An interesting look at the difficulty women had doing anything at this time in history. It was a little bit of a slow burn for me, but definitely an interesting read.

Happy publication day to Rowan Beaird and The Divorcées! Thank you to Rowan Beaird and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen 🎧 to this book for an honest review!

The narrator🎙️for this audiobook 🎧 is Bailey Carr.

📅 March 19, 2024 was the pub date for The Divorcées. 📅

I was so excited to read this book because it had a plot different from any book I’ve read but it fell a little flat for me. Don’t get me wrong, it was a good read but I was hoping for more!

It’s the 1950’s and many women, like Lois Saunders, think that getting married will solve all of their problems and concerns because that’s what society has preached to them. Once Lois is married, she finds that train of thought to be so very far from the truth. She struggles as she tries to navigate a loveless marriage. She wants a divorce but that is unheard of across the United States at the time unless you move out west to a Divorce Ranch like the Golden Yarrow.

So, that’s just what Lois does. She files for divorce and establishes her new place at the Golden Yarrow where the ladies ride horses and sit by the pool by day and hit the local bars at night. Lois doesn’t truly feel a sense of belonging until Greer Lang arrives. For the first time in her life, Lois feels noticed and accepted for who she is. She may also feel a sense of infatuation. Will Greer prove to be loyal or will she let Lois down like so many before have?

The Divorcees by Rowan Beaird provides great insight to the Divorce Ranches that were a staple across Nevada in the 1950s. The novel, explores the difficult path women had to take in order to step out of marriages that they no longer wanted or that, in many cases were detrimental to their physical and emotional well being. While the historical aspect of this novel was interesting. The story itself was slow and there were too many characters who did not have defining characteristics to make them memorable or key to the novel. My interest in this novel stopped at gathering facts related to Divorce Ranches. Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillan Press for a copy of this audiobook ARC.

The Divorcées is set in the 1950s during a little-known period of history when grounds for divorce were expanding, especially in states like Nevada. During this time, women could file for divorce after 6 weeks of residency in the state. Many women stayed in "divorce ranches" during this time with other women also seeking divorce.

Despite it having a unique setting, I didn't love this book. Most of the plot was very slow and didn't capture my attention. We learn more about the main character, Lois—her childhood and marriage—and, thereby, more about this time period when women were treated like children even into adulthood, only gaining some semblance of "freedom" through marriage. But for the most part, Lois is a rather passive figure, without strong motivations to propel the story forward. When Greer joins the ranch, we finally see a catalyst for the story, but as her storyline finishes, I was left wondering what the point of the novel was and whether Lois experienced any change at all.

Lois is getting a divorce. Her father is wealthy, so Daddy sends her to a ranch to get divorced. He doesn't want to be embarrassed by her divorce. But daddy is not going to take care of her either aftwards. The ranch is where wealthy women stay until the divorce is finalized. In the state of Nevada, divorce is easier. So many different women are checking into the range. None of them seem like they want to become Lois's friend. Then Grier checks in. Grier is different. Lois is infatuated by her. All the ladies seem to be
They want to eat like Grier and always be around her.
Lois finds herself doing things for Grier. Sewing buttons, cutting hair, whatever it takes to be accepted
Grier seems to be a rule breaker. She dares Lois to do things out of her confront zone. Is she a bad influence, or is it that you just can't say no to Grier, wanting to please her
Does Grier feel the same way, or is she using Lois
Will Lois find her own way or find herself in a heap if trouble daddy can't bail her out of

The Divorcees by Rowan Beaird is a great piece of historical fiction, an era that is rarely written about...what women in the 1950's were allowed to do and not do; the latter of which makes up most of the list. Living on the ranch for the required 6-week residency in Reno reminded me of Jane Rule's Desert of the Heart. When Lois goes to the ranch she knows what she wants...a divorce, but she has no clue what follows. It takes a mysterious guest to arrive to help Lois come out of her shell and experience life. When this relationship goes off the rails, will Lois be able to find her way back to her true self? Read to find out.

The Divorcees is a historical fiction set in the 1950s, on a ranch in Reno, NV. This is a "divorce ranch" where women stay for 6 weeks to prove residency in the state in order to qualify for divorce. The book follows Lois during her 6-week stay and her relationship to the other residents, especially a woman named Greer. This budding friendship starts to crack Lois's small world open, forcing her to look in on herself to discover what she truly wants. I enjoyed the setting immensely and while it's set in the 50s and located in one of the few cities that "allow" a woman to divorce her husband, it reads modern in a way only a story set on a ranch can. I found Lois dull and wasn't really rooting for her. I found pretty much all of the divorcees one-dimensional, except Greer who seemed to be the most fleshed out. But also, I would've hated Greer if I were a guest at the ranch, so I don't see her appeal either. I felt unsatisfied by the ending. It was lackluster and I felt it should have ended 50 pages earlier. Overall, I found this book interesting at best, but it had much more potential than what I listened to in this audiobook. If Goodreads let me rate things with 1/.2 stars, I'd give this a 2.5, but alas, a 3 it is. Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this title in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted to like this one - the cover is gorgeous, the concept unique (I knew nothing about these ranches in Reno), the feminist messages and the stories of women standing up for themselves and finding their own way before a time when it was allowed… but 40% in I was bored to tears. DNF for me.

The Divorcees
by Rowan Beaird
Pub Date: March 19, 2024

This book based on the divorce ranches of the 1950's in Reno, Nevada. It was easier for someone to divorce in Nevada and our main character, Lois, goes to Golden Yarrow to spend 6 weeks and be granted a divorce. This book shows you a peek into the world of having no way out of a loveless marriage and having to sit and wait on time to tick away. Lois is not really interested in anything at the ranch until Greer shows up. Greer is the total opposite of Lois and this makes Lois begin to question how she has been living. Lois begins to do things she would never have done before because of her friendship with Greer.

The pace of the story is slower, but I believe it is purposely written this way to help the reader feel like they are in the desert and time was slow moving and it is so hot by the pool which makes days move at a snail pace. This book would be a great read at the beach or poolside when you are not in a hurry. I think it shows us how far women have come and how bizarre the laws and society was when it came to women in the 50's. I loved the relationship of Greer and Lois and think we all need someone to click with and help us find our independence.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and Rowan Beaird for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.
Keep reading and finding your next adventure in Black and White.

First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
The Divorcees was a really interesting book set in 1950’s Nevada at a ranch for women waiting for the divorces to be finalized. I’m gonna be honest- I knew so very little about this prior to reading the book. It was a stark reminder about how far women’s right have come since then. This book had beautiful writing and coupled compelling characters with some twists and turns I didn’t expect. I’d honestly love to read a sequel and I hope Rowan Beaird writes one!
4⭐️

A beautifully told timeless story, "The Divorcees" is a wonderful read for all. Will be recommending to book club friends!

This book was not for me...

I did not like the narrator who seemed to have no dreams or aspirations after getting a divorce. I wasn't a fan of the catty women, but that is the patriarchy working it's magic during the 1950s to get the women back in the homes after WWII.

This could have been redeemed if our MC was a little more determined to blaze her own path instead of following another. If it were a love interested, I wish that could have been explored.

Overall, this will be a book that you either love or hate. So, I hope you are willing to read it and decide for yourself.

I really enjoy reading about women who go against the norm, and The Divorcées by Rowan Beaird shared a story that was exactly that!

It is the 1950's, a time when you are either taken care of by your father or by your husband; a time when divorce is considered sinful, and being a divorcée is met with condescension and disdain. The Golden Yarrow, a divorce ranch in Reno, aids those afflicted by divorce; this is where Lois finds herself residing for six weeks, the only requirement for divorce in the state of Nevada. It isn't until Greer joins the ladies at the ranch that Lois starts to see another way to live; a way that is out from under a man’s thumb; a way that is both feasible and courageous – but, looks can be deceiving!

Although Lois could come across as naive at times, I found her character (and others) appropriate for the historical time frame. The additional intrigue that Greer's character added changed the dynamic of the ladies at the ranch, and was a welcome change. Beaird's writing is both atmospheric and descriptive, while not being overdone.

This book was narrated by Bailey Carr, and my only complaint with the audiobook is nothing to do with her voice at all. Occasionally there were noticeable changes to the sound quality which were slightly annoying to listen to, and only occurred when I assume edits were made to the audio track.

I look forward to what Beaird comes up with next, as I enjoyed this historical fiction that showed a thread of strong women!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copy to read and review.

I really wanted to like this one. I loved the premise, a woman going to a divorce ranch gets into trouble while exploring her newfound freedom, meets some kooky characters along the way that help her learn some lessons she hadn't while in a bad marriage-all up my alley. I just had trouble focusing? I was struggling the whole time to remember names and descriptions and locations because the way it was written just did not stick out to me.
I still adore the premise, and I think this might be a case of a bunch of people will love this book and it just didn't stick with me, and that is totally okay! I am not the end-all be-all of literary reviews! I'm just a bookseller, but I'm a bookseller that cannot remember the main character's name :/

This quiet story was lovely and well done on audio. I learned about the Nevada connection to getting a quick divorce and enjoyed the historical setting of a time when women were finding their footing and beginning to advocate for themselves and supporting each other.

I felt for the women and their lots in life, the abandonment they felt from their families and the situations they dug themselves out of despite being down and lost.

The ending felt flat, however, it too was quiet and I was expecting more.

All in all, the negative reviews on GR speak more to the lack of self-awareness that many readers have about what kind of stories make them happy (plot-driven, lots of action) versus character-driven stories (slow, quiet, character development where "nothing happens"...grrr).

I very much recommend this story. Thank you Net Galley, Flatiron Books and Ms Beaird for an early copy.

The Divorcées was an interesting, thought-provoking read for me. When we end a relationship, prevailing wisdom is to “take some time on your own.” The women at the Golden Yarrow, a ranch for women in the 1950s who are divorcing their husbands to stay at for six weeks in order to claim residency in Nevada, more or less abide by this, with only one or two quickly entering into relationships. Lois, our protagonist, would likely say that she, too, is taking time for herself, but I would posit that just because she does not have a new man in her life does not mean she has not gotten in over her head with someone too soon.

Her friendship/obsession with Greer, someone who was seen as the cool girl, the one to watch at the ranch, escalates so quickly - spoiler, not into anything sexual, though I was hoping for it, but into a moral crevasse. On the one hand, Greer opens Lois’s eyes to listening to her own judgment, choosing herself, some relatively radical stuff at that time. But Greer herself was often described in such a sinister way compared to the other women at the ranch. Lois seemed to see the others as characters or even caricatures, while Greer was the only real flesh and blood person for her.

At the end of the book, I am left wondering, is anyone truly knowable? And, would Lois have gotten to where she does without Greer’s influence? I would like to think that she would have. This is a woman who was brave enough to leave her husband without having concrete reasons to do so other than the vague sense that he spoke to her like she was his secretary rather than his wife and equal partner. To be clear, this is more than enough reason for me, but in the time of the novel this would have been pretty uncommon and a lot of the women Lois met had experienced some more intense mistreatment at the hands of their husbands.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC audiobook, I enjoyed it, and it gave me a lot to think about!

The narrator for this book is fantastic. I liked the premise of the story and the Divorce Ranches were something I didn't know about. This book had lots of character development and not to much plot but I liked getting to know the characters and a bit of each of their back stories. The cover is very eye catching, and that's what initially drew me to the story! It was interesting to read about a very different time period and lifestyle. Thank you Macmillan Audio for the audiobook copy of this book!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read and review The Divorcees on NetGalley.

Published: 03/19/24

Narrator: Bailey Carr

Stars: 3

Fortunately we are not alike as human beings. I didn't connect with the characters, didn't like any of them, nor did I have empathy for them or their situation. However, I know enough that many people will connect, relate and can share their stories.

This is just a story for me. It was just okay. I could have stopped at any point and never looked back. The cover will remind me that I read it for a bit, and then one day I will read the synopsis and eventually will check Goodreads to see that I did in fact read it.

I found the women living at a time when divorce was frowned on, men were bosses not husbands, and these women ranged from naive to foolish.

The narration kept me going, well done.

The audiobook was great, Rowan Beaird writes about a 1950s divorcee resort in NV and all the truths young women at the time had to deal with when divorced. A resort like no other to assist in finding one's place in the world at a time when a woman should be happily married. The characters are so well developed that one feels they are your best friend by the last chapter. You are rooting for the ladies to be successful with their plans. This was an intriguing story with a wonderful plot that made one ponder a woman's struggle for freedom then and now. Old NV never looked so suspenseful or inviting.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Liked it, fun while I was reading it
At the Golden Yarrow, the most respectable of Reno’s famous “divorce ranches,” Lois finds herself living with half a dozen other would-be divorcees, all in Reno for the six weeks’ residency that is the state’s only divorce requirement. They spend their days riding horses and their nights flirting with cowboys, and it’s as wild and fun as Lake Forest, Illinois, is prim and stifling. But it isn’t until Greer Lang arrives that Lois’s world truly cracks open. Gorgeous, beguiling, and completely indifferent to societal convention, Greer is unlike anyone Lois has ever met—and she sees something in Lois that no one else ever has. Under her influence, Lois begins to push against the limits that have always restrained her. How far will she go to forge her independence, on her own terms?

Part historical fiction, part female empowerment, part casino heist, I enjoyed aspects of this story. I loved learning about Reno's divorce ranches in the 50's, what a crazy concept! I didn't enjoy the slow pacing of the book, but I do appreciate that it was to covey the six weeks mandatory stay that seemed to go on forever. These women are totally infantalized by the courts rules and rulings, also furthering the historical aspects, which I also found very interesting. They're trying to take back their agency, also great. However, it was very uneven as the bad influence and casino heist became the main focus. The pacing was almost too quick after the first 2/3 at a slower build.

The narrator, Bailey Carr, did a good job, I had no trouble understanding who was saying what, where, when, and with what expression/intension.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and author Rowan Beaird for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The Divorcées is out March 19, 2024.