This book had so much potential but sadly just fell flat. The blurb on Netgalley drew me in so much but I just felt as though this was lacking in every aspect. We had a boring protagonist, a boring plot and an even more boring ending. It needed more drama, it needed more pizzazz. It just needed something else.

The story revolves around Lois, who is trapped in a crappy loveless marriage. Despite her husband’s picture-perfect image, She kinda feels suffocated and longs for freedom. In that era, unhappiness is not considered a valid reason for divorce, except in Reno, Nevada.

Lois finds herself at the Golden Yarrow, one of Reno’s ‘divorce ranches,’ where she must stay for the six weeks required by the state for a divorce. There, she lives with other women who are also seeking to end their marriages. .

The book explores themes of female friendship, desire, and the quest for independence.. A proper canny listen, good narration, brilliant plot. Reminded me a bit of The School For Good Mothers. Good audio!!

I really enjoyed The Divorcees and found audio to be the perfect medium. It’s a slow burn of a book, largely set in a divorce ranch in Reno, where women wait out their 6 week residency before being granted a divorce.
Lois has left a loveless and cruel marriage but finds herself not to be the same social strata as the other women there. When mysterious Greer arrives and take her under her wing she can see a future ahead of her. The narration complemented the languid style of the book and I took my time to read it. Though the ending is somewhat unsatisfactory you do get a sense of Lois’ possible future.

A great story that made me queasy with anticipation of how things were going to turn out.

Really enjoyed the narration of this audiobook.

The Divorcées looked exactly like my type of book on paper; set in 1950’s America, about a group of women striving for their independence, and of course, that dreamy cover. It wasn’t quite what I thought it would be, but still, an interesting read.

It’s 1951 and Lois Saunders has left her husband and their loveless marriage. Unable to cite “cruelty” as grounds for divorce, she moves to a famous “divorce ranch” in Reno Nevada, where the state will grant your divorce once you’ve lived there for at least 6 weeks. There Lois finds herself surrounded by other young women doing their time to meet the state’s only legal requirement so they can get away from their abusive husbands for once and for all.
They spend their days in the pool, riding horses, and gossiping, and their nights letting loose in the local bars.
Lois feels isolated from the rest of the women, that is until the enigmatic Greer Lang shows up; pushing back against convention and empowering the other gals to step outside of their comfort zone.
Only time will tell if Greer will be the making of or the unraveling of Lois.

Although historical fiction, it reads more literary at times. There’s a real languorous quality to the book; I could feel that oppressive Nevada heat, as well as the restrictive nature of women’s place in society at the time, and I think the author captured the vibe of the era really well.
I was also completely unaware of divorce ranches as a thing, so I loved that element of the storyline.
The audiobook is excellent; really perfect narration that felt a bit like I was listening to a Femme Fatale movie.

This is a real slow burn drama; there is a certain amount of world building throughout the novel, which is needed in order for the reader to believe the outcome of the book, but I would warn those that prefer a faster-paced read that this is not the one for you!

Overall I enjoyed it and think it would work well for an unhurried holiday read.

With many thanks to @netgalley and @bonnierbooks_uk for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own, as always. #TheDivorcees is now available to buy.

This is an atmospheric, slow-burn character study with a spectacular retro setting in 1950s Reno.
Lois, the daughter of a wealthy, self-made immigrant, lost her mother at a young age. She’s been lonely and desperate for love and acceptance since she was a child. Finding herself stifled by a marriage she doesn’t want, her father reluctantly agrees to paying for her stay at a ‘divorce’ ranch in Nevada, where the local law means she’s able to get the divorce she so desperately wants, after six week’s residency.
It becomes clear that Lois needs to find herself, before she’s able to form any meaningful relationships. She’s a consummate liar, and doesn’t seem to be able to help herself. This isn’t helpful when you’re desperate to be popular and alienates her new acquaintances at the ranch, with the exception of the enigmatic Greer, who arrives under mysterious circumstances. Greer steals the show (in my opinion) and Lois is sucked into her orbit.
You begin to wonder whether Lois is just repeating the mistakes she made in her marriage, subjecting herself to influence and gaslighting in an effort to be accepted and find her true self.
I listened to the audio, (which was excellently narrated) and it seemed to me that Lois’s voice gradually took on the same cadence and tone as Greer’s, as they became closer, which was a subtle and clever complement to the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book; the girls at the ranch get up to all sorts of shenanigans so there’s no lack of action.
The ending was interesting; I’ll say I found it slightly unfulfilling (to avoid any spoilers) even though Lois’s character arc was neatly rounded off.
Five stars for Rowan Beaird from me, with thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier UK Audio for the chance to listen to an ARC.
The Divorcees is out now.

Thank You, NetGalley for letting me listen to The Divorcees by Rowan Beaird.

This is about women who move to a ranch in a particular state in the US to be able to divorce their husbands at a time when divorcing wasn't as easy.

The premise was interesting and had a lot of grit.

I enjoyed how it started and kept me hooked too.

It made me think about the psychological impact on when it was hard for them to not only divorce but also earn a living when not attached to a male figure.

I would definitely recommend it.

With all the glitz and glamour promised I have to admit this fell very flat for me.

I was bored......a lot.

I pushed through and kept thinking it will pick up and all this will be to further push the story along - no, it was just boring. Not a slow burner but a wash out.

I had high hopes after delving into Lessons in Chemistry and being absorbed into the soft jacket of the past I thought it would slip on just as easily, but it didn't.

The characters were plentiful and boring, the setting suffocating and dull.

Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC but this time I'm afraid it wasn't for me.

wow wow I LOVED this book!! what a wonderful audio, I felt completely immersed in this world. will definitely be recommending this to others if they are looking for something rompy, introspective, dark and character driven.

I loved the setting in this book, really brought to life by the narrator! Just found it hard to connect fully with the characters in the story.

Having read the first couple of chapters of the book, I have decided to buy it. I could not however continue with the audiobook - the voice of the woman reading was horrendous, and distracting from the story. I realise though that this was my error for choosing it as an audio book.

I am not entirely sure what to say about this book. I was very excited to receive this ALC, but after being so hyped from reading the description of the book, I had trouble connecting to the characters and the story. The book is very story-driven and my main critique point is that I don’t understand what the story is supposed to tell me. I will try to describe my impressions of this book as best as I can without spoiling the story.

This book is marketed to fans of ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ and I fear this might be setting up the readers with false expectations. Yes, we have a female protagonist branching out ‘by herself’ during a time in which women did not enjoy the same rights they have now, but ‘the Divorcees’ has none of the wit or the heartbreak and the genuine sympathy for the protagonist that I experienced reading ‘Lessons in Chemistry’.

The setting on the ‘divorce ranch’ was intriguing and new to me and it was nice to have a ‘home base’ for everything that felt somewhat safe. Although I wouldn’t describe the impression, I got of 1950’s Reno as ‘dazzling’ or ‘glamourous’, like it is described in the blurb, I found the setting to be immersive and fun. I could picture everything really well and I imagine this subject would make for a great foundation for a visually pleasing independent movie, much like the cover does.

Our main character Lois is a bit of an enigma because we don’t know anything about her personality apart from the fact that she likes movies and she felt suffocated in her marriage. She seems to struggle to fit in with the other women at the ranch, but it is not clear why. To me, it seemed that it was only Lois's perception that the other girls didn’t like her. Lois doesn’t make much of an effort to get to know them, because I think that in actuality it is Lois who is not interested in the other women. She also makes some assumptions about what they expect of her that just reflect the social standards of the time and don’t have anything to do with the actual women she meets on the ranch. This turns into a self-fulfilling prophecy/ snowball effect where there is a separation from the other girls. This dynamic is a bit strange because Lois spends the majority of her time thinking about the perception others have of her and how she could get them to like her. She then seems to choose at random when to adhere to those standards she thinks are expected of her and when to disobey them.

Greer arrives at the ranch and sparks Lois’ interest immediately. This results in a strange and in my opinion, toxic, relationship in which Greer moulds Lois in the way she likes. Lois seems like a chameleon that will adapt to whichever colour Greer tells her to be. This is peculiar, as Lois is interested in movies, but very bad at acting herself. The other women on the ranch experience a similar pull and this results in a toxic and juvenile atmosphere in which everyone tries to gain Greer’s approval. It was bizarre to read about this dynamic, the predominant topic of the book, when the book was advertised as a ‘dazzling exploration of female friendship, desire, and freedom.’

The characters, with Lois being a prime example, are one-dimensional and I was hoping that they would experience more agency, break out of their toxic cycles or that they picked up on things that the reader could already see from miles away quicker.
The plot progresses slowly; there is a small plot arc towards the end of the story that resolves itself at the ranch and I thought there would be an epilogue, but then the book just continuous for a while longer, switching the setting and then when I am interested again what might develop, the book suddenly stops.

The audiobook had an exceptional amount of cut-ins that sounded like a voice coming in from ‘offscreen’. I am not sure what differed in the recording here, but I have heard other audiobooks using this effect on purpose to voice telephone calls. This is not the first time I noticed cut-ins within an audiobook, but it was the first time where it happened this often and every time it happened it took me out of the narration. Bailey Carr is nonetheless a talented voice actor.

In a book where I expected to find strong feminist characters and an exploration of positive female friendships, I was left with a people-pleasing chameleon main character and her antagonistic idol, a depiction of toxic relationships and problematic group dynamics and a storyline that I could not connect with and in which the ending confused me. I thought the overall depiction of the 1950’s Nevada atmosphere made it a good effort for a debut novel, nonetheless. To new readers or listeners, I would maybe recommend not to read the blurb, in order not to set your expectations too high.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier UK Audio for gifting me this ALC of the audiobook to review.

For me, the narrator of an audiobook can make or break the listening experience. Bailey Carr does a superb job with The Divorcees; her narration is perfectly paced and her tone is fitting for this sultry story. It’s not a book to be rushed, it demands that you take your time with it and fully soak up the ambience.

The main story line is Lois’s internal battle over whether her relationship with Greer is real and how much she can trust her. Lois is a character who yearns for freedom from the men in her life and the conventions of society but struggles to find the confidence to claim her independence. Greer is a woman who oozes confidence and capability, she seems to see Lois for who she really is. But she is shrouded in mystery and there is a sinister undertone to her story. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story and was undecided about Greer for most of the book.

As well as Lois’s story, this book offers us a slice of American social history. I knew nothing about divorce ranches before coming across The Divorcees and found it fascinating learning about the attitudes in 1950s America surrounding divorce and the ways in which the laws were ‘manipulated’. I thought it was telling how the majority of women at the ranch weren’t going through the process to gain independence but were accepted or intent on finding another marriage.

Overall an evocative story which I really enjoyed and I would especially recommend the audio book.

The book starts with a punch, exposing you to a world of Divorcees, which based on the timelines(World War 2) of the book is a huge thing. Women's rights are almost non-existent and everything they own either belongs to their parents or their husband. Amidst such challenging times is a special place (Golden Yarrow) for divorced women. Our protagonist is settling in with her fellow housemates to complete the 6-week notice, but as she comes across Greer her world is never the same.

I found that throughout the book there is this anticipation building up for something terrible to happen and as you reach the climax, you only wish to read in faster. What I did find weird was the way the post-climax scene and the end were handled. I have so many questions and alternative tracks running in my mind which could have made this maybe more conspiring and satisfactory to the reader.

I plot was great and the one homeworld buildup was definitely something that worked well for me. Even the protagonist's swaying character was fascinating, I just can't get my head around the way things ended.

Thank you @netgalley @bonnierbooks_uk @manilla_press @rbeaird
for the digital ARC.

Genre: #mystery #historicalfiction #womensfiction
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️

This felt like it kept getting close to a cohesive storyline but just didn't quite hit the mark. I was much more interested in other characters than the main one and even Greer grated on me. I wanted more during the climactic scenes at the end! It fell a little flat.

A slow-burn!
Great audio quality.
Interesting historical feminist fiction and did have a twist but a bit too slowly paced for my taste.

Thank you for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I have to say the narrator was very good and had a lovely voice, my issue was with the story per se. I just really know what the point of it was. It seemed to drag and it really lacked a bit of an exciting resolution, yes Grida was charismatic and a thieve but was that it? For me, that was not enough and it really all fell a bit flat unfortunately

I really enjoyed this books portrayal of the characters and the friendship between them. The book gave me insight to a part of history I wasn’t even aware of and I really enjoyed learning about divorce laws in Nevada and the ranches set up for those who wanted a divorce. This book was a great starting point into researching this area based on the information presented. The only criticism I did have was the ending seemed a bit loose and sudden and overall, didn’t seem to finish at a satisfactory point. The books overall themes were really wonderful from self-discovery to freedom and self-expression. Historical Fiction is not my usual type of book and I have not properly read a book in this genre. However, I would love to read more historical fiction such as this and will look out for more of the author’s work.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

Novel set around RENO, Nevada

3.75*

Divorce ranches were a key player in Nevada’s once-thriving divorce industry. For decades, legally married women from across America would check in for the stipulated six weeks and would leave with their divorce papers in hand. They were contracted to remain in Nevada after their stint, but few did. The book is set in the 1950s and in those days there were only a few reasons that would facilitate a divorce, such as extreme cruelty, drunkenness, impotency, felony and insanity… The divorce ranches helped Nevada out of the years of depression by boosting the state’s economy.

We first meet Lois on the train, heading West to Reno and on a mission to secure her divorce. Her father is bank-rolling her stay on the ranch, The Golden Yarrow. We soon learn that she feels like “a girl with no story“, someone who is insignificant and awkward. She nevertheless is savvy enough to get a grip on the subtexts and personalities underpinning this community of women. Of course, there are women who are in the inner circle, and others like Lois who are largely on the outside looking in, so reminiscent of school playground dynamics.

Lois has decided on this course of action because she is married to Lawrence, who is a coercive controller and who has removed her contraceptive device. He wants her to get pregnant but she is determined that she doesn’t want to become a mother, and once she establishes she is not pregnant, she takes off for Nevada. Once there, she discovers that her marital experiences are commonplace and perhaps even at the mild end of the abuse spectrum.

A new woman descends on the ranch. The anticipation in the ranch is great, as her arrival is cloaked in secrecy. Could it be several times divorced Bette Davis? It turns out to be a wealthy woman named Greer, who is a strong personality.and is set to stir up the group dynamics. Greer and Lois spend time getting to know each other by the ranch’s pool, where Lois plunges in almost to expunge memories of her former life, honing her body becoming more sleek and toned with each day. And of course they read Rebecca, a natural choice, perhaps, given their circumstances and the subject of many of their conversations. Gradually they become so used to the way of life and their routines that the prospect of life beyond the walls of the ranch feels quite strange. Six weeks is a good period of time to begin to feel institutionalised.

The women – as a group – often head into Reno in the evening, to have a good time. They are also on the look-out for celebrities, who can be found there indulging in the “lush clubs and casinos..”. Imagine one evening spotting Clarke Gable!

The humdrum existence with evening highlights in town is, however, soon shattered…

I was looking forward to reading this, given that it is such an extraordinary subject, but I didn’t feel I really got to know the women, and the descriptions – although well written – of their quotidian lives felt quite monotonous. A great concept, good writing and storytelling but I just felt it was overall too slow and a bit ponderous.

This was an unexpected read and history lesson. I did not know (how?!) that in the 1950's female's could go to live in Nevada for 6 weeks to seek a divorce. The narrator had good pace and I felt kept an appropriately neutral tone as this dark tale was unwoven.

The story starts with Lois arriving at The Golden Yarrow for her 6 week residency. Several other girls are at the ranch, but Lois seems to have difficulty forming friendships with them. It is only when Greer arrives that the tension ramps up. She presents as a battered wife, and spends her first few days in isolation, which is against the rules of the ranch. Greer seems to deliberately cultivate a friendship with Lois, having noticed a fragility or uncertainty in her. The story then follows the 'divorcees' who lead a merry life visiting casinos and partying, and Lois appears to be unbending and forming an attachment with Greer. There is something dark about Greer, so it is not surprising when she is not who she appears to be. By this time in the novel, Lois has told her unfeeling father she will not return to his house...and all seems lost.

I thought the ending of the book was thought-provoking and you see the transition of Lois from a victim to knowing her own mind and being in control of her own future. Her friendship with Greer changes her in unexpected ways. This doesn't end happily-ever-after but leaves the reader to think and hope.

It is a darker story than I expected, but one which thoroughly captivated me.