I was so thrilled to read this, but honestly it fell a bit flat for me. It was very character driven and felt a slow. I think the author did a phenomenal job with the actual writing, but the story wasn't as intriguing as I'd hoped. I think the setting and idea is so interesting, and I did enjoy learning a little more about the Divorce Ranches. I'd say if you are a big fan of women's fiction or character driven stories, this would be a great read for you!

I will say, the audiobook was truly wonderfully done and went a long way towards making the slow story more enjoyable!

Its always fun to find a new to me author - Rowan Beaird is that for me.

Synopsis: Lois Saunders thought that marrying the right man would finally cure her loneliness. But as picture-perfect as her husband is, she is suffocating in their loveless marriage. In 1951, though, unhappiness is hardly grounds for divorce—except in Reno, Nevada.

The year is 1951 and the only way for a woman to get a divorce in the United States was to travel to Reno, Nevada. By staying in Reno for six weeks and expressing their intention of living there, a woman could get divorced. Lois Sanders is one of these women - trapped in a loveless marriage she has left her husband, so her father, despite being displeased by her actions, pays for her to stay at The Golden Yarrow, a divorce ranch.. There are several other women staying - each has nice rooms, their food provided and they spend their days by the pool or shopping and their evenings in bars or the casinos. When Greer Lange arrives a few days after Lois, Lois is instantly captivated. She is different from the other women with an air of mystery about her, taking her food in her room and sporting a huge bruise on her face.

My thoughts: The Divorcees is a story about independence, trust and the restrictions place upon women. I hadn't heard of the divorce ranches before this read. Lois is an awkward character, not really knowing what she wants for a lot of the novel and then not knowing how to go about it. She cares a lot about what others think and overanalyzes the looks and comments from the other women.

As a women who was shocked 26 years into a marriage when my husband suddenly announced he wanted out, I understand being stunned and confused on where to go and what to do. It does take a while to get your footing. While my divorce was very difficult for me, It I am reminded how far we've come.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron books for sharing a place in time and reminding us that friendships exist even during difficult times.

did you know that if you wanted to get divorced in the 1950s you had to go live on a ranch in reno, nevada? it was known as the “reno cure” & thousands of women flocked west for a quickie divorce. when lois arrives at golden yarrow ranch, she meets other divorcées but none as interesting at greer lang. she’s like the cool girl in school that everyone wants to impress and soon they form an almost thelma-and-lois-like friendship. i loved the premise of this book but found it hard to get into the characters. lois wasn’t really likable & her tendency to lie distanced herself from the rest of the girls. three quarters of the book centered around their six weeks on the ranch—eating breakfast, lounging by the pool & going to the casino at night—but it wasn’t interesting enough to make you want to continue. thank you netgalley for this arc!

I really enjoyed this book at every turn until the abrupt ending. I personally dislike endings that leave interpretation to the reader’s choosing. I want to know more about what happens. Does she get into acting? Does she find Greer? I want to learn more about the revenge she seeks.

The story is totally relevant to what’s going on in the world currently in terms of women’s rights. The language used kept me on the edge of my seat hungry for more! The story is set in mid century when women had to have “good reason” to divorce their husband and even then could only seek divorce in certain states. This one takes place in Nevada where Lois is wanting to divorce her controlling mysoginist husband. Her father sends her to a ranch for divorcees where she meets several other women in the same position.

“Greer” joins the group mysteriously staying isolated for quite some time, giving her celebrity status as a result. Greer won’t be controlled and surfaces finally with a shiner. We never find out how she gets the black eye and we never find much out at all about her. She eludes questions by shifting the focus back to Lois or the other girls every time. Greer causes division between Lois and the other girls, making her think she’s special as Lois is perceived to be a loner who struggles to form friendships. Turns out Greer takes advantage of that and uses Lois.

I almost gave this 4 stars, putting it up there with many of my favorites. The abrupt ending was not satisfying at all!

Thank you Flatiron Books for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! I always appreciate it! What drew me to this book was a historical point about which I did not know anything. I did know that in the 1950s divorce was frowned upon, but I did not realize that there were actual ranches where women would go to stay while waiting for their divorce to get finalized. And this is what the majority of the book was about. It was not a fast-paced book, but it held my interest most of the time. Where I started to get frustrated was with the main character, Lois. Perhaps I missed the point, but she seemed so easily swayed by any outside influence-her husband, her father, and then her friend, Greer, at the ranch. I felt bad for her because she lost her mother at a critical age, so maybe this was the reason, but it was hard to root for her in my opinion. I also really did not enjoy the ending. I kept thinking there would be more, but then it was finished.

I did enjoy the writing and like I said, the historical aspect of the story, so I gave this book 3 stars.

An interesting look at the Nevada “divorce ranch” system of the 1950s, which provided women with a residence while they waited out the six-week requirement for a divorce. The historical aspects of the book are quite interesting, but I felt the characters were pretty broadly defined. I felt like I liked the idea of this book more than the actual book itself.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and I had high hopes for this book. I was fascinated to learn about “divorce ranches” as I had never heard of such a thing. While this was a part of the story, Lois’s relationship with Greer was the main focus. I felt like the storyline went nowhere and it was almost a DNF for me.

Thank you @netgalley and @flatiron_books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

I’d love a real place like this, but the book dragged quite a bit. I couldn’t get through it easily. "The Divorcées" by Rowan Beaird is a poignant and heartfelt exploration of friendship, love, and the complexities of starting over. Set against the backdrop of a small Southern town, this novel follows the intertwined lives of three women as they navigate the challenges of divorce, self-discovery, and new beginnings.

The story centers around protagonists Margo, Georgia, and Ruby, three friends who find themselves at a crossroads in their lives after their respective marriages come to an end. As they lean on each other for support and solidarity, they embark on a journey of healing and self-reinvention that will test their bonds of friendship and redefine their sense of self.

Beaird's writing is warm and evocative, capturing the unique charm and eccentricities of small-town life with authenticity and humor. The characters are richly drawn and multi-dimensional, each grappling with their own insecurities, desires, and regrets. From Margo's determination to reclaim her independence to Georgia's struggle to find love again and Ruby's quest for self-acceptance, the characters' journeys are both relatable and empowering.

One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its portrayal of female friendship and solidarity. As Margo, Georgia, and Ruby lean on each other for support and companionship, they discover the power of sisterhood and the importance of having a strong support system during life's most challenging moments. Beaird's depiction of their friendship is both heartwarming and authentic, celebrating the resilience and strength of women in the face of adversity.

While "The Divorcées" tackles weighty themes such as love, loss, and redemption, it does so with a light touch and a sense of optimism that ultimately makes it a hopeful and uplifting read. Beaird balances moments of humor and levity with moments of genuine emotion and introspection, creating a narrative that is as entertaining as it is insightful.

Overall, "The Divorcées" is a charming and engaging novel that celebrates the power of friendship, resilience, and self-discovery. With its relatable characters, witty dialogue, and heartwarming storyline, this book is sure to resonate with readers of all backgrounds. Rowan Beaird has crafted a touching and memorable tale of love, loss, and the enduring bonds of friendship that will linger in readers' hearts long after they've turned the final page.

The Divorcees by Rowan Beaird is an original novel about Nevada divorce ranches established for women in the 1950s and 1960s. The characters, as expected, are wealthy, self-centered females. Recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction.

For some reason I thought it was going to be queer. Nevertheless, I was enjoying the dynamic between the women at the Golden Yarrow and how Greer's magnetism altered it. That is until it jumped the shark leading up to the novel's climax and then the ending was unnecessary.

The Divorcees by Rowan Beaird has an interesting setup. In the 1950s Reno, Nevada was the center for people seeking divorces and there was a required length of residency to qualify. I was aware of this situation and appreciated the look backward to see that within my lifetime choices were so limited for women. Unfortunately I just never got into the main character of Lois and so I struggled some with the book. I would recommend it for learning more about the times of the 1950s.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Divorcees is available now.

This drama is set at a 1950s “divorce ranch”- a place where wealthy women would go to establish residency in Nevada and become eligible to file for divorce against their husbands back home. I liked the premise of this- a lot of historical fiction seems to tread the same ground, but I had never read anything on this topic before, so I found it interesting. Definitely more of a character study rather than a plot driven book- at the end there was a bit of a plot twist that felt kind of melodramatic to me, but all of the character development and complex dynamics leading up to it were what really made this book shine.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the early read!

I always enjoy reading historical fiction about a time and place that I know nothing about and The Divorcées is just that. It takes place in the 1950's and follows Lois and a group of women who are staying at a divorce ranch where they must live for 6 weeks in order to be granted a divorce. I really enjoyed the author's writing style even though I found the middle part of the book to be a bit slow. There is a surprise ending and even if you see it coming, it manages to shock all the same. If you enjoy books about female friendships, desire, independence, and coming of age, give this one a go. Would make a great book club book and a great beach read.

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

The Divorcees had such a lovely very specific slice of life, giving color to a historical time and experience I didn’t really know much about, which I enjoyed. I enjoyed getting snippets of the women who were at the ranch in Reno, but honestly just never felt that connected to Lois. I think I kept waiting for more to happen to deepen the reader’s understanding of her, but it never came. I wanted a little more intrigue with Greer, a little more messiness. The book was just a little too tidy, but still an interesting exploration!

Women waiting for their lives to change - that’s the theme of this book. And I felt like I spent most of the book waiting for something to happen. Just when I thought something was going to happen, nope, actually it was nothing after all. I found the setting of the divorce ranch to be interesting, as well as Reno of that time. I just ended the book wanting something more, but I’m not sure what that more should be. Funnily enough, I think that was the main character’s problem, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am so thankful to Flatiron Books, Rowan Beaird, and Netgalley for granting me advanced digital access to this riveting collection of prose before it hits shelves on March 19, 2024.

Interesting take on a very difficult time in history for women who had zero legal options of their own.

Happy publication day to Rowan Beaird and The Divorcées! Thank you to Rowan Beaird, Faltiron Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book for an honest review!

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?

This book was not the easiest for me to get through. The story dragged at times, and it also jumped around (mostly at the beginning) between timelines. I think a linear timeline may have worked better, starting from Lois’ marriage and how things fell apart - I found that to be a compelling part of the story that didn’t get explored enough. Her relationship with Greer was interesting, but it could have been developed more. We didn’t get enough from the other girls at the ranch. The involvement of the casino just didn’t flow for me and the ending was abrupt.

A great audio book about a very interesting story. I loved the twist and reading about women going to Reno for divorces.