I always start my review by talking about the outside and moving in. The cover and title of this book caught my eye. The book itself was not that exciting. I did find it interesting that women would move away from their town when divorcing their partner; I thought this was only done when a women was pregnant before marriage or too young to have a baby. That was the only thing that I thought was interesting. The lives of these women were not that exciting. Maybe it was how it was written, but this is not a book that I would recommend.

After telling her husband she no longer wants to be married, twenty something Lois heads to Reno where young women can procure divorces more easily in the early 1950s. While you might expect the other residents of the "Divorce Ranch" where she's staying to be more independent or free-thinkers, most of them just want to get remarried and are living off their parents money. Lois doesn't have such a generous father, in sentiment or wallet. The ranch is inhabited by a fun cast of characters, and Lois begins to slip into a routine. Then the mysterious Greer arrives at the ranch, owning every room she walks into and quickly becoming a ringleader on the girls' nights out to bars and casinos. Her hold on Lois grows stronger, and Lois begins to side with Greer in the slowly building tension in the house. What will Lois do to hold on to Greer's friendship and the rebellious, independent idea of herself she sees in Greer's eyes? I enjoyed this book, while the story wasn't groundbreaking, I was surprised a time or two and felt the ending was satisfying.

Thank you to net galley for this early audiobook.This was very slow paced for me .I even fell asleep a couple of times due to story being boring .The narration was not the best .I did learn that there were divorce ranches so that was interesting .It just was not my type of book .

The concept of the book had so much promise but really fell short. I didn't really care about any of the characters and it was hard to keep them straight. Narrator was great though.

Colleen ChiGirl on GR
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I was given an audiobook ARC from the author, publisher, and NetGalley and was happy to read this unusual novel set in the 1950’s. It features divorcees from around the US who leave their husbands and homes to setup a temporary/
permanent state-residence in Nevada. They stay at a divorce ranch run by women. After a relatively short period, a divorce is granted, while the women were able to receive meals, conversations, and mental support during the wait.

If these existed in the 1950’s, and I’m sure they did, it’s a very interesting concept and opportunity for that time period (when women were treated like their father’s property, and then their husband’s property).

This is the author’s debut novel and so worth reading. It moves slowly but thoughtfully, and there are some unexpected twists and turns.

You can always relate and be happy that you didn’t live as an adult woman needing a divorce back then! Regardless, good reminders, for all and a lot to think about in this novel.

The book follows a relatable protagonist on her journey to a divorcee "ranch" in 1950s Nevada. As she and the other women wait out their 6 weeks to be eligible to file for divorce. She comes under the spell of a glamorous newcomer who ends up not being what she seems. She shakes up our protagonist in a satisfying way and guides her to take control of her life.

I was excited to have gotten an audio ARC of The Divorcées and while it started out very slow, it did pick up. The story was interesting, but I found myself wanting to skip parts that seemed to drag on. I was fascinated in the divorce ranch, which sounds like a great place for people going through the life changing event of divorce. While I thing the premise of the book is good and I did enjoy it after about 60%, I gave 3 stars for how slow it was.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Rowan Beaird for the ARC of this book that releases on March 19,2024

Unfortunately, this one was a DNF for me around 65%. I really wanted to like it, because the setting itself just feels compelling — a 1950s Reno ranch for high-society women seeking a divorce? Sounds amazing, right? Alas, I did not find the characters likable, and their interactions were flat and tedious for me. I did like learning about the "rules" surrounding divorce and its societal implications in the 50s though. Hopefully you'll enjoy it more than I did!

I was intrigued by the storyline and did enjoy learning about the divorceé ranch scene in Reno during the 1950s, but main character, Lois was a bit flat for me. I found myself wishing the story was told from Greer’s perspective or maybe even Rita, the owner of the Golden Yarrow. I would loved to have known more back story on some of the other characters from the ranch, but it was entertaining and did get me thinking about how challenging life was for women who were stuck in loveless and sometimes abusive marriages.

Thank you NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced audio of The Divorcees by Rowan Beaird.

This book has a great concept with the setting of the divorce ranch in Reno, but was unfortunately a little too slow paced to be interesting. I think it has great potential, and there will definitely still be readers that love it!

The narrator had a nice, engaging voice.

This one was just not for me. It was very slow paced and not much happened. I didn’t have any feelings for the characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review.

I received this audio ARC and thought the narration was very well done.
The story itself could have been more, but I do love a book where it feels like we are experiencing with the characters and I think this one does just that.
I love the idea of the divorce ranch. I mean the possibilities for plot twists are endless. I think the writer took advantage of some of those, but not all of them.
Lori wasn’t my favorite character and I wish we got to see her grow more. All in all I loved the scenery, the idea, and the time period. Great book.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this slow burn story. It did take me a while to get into it but once I did I could not stop listening.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for my gifted copy.

I really wanted to like this book and did finish it but the characters were annoying as was the ending. The jacket art was great but didn't really represent the book. The plot was typical of the movies The Women (1939) or The Misfits (1961). Women have to establish a 6 week residency in Reno, Nevada in order to gain a divorce and stay in a group home with other women doing the same. There were too many characters to keep track of their individual stories and no point to the the characters that were mostly mentioned.

This book simply was not my cup of tea. It was mildly entertaining (for the sole reason that I felt like I had to listen to it so I could give a review), but I didn't enjoy it. The premise of it was interesting enough for me to request the ARC, but the main character's obsession with getting approval from the other guests at the ranch made me cringe. I know it's supposed to be set in a different time period from our modern one and that women tended to be a little more dependent, but this was a lot.

Lois and Greer's relationship was so weird to me. Greer is terrible and manipulative while Lois is a people-pleasing ingenue. I was constantly frustrated and found myself being more interested in the other characters, who I actually seemed to like. I guess maybe it could have been the intention of the author to make the characters unlikeable, but I like to like one of the primary characters in my books otherwise I don't feel like I have a reason to read/listen to it.

When Lois Saunders realizes she is in a love-less marriage, she decides she would like a divorce, however "love-less marriage" is not grounds for divorce. Lois travels from Lake Forest, Illinois to Reno, Nevada, where the only requirement for divorce is to establish residency in for six weeks. Lois stays at the most respectable of Reno’s famous “divorce ranches" the Golden Yarrow and is granted a divorce from Lawrence.

Lois spends her early days at the ranch keeping a low profile. She spends her evenings with Rita, the director of the ranch, instead of going out on the town with the other women. Lois is not included in the women's trysts and continues her lonely existence.

One very late evening, Greer Lang arrives. All the women at the ranch are enthralled with Greer, including Lois. While the other women eat in the dining room and ride horses, Greer eats in her room and lounges pool side during the day. Lois takes up swimming laps in the pool and eventually starts reading to Greer while she lounges.

All the women are vying for Greer's attention, however she seems particularly interested in Lois. Lois is enthralled with Greer and her attention and starts making questionable decisions.

I really enjoyed listening to The Divorcees and particularly enjoyed the narrator, Bailey Carr.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listen of The Divorcees by Rowan Beaird in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC. Unfortunately, I had a difficult time with this book. While the premise and the cover are what initially caught my eye, the story fell flat for me. I probably would've DNF'ed if I had had to read it, but because I had the audiobook, I was able to slog through. I agree with the other reviews on how it is a slow burn, just barely holding my interest for a good two-thirds of the book, picking up for me towards the end. I think the glacial progression kind of adds to the atmosphere though, highlighting the remoteness of the ranch location, amplifying the introversion and loneliness the characters experience on the divorce ranch as they come to terms with their situations. I empathized with the women. So many of the women in that time period seemed to rely so heavily on men -- their fathers and husbands/ex-husbands. When those relationships were broken, their lives and identities were shattered. I'm glad that Lois, the protagonist, was eventually able to break free of those ties.

Thank you #NetGalley & #Flatiron Books for the opportunity to listen to this marvelous debut novel, narrated by Bailey Carr. Lois Saunders, the main character of Rowan Beaird's colorful new book (on shelves 3.19.2024) is en route to a divorce ranch in Reno, NV as the story opens. A wonderful setting, Reno appears to be the "Vegas" of divorce locations: a fairly quick and easy six-week residency with a dozen other divorcees, a yammering lawyer, access to a pool, horses, a casino, and ultimately freedom from an unwanted marriage.

Lois is staying at the finest of these ranches with other well-off women and the days and nights are fairly humdrum until the beautiful, mysterious, aloof (and obviously bruised up) Greer Lang arrives. She is magnetic and enigmatic.

For Lois, Greer is a complete game changer and the novel truly takes off as the relationship between these two women deepens. What I can say is that I truly enjoyed the novel and think it's a marvelous first book. The last third of the book gained so much momentum that I just about listened straight through, captivated (and the ending landed as well - not always the case with many books). This is an outstanding debut by an author I'll keep an eye on. Highly recommend!!

First, where was a ranch I could have gone to after my divorce? I would have loved six weeks at a ranch with other women and a pool. (These ranches DID exist in the 60’s in Reno) One can grow and find themselves going through, and after a divorce, you saw Lois Saunders (the FMC) grow.

The book made me feel lonely. I’m unsure if that was planned because life after divorce can be very lonely.

Bailey Carr was the perfect narrator for this story.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the advanced audio book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
This is going to seem like a weird comparison but it almost reminded me of mean girls? We had the "it" girl that everyone was entranced by in Greer. We had the girl who felt out of place in Lois and the girls who would do anything to be like Greer. I kept seeing so many parallels throughout the book in the dynamic of the women. I really do think anyone who loved the movie and liked historical fictions of the mid 1900s will like this book a lot.
It felt to me like this book was a little slow. Things didn't really pick up until 75% of the way in. I feel like we could have cut some of the build up and spent more time helping us as the reader to understand Lois. All the little bits and pieces we got of her made her hard to sink your teeth into, I wanted to really empathize with her divorcing Lawerence (not that the trash thing was not awful, but it felt like she alluded to more), 1 wanted to understand why her dad was the way he was, etc. we spent so much time in the day to day at the ranch, but then also sped through the "after" part of the book.
I did love learning about all the different types of women that went to Reno. This was a fun historical fiction overall.