Evelyn is heading to Reno for a divorce - its the 1930s and the easiest way in America to obtain a no-fault divorce was to be resident in Reno for 6 weeks. She has been trapped in a loveless marriage and now her children are grown, she wants to escape.

She meets up with other women, many escaping from worse marriages than hers with abuse and philandering, and makes friends as they spend their time on the 'divorce ranches' (who are making money to survive the back end of the Depression) and going into Reno for fun.

Its a really lovely read, Evelyn is a decent woman wanting to do right by her husband and family, knowing she will be ostracised by everyone in her small town back home. I wasn't aware of the Reno divorce system before, so I learned something new as well as enjoying a cracking read. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Evelyn Henderson is married to Dean and she has two college aged children. Her deceased parents were religious and they pushed her into marrying him, it wasn’t what she wanted and she boards a train for Reno, Nevada. The laws around divorce have changed, she has to stay at the Flying N Ranch for six weeks and become one of the “six weekers”, and they stay long enough to secure an uncontested divorce.

The ranch is run by Ramona and Arthur, and she becomes friendly with her housemates Beatrice, Madeline and Thistlena and they go into town for beauty appointments and shopping, and attend the dance-halls at night and which are frequented by cowboys and Evelyn has her head turned by the handsome Sundown.

Evelyn discovers the reasons why her friends want to get a divorce and for some the decision is easier than others and not all is what it seems and Reno is full casinos and prostitution, swindlers and crooks and can be a dangerous place for naive ladies and young girls.

I received a copy of Six Weeks in Reno by Lucy H. Hedrick from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. A story set in 1931 and during the Great Depression in America and about how those six weeks changed Evelyn's life, despite forming bonds with her housemates, I found her character rather shallow.

A three star read for me, the idea of women having to resort to such drastic measures to get a divorce was interesting and the cover is stunning and I had high hopes, however I felt the narrative lacked intellectual depth and I recommend borrowing a copy of the novel from the library.

I do not typically read this genre, but I do have to say that it is historically accurate in terms of the divorce requirements during the early 1900’s in Reno.

Evelyn is on a mission to 1930's Reno to get an uncontested divorce, but will she have the nerve to stay the full 6 weeks and come out a free lady?

I chose this book because I live in Reno, Nevada and was very excited to learn more of it's history. Every time Evelyn walked along the Truckee river or mentioned some of the places and streets that are still around today I internally cheered. Unfortunately, I want more than just historical facts and location lore in my books.

There is technically a plot to Evelyn's journey, but it doesn't really come together until the last 25% of the novel and the ending of her short-lived story was not even that satisfying. The majority of the book is seeing the Old West in the very judgey eyes of our MC. Every time something terrible happens to some one else or something even remotely inconvenient happens to her, Evelyn's internal monologue cries out saying "is this a sign that I should retreat back home?". No spoilers of course, but a funny inconsequential example of this is when she can't leave her hotel for a day because of a wind storm and her doubts come flying at you in the text! Evelyn is the stereotypical East coast high society snob, a gossiper who can't read social cues, too dim to piece together obvious "secrets", and the biggest little square in all of the 6 weekers and Renoites.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this eCopy to review

I recently finished reading "Six Weeks in Reno" by Lucy H. Hedrick, and I must say, it was a captivating journey through the emotional landscape of 1930s Nevada.

The story follows Evelyn Henderson, a woman who, after twenty years in a loveless marriage, decides to escape her stifling suburban life. She boards a train to Reno, Nevada, a town booming with "six-weekers"—women who stay just long enough to secure an uncontested divorce. Evelyn settles into the Flying N Ranch, where she bonds with her housemates, most of whom are also seeking freedom from societal conventions.

The novel beautifully captures the essence of the era, with Evelyn experiencing the heady taste of freedom through ranch life and dance-hall cowboys by night. However, beneath the glamour lies the grim reality of Depression-era America and the devastating consequences of escape. Evelyn's journey is both heart breaking and hopeful as she is drawn out of her shell by a Hollywood-handsome wrangler and challenged by her new friends to reengage with the world.

"Six Weeks in Reno" is a powerful exploration of heartbreak, hope, and the allure of the unknown. It offers a poignant look at the struggles and triumphs of women seeking to live life on their own terms. If you're interested in historical fiction with strong emotional depth, this novel is definitely worth a read!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free arc of this book.

⭐️ 2.5
The synopsis of this book was really intriguing. I love historical fiction that is female centered and focuses on a piece of history that is not well known. Women traveling to Reno, Nevada in 1931 to establish residency in order to get a divorce sounded like a home run.

Unfortunately, this book was just okay. The main character, Evelyn, was likable enough, but at times, I found her naive. My biggest issue was the writing. Most of the time, the book was telling you what was happening instead of showing. This was especially difficult in the beginning when so many characters were introduced through throwaway conversations with the main character. It was hard to remember who was who or what their story was. Also, with so many side characters sharing space, it was impossible for any of them to be fleshed out.
The story progressed with one shocking event after another for Evelyn, but much like the characters, none of the plot points were given a lot of time or attention. There were a few that I believe added absolutely nothing to the story. Others were set up so clearly they were predictable early on.

I appreciate the choice of setting and overall idea of this book. The main character's view of the world and herself were challenged over her six weeks in Reno, and she came out with a new outlook. However, the problems I have with the writing outweighed anything I gained from this book.

I love an interesting book of historical fiction, especially when I'm able to learn something new. I had no idea about the history of Reno and the divorce ranches. Lucy H. Hendrick did a great job of creating such a variety of characters and fascinating story lines mixed in a little romance, some mystery and a good amount of empowerment. Thanks #NetGalley #LakeUnion

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher Lake Union Publishing, and author Lucy H. Hedrick for providing an eARC. I'm leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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If you like women-focused historical fiction with bits of feminism sprinkled in, you'll like this.

If you don't, you'll probably be bored.

FMC Evelyn is, as a character, not very exciting. What makes this book so compelling is everything that happens around her. Evelyn is a straight laced (literally, she still wears corsets in an era when corsets are not in fashion) goody-goody who's biggest risk is probably wearing white shoes after Labor Day. She's securing a divorce because she's unhappy in her marriage for a number of reasons, but she's not at risk of kidnapping, abuse, or destitution, like some of the other "six-weekers" staying at the ranch. She's wealthy, conventionally attractive enough to still be a model at nearly forty years old, doesn't own pants, doesn't own shoes that aren't heels, and finds joy in homemaking, childrearing, and charity work.

I cannot relate to this woman in nearly any capacity.

However, if the reader pauses and stops viewing Evelyn as a character, and instead views her as a reader-insert into the scary and foreign world of 1931 Nevada with the stigma of being a divorcee and trying to forge a life as an unmarried woman of a certain age, and with the rowdy gambling and dancing halls, and with the cruel possibility of Mother Nature herself tearing the roof off from over your head, it gets a lot more interesting. Through Evelyn as a device, we readers get to experience the stigma of divorce, the fear of being alone, the danger of walking alone at night, the risk of scandals and swindlers, and the unexpected impacts all these things could have on a person's conscience, and constitution. Mental health is explored a lot in this book, and while it doesn't use modern terms we're familiar (depression) it does describe the same things in the terms that were in use back then (bouts of melancholy).

To that point, every single supporting character stood out to me and felt richly developed and complex. Particular favorites were Savannah with her "demons", Beatrice with her melancholy, Madeline with her business acumen, Thistlena with her scandals (all of them, omg), Romana and Arthur with their tenacity, Little Hawk with his strength, and Miss Helen with her business and charity, Violet with her business, Neppy with her balance between dreams and duty, Sundown with his tenderness and independence... Even Dean, Evelyn's soon-to-be-ex-husband, is compelling to read about.

There were some reveals later in the book that readers can probably predict early on, but even still the reveals were well done and left with just a whisper of mystery around them. I liked that not everything was spelled out in an over-abundance of detail, but readers could piece together what happened with little to no doubt.

This book probably could use some trigger warnings, but also, I feel like if you know anything about divorce pre-1990, then you probably understand some of the things these women experienced both on and off page.

Originally, I picked this up because another "divorce ranch" book left me incredibly disappointed and wanting more; I had felt like that book was a whole lot of nothing. Six Weeks in Reno kept me interested with all the interpersonal drama and descriptions of life in a snapshot of a six-week period, and a lot happened. Evelyn didn't change much except for stepping outside her comfort zone a little bit, which is why this isn't a 5 star read for me (no one likes a dull main character), but everyone and everything around her was rich and colorful. I'm left hoping that Neppy can balance her dreams and duty, that Dean finds happiness, and that even Thistlena finds a happy ending.

Back in the day, divorce was hard to come by and was very much frowned upon, but then Reno, Nevada shortened the residency requirement law to six weeks and a new niche Depression Era industry was born. Lucy H Hedrick makes her fictional debut with this fascinating bit of American Women’s History and I just had to read it.

Six Weeks in Reno begins in 1931 when Evelyn Henderson leaves behind a twenty-year marriage under the disapproval of her wealthy East Coast family to journey by train to Reno and become one of the “six-weekers” who are there to obtain a divorce and a new life. Her mother arranged her marriage with a much older man and Evelyn is done stifling and struggling when her husband won’t find a job and claims he can’t during the depression. A secret she learns is the impetus for her new adventure.

Evelyn meets other women who come from all walks of life and marriage situations that have become untenable for various reasons. Their destination is a hick town in her eyes with no culture and she’s staying on one of the many local ranches who are using the “six-weeker” rush to become “Divorce Ranches” to help pay the bills.
Evelyn’s journey is not just the physical train ride that brings her to the Divorce Capital, but a private journey of finding herself. She has followed her strict, conservative family’s rules all her life and obeyed her mother in her marriage, but she is dreadfully unhappy and come unmoored. Arriving in Reno, getting to know the other women and the people on the ranch start to open her up and work changes on her. She starts out judgmental and reserved to the point of rudeness, but slowly she learns to connect, to trust, and to have real friends for the first time. She can meet a studly cowboy at a Reno dancehall and explore what attraction does to her and she can commiserate with women who have been abused, don’t have their paperwork, or, even now are vulnerable to a real estate con involving a casino. By the finish of her six-weeks, the new Evelyn can barely recognize the old and she’s facing the world with courage and confidence.

Six Weeks in Reno is historical fiction and I chose it for that as I was curious about the Divorce ranches and the “six-weeker”s since I had an older family member who was a Reno divorcee in her time. The detail and description of it all was all there. Even to the point of being just on the “too much” side so it drowned out plot. There are repetitive descriptions of the daily life and less attention to the story characters than I would have liked. But, what struck me was that this was a part of women’s history, too, and women had to be pretty brave, desperate, and determined to go this route because it wasn’t easy back in the ‘30’s and it wasn’t thought well of to be a divorced woman.

And, so, I was well-satisfied and glad I spotted Six Weeks to Reno now having a better understanding and feeling for that time, place, and the people through this fictional story. It is an obvious debut book and feels it, but well worth it for those who love women’s historical fiction in unique niche corners of history.

A woman at a “divorce ranch” in 1930s Reno strives to live life on her own terms in a powerful novel about heartbreak, hope, and the allure of the unknown.

A few states with more lenient policies sprung up as “divorce mills,” places where one-half of the couple could set up residence relatively quickly and split from their spouse on less stringent grounds. As men were the majority of the workforce, residency duties usually fell to the wife.

Nevada was entrepreneurial and strategic from the beginning, and liberal as a matter of necessity. When the Silver State was established in 1864, the residency requirements to enjoy such benefits as voting and filing legal suits—especially divorce suits—was just six months. It had to be brief: The population of Western boomtowns was transient by nature.But, on top of that, the grounds for divorce had wide berth. In some cases, it saved women from dangerously abusive relationships.

By 1909, Reno had already gained a reputation as a go-to for a quickie divorce. A very specific industry sprung up, with lodging and entertainment proliferating within steps of the Washoe County Courthouse. Divorce tourism bloomed: The bridge a block from the courthouse steps became known as the "Wedding Ring Bridge," where the newly divorced would dramatically toss their wedding rings into the Truckee River. Famous actresses like Mary Pickford had come for a divorce, and with them, the eyes of the world.

In 1927, the residency requirement was reduced to three months. After the Great Depression decimated the domestic industry, the 1931 Nevada legislature passed two crucial economically driven bills that would end up forever changing the state’s fortune. The first legalised gambling. And the second
upped the total grounds for divorce to nine and reduced the residency requirement from three months to just six weeks.

Divorce seekers had one thing in common: They needed somewhere to stay for six weeks, complete with a housing manager willing to testify that they hadn’t left the state for over 24 hours in that time.
If people had money and needed privacy, they stayed at one of the dude ranches around town, aka divorce ranches.

I had high hopes for this book. The premise was interesting as was the FMC. But once Evelyn arrives at the ranch with six weeks of waiting ahead, things got pretty dull. A rotation of dance hall visits, discussions about investing in western real estate, hair and nail appointments, and second guessing the decision to be there--it got old. And SO many characters: the visiting soon-to-be-divorceés, the hosts and workers at the ranch, the friends they met on the train staying at other ranches, the men they meet at the dance halls--I could not get invested in anyone. There are also some heavy subjects: spousal abuse, abortion, suicide, infidelity, eating disorders.

I applaud the author's effort, but I was either bored or irritated.

"Six Weeks in Reno" is light and enjoyable and a new twist on 20th century historical fiction. I would have liked a little more personality and depth to the characters and a happier ending, but it was a quick and easy read.

**Thank you Net Galley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**

Six Weeks in Reno is a historical novel set in the 1930's. Evelyn Henderson travels to Flying N Ranch to wait out time until her divorce is finalized. Her life is changed by her time at the ranch and the people she meets there.

I wanted to read this novel because I love historical fiction. I also found the setting and time period intriguing.

The novel centers on Evelyn's time at the ranch and her interactions with the other soon-to-be-divorcees. She also meets a handsome wrangler. I enjoyed the glimpse of life on the ranch and Reno during this time period.

I recommend Six Weeks in Reno for other fans of historical fiction.

Six Weeks in Reno by Lucy H. Hedrick is a captivating novel!
I absolutely loved it. It's a rare thing to get a historical fiction that is wonderfully researched, pitch-perfectly voiced and unputdownable, but this is the real deal. A perfectly formed masterpiece. I raced through it
With riveting prose the pages fly and the heart beats for the astonishing heroine. Well-developed character pulls you into the story immediately and stirs emotions within you. This book was masterfully narrated.
This really was historical fiction at its finest, this book made me feel things I haven't felt in some time.

Thank you to Lucy H. Hendrick, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. My review is voluntary and all opinions are mine.

I was very interested in this book as soon as I read the title. Having moved to Reno many years ago. I am always intrigued as to the story in the book with Reno in the topic. I figured out what the topic was, but the subject captured my interest very quickly and held it! The characters in the story were different. I am sure we can all see ourselves in these women. These women were brave in making a decision to change their lives. It was funny in using my imagination to picture areas that I know today in 1931! I liked the questions at the end for book clubs. If I was in one I would suggest this book for all to read.

Six Weeks in Reno
By Lucy H Hendricks

Hendricks’ historical fiction debut takes the reader on the journey of married women in 1930s America. At this time Reno, Nevado was home to the six week divorce. Women went by train to live for six weeks (just long enough to show residency) in hotels or with local pioneers. Then, the judge granted their divorce.

Evelyn, the narrator of Six Weeks in Reno is in her late 30s, has two college kids and is fleeing a loveless marriage after her husband Dean did her dirty. Once you find out his secret life you’ll be rooting for the protagonist. She’s resilient and gains back her freedom in Reno. As a resident she is witness to countless transformations of ‘six-weekers’ and the devastation of swindlers, business schemers and unforeseen suicide.

What intrigued me about this historical fiction story was the idea of societal expectations of women to endure broken marriages. Thankfully, Reno was a safe (even though it had problems) landing for women to speak up and reclaim their forgotten life. My own grandmother stayed married for eight more years while separated and an ocean between them until she was granted a divorce in Canada. She too had to claim residency for three months in 1955.

Evelyn Henderson, defied the odds and befriended locals and other divorcees, while dancing her 40 nights away with a new beau. In her words, “Sundown is, without question, the highlight of my journey. From a sea of six-weekers, he chose me, and as our dancing evolved into lovemaking, he taught me the joy of letting go and trusting my heart.”

Please pick up this enjoyable read to find out of Evelyn pursues her life and a glimpse of new dreams after her divorce.

Rated this great read five stars and noted only one on page ‘open door’ romantic scene.

Thank you to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of this book to review. My words are my own.

• arc review: six weeks in reno •
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This is an interesting book about a woman named Evelyn Henderson, who is spending six weeks in Reno to divorce her husband during the Great Depression. I was excited about this book and to learn about divorce ranches, but it fell a bit flat for me. I didn't fall in love with Evelyn, the fmc, which made for a pretty long read. She meets all these women who are seeking divorce for many reasons, but the character back stories could have been more developed. I wanted to know more!
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I respect, what I would assume was a lot of time researching this book, but I think there could have been more time unraveling the hardships of depression and the underlying "wild west" themes that was briefly touched on throughout the book. This would have been in addition to exploring the stigma around divorce and what happened to women who did seek divorce, which was told through Evelyn who came from wealth
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Page & Pour Rating: 3✨️
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This is available for you to give a read today (March 4), and if you have read and have a different opinion I would love to know your thoughts.
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Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this.
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#arcreview #netgalley #lakeunionpublishing #bookreview #booksbooksbooks

I like books that remind me of one of my favorite films, The Women. This is a book that shows a set of women that meet in Reno at a ranch. All of them are there to complete the required residence in order to be granted a divorce. The women have different reasons for divorce, but want the same outcome. This book mentions the girls going into town at night for fun, which reminded me of The Misfits movie. Evelyn is the main character and is easily my favorite character. She’s easy to like and determined to dump her deadbeat husband that hasn’t worked in years.

One thing I love about these ranch books and movies are that most of the girls seem to support each other all the way, maybe because they have the same goal, I’m not sure. In this one the way they and around one girl that is very depressed is just heart warming.

I very much enjoyed this one.

This was a very interesting read, what really drew me in was the fact that this actually happened! Women would move to Reno and live for six weeks in order to get a divorce in the 1940's and 1950's!

I enjoyed going on Evelyn's journey with her as she tries to find herself and escape marriage to her dead beat husband. I really saw a change in her over the course of her time at the "divorce ranch". This is a quick, informative read and it really sheds light on how little rights women had and what they endured during that time in our nations history. It was a tad slow at times but I think for many of these women they probably enjoyed a slower pace to escape from the hell they were coming from. I am interested to read more from Lucy Hendrick!

Thank you to Lucy H. Hendrick, Lake Union Publishing, and net galley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

New Jersey resident Evelyn wants a divorce from her husband. In 1931, during the Great Depression, the easiest way to get an uncontested one was to move to Nevada for six weeks.

During the four day train journey and her time in Reno, Evelyn meets plenty of other women who are leaving their marriages, all for their own reasons. Hosting and entertaining these women was a cottage industry, and the residents of Reno welcomed them and their money with open arms. Some of the women blossom and find themselves, others struggle mightily. For East Coast resident Evelyn, it was a chance to remind herself of who she really is and find her inner strength.

I really enjoyed this book. I’m a big fan of YA historical fiction author Stacey Lee, and this seemed like it could be a grown up version of one of her books. It was clearly very well researched, and the characters were varied and well-defined. There were a variety of outcomes for the women, and it clearly felt like the author was trying to represent many of the various outcomes that the actual women, or six weekers as they were called, experienced during that time. That wasn’t a drawback; it made the story feel more authentic.

I wish the author had spent just a bit more time on Evelyn’s reentry to society when she returned to the East Coast. I would have liked to see how her college-age children reacted—they are the two least developed characters in the book—and perhaps how she was received in society upon her return. But to delve into those aspects is almost a different book, so I understand the author’s choice. I do wish she had found a way to develop the characters of the two children through communications while she was in Reno. I would have like to have heard more from them.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction, you should definitely check this one out.

This is an honest review based on the book provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.