4.5 Stars rounded up

Set in 1931 USA, this story is a great example of the difficulties women faced when wanting to remove themselves from bad marriages. This is a topic I haven't read about before, so this was an informative story for me and a perfect way to learn about this time in history. It's a story of friendship, deceit, strength, and resilience. It's thought-provoking, empowering, engaging, and a great example of the challenges faced not only by women wanting to escape from sometimes life-threatening marriages, but also the hardships communities faced as a result of the Great Depression and severe dust storms. I enjoyed the romance aspect, which is mostly clean. I was not ready for this story to end - I have so many questions and I hope there's going to be a sequel!

I started out reading the novel, but I couldn't find time to read it and I was so invested in the story that I ended up switching to the audiobook. The narration is excellent and really brings the story to life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing, and the author for an ARC for review. All opinions are my own and my review is left voluntarily.

The premise of this book had so much potential, but unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to it. I often found myself confused about what was happening or who the characters were, as they weren’t introduced in a clear or meaningful way. Some sections felt rushed and lacked depth, while others were bogged down by repetitive details that seemed to drag on endlessly. I kept hoping the story would pick up or improve, but by the end, I was just eager for it to be over. It’s a shame because the concept had promise, but the delivery just wasn’t there.

My favorite thing about this book is its social commentary on open-mindedness and privilege. You never know what another person is going through. Everyone has different experiences that have brought them to where they are. Everyone feels strongly about the choices that they are making. Each person's feelings and experiences are valid, and no one's story should be used as a competition for the "Poor Me Award." Evelyn is an excellent example of knowing one's privilege, acknowledging it, and then learning and doing better for those around without that same privilege.

Thoroughly enjoyable!

Going back to the 1930's, divorces were not easy to obtain, and those that were divorced were often judged poorly for it. One place to accomplish this was Nevada; specifically Reno. But up until recently, the residency requirement was lengthy. But now that it's been reduced to six weeks, Miss Evelyn Henderson sees this as a viable option to escape her loveless marriage.

Boarding a train from the east cost bound for Reno, she and many other women referred to as "six weekers" are along for the same ride. And this has developed into a new business avenue amid the Depression for small ranches in Reno, offering a place to stay during the six week required stay. How different life is at these ranches compared to the stuffy atmosphere of their normal environment out East. The Flying N Ranch is where Evelyn lands, along with a group of women in similar situations. There's not much "culture" in Reno, and dancehalls provide most of the entertainment. And this is where Evelyn lays eyes on a handsome cowboy - one that could make it in Hollywood most certainly.

Having spent a fair bit of time in Reno, it was fun to imagine it way back when. There were so many enjoyable facets to the story and the characters were well developed but not predictable. Most inspiring was the way that most of these women built such independence and fortitude.

Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Lucy H. Hedrick for the eARC.

When I first came across this one, I thought it sounded interesting. I had actually never read anything about a “divorce ranch” before. I’ve read about how back in the 60’s a lot of states started adopting the “no-fault” divorces, but one didn’t need to establish residency to do that. At least I don’t think they had to. Anyway, the premise and storyline sounded interesting.

The book summary pretty much lays out the primary storyline of Evelyn, leaving her dead-beat husband after 20yrs. What the book summary doesn’t say is that Evelyn is harboring some kind of secret of what happened with her husband. The rest of the women that Evelyn comes across on the train out to Reno as well as the divorce ranch are there for so many of the typical reasons women leave their marriage like physical/substance abuse, infidelity, incarceration, abandonment, roommate syndrome, etc. With their first taste of freedom in years, they run around like kids in a candy store, getting high off the sugar rush (been there, done that). It’s not long before another storyline of Evelyn and her crush on one of the local ranch cowboys.

Anyway, most of the story revolves around Evelyn and her interactions with various women and their activities in and around town and on the ranch. Pretty early in the story, several of the “six weekers” (what the women at the divorce ranches are called by the townspeople) are approached and targeted by two men, Nate and Ray, and one of the women, Thistlena, about investing into a new casino that the three of them are going to start building as soon as they get enough investors. Oh dear! It’s obvious what’s going on with those three. However, Evelyn is not fooled by them and makes it clear she isn’t interested at all. Not the case with so many other women.

The character development for Evelyn and one or two of the women and Sundown (Evelyn’s Reno fling) was good, but really thin for the rest of the cast of characters with most of them just being talking heads. Frankly, I didn’t really like Evelyn all that much and I don’t do well with unlikeable MC’s. From the start I found her snooty, snobby, prissy and extremely judgmental. She learned a lot in the six weeks in Reno and lightened up a bit by the end. The pacing was really slow. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect the pacing to be. I went into the story with little to no expectations other than to find out what a divorce ranch was like during the depression and the story certainly served that purpose. It was actually that storyline that appealed to me from the start and remained throughout. The writing was ok, I liked the parts where Evelyn spent time on the ranch learning about life in Reno.

I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.3 that I will be rounding down to a 3star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #LakeUnionPublishing #SixWeeksInReno

I loved the first 2/3 of this book - it tackled the subject of divorce when it was still taboo masterfully- unfortunately the last third was a disappointment.

Based on the true story of the Reno divorce ranches, it follows Evelyn and her new friends who travel from the East in 1931 at the height of the American Depression to spend six weeks before their papers can be finalised. I liked the friendship bonds, the description of the Nevada landscape and the differences in culture. Though I would like to know more about the other characters, this was an enjoyable read.

This was a really interesting premise - following the women who travel cross country to fulfil a six week residency requirement to obtain a divorce. The women all go on personal journeys of self discovery which are entertaining enough. But it felt like this book barely scratched the surface of any of the issues it began to explore. Maybe it was just the first person narrative style that didn’t allow the story to delve into the background of the other characters. There were some inconsistencies with Evelyn as well she goes from discussing her own arrangement to see a local lawyer and then becomes suspicious of a fellow divorce seeker having an appointment for example.

fast read, loved the location and general setting, interesting and followed-through plot lines!

gonna record a podcast episode on it & update the link here :)

Evelyn Henderson goes against social norms of the 1930s and decides to divorce her husband. She put up with a loveless marriage, but when she found evidence of his deception she decided to divorce him. Evelyn got on a train to Reno. She needed to stay there for 6 weeks before she could obtain her divorce. This was quite the adventure for a proper, refined lady from New Jersey. Evelyn made new friends, did things she would never have done and became a different woman. She attended dances in town and started to have feelings for a handsome cowboy. All of her adventures were set against the backdrop of Reno in the 1930s which is a history lesson in itself. All of the characters were very interesting and their stories were intriguing. I highly recommend this book. It is a great story about female determination. It should also make women who read it thankful for the freedoms we have now that women did not have in the 1930s.

I really enjoyed the historical aspect of Six Weeks in Reno. The author does a great job of showing the life of the six-weekers, who were coming to Reno for divorces in the early 1930s. Some of the women have experienced abuse and infidelity in their marriages, and Evelyn has been living in a loveless marriage with a husband who seems to have given up on life. I thought the book did a great job showing what the time in Reno looked like for these women. They were building relationships with one another, with the owners of the ranches that they stayed at, and for some, the cowboys that were there to show them a good time. There is also a side story of real estate fraud, that was taking place in the growing city of Reno during this time, that I thought was a nice addition to the story.

As far as Evelyn's character, I did feel sorry for her. She had been pushed into a marriage to an older man, by her mother. And after living with his failure to secure a job after so many years, and a secret that Evelyn has discovered, she decided it is finally time to take control of her life. For me, personally, I struggled with connecting to Evelyn. I felt like she was shallow and snobbish for most of the book, but she was also kind at times. I just didn't feel engaged with her as the FMC, as I find myself doing in other books.

The story does become a bit repetitive with the characters daily routines, but overall I found I just really loved the historical fiction story, and learning more about what was happening with the divorce laws for women during this time period.

I started reading this book as my first ARC of the year, but it ended up being the last ARC I finished. Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is truly a women’s fiction novel. As a fiction lover, I’ve always had a soft spot for stories that delve into women’s emotions, struggles, and resilience. Often, in women’s fiction, I notice a tendency for characters to be portrayed in extremes—either too soft or too tough. However, this book offered a more nuanced exploration.

When I first came across the title and description, I assumed it might be a daily diary-type book. But as I began reading, I realized how wrong I was. So, what is it about? Well, to know that, you’ll have to read the book! The story revolves around Evelyn Henderson, who, in 1931, decides to restart her life in Reno after being stuck for the past 20 years. Despite opposition from her sister and maternal family, she courageously pursues this journey of self-discovery.

The plot was engaging, and there were some unexpected twists that made the book more enjoyable. However, at times, I felt the narrative included excessive detail in certain scenes. For instance, the author described environments and objects to the smallest detail, which occasionally made the reading experience feel tedious. While the intention was likely to immerse the reader in the setting, it sometimes felt unnecessary. Overall, this book paints a vivid picture of a woman’s journey in the 1931s, highlighting the challenges, emotions, and resilience of women during that time.

I enjoyed reading this book about a short period in women’s history where they could travel to Reno, NV and get a divorce after a six week stay. The characters came for a variety of reasons and each had their own hopes and dreams for the future. It was interesting to view the area when it was still a budding gambling town in contrast to the cowboys and ranchers who first came to the area. It was a quick read that I finished on my flights to and from my destination.
#womenshistory #SixWeeksinReno #NetGalley

I loved this, it was creative and thought provoking. The writing was strong and the voice was distinct.

I read Six Weeks in Reno through NetGalley and appreciated the historical setting of the early 1930s, focusing on women seeking divorce. The author effectively captures these women's struggles, especially through Evelyn, who is trapped in a loveless marriage.

The friendships formed among the women and their interactions with ranch owners and cowboys added depth to the story, while the subplot of real estate fraud provided an interesting twist. However, I found it challenging to connect with Evelyn, as she often came across as shallow and snobbish, making engaging with her journey hard. The repetitive daily routines also slowed the pacing.

Despite these issues, I enjoyed the historical aspects and insights into divorce laws for women during this time, making it a worthwhile read overall.

I heard about divorce ranches randomly a while back so when I read the description for Six Weeks in Reno it peaked my interest! I have been wanting to read more historical fiction books especially about the forgotten parts of history 😱

The author does an amazing job describing the lives of all the different six-weeker women who were coming to Reno for divorces during the 1930s! A lot of women’s reasons for divorce was abuse, infidelity or both. I liked how with the main character Evelyn we had to figure out her reason for coming to Reno along the way 🤫

It was also interesting to see the lives of the ranchers! Renting out rooms to the six-weekers helped them survive and even thrive during the Great Depression. I was not expecting for there to be some cowboy romance also 🥰

The timeline is focused mainly on Evelyn’s time in Reno but it does jump back to her past of meeting her husband, her family and why her marriage broke down 😬 I do wish we got to see more of what happened after she returned home. As divorced women would be treated as social pariah in their communities 🫣 I would definitely recommend this book for anyone interested in historical fiction that focuses on women’s lives!

Six Weeks in Reno is out next year on 4th March 2025. Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the arc!

I really enjoyed this novel and think it would suit some of my book club ladies. Reminded me of the Secret Life of Bees crossed with A Time of Fog and Fire.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Lucy H. Hedrick for an advanced copy of Six Weeks in Reno. My opinions are my own.

Set in the early 1900s, this book follows a woman named Evelyn who seeks a divorce but must travel out west to Reno, Nevada for six weeks to secure it. You not only see how this divorce process affects Evelyn but a group of women she’s met along the way.

Evelyn does come off as snobbish during most of the book, but she is kind and goes against her beliefs throughout the book. She is in a loveless marriage to an older man who “can’t find a job” during hard times. Not only do you get to discover what all has pushed her towards a divorce, you see how Evelyn changes.

I loved how Evelyn learned that sometimes it really does take a community. You don’t have to experience your life struggles by yourself. Throughout Evelyn’s life, she’s always done what was expected of her, but by going out to Reno to divorce her husband, she fully developed into a new woman. A woman who discovers her true value. She finds herself stumbling upon courage she never had before. She finds herself discovering healthy friendships that have been lacking her entire life.

I found this book is so inspirational. Many women feel disgraced when they face a divorce. This book helps you realize, you only get one life. Do you choose to be complacent or to face the unknown and live a life you choose for yourself?

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful book. I enjoyed it from the very first page!

I found the premise super interesting - I wasn’t aware of the history behind this historical fiction. It’s refreshing to get a HF pick that isn’t all about Europe in WW2.