Blog tour: The Divorcées

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Welcome to the blog tour for The Divorcées by Rowan Beaird!

More about the book…

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 'divorce ranches' Lois finds herself living with half a dozen other would-be divorcées, all in Reno 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, was prim and stifling. But it isn't until Greer Lange 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 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? And how far will she go to forge her independence, on her own terms?

More about the author…

Rowan Beaird is a writer whose work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Kenyon Review, The Southern Review, and The Common, among others.

She is the recipient of the Ploughshares Emerging Writer Award, and her work has been nominated for a Pushcart.

She has received scholarships from the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and StoryStudio.

She currently works at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

The Divorcées is her first novel.

My impressions…

I had never heard of ‘divorce ranches’ before not, to be honest, had I ever given much thought to the laws about divorce in 1950s America. I was therefore immediately curious when I came across this debut novel, and I’m glad I was given the chance to join the blog tour.

With just over 200 pages, this is a wonderfully intense novel that transports you straight to the Nevada desert, to one such ranch. There, we meet Lois, our main character, and the other women who are staying for the six weeks required to gain residency in the state and, subsequently, the right to divorce.

The writing is fantastic. I could feel the heat of the blazing sun on my skin, and sense the tension created by Greer’s arrival all around me. Such an immersive reading experience, and an intriguing exploration of group dynamics and female friendships. Highly recommended.

Three words to describe it. Dark. Mesmerising. Glamorous.

Do I like the cover? I love it!

Have I read any other books by the same author? No, this is her debut novel.

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