Ugh the ending of this book left me disappointed. I really enjoyed reading it though! I was fascinated to learn all about divorce in the 1950s and the lengths women would go through to make it happen. The book largely centers around a ranch in Reno where women could go for 6 weeks at a time in order to apply for a divorce. Life on the ranch was really interesting and hearing how the women would pass their time waiting to be granted a divorce. I just wish there was more of a resolution at the end! I enjoyed the book but wanted it to wrap up the storylines a bit more.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book!

I wanted to love this book more - I love historical fiction and I love learning about events occurring that I have limited knowledge on. I had no idea divorce ranches were a thing in Nevada, a place where women would wait 6 weeks to claim residency and file divorced. I expected to find tales of marriages fallen apart for the time, the reasons why since divorce was so taboo at the time, and deep female friendships that formed at the ranch.

Instead, I felt we got a slow, painful at times, unraveling of our main character. It all feels a bit blurry honestly, why was she divorcing her husband? what real reasons did she give? And I spent a decent chunk of the book wondering if I was reading a historical fiction novel about a woman who wasn’t sure if she was a lesbian or not. And instead of forming strong friendships I was left feeling I witnessed women conforming to be in the good graces of other women.

I’d love to learn more about this time in women’s history but will probably choose to do so from another novel- I do love that cover art though and the narrator was great 👏🏻

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

A great suspenseful story about ladies at a Divorcee ranch in 1951 Nevada. A well researched period piece that was hard to put down.

Lois Saunders has decided to end her marriage to a somewhat controlling man. Her father, also controlling, has her sent away to a luxury ranch for divorcees.

Lois feels like an outsider among a diverse group who love to drink and flirt at the bars. She tends to stay home and read. Then Greer arrives. She is a woman with a bruised face and a tough exterior.
Soon Lois and Greer are good friends.

Lois finds herself wanting to impress her friend and the others at the ranch. She takes on a new persona. But is Greer really a good friend ?

Excellent book. I thought the ending would be different. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to listen and provide my honest opinions

Lois Saunders wants a divorce. But in the 1950’s it wasn’t easy for women. While her father does not approve, he has sent her to a divorce ranch in Nevada to take up residency and wait the six weeks necessary Lois joins other women in a similar situation on the ranch and we are shown the day to day activities and entertainment that the women engage in. It isn’t until Greer arrives that quiet and plain Lois finds somebody to connect with.

This historical fiction is a snapshot of a time in history. There is not a lot of action, and what does occur is not dramatic. Lois is a quiet character and felt quite naive. I liked her and her growth during the book especially that she learns to take control of her life. While the story is slow moving, I think the author did a wonderful job with the atmosphere and setting.

Thank you NetGalley Macmillan Audio and Flatiron for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I didn't care for this, but I managed to get through it. The audio narration was good, but that's about all I enjoyed of this book. I found the story to be dry and extremely slow paced. It was just a bunch of mean girls being rude and passive-aggressive to one another. Literally, no one was friends. The "action" didn't start until well after halfway through, and it wasn't very engaging. There wasn't any language or explicit sex in this book, but there were multiple instances of masturbation, which I found unnecessary and gross. The obsession Louis had over Greer felt like they would end up becoming lesbians. It was weird and I didn't understand it. This was not a book for me. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillion Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this advanced copy.

The Divorcees has a promising setting and plot but fails to deliver. At a divorce ranch in 1950s Reno, two women form a unique friendship which allows protagonist Lois to find her independence. The story is slow to develop without much character depth either. I was always left wanting more. More character development, more action, more details to transport me to this unique time period. It’s well written but I fail to understand what Rowan Beaird was trying to convey in her debut novel.

I was kind of underwhelmed with the book. I did like the idea of it being a kind of coming of age story about after a divorce and finding yourself and friends.

Divorcées from around the country gather at the Golden Yarrow in Reno for six weeks to earn their residency for a legal divorce. Lois Saunders, much to her father’s dismay, arrives from Chicago determined to leave her unhappy marriage and start over on her own. The women at the ranch are all affluent and immediately create cliques amongst each other, with Lois never quite belonging until Greer Lang arrives.

Greer is mysterious and seems to be the only guest who does not feel beholden to the house mother. She quickly takes on an alpha role in the group and brings lonely Lois into the fold, forcing the other women to accept her despite her previous awkwardness. Greer pushes Lois to think differently about her future and to question her preconceived notions about what she should and should not do. And as the six-week requirement nears an end, Lois makes new plans, though they are risky.

With a fun cover, and an interesting premise, The Divorcées had a lot of potential. Greer in particular was an interesting and entertaining character, but Lois fell flat for me. Though her character was painted as awkward and gauche, she was mostly uninspiring. The lack of emotion when talking about the end of her marriage or her mother’s death had me wondering if she had any mental health issues. Hysteria isn’t necessary, but Lois felt emotionless. The book was still somewhat interesting, as I had no idea about divorce ranches prior to reading it, and the rest of the secondary characters were pretty solid.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author Rowan Beaird for the advanced copy of the audiobook. The Divorcées is out in audio format on March 19th. All opinions are my own.

This book was one of friendship, independence, and betrayal. As a divorcee, I immediately found myself connecting with the women and their desire for freedom from a marriage that was not for them. They bond that was built in their shared commonality was nice to see. So when the betrayal of one of the friendships came about, I felt it too. The narrator did a great job portraying the characters and the story to the readers. I was able to envision the story with such clarity. I also loved learning a bit about divorce ranches, which I never knew was a thing.

Lois Saunders is seeking divorce from her husband. She thought being married would bring her happiness and some freedom from her father. Instead she found the opposite. Her father pays for her to go to Reno, Nevada to live on a divorce ranch for six weeks to procure her divorce. Lois gets to know the other ladies. Lois is quiet and odd. When a new woman comes to the ranch and Lois breaks out of her comfort zone.

It's interesting to learn about the divorce ranches of the 1950's. I was just telling my boys that women have barely received equalness. Getting their own checking account or credit card not until 1974. I found the premise of this book interesting. But the book itself was boring. I enjoyed the narrator. I wasn't vested in Lois's story. This book just wasn't for me.

I loved the set up of the book, as it takes place in 1950, where Lois the main character needs to live in Reno Nevada for six weeks in order to divorce her husband.

While the book was intriguing, it fell flat for me as most of the middle and the end was really slow. I feel like nothing really happened in the book. I listened to this one as an audiobook, and I feel like I also don’t remember any of the other characters that lived at the ranch. I was also was waiting for Lois and Greer to develop a little bit more of a relationship, but it never happened. My rating is a 2.5 rounded up to a 3 because I did enjoy parts of this book.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Divorcees will be out on March 19th 2024.

Thank you to NeyGalley for the free copy to review although I could not finish it. I found it boring and lacking a storyline.

The Divorcées is a story of women in the 50s looking to start over by way of a “divorce ranch”. It touches on the complicated dynamic of friendships between women. Also of how women were treated in the 50s and how they attempt to find their independence after divorce. I really enjoyed the story of Lois and the other women she spent her required 6 weeks with in Reno. You can see her growth throughout and how she overcomes the end of her marriage and being gaslighted by the mysterious Greer. This one touches on the tough topics of social expectations, domestic abuse, politics, and neglect.

I also really enjoyed the audio version of this one. It was a quick read at under 300 pages but was fabulous for a debut novel!

I really enjoyed the historical aspects of this story, I mean divorce ranches, how can you not? I say bring em back.

The audio narration was really well done and cast perfectly, and I loved all the women’s back story’s, and reasons for being at the ranch. Books about women and their lack of agency in history always fascinate me and all the characters in this book shed light on different aspects of being a wife and mother and now a divorcee.

However, there was a bit of a lacklustre plot, nothing really to propel it forward and I can’t help but think this would of been much better as a thriller because the setting and concept is there.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. This book was written really well but just kind of fell flat for me!

Recommended for: Historical fiction readers who love to follow the journey of a woman gaining personal strength

Summary: Set in 1951, Lois is in a loveless marriage. However, at this time in history, the only state that will allow a divorce for this reason alone is Reno, Nevada. With the main requirement being that the wife resides in Nevada for 6 weeks prior to being granted a divorce. She finds a “divorce ranch” that houses women for this purpose alone. Her strict father agrees to pay for this lodging with the guise of her still being under his control.
As the weeks go by, Lois learns to become her own woman, apart from anything any man has ever allowed her to live. She meets Greer, who helps her find her voice in more ways than one. But can she really trust any of these strangers she’s now living with, who only have one thing in common, a desire to end a marriage.

Review: I was excited about this book. The stipulation that a woman would not be granted a divorce until they lived on her own for 6 weeks seemed fascinating to me.
I loved the different personalities in all the woman at the ranch and seeing how they grew in their individuality.
While there was a few suspenseful parts throughout the book, it seemed to drone on at times as well. Leaving me wanting more.

This book was not quite what I expected. I thought it would have a bit more fluff and I was glad it didn’t! The character development was done well and the characters were belivable. The descriptions of the ranch and Reno were vivid and I could actually imagine being there.

The story of the women getting divorces and the problems they had were told well.

I LOVED the ending. Most people won’t. But I did.

This book had a great premise and a strong start! the narrator worked well for this story. I was immersed in the scenery at first, and wondered what it would have been like to ride a train to Reno to spend 6 weeks establishing residency at a ranch for soon-to-be divorced women. Riding horses and lounging by the pool all day, drinking and gambling at the casino at night, and having meals prepared for you. It sounds like heaven! Of course, the ranch is infiltrated by a nefarious character and some shenanigans go down. The issue I had with this book is that...after all that...it just...ends. The character development is flat and the story arc just stalls. It was disappointing, because I feel like this book could have been really unique and special.

Thanks to NetGalley for early access.

"The Divorcees" promises a glimpse into the glamorous world of 1950s Reno, where housewives and movie stars mingled in gin-soaked casinos. However, while the setting is certainly intriguing, the novel falls short of its potential.

The book introduces a multitude of characters, but unfortunately, many lack distinction, making it difficult to fully invest in their stories. While the glimpse into casino life in the 1950s was fascinating, the rest of the narrative felt slow-moving, and I found myself wanting more content to truly immerse me in the historical era.

Despite being an easy and quick read, "The Divorcees" failed to captivate me. The brash ending felt disjointed and unsatisfying, leaving me underwhelmed overall. While the book may not have been my cup of tea, I appreciate the opportunity to listen to the audio provided by NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and Rowan Beaird in exchange for an honest review.

The Divorcees is set in the 1950's on a "divorce ranch." I had no idea such things existed, but sadly if you were a woman seeking a divorce during this time this was the only option, Lois travels to Nevada and stays at one of these divorce ranches for six weeks. Then she is able to claim she is a resident of Nevada and file for a quick divorce.
This sounded like a great concept for a story, but unfortunately it fell a little flat for me. It seemed long and unnecessarily drawn out and didn't have enough of a story to hold my attention.