Divorce Destination in Reno

I’m old enough to remember the stories about Reno and the six week stay to guarantee a woman’s residency to obtain a divorce. Nevada’s law made Nevada the quickest state for divorce starting, I believe, in the 1950’s.

The author of this book introduced the reader to the process and the heterogenous women who showed up at the Reno ranch to stay six weeks. It became a divorce destination that allowed women to ditch their husbands. Of course, the soon-to-be divorcee had to afford this type of getaway. They usually had money or the soon-to-be ex-husbands footed the bill.

The central character is Lois Saunders, a lonely, rather shy woman from Lake Forest, IL. Lake Forest, particularly in the 50’s, was upper class, quiet and wealthy. This stay changed some women; some were very shy or others were self-assured; there were several fleeing from physical abuse.

Most of them accept they will end up in a second marriage or possibly repression and lack of confidence will repeat itself. The author uses The Golden Yarrow ranch as the location, not sure of this was an actual name.

Despite the fact that I knew about that era, Rowan Beaird brought lonely women to life and those that desperately needed some freedom.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Flatiron books for this pre-published book. All opinions expressed are my own.

📚: The Divorcées by Rowan Beaird
⭐️: 2.5/5 (rounding down on #goodreads)

Set in Reno, Nevada, main character Lois is spending her mandatory 6 weeks at divorce ranch Golden Yarrow in 1951. Living with a handful of other soon-to-be-divorcees, Lois stays to herself until Greer arrives. Mysterious, sophisticated, and outspoken, Greer is everything that Lois is not, making them an unexpected match during their stays, with Greer’s influence dominating the entire house.

The premise of this plot has so much potential - women seeking divorce in the 1950s. Them seeing, learning, understanding what it is that their soon to be ex-husbands have taken from them, from who they are. Navigating toxic friendships while mapping out life on their own. But somehow, this book’s execution fumbles and reads entirely surface level. I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters - even to the mystique that is Greer. (It doesn’t help that the pace doesn’t pick up until 70%+ in.)

This could have also done well with a stronger backstory. Additional context around what divorcee ranches like Golden Yarrow were and why they existed would have set the book up stronger and allowed (possibly) for a connection with readers. I wanted to care what came of these divorcees after they left Yellow Canyon, but ultimately, I didn’t.

Thank you to @flatiron_books via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Divorcees is out today, 3/19.

Rowan Beaird transports the reader to 1950’s America where mothers advised their daughters that “[a]s awful as it is, marriage is the only way for a woman to get any freedom.” Lois Goski née Saunders’ father told Lois that she was a fool to have rushed into her marriage and now she was a fool to leave it, yet he agrees to pay for her to stay in Reno at the Golden Yarrow, a reputable institution that promised “discretion and supervision for wealthy girls in her same position.” When she returned, she would, in her father’s telling, sleep in her old bedroom until she found some other “naive man from Lake Forest to marry” because, “what else could you possibly do?” But, Lois hated being married to Lawrence who spoke to her as if she were his secretary, and was both indifferent and critical of her at the same time. She was terrified of becoming a mother (her own mother straining under the weight of one child), nor could she stomach the idea of being only a daughter.

On the train to Reno, Lois meets the sweet Mary Elizabeth Brown from Lexington who will also be staying at the Golden Yarrow. Upon arrival, the proprietor, Rita, a divorced mother with two young daughters, introduces Lois and Mary Elizabeth to the other guests: Vera, the bumbling hanger-on whose husband cheated on her with their Irish maid and who is referred to by her children’s grandmother as a “fallen woman;” June, the valedictorian, who is marrying a screenwriter 7 years her junior, after having wed a friend of her father’s with whom she thought she was in love at 16; and Dorothy, the flirt, who coos over the gifts that arrive from her married paramour.

Although the divorcees had the run of downtown Reno, including the night clubs, bars, boutiques and hotels, Lois’s father had forbidden her from leaving the ranch. She feels separate and adrift from the other women whose deportment and clothing and luminous skin make her feel judged and inadequate. Then, the glamorous and mysterious Greer Lang arrives. She is a beautiful woman with a blooming bruise on the side of her face. She sequesters in her room for days, but then appears unexpectedly pool side where Lois is swimming and her “look is not one of judgment in the way Lois has experienced — not with the girls at the ranch or the countless others before that.” The magnetic Greer makes Lois feel seen and Lois, for whom lies come naturally, hungers for her attention. Lois is embraced by Greer and they forge a bond which allows Lois to blossom as she tries to decide who she will become separate from her identity as a wife and daughter.

The Divorcees is well-paced and beautifully written, expressing the period in small details that make for a cinematic novel. Thank you Flatiron Books and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this compelling examination of mid-century divorce and the divorce ranches.

Based on the the cover blurb I was really intrigued, especially with the environment and era setting. The book overall was a bit of a let down and boring. The characters weren’t really memorable, I most likely wouldn’t have finished the book if I wasn’t given this as an ARC.

I absolutely loved the premise of this book - a divorce ranch in the 1950s where women go to escape their husbands while they file for divorce. I really sympathized with Lois and thought she was a great main character to follow, especially since I would consider her 'plain' in comparison to some of the other women there.

I think it was the other women at the ranch that really sold this book for me, though. Although they were background/supporting characters, they were so rich and descriptively written, and they were all so interesting. I thought all of them went through character development that was enjoyable to read and not often achieved with that level of detail for supporting characters.

The book starts out pretty slow and only really focused on the characters, and the action doesn't really pick up until well into the book, but I think that made the ending that much more dramatic for me.

The Divorcees by Rowan Beaird
Rating: 3 stars
Pub date: 3/19

Lois Sanders wants a divorce, but in the 1950s, that’s not easy. Her father pays for her to travel to a divorce ranch in Reno, where she can wait out the allotted time to ask for one. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Lois finds solace and sisterhood among fellow divorce seekers at the Golden Yarrow. As she navigates the freedom of Nevada's six-week residency requirement, she encounters Greer Lang, whose unconventional spirit ignites a fire within Lois.

This debut novel captures the essence of female empowerment and the societal constraints of the era. I knew nothing about divorce ranches before starting this, and I thought it was an interesting topic to learn about. Through Lois's experiences at the ranch, we see the courage it takes to defy convention and embrace one's true self. The camaraderie among the divorcees is inspiring and shines a light on the importance of female friendships.

The premise and historical backdrop are intriguing, but the pacing is very slow. I listened to this on audio, and Bailey Carr's narration was excellent and kept me engaged with the story. If you like a slower pace and are interested in historical events that impacted women in the 1950s then this is the book for you. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Flatiron for my advanced reader copy. This book comes out on 3/19!

This novel was interesting and features a historical fact that is Very unknown by most Modern Readers. The divorce ranches in Reno, cater to rich and powerful women seeking a no fault divorce. However, I found the storyline a bit lacking, The characters were also underdeveloped and as if they were helpless leaves in the winds of other men's desires, until a powerful individual comes into their midst. Overall I believe this will be a good read for many, but not my cup of tea.

The Divorcées is a compelling read set primarily at a 1950s Reno ranch where several women are temporarily living in order to establish Nevada residency and finalize a divorce. The novel focuses on Lois, whose upbringing was less glamorous than those of her fellow guests and who lacks a firm plan for the future, all of which makes her vulnerable to a rapid and tumultuous friendship with a mysterious new guest. The book is well-paced, with a blend of tense action and scenes of quiet introspection, and provides a conclusion for the protagonist that is satisfying and well-earned.

Thanks to @NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I have mixed feelings on this one. I found the story to be slower paced than I prefer with 2/3 of the story being pretty much the same day on repeat. The last third picked up but then I felt disappointed and felt the ending was abrupt and a bit unsatisfying.

However, I like the authors writing and I will pick up more of her work. In addition, I haven’t read a book that has made me think much about what women had to do in the past to get a divorce and it felt like a very timely book to read being Women’s History Month. It spurred my anger at gender inequality and I’m just grateful to have been born when I was.

I would recommend to anyone who like slower paced women’s fiction and could see this being a good book club book to dissect some of the relationships and that ending.

I couldn't get into this one. It was a slow pacer than I am used to. Those who enjoy character based novels and don't need a lot of action may enjoy.

🕶️ The Divorées - Rowan Beaird

3 ⭐️ - This one was just okay for me. I definitely wanted to like it more. I had hoped for domestic drama, money, found friendship, and growth. I got some of that, but not enough.

The blurb/synopsis sounded like it had so much potential (it does) and would be so engaging but I found myself not caring much. I had no idea what divorce homes were and that idea intrigued me. Unfortunately the story was just boring. I wanted the reviews i’ve seen to be wrong, but they were right. This one had a lot of potential and it just wasn’t reached. I did enjoy the storyline of female bonding and friendship in a world where women should fight for each other instead of against.

This one comes out 3/19. Thank you Netgalley, Flatiron Books, and Macmillan audio for the early reader and listener copies!

This was really interesting.

The absolute anger that women were as dependent on men at the time, and that there was never an option of "I don't want to be married to this guy anymore" wasn't a valid option for divorce. Being in Lois's head throughout while navigating friendships and social interactions was an interesting experience. It was messy, and although intriguing, I wanted some gay panic. Just a sprinkle. Greer had my hackles up from the get go, Lois was very relateable, and the side characters all complimented the scenery well. I appreicated that Lois stuck to her guns about not wanting to have children, it was a refreshing take, and is greatly needed. Also loved her Lois's badass tendencies when she got the gumption.

Overall, it was an interesting read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Flatiron for an e-copy.

This was a historical fiction novel that I did not know I needed. This era of time is often overlooked and reading from the perspective of a woman emerging into her own identity in these times was refreshing, relatable, and important to the female experience. I loved the flow of the prose. There was always an eerie feeling in the writing and Lois's emotions were palpable.

Thank you to Netgalley and Flatiron Books for a copy of this novel. It is on the shelves March 20th!

This was so good. I loved the story, the writing, the setting and the narrator. It felt truly unique but also intimate and transported me in the same way the best historical fiction does. I highly recommend this one if you are looking for something unique and possibly a world you never thought about before. If you like historical fiction, definitely add to your TBR!!

The Divorcées comes out next week on March 19, 2024, and you can purchase HERE!

The train smells like sweat, warm and sour. Once they entered Nevada, passengers could no longer keep the windows open, the desert wind whipping in red sand that coated their eyes and throats. "The summer's first dust storm," the conductor said. Now no one can stay clean. The air is fetid as a marsh and makes everything swell: the wooden banisters, the liver-colored seats, the pale face of the ticket taker.

Everything ripens and splits, while outside the passengers' windows the desert is hard as glass.

The premise made this book sound great. In reality, I found it slow and the characters super flat. The characters were super catty to each other even though they were all in the same boat. Their whole personalities were the fact that they were...you guessed it, divorcées. It just felt like the same scenes were played out again and again.

3.5 Stars Rounded Up. This was about a piece of history that I knew nothing about, so I found that part interesting. Such a great premise to tell a story about divorce ranches in Nevada. I also appreciated the development that Lois goes through during the book. Ultimately, I was left wanting more. It was such an interesting topic, but I felt like either more of the characters could have been developed or there could have been more plot points. If the book was trying more to be a social commentary on that time, I felt like that wasn’t strong enough to actually come across to the reader. I always appreciate when books teach me something, but I was never fully captivated by the story or the characters.

I loved stepping back in time to learn about how women were once again squirreled away to go about their dirty business of getting a divorce. The fine state of Nevada, and Reno specifically catered to helping women get out of unfortunate divorces. They simply needed to give one of a few reasons for the desired divorce.

We follow a few women as they socialize during their 6 week stint in Nevada biding their time.

I found the time period and subject matter interesting to learn more about. The fictional aspect of telling these historic points of time are always an enjoyable way to learn.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the gifted eARC.

The premise of this book was completely unique, and drew me in right away. There’s a large group of women at the ranch, all at the same point in life, but with vastly different life experiences. I really enjoyed the dynamics between the women and their many escapades outside of the ranch.
I will say that this book is mostly character-driven. The 6 week timeline keeps things moving, but there’s still a lot of time spent with just Lois and her thoughts. There’s a few moments where the action picks up a little bit, for the most part, this is a slow-moving story about one woman becoming independent in the 1950s.
My only complaint with the story focuses on Lois. And I’ll acknowledge from the beginning that Lois is a complicated main character that I didn’t find likable. The only feature that actually pulled me out of the story was Lois’s two obsessions: herself and the newest resident, Greer. Over half the book is spent with Lois just ruminating about her life and/or how absolutely amazing Greer is. To be fair, the most appropriate time to be a little self-obsessed is during your divorce, but with no self-awareness, it gets boring SO fast. Her obsession with Greer also has a lot of romantic and possessive undertones that are never explored further. With both obsessions, the lack of growth kept me from getting attached to either character.
Overall, this plot was fresh enough to keep my attention. While clearly not a perfectly accurate depiction of divorcée life in the 50s, the portrayal of the women, their previous lives, and their new choices, was a fascinating world that I’d never really spent time in before. And while parts of the story moved slowly, the ending definitely made up for a lot of the pacing issues.
Thanks to Netgalley and Flatiron Books for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Golden Yarrow is the destination ranch for the 6 weeks one needs to wait to get a Reno divorce, at least if you are a woman in the 1950s. Lois ends up there after a very lonely childhood with her controlling father, and then marriage with a controlling husband. During her time at the ranch she is exposed to a wide range of women from many walks of life, including the most intriguing - Greer. Greer helps Lois realize that she can escape the life of expectations, and that there is a wide world out there, even if you are a divorcee in the 50s.

The premise of this one was intriguing, the execution not as exciting. The plot was a bit slow and the twist fell flat. I think it’s interesting that society sent women away when they didn’t fit into the roles created for them - ranches to get divorced and homes for girls when they got pregnant. I liked the characters, and the stories of how they came into themselves at the ranch away from men. These were women who were trying to figure out how to fit into their worlds without men, how do they define themselves? But in the end I didn’t love how the novel unfolded; the audio was really enjoyable however and I thought the narrator was wonderful.

3.5 stars

Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the ARC

I really was hooked by the topic of this book - divorce ranches where women could live for the time required to gain residency in Nevada in order to file for divorce there. What a fascinating work around to a system where divorces were hard to obtain (and also creates a world of wealth and relative luxury -- accessible only to the rich). With that said, I didn't really find Lois a compelling character and found this hard to get into. It moved a little slowly and seemed too much mired in privilege for me to really get excited about it. Despite my struggles, I think many historical fiction readers will enjoy this!