Through judgement, gossip, shame, quiet punishment, arse-covering and all those little bullshit tribunals held over school gates, family visits and whose kid has worn a dirty shirt to school three days running. Stroud gestures at that, then softens it. Wrong call. That was the uglier and better book trying to get out.
Tone is a bit of a problem, too. I like crude jokes, so I loved the jokes about fanny farts and wild grey pubes as much as the next ragamuffin. Still, broad comedy sitting right beside repressed gang rape, a husband’s cowardice and gaslighting, coercive control and the unreconciled trauma of a dead child jars a bit. The lightness makes the book readable, but it also protects it from its own darker material. It raises the stakes, then backs away before the bruise can properly come up.
The happy ending didn’t annoy me, exactly. I’m not a monster. Let the women have some bloody relief. Still, the same mechanism that gives the book its redemptive kick also makes Joaney’s capture feel less deep than it should. The book wants to be furious and comforting at the same time. That’s possible, but only if the fury is allowed to leave a mess on the carpet.
Still, I enjoyed it. It’s not high literary fare, but it’s not pretending to be. It’s a good yarn with a good heart, a useful amount of rage and a decent sense of how women find each other when needed.
A firm 3.15 stars. “The Angry Wives Club” is blunt, readable, fired up and a little too neat. Good heart. Heavy hand. Several blokes lucky to retain all original equipment.
May 26, 2026
Yeah the girls! 🙌
This story follows three women; Joany, Heather and Steph, who meet at the local gym in a small coastal town in southern NSW. While all at different stages of life, they find they have several things in common, partners who aren't supportive, silent bargains they're making to keep the peace and simmering rage that is starting to bubble over. The three get together to make a stand with a couple of petty crimes, but suddenly the crimes and the stakes are escalating.
This was such a relatable book. As a mother of 3 small children, I found myself gravitating towards Steph and nodding along with so much of her situation and what she had to say. I loved the beginning and I loved the end, but I think some of the crudeness and vulgarity in the language lost me a little in the middle. The strong feminist message and the power of female friendships was profound. I loved the sharp wit and heartfelt empathy and honesty and how quintessentially Australian it was.
This is a book I got sucked into reading from reviews and isn't a genre I often choose for myself off the shelf. I'd align it with domestic noir books like The Angry Women's Choir and Big Little Lies. If you loved those, this is definitely the book for you!
3.5 ⭐️ rounding up to 4!
This story follows three women; Joany, Heather and Steph, who meet at the local gym in a small coastal town in southern NSW. While all at different stages of life, they find they have several things in common, partners who aren't supportive, silent bargains they're making to keep the peace and simmering rage that is starting to bubble over. The three get together to make a stand with a couple of petty crimes, but suddenly the crimes and the stakes are escalating.
This was such a relatable book. As a mother of 3 small children, I found myself gravitating towards Steph and nodding along with so much of her situation and what she had to say. I loved the beginning and I loved the end, but I think some of the crudeness and vulgarity in the language lost me a little in the middle. The strong feminist message and the power of female friendships was profound. I loved the sharp wit and heartfelt empathy and honesty and how quintessentially Australian it was.
This is a book I got sucked into reading from reviews and isn't a genre I often choose for myself off the shelf. I'd align it with domestic noir books like The Angry Women's Choir and Big Little Lies. If you loved those, this is definitely the book for you!
3.5 ⭐️ rounding up to 4!
May 16, 2026
Very pro female empowerment kinda book but also just about men not being so shit. Laughed in some parts. Three different POV which I liked
May 17, 2026
These women are nasty loved every page.
One of my top reads for 2026!!
One of my top reads for 2026!!
April 18, 2026
#FemRage at its absolute finest.
Shellwater Bay looks like the dream coastal tow - but beneath it, three women’s lives quietly collide.
Joany, in her 70s, living what seems like a perfect life.
Heather, a sharp businesswoman staring down the barrel of divorce.
Steph, deep in the trenches of motherhood with a partner who still leans a little too hard on his mum.
They meet at the gym (bonding over a tug-of-war win, as you do), and what unfolds is something raw, funny, and painfully real.
This one hit hard.
I saw myself in all of them - the narcissism, the betrayal, the “wow, he’s such a hands-on dad” comments.
It’s messy. It’s honest. It’s quietly devastating in places - and then laugh-out-loud the next minute.
But more than anything? It’s cathartic.
That feeling of seeing parts of your own story reflected back at you through someone else’s words… yeah, that’s why I read.
I’m officially on a mission to dive into her back catalogue.
Shellwater Bay looks like the dream coastal tow - but beneath it, three women’s lives quietly collide.
Joany, in her 70s, living what seems like a perfect life.
Heather, a sharp businesswoman staring down the barrel of divorce.
Steph, deep in the trenches of motherhood with a partner who still leans a little too hard on his mum.
They meet at the gym (bonding over a tug-of-war win, as you do), and what unfolds is something raw, funny, and painfully real.
This one hit hard.
I saw myself in all of them - the narcissism, the betrayal, the “wow, he’s such a hands-on dad” comments.
It’s messy. It’s honest. It’s quietly devastating in places - and then laugh-out-loud the next minute.
But more than anything? It’s cathartic.
That feeling of seeing parts of your own story reflected back at you through someone else’s words… yeah, that’s why I read.
I’m officially on a mission to dive into her back catalogue.
April 18, 2026
5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibe check: Laugh Out Loud, Empowering, Yeah The Girls
full review ⬇️
I think I’ve found my favourite book of 2026 (we love an early call don’t we!)
The Angry Wives Club is one of the most relatable books I’ve read in a long time and I don’t mean that I am an angry wife 😂 it’s just the kind of book that had me laughing out loud one minute and nodding along the next thinking yep… that is painfully accurate.
Gabbie has perfectly captured the mental load, the invisible expectations and the quiet frustrations of everyday life in such a real and honest way.
And while it absolutely taps into themes of anger and inequality, it never feels heavy handed or preachy. Instead it just feels true.
There’s a line in the book that says “I think all women feel that. We’ve got a lot to be angry about.” And that perfectly sums up the heart of this book.
It’s not about making big statements, it’s about reflecting real life in a way that feels seen, understood and hilariously called out.
The characters felt like people I know or maybe even parts of myself and that’s what makes the book so wonderfully impactful.
This one is something special.
A gentle trigger warning also for anyone impacted by child loss ♥️
Vibe check: Laugh Out Loud, Empowering, Yeah The Girls
full review ⬇️
I think I’ve found my favourite book of 2026 (we love an early call don’t we!)
The Angry Wives Club is one of the most relatable books I’ve read in a long time and I don’t mean that I am an angry wife 😂 it’s just the kind of book that had me laughing out loud one minute and nodding along the next thinking yep… that is painfully accurate.
Gabbie has perfectly captured the mental load, the invisible expectations and the quiet frustrations of everyday life in such a real and honest way.
And while it absolutely taps into themes of anger and inequality, it never feels heavy handed or preachy. Instead it just feels true.
There’s a line in the book that says “I think all women feel that. We’ve got a lot to be angry about.” And that perfectly sums up the heart of this book.
It’s not about making big statements, it’s about reflecting real life in a way that feels seen, understood and hilariously called out.
The characters felt like people I know or maybe even parts of myself and that’s what makes the book so wonderfully impactful.
This one is something special.
A gentle trigger warning also for anyone impacted by child loss ♥️
April 9, 2026
This book was so freaking good! Packed with so much tension, it left my jaw hanging open throughout the entire novel. Initially, the three main female characters are begrudgingly accepting of the casual and direct sexism they each experience, but as these three women grow closer, they realize it doesn’t have to be that way. All three of them are well-rounded characters, and they develop and change throughout the book from their individual and shared experiences. The friendship these women have formed is a powerful thing. I just loved all the little antics they got up to. This book sends a powerful message: women are stronger when they stick together.
May 28, 2026
Bright retro cover ✅
Darker themes (check TW) ✅
Absolutely worth a read ✅
The Angry Wives Club follows three women at very different stages of life whose friendship becomes the emotional backbone of the story. Beneath the humour, rage and acts of rebellion is really a story about women finally feeling seen, heard and understood by one another.
Steph is drowning beneath the invisible load of motherhood and domestic life, Heather is blindsided by the collapse of her marriage, and Joany quietly carries some of the heaviest emotional weight of the novel. What initially connects these women is the gym, of all places, and I loved how those early morning classes slowly evolve into friendship, solidarity and eventually rebellion fuelled by years of swallowed frustration and exhaustion.
There’s something deeply satisfying about reading a book where women stop shrinking themselves to keep everyone else comfortable. Within this book my internal monologue kept wanting to scream “louder for those in the back🙌🏻”, specifically surrounding how traditional vs modern roles of women are viewed.
This book is genuinely funny in parts (insert loathing for gym bike seats here😂), but it also isn’t afraid to go darker. Gabbie Stroud explores coercive control, emotional abuse, misogyny and emotional labour with far more depth than the bright retro cover may initially suggest.
Lines like “Women shouldn’t make decisions based on what’s hard for other people” and “We’re not here to make life easier for everyone (especially not for men)” perfectly capture the spirit of this book. Funny, furious, confronting and cathartic all at once.
I consumed this as an audiobook and really enjoyed Jo Van Es’ narration. She captured the Australian humour, tone and personalities of the women so naturally, and I think the audio format elevated both the emotional moments and comedic timing for me.
Please check trigger warnings beforehand, as beneath the humour this explores some genuinely heavy themes including coercive control, emotional abuse, grief and misogyny.
Darker themes (check TW) ✅
Absolutely worth a read ✅
The Angry Wives Club follows three women at very different stages of life whose friendship becomes the emotional backbone of the story. Beneath the humour, rage and acts of rebellion is really a story about women finally feeling seen, heard and understood by one another.
Steph is drowning beneath the invisible load of motherhood and domestic life, Heather is blindsided by the collapse of her marriage, and Joany quietly carries some of the heaviest emotional weight of the novel. What initially connects these women is the gym, of all places, and I loved how those early morning classes slowly evolve into friendship, solidarity and eventually rebellion fuelled by years of swallowed frustration and exhaustion.
There’s something deeply satisfying about reading a book where women stop shrinking themselves to keep everyone else comfortable. Within this book my internal monologue kept wanting to scream “louder for those in the back🙌🏻”, specifically surrounding how traditional vs modern roles of women are viewed.
This book is genuinely funny in parts (insert loathing for gym bike seats here😂), but it also isn’t afraid to go darker. Gabbie Stroud explores coercive control, emotional abuse, misogyny and emotional labour with far more depth than the bright retro cover may initially suggest.
Lines like “Women shouldn’t make decisions based on what’s hard for other people” and “We’re not here to make life easier for everyone (especially not for men)” perfectly capture the spirit of this book. Funny, furious, confronting and cathartic all at once.
I consumed this as an audiobook and really enjoyed Jo Van Es’ narration. She captured the Australian humour, tone and personalities of the women so naturally, and I think the audio format elevated both the emotional moments and comedic timing for me.
Please check trigger warnings beforehand, as beneath the humour this explores some genuinely heavy themes including coercive control, emotional abuse, grief and misogyny.
June 8, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review.
The Angry Wives Club was an absolute standout read for me.
Going into this book, I honestly wasn't sure what to expect. Was it literary fiction? A mystery? A thriller? I had no idea, and I think that uncertainty actually made the experience even better because I was constantly surprised by where the story went.
What I do know is that I absolutely loved it.
The strongest aspect of this book is undoubtedly its exploration of female rage. Gabbie Stroud captures the frustrations, disappointments, sacrifices, and expectations placed on women with such honesty that I found myself nodding along more times than I could count. The anger in this story feels justified, powerful, and incredibly relatable.
I also adored the characters. Each woman felt distinct, authentic, and deeply human. They weren't perfect, and that's exactly what made them so compelling. Despite their different circumstances, I found something relatable in every single one of them, and I became completely invested in their stories.
The writing is sharp, insightful, and often surprisingly funny, balancing heavier themes with moments of warmth, friendship, and connection. The story explores issues that many women will recognise, and it does so in a way that feels both validating and empowering.
By the end, I was cheering for these women and reflecting on the conversations the book had sparked. It's the kind of story that entertains while also giving you plenty to think about long after you've finished reading.
The Angry Wives Club was an absolute standout read for me.
Going into this book, I honestly wasn't sure what to expect. Was it literary fiction? A mystery? A thriller? I had no idea, and I think that uncertainty actually made the experience even better because I was constantly surprised by where the story went.
What I do know is that I absolutely loved it.
The strongest aspect of this book is undoubtedly its exploration of female rage. Gabbie Stroud captures the frustrations, disappointments, sacrifices, and expectations placed on women with such honesty that I found myself nodding along more times than I could count. The anger in this story feels justified, powerful, and incredibly relatable.
I also adored the characters. Each woman felt distinct, authentic, and deeply human. They weren't perfect, and that's exactly what made them so compelling. Despite their different circumstances, I found something relatable in every single one of them, and I became completely invested in their stories.
The writing is sharp, insightful, and often surprisingly funny, balancing heavier themes with moments of warmth, friendship, and connection. The story explores issues that many women will recognise, and it does so in a way that feels both validating and empowering.
By the end, I was cheering for these women and reflecting on the conversations the book had sparked. It's the kind of story that entertains while also giving you plenty to think about long after you've finished reading.
May 3, 2026
This was a fun read, but I wanted it to hit harder. I wanted this book to get under my skin, make my blood boil, make me want to rage and scream and curse all men…instead, it just simmered. I think that’s because the book never fully commits to the weight of the assaults and loss it brings up.
The “angry wives teaming up” premise is genuinely great, and there are moments that are juicy, chaotic, and very much “good for them.” But I can’t help feeling the author could have dug much deeper into those painful themes and really torn the reader apart.
It plays things a little too safe.
The “angry wives teaming up” premise is genuinely great, and there are moments that are juicy, chaotic, and very much “good for them.” But I can’t help feeling the author could have dug much deeper into those painful themes and really torn the reader apart.
It plays things a little too safe.
June 13, 2026
I really enjoyed this book, even though I felt like the ending was a bit…something. I don’t know. Maybe too perfectly wrapped up? Unrealistic in some ways? Not sure, but I really loved it nonetheless!
April 26, 2026
Loved the female characters in this book and enjoyed reading about their lives as separate women and together as friends and what they get up to!
May 12, 2026
it was really good
engaging story and I love a local one
I love understanding the perspectives of people I struggle to relate to at face value
engaging story and I love a local one
I love understanding the perspectives of people I struggle to relate to at face value
June 10, 2026
Loved this!
June 4, 2026
Inhaled this. So good.
April 27, 2026
Brilliant! I will miss these women like friends. Laughed out loud (a lot), screamed out loud (a lot) and cried out loud. A tough read, but an important one!
Please check the content warnings before you diving into this one though.
Please check the content warnings before you diving into this one though.
May 1, 2026
This is a feminist story with female friendship at its core and honestly, I feel like that might be all I ever need in a book.
Add in that it’s funny, heart-warming and gave me a face full of happy tears many times plus multiple ‘fuck yes’s means that this is an EASY EASY @whatwouldwendyread recommend! You all are gonna love this.
The story follows 3 women of varying ages and life stages who meet at the gym and form the gentle and fierce friendship that only women can ever know 💖 they are united in their various rages against misogyny and the patriarchy which lead them to perform some petty crimes which were oh so satisfying to this reader!
There is some rage in this book, but it’s not the man-hating, rage inducing book you might assume from the cover (I do not need more of that lol) .
It’s hopeful and powerful and joyful and god, how good are female friendships? 💖💖💖 to my wonderful friends, you know who you are and I hope you know I would commit crimes for you 😘😘
thank you @gabbiestroudauthor just the perfect book for the times
Add in that it’s funny, heart-warming and gave me a face full of happy tears many times plus multiple ‘fuck yes’s means that this is an EASY EASY @whatwouldwendyread recommend! You all are gonna love this.
The story follows 3 women of varying ages and life stages who meet at the gym and form the gentle and fierce friendship that only women can ever know 💖 they are united in their various rages against misogyny and the patriarchy which lead them to perform some petty crimes which were oh so satisfying to this reader!
There is some rage in this book, but it’s not the man-hating, rage inducing book you might assume from the cover (I do not need more of that lol) .
It’s hopeful and powerful and joyful and god, how good are female friendships? 💖💖💖 to my wonderful friends, you know who you are and I hope you know I would commit crimes for you 😘😘
thank you @gabbiestroudauthor just the perfect book for the times
April 16, 2026
“Women shouldn’t make decisions based on what’s hard for other people. We’re not here to make life easier for everyone— especially men.”
Oof this book made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me sooooooo very angry. 😡
The Angry Wives Club was not only a story of female rage (fuelled by male incompetence), but a story of unflinching female friendship. On top of having truly terrible husbands, Joany, Heather & Steph deal with casual and very direct sexism daily. We get to explore these three women’s lives, including their relationships with their bodies and their children, and the unappreciated extra labour they are expected to put into their days.
Although dealing with misogynistic men takes up a large part of this book, Gabbie also filled the pages with so many heartwarming and hilarious moments. I really loved Heather and Tarli’s relationship, especially towards the end of the book.
Unlike the characters in this book, I’m unmarried and don’t have children. I still found this book so relatable, and I think a lot of women would agree. I definitely recommend this book for anyone who has to interact with men xx
** This book contains scenes of SA & DV, so please keep that in mind, as it may be triggering to some readers.
Oof this book made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me sooooooo very angry. 😡
The Angry Wives Club was not only a story of female rage (fuelled by male incompetence), but a story of unflinching female friendship. On top of having truly terrible husbands, Joany, Heather & Steph deal with casual and very direct sexism daily. We get to explore these three women’s lives, including their relationships with their bodies and their children, and the unappreciated extra labour they are expected to put into their days.
Although dealing with misogynistic men takes up a large part of this book, Gabbie also filled the pages with so many heartwarming and hilarious moments. I really loved Heather and Tarli’s relationship, especially towards the end of the book.
Unlike the characters in this book, I’m unmarried and don’t have children. I still found this book so relatable, and I think a lot of women would agree. I definitely recommend this book for anyone who has to interact with men xx
** This book contains scenes of SA & DV, so please keep that in mind, as it may be triggering to some readers.
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