Thanks to William Morrow/Custom House for an advanced copy of Better Luck Next Time!

I love historical fiction and hadn't really heard of the divorce ranches until this book. I loved the premise and wished the book was a little faster paced as it was slow for a short book. I liked the narration by Ward one of the cowboys. And the slight flashbacks as he was sharing his story. The ending totally made this book!

I loved the cast of characters and it was well written!

I love coming into a story blind, I had no idea what this one was about and I think that made this one even better. I loved reading this book. Hearing the things that happened on the ranch and what the ranch was about in general was interesting enough but adding Ward Nina and Emily's story in the mix was great

I loved the concept of this book-a divorce dude ranch. However, I had a hard time getting into it. The pace was slow, and the characters just lacked something for me. I did enjoy the ending

Set in the 1930's on a ranch in Nevada, the story brings together women who have means enough to gain residency and then divorce in the state. It was an interesting take on life of women during that time period, their friendships with each other, and with the ranch staff.

I think I loved the premise of this book more than the actual book itself, which is not to say it wasn't interesting (it was!) but the pacing was quite slow. At time charming and humorous, this tale of a divorce ranch for wealthy women was unique but lacked inertia. 3.5 stars.

This was a fun book. The characters were both quirky and likable. I thought the story was very original and I liked the style of writing.

Exploring the world of a Reno ranch in the late 1930s when women seeking divorces would stay for six weeks to speed up the process! This one is from the point of view from a young and handsome ranch hand who was asked to work as much as possible with his shirt off!

There are some memorable characters with big personalities in this one and a bit of romance thrown in too. Many of the women were wealthy and some were on multiple divorces! Our narrator, Ward, is a hard-working ranch hand and frequently is called upon to drive the ladies to town and lead them on horseback rides. He sees the women fleeing cheating husbands and others that still seem to love their husbands.

An interesting historical fiction tale focused on a bit if history I didn’t know much about at all! This one made for a great break in between heavier reads.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this delightful novel! This book is written as the charming memoir of an elderly physician recalling and reflecting on his time a a young man working at a Reno dude ranch in 1938. Being a destination for women awaiting resolution of their quickie divorces, everyone bonds as friends and family, from the owners to the workers and the guests. Offering some tidbits of wisdom and poignant moments, this tale left me smiling!

I really liked this book! The story was interesting and the characters were all really likable. I also liked that it wasn’t super predictable!

3.5 stars. This was an enjoyable and entertaining book. Who knew there used to be such a thing as a 'divorce ranch'? I loved the author's first book, Be Frank With Me. While this book was written in a similar style with quirky characters, it just didn't grab me in the same way. But I like her writing and look forward to reading more by her. Thanks to Book Club Girls and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I chose this audiobook, not having read anything by this author before, expecting it to be a story about a friendship developed between two women. Instead, it is a story told in 'oral history' fashion by an old man in a nursing home, recalling one summer at a Dude Ranch for divorcee's, in which he learned the lessons of a lifetime.

I loved this book. The narrator was perfect. The story was intriguing and heartbreaking. I've already recommended it to friends, before I was even finished.

I think this is one of the best books I have read this year. "Better Luck Next Time" is a fun read with some drama and then such an uplifting ending. I thought the characters were likable and the story original. I would recommend this book to family and friends.

Better Luck Next Time was such a fun read! I had no idea that Reno, Nevado, was known as the capital of quickie divorces in the 1930’s. The story takes place at the Flying Leap Dude Ranch in Reno where women of means can come to establish residency for six weeks in order to be eligible for a divorce. Divorces were not readily available at that time in history so readers are likely to judge the pampered women who were able to access this option. During their time at the ranch they go on horseback rides, shopping, and gambling. The title of the book is aptly named from a line the judge tells them when he strikes his gavel to announce a new divorcee, “Better Luck Next Time.” I love how the story is told from the point of view of the 25-year old hardworking ranchhand named Ward. No one at the ranch knows Ward’s backstory or that he is trying to re-invent himself after his family lost everything. Although some of the women look down on him, he becomes sympathetic to their plight saying “I might not have had a set opinion of right and wrong of divorce when I got to Reno, but the things our ladies went through before they came to us won me over to the necessity of it. Better to risk frying in hell than to suffer through a living one.” His opinion makes the reader a little more sympathetic too. We soon discover that Wade is retelling this story from later in his life while looking at an old group photograph from his days at the ranch. Most of the stories he shares are about his adventures with two of the guests, Nina and Emily. Nina is a returning customer to the ranch and is unapologetically fearless and flawed. She becomes best friends with the quieter Emily, who she takes under her wing. Nina commandeers both Emily and Wade into some of her crazy stunts, which provide a great laugh for the reader. All in all everyone is having a grand old time until Emily’s daughter arrives at the ranch and tries to get her parents back together. Around the same time, Ward also gets some bad news from back home. I won’t spoil the ending, but I can’t wait to talk about this book when it comes out in January 2021. Thank you to Julia Clairborne Johnson, netgalley and Customer House for the ARC. I hope Julia will write more stories about the ladies who came through the Flying Leap.

4.0 stars

I received a complimentary Kindle copy of this book from Custom House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Julia Claiborne Johnson, Custom House, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Wow! This book was just what I needed to get me out of the doldrums of COVID! It was different from any book that I have read in a very long time - it was told partially in the first person which I never knew how much I loved!! Also, the story of the Reno "quickie" divorces in the '30s was quite interesting and entertaining!

It was a well-done and smart novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the type of book that can and should be made into a movie!!

RECOMMEND!!!

3.75 stars rounded to 4. This was a very fun historical fiction read. Better Luck Next Time is written as an interview. It’s told from ranch hand Ward’s perspective when he’s an old man in a nursing home telling the story of a few life-changing weeks in the late 1930s. Ward worked at a divorce ranch located in Nevada. He met Emily and Nina, two women who visited the ranch in order to obtain divorces. The three have an interesting dynamic and Wards relationship with them changes his life.

This story reminded me of a good Katherine Hepburn film. The dialogue is great-there are a lot of snappy comebacks and snarky asides throughout. The drawbacks for me were that there were a lot of side characters who took away from the story. The focus was so much on Ward, Emily and Nina that when these characters showed up it took a minute to figure out who they were.

Overall, I did really enjoy this story and I loved learning about the divorce ranch.

Thank you to #netgalley and #customhouse for this advanced e-copy of #betterlucknexttime.

This book had an interesting storyline about women moving to Nevada to get their divorces granted. I'm on the fence about this book. It was very slow going at times and I had to just keep pushing through. The story overall was enjoyable, but it didn't give me the feels that I hope to get when reading a story like this one.

A nostalgic read about a topic I was unaware of, a dude ranch in Reno for women who were waiting on a quickie divorce in the 1930s. The characters were quirky and the storyline sweet. I found it entertaining but just an ok story.

This is a story of a ranch run for wealthy women in the late 40s early 50s who want a quickie divorce as told by the young handsome cowhand. Set in Nevada, where one could gain residency in 6 weeks, these women stay until they can receive their divorce. Friendships are made, hearts are broken as some stories never reach closure until many years later. I enjoyed this book, I dont think it is as goo as "Be Frank with Me" but a good read neverthe less.

What a delightful historical fiction story. I did not realize that "divorce ranches" even existed!! What a fun way to bide the 6 weeks residency in Nevada before you could get rid of that conniving husband. This book was fun to read. It will definitely take you on a wild ride. I loved the characters; Ward, the cowboy with the good looks. Nina, the woman who could fly planes and had a devious streak. And the beautiful and confused Emily. I enjoyed the way the book was written with the older Ward telling his story of long ago. Highly recommend.

Thanks to #WilliamMorrowandCustomHouse, #bookclubgirlsearly read and #netgalley for the ARC of this delightful read.

A fun read about a divorce ranch in Reno, NV in the 1930s. It is narrated by Ward, a ranch cowboy, as he reflects back about one group of women who visited, The plot is easy to follow and the author throws you.an unexpected twist at the end. This is a feel good read about the relationships women have with men, each other and their children.

Thank you Julia Claiborne Johnson, William Morrow, and Netgalley for this enjoyable ARC.