 The novel was a "New York Times" bestseller the year it was released, 1977.In June 2004, a sample of 500 people attending the "Guardian" Hay Festival included "The Women's Room" in their list of the top 50 essential contemporary reads, demonstrating that time has not diminished the importance of French's novel, and as of 2009, "The Women's Room" sold over 20 million copies and was translated into 20 languages.Many women found "The Women's Room" relatable and stimulating; they were able to recognize their own lives in Mira's.