This book was an enjoyable read, despite being about divorce! Maybe it’s news to some out there, but back in the day a divorce wasn’t easy to obtain. This book focuses on a six week period at the Flying Leap Divorce Ranch in 1938. Yes, that’s right – a divorce ranch where women could stay for six weeks to gain resident status, and get their no questions asked divorce. The women came from various social classes, from the ultra wealthy who might be working on their third or fourth divorce; to the determined young women who were desperate to get away from an abusive husband.
The narrator here is a man who worked as a ranch hand/house boy/eye candy when he was 25. One description was “Cary Grant in cowboy boots”. Ward has a background of being well off, but the big crash of 1930 ended the family fortune. From his perspective as a retired doctor, he tells his recollections to a reporter. His manner comes across as warm and humorous, as he tells the story of two women in particular one hot Reno summer. Nina and Emily come from different backgrounds – Nina is the wild child, female pilot and ready for adventure; Emily’s only act of defiance was driving from San Francisco to Reno for her divorce. Thanks to being roomed together, they quickly become friends and co-conspirators in mischief. And they frequently drag Ward into their escapades, where he ends up being the voice of reason more often than not.
I was pulled into the story very quickly, and finished in record time. The characters were engaging, and realistic in their strengths and weaknesses. While there are several funny moments in the book, there’s also instances of sadness and the realization that relationships are fragile, so you need to hold on to them if you can. And if you can’t, life still goes on and better luck next time…