I wanted to like this so much as the premise and the blurb seemed to offer the kind of drama i like but it didn't deliver for me. The characters were fine with some feeling more 2d than others but my main issue with the book was that the writing never really kept me engaged or hooked in it. It wasn't badly written but i just never connected to it and had the desire to pick it up. There were moments when the story lost me and i feel that it just needed something taking away in places because at times what was going on felt like too much. There is promise with this but perhaps not with my reading tastes.

Review Title: A Thought-Provoking Debut on 1950s Women's Struggles for Autonomy

I downloaded The Divorcees intrigued by its unique premise of divorce ranches in 1950s Nevada, where women stayed to meet residency requirements for divorce. Rowan Beaird’s debut offers a compelling story centered around Lois, a woman escaping her controlling marriage. Beaird cleverly parallels the confines of her life with that of other women staying at the ranch, each navigating limited options in a male-dominated society.

The narrative reflects themes of autonomy, with Lois’ journey towards self-discovery and hope standing out. Beaird’s writing is insightful, evoking comparisons to The Bell Jar. This novel gives a window into a little-known piece of history while exploring women’s rights and personal agency in the mid-20th century.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lois Saunders is suffocating in her loveless marriage. In 1951, though, unhappiness is hardly grounds for divorce - except in Reno, Nevada. Lois finds herself living with other would-be divorcees at a respectable ‘divorce ranch’ for six weeks to meet the state’s requirement. She befriends the gorgeous, beguiling, and completely indifferent to societal convention, Greer Lange. Under her influence, Lois begins to push against the limits that have always restrained her. But how much can she really trust her mysterious new friend?

Well, this book managed to surprise me, and completely surpassed my expectation! I was impressed. Started as a seemingly simple plot featuring a woman who needed to get a divorce, the story expanded to cover Lois’ character growth, including her self-exploration to find her freedom and identity as an independent woman post living as a wife.

And just right when I thought I had the story figured out, it skewered the entire premise and turned it upside down, delivering yet another lesson about trust, resilience and survival. I loved a multi-layered story, and this one had it in abundance.

The audiobook narration delivered the story perfectly. This book had quite an impactful message that made me think. What a great introduction to Rowan Beaird for me!

First of all, I would like to thank the publishing house and Netgalley for granting me this ARC.

Lois was unfortunately a boring character who never takes any decisions or though by herself. Nothing happens before 70% and even after there's not so many things to say. Even where I hoped to find sorority or even more, saphic storyline, there was nothing than beautiful women going out to the city and acting sassy within each others. The setting and time period promised so much more and than I had the sensation to be stuck in this state where time stopped. Even the independance aspect wasn't highlighted. The only good point is the writing style but didn't get captivated into the storyline.

The Divorcees is a fascinating story set in 1951 Nevada where American women go to divorce their husbands. They need to reside in the state for 6 weeks before a court will grant their divorce, and ‘divorce ranches’ accommodate the women. The Golden Yarrow is one of the best ranches available to wealthy women and this book follows the women who live there. When Lois Saunders arrives she struggles to fit in with the other women, until Greer arrives and everything changes.
I found this book incredibly interesting from a historical perspective especially around women’s rights. It is slow paced while the relationships develop amongst the women, but provides a great twist and satisfying ending.

Loved this book, the setting, the narration, the characters and the purpose. Life’s rich tapestry of people and what drives them to behave as they do, why someone is so kind and generous despite wrongdoings and others who just go after what they want. Very well written and could just imagine the scenery and intense nature. A safe haven for women seeking a divorce in a time when it was frowned upon, everyone had their own reason for being there and some would probably choose or follow the same pattern again. Very enjoyable read, thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review

I loved this pacy, glamourous, sun-drenched book. It was perfect to read by the pool as I gobbled up the characters, the setting and the (major) plot twists and turns. Highly recommended.

Really enjoyed - With high recommendation of the audiobook!

Great exploration of female friendship. Very gripping with the main mystery surrounding the character of Greer and if she can be trusted.
Would recommend for anyone wanting a fast paced, page turner!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I really liked this - it was wickedly funny and felt incredibly truthful. Highly recommended if you are looking for something which is like a slice of life

I really wanted to love this book. The premise really drew me in and I was expecting to be completely taken in by the characters and the Reno setting. What I found instead was that the story was painfully slow and I even considered making this a DNF which is something that I never do. I didn't love the characters, I found them very 'meh' with forgettable storylines.

It did pick up in the last 10%-15% with the conclusion of the storyline with Lois and Greer but up to that point, there was very little that made me want to keep listening. I took a break and came back to it eventually but I still felt the same. The story just wasn't for me!

I can't rave about this book enough. It centres around a group of well to do women in the early 1950s, staying on a ranch in Reno, waiting for their divorces to come through. It's a slow burn that sizzles with heat and intrigue. Our heroine, Lois Saunders is a social outcast. She just doesn't fit in with the group of women at the Golden Yarrow, that is until the enigmatic Greer arrives....I loved it.

The captivating and intriguing setting of a 1950s divorce ranch is reason enough to delve into Rowan Beaird’s remarkable debut novel, The Divorcees. Yet, that is merely the start. This masterfully written, suspenseful tale of secrets and intrigue will mesmerize readers.

Not my go-to genre but to my surprise I really did find this book captivating. The ending, however felt incomplete but that could just be me (I like my neatly tied up or HEA endings in a standalone.

3.67 stars

This book is not what I expected it to be at all. It has nothing in common with Lesson as Chemistry, as it is mentioned in the blurb apart from the timing. Characters were a bit flat, unremarkable and blended into one. I have mixed feelings about the main character- I am not sure if I liked here, but I can understand why author created her this way. There was no plot, however I usually don"t mind the books that are only driven by characters- but in this case it didn't fully work. The last bit was interesting, and turned out in a way I didn't expect, so this is a plus.
Also, a big plus is for the difficulty of the topic touched in the book. And I found it cool to learn about these Divorcees in the 50's in Nevada, as I never heard about it. But all those plus weren't enough to keep me invested in this story.

This novel is so atmospheric and evocative of another time (the 1950s), yet so fresh and relevant to anyone who has felt stuck in a life they feel is impossible to change. Lois and her fellow divorcees are staying at Rita’s ranch, the Golden Yarrow just outside Reno for six weeks to qualify as Nevada residents and obtain a divorce. Lois has left a marriage to cold and controlling Lawrence and has only life at her equally cold and disapproving father’s house to return to for six months before starting on some uncertain future. Lois is a lonely person who finds it hard to make friends and has always retreated to the cinema for pleasure, something she enjoyed with her late mother. Even at the Golden Yarrow, Lois is quiet and, while the other girls go to a bar, Rita suggests Lois stays in with her as her father has advised. The arrival of Greer in the middle of the night, beautiful but badly bruised, aloof but fascinating, marks the beginning of some changes at the ranch for Lois.. Greer is like no one Lois has ever met and she challenges Lois to do things she would never have dared to do before, Greer’s arrival gives a noirish tone to the novel with a sense of mystery and ambiguity. I listened to the audiobook and it was beautifully read by Bailey Carr.

Lois Saunders needs a divorce from her unhappy marriage. But it’s 1951, and her options are limited.

Lois finds herself living at the Golden Yarrow, one of Reno’s famous “divorce ranches,” She is there with a few other would-be divorcées, all in Reno for the six weeks’ residency that is required to get a divorce. When Lois meets Greer, she feels things change. Greer is unlike anyone Lois has ever met―and sees something in Lois that she doesn't see in herself. But how much can she really trust her mysterious new friend?

On the face of it, this book should have been right up my street. I find 1930s-1960s America fascinating and I also hadn’t come across a book set at a divorce ranch before. It sounded like a set up for some really good female-led drama!

This book started off really strong and I was really invested in Lois’s journey. There were a good range of characters and the arrival of the mysterious Greer seem to be a good catalyst for something bigger to explode.

But I felt like I kept waiting for the climactic event to arrive and it just... didn’t. Or at least, it felt like it happened “off screen” and Lois was left out of the most interesting part of the story. It meant that, pacing wise, the book felt uneven.

The positives were that I did enjoy the world-building and I think there was a lot of promise here. I was on board with the vibes and the premise. But the lack of emotional and story beats just made it a bit bland for my tastes.

I listened to the audiobook of this, and although I was gripped at the beginning and couldn't wait to find out more, the more I did find out, just felt a bit flat.

One of my pet peeves is the MC working something out miles after I have, and this felt true for this book a bit. I found it really interesting in the sense that I didn't know about these Divorcees in the 50's. The characters felt well formed, and usually I don't mind a book that is heavily character driven, but they weren't strong enough in this one. and I just wanted more from them and the plot.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review.

This was a total cover request for me, I absolutely loved it and after finishing the book I love it even more as it completely fits with the book.

I had no idea that in the 50's there was only one state that allowed women to divorce and that they had to have been a resident of that state for 6 weeks before they could be granted that divorce so I learnt of a lot from this book. I found Louis's character interesting and I was interested to understand her more and follow her story although at times it did feel a little slow.

In exploring the challenges of divorce in 1950, the narrative delves into the complexities faced by women during this period. It meticulously unravels the myriad hurdles, from legal complexities to societal norms, vividly portraying the struggles endured by those seeking liberation from unhappy marriages.

Through a compelling blend of historical context and personal anecdotes, readers are invited to empathize with the protagonists as they confront entrenched gender roles and societal expectations, ultimately striving for personal freedom and happiness.

This narrative serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring obstacles faced by women in mid-20th century America, while also highlighting the progress made in the ongoing fight for gender equality. With its thought-provoking insights and engaging storytelling, the book offers a captivating exploration of love, law, and liberation in a bygone era.

I went into this hooked by the chronology described in the blurb - I didn’t actually know anything about divorce ranches before this story, but can see why they create the perfect backdrop for creating a great historical story - I’m totally hooked by the concept.

The overall vibes of this story were absolutely a bit of me, I love this period of history and the setting and sense of period were spot on here - there was glamour and scandal and it was all captured so well.

Overall a slow burn story with a lot of potential - I liked it, but I didn’t find myself completely lost in it. The setting enamoured me, but the characters failed to completely capture me and live up to the potential of the premise. The audio narrator was great and I suspect if I had picked this up physically that I’d have struggled with the slow burn of the story compared to the audio.

Wow! I really enjoyed this book! It's a tad slow as not much happens in the first 2/3rd of the book but the last chunk of the book is chock full of drama. I appreciate that pretty much every character is round and flawed. Lois develops from a timid girl hoping to make friends to something of a desperate people pleaser. I think the plot development while slow, more closely mirrors reality. I think the narrator did a good job of changing her voice to mimic certain characters and distinguish voices. I think my only issue was her portrayal of Ritas kids. This book was a fun listen and i'd definitely recommend if you can push through the first chunk.