When Romance Goes Rogue: Reading Madame Bovary

February Book Club Pick: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
💕 Passion, rebellion, and a search for something more… 💔

Join us this February as we dive into Madame Bovary, Gustave Flaubert’s groundbreaking novel about love, longing, and the quiet desperation behind polite society. First published in 1857—and scandalous from the start—this French classic follows Emma Bovary, a doctor’s wife who craves a life of romance and excitement far beyond her provincial world.

Caught between fantasy and reality, Emma’s choices set her on a dramatic path, raising questions that still feel startlingly modern: What happens when real life doesn’t live up to the dream? And what price do we pay for wanting more?

Why this book, why now?
February, the month of love, is the perfect time to read a novel that complicates romantic ideals. Madame Bovary isn’t a simple love story—it’s a rich, provocative exploration of desire, disillusionment, and the pressures placed on women in a rigid society. Whether you’ve read it before or it’s your first time, there’s plenty to unpack together.

Come ready to discuss, share, and maybe even debate. We’ll bring the conversation—just bring your thoughts (and maybe your heart on your sleeve).