The Divorcées
A Novel
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3.5 • 85 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
“A rollicking thriller and poignant coming-of-age story.” ―People
"Timelier than ever." ―The Cut
A "delicious" (Rebecca Makkai) and "deeply compelling" (Lauren Groff) debut novel set at a 1950s Reno divorce ranch, about the complex friendship between two women who dare to imagine a different future
Lois Saunders thought that marrying the right man would finally cure her loneliness. But as picture-perfect as her husband is, she is suffocating in their loveless marriage. In 1951, though, unhappiness is hardly grounds for divorce—except in Reno, Nevada.
At the Golden Yarrow, the most respectable of Reno’s famous “divorce ranches,” Lois finds herself living with half a dozen other would-be divorcees, all in Nevada for the six-weeks residency that is the state’s only divorce requirement. They spend their days riding horses and their nights flirting with cowboys, and it’s as wild and fun as Lake Forest, Illinois, is prim and stifling. But it isn’t until Greer Lang arrives that Lois’s world truly cracks open.
Gorgeous, beguiling, and completely indifferent to societal convention, Greer is unlike anyone Lois has ever met—and she sees something in Lois that no one else ever has. Under Greer's influence, Lois begins to push against the limits that have always restrained her. But how much can she really trust her mysterious new friend? And how far will she go to forge her independence on her own terms?
Set in the glamorous, dizzying world of 1950s Reno, where housewives and movie stars rubbed shoulders at gin-soaked casinos, The Divorcées is a riveting page-turner and a dazzling exploration of female friendship, desire, and freedom.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
In this page-turning novel set in the ’50s, the unhappy Lois wants to escape her tedious marriage, leaving her with just one option: a six-week stay at a “divorce farm” in Reno, where women establish residency so they can file for divorce in the only U.S. state that will easily let them. Author Rowan Beaird skillfully paints the dawn of the feminist era into the background as we meet the ensemble of women who make this such an unforgettable read. From the husband-hopping June to the vain Dorothy to Mary Elizabeth, who is dealing with an abusive husband, each woman brings a new intriguing color to the story’s palette. And when the mysterious Greer shows up, the story gets a jolt of intrigue—and maybe even danger. The Divorcées is a fascinating trip into the past—one that will make you glad to live in the present.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Beaird shines in her impressive debut about a group of divorcées-to-be in 1950s Reno, Nev. After Lois Saunders asks for a divorce from Lawrence, her husband of nearly four years, she departs their home in Lake Forest, Ill., for the Golden Yarrow Ranch—a place designed for "good girls" to establish Nevada residency so they can secure a divorce under the state's no-fault policy. While there, Lois becomes friendly with the ranch's other guests and learns about their marital situations. Mary Elizabeth is fleeing an abusive husband, while Vera is recovering from heartache after her husband cheated on her with the maid. In Lois's eyes, the most dazzling guest of all is Greer Lang, who claims to be escaping a violent marriage in New York City, and who inspires the women to step out of their staid lifestyles by indulging in boozy nights at a casino. But is Greer the person she claims to be? What if she's actually leading Lois to her downfall? To find the answers, readers will eagerly follow Beaird's skillful plotting and appealing characters all the way through the final page. This author is one to watch.
Customer Reviews
Fabulous
I love this book! It reminded me of the classic movie The Women. I was really rooting for Lois, hoping she would come to her senses. This book was very entertaining and definitely one of the best I’ve read this year so far.
Boring
Events that started out with promise ended in nothing. If there was deeper meaning to this book then I missed it. Hard to slog through the narration. Not enough dialogue, or interesting happenings.