Six Weeks in Reno

by Lucy H. Hedrick

A woman at a “divorce ranch” in 1930s Reno strives to live life on her own terms in a powerful novel about heartbreak, hope, and the allure of the unknown.

September 27, 1931. Today my new life begins.

After twenty years in a loveless marriage, Evelyn Henderson will do anything to escape her stifling suburban life. She boards a train for Reno, Nevada, a former frontier town that’s booming thanks to “six-weekers”: women from all walks of life who take up residence there just long enough to secure an uncontested divorce—a right they don’t yet have in their home states.

Evelyn settles into the Flying N Ranch and soon bonds with her housemates, most of whom have never ventured this far from home—or from societal conventions. The Biggest Little City in the World offers a heady taste of freedom for the horseback riding in denim and fringe by day and being courted by dance-hall cowboys by night. But underneath the glamour are the grim realities of Depression-era America, as well as the devastating consequences of escape.

As Evelyn is drawn out of her shell by a Hollywood-handsome wrangler and challenged by her new friends to reengage with the world in all its heartbreaking complexity, one thing becomes six weeks will change her life forever.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Ebooks, Womens Fiction, Audiobook

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 4, 2025

About the author

Lucy H. Hedrick is the author of five works of nonfiction. Six Weeks in Reno is her first novel. Born in Chicago, Lucy attended Goucher College in Maryland, where she majored in music history and sang in the glee club. She has roamed the Eastern Seaboard ever since. Marriage brought Lucy to Old Greenwich, Connecticut. Shortly thereafter Lucy gave birth to her son, Tod. Today, Lucy lives in Sarasota, Florida, where she devotes herself to writing women’s fiction. She is a member of the National League of American Pen Women, Sisters in Crime―Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, and Sarasota Fiction Writers. For more information, visit www.lucyhedrick.com.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Donne · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evelyn Henderson is married to Dean and she has two college aged children. Her deceased parents were religious and they pushed her into marrying him, it wasn’t what she wanted and she boards a train for Reno, Nevada. The laws around divorce have changed, she has to stay at the Flying N Ranch for six weeks and become one of the “six weekers”, and they stay long enough to secure an uncontested divorce.

The ranch is run by Ramona and Arthur, and she becomes friendly with her housemates Beatrice, Madeline and Thistlena and they go into town for beauty appointments and shopping, and attend the dance-halls at night and which are frequented by cowboys and Evelyn has her head turned by the handsome Sundown.

Evelyn discovers the reasons why her friends want to get a divorce and for some the decision is easier than others and not all is what it seems and Reno is full casinos and prostitution, swindlers and crooks and can be a dangerous place for naive ladies and young girls.

I received a copy of Six Weeks in Reno by Lucy H. Hedrick from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. A story set in 1931 and during the Great Depression in America and about how those six weeks changed Evelyn's life, despite forming bonds with her housemates, I found her character rather shallow.

A three star read for me, the idea of women having to resort to such drastic measures to get a divorce was interesting and the cover is stunning and I had high hopes, however I felt the narrative lacked intellectual depth and I recommend borrowing a copy of the novel from the library.

[NrsKelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this is one of those books I probably should have read after finishing another genre. As it was I had just finished a five star historical fiction read and was not as pulled in by this story as I could have been.
This book follows several women as they embark on a 6 week journey of living in 1930s Reno on “divorce ranches”. While I find the premise interesting, I couldn’t seem to connect with any of the characters.
Don’t get me wrong this is by no means a bad read. And the narrator does a good job. It just wasn’t a knock my socks off read.
Overall I would say a solid 3.5:/5 stars.
I received an ALC of this title, all opinions are my own.

[klaudia katarzyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing is certain, but I have faith... a new faith in myself, in fact.

— ★ women's historical fiction, US in the 1930s, finding yourself ★ —

Recently I've been in a need for historical fiction focused on women and the "girl power" feelings and this book delievered! Lucy H. Hedrick present a beautiful, yet hurtful story of women in the 1930s.

Before I reached for this book I had no idea that Reno, Nevada was a divorce capital back in the days. This was an incredible information to me and I am in shook and in awe for all the women that decided to get their freedom and stay in that city at first for 6 months, and then after the law changed for 6 weeks. That took a lot of courage and some didn't last that long, I do hope that all of them did find the freedom they needed at last.

The motif of finding yourself is something that makes this novel important to me. Our main character - Evelyn - is finally tired of her life and decides to change it, when she goes to Reno we follow her for 6 weeks and 2 long train journies. We laugh with her, cry with her, and finally take a breath at the end.

I recommend this one for everyone! Fast read, beautiful story and an amazing history lesson.

Big thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

[Justine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Evelyn is on a mission to 1930's Reno to get an uncontested divorce, but will she have the nerve to stay the full 6 weeks and come out a free lady?

I chose this book because I live in Reno, Nevada and was very excited to learn more of it's history. Every time Evelyn walked along the Truckee river or mentioned some of the places and streets that are still around today I internally cheered. Unfortunately, I want more than just historical facts and location lore in my books.

The commentary about how Evelyn's family blamed the divorce and their own current state of unhappiness on her was a strong message and I wish Hedrick leaned into this further and showed us a resolution.

There is technically a plot to Evelyn's journey, but it doesn't really come together until the last 25% of the novel and the ending of her short-lived story was not even that satisfying. The majority of the book is seeing the Old West in the very judgey eyes of our MC. Every time something terrible happens to some one else or something even remotely inconvenient happens to her, Evelyn's internal monologue cries out saying "is this a sign that I should retreat back home?". No spoilers of course, but a funny inconsequential example of this is when she can't leave her hotel for a day because of a wind storm and her doubts come flying at you in the text! Evelyn is the stereotypical East coast high society snob, a gossiper who can't read social cues, too dim to piece together obvious "secrets", and the biggest little square in all of the 6 weekers and Renoites.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some books that feel like an observation of another time like tapping into the brain of someone who lived it, and this is one of them.

The story of Evelyn and her journey to + life in Reno while seeking a divorce in the 1930s is complex and gives great perspective on the struggles of her and the other women.

Six Weeks in Reno would make a great book club choice, and there are tons of questions/conversation topics that can be pulled from this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advanced copy!

[Liz Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was originally pulled in by the title of this book. I was unfamiliar with the concept of the divorce ranch which was surprising as a Nevada native.

With the relaxation of the Reno residence requirement for divorce going from 6 months to six weeks, Evelyn has finally decided to take the train to Reno. She seeks to file for divorce from her husband of 20 years who has all but given up on finding employment and is also harboring secrets within their marriage. Evelyn meets several other women on her journey who are all seeking divorce for different reasons- infidelity, domestic violence, etc.

These women become roommates, friends, and companions as they navigate their first taste of freedom in Reno. Much of the story highlights the day to day life of the women which swings vastly between the monotony of living the same life just in a different place and the excitement of life out west. There was a repetitive emphasis on the classic east coast versus Wild West that I couldn’t shake. This portrayed the east coast women as high class, snobby, and fashionable. The women in Reno were salt of the earth, brothel owner with a heart of gold, or Native Americans.

Overall, I enjoyed this book as this has given me a unique perspective of this subject. I have never read anything else featuring the divorce ranches or the “six weekers”. I also sincerely appreciate the attention to detail regarding the geographical locations and names. The street names, alleyways, towns, and the Native American tribes mentioned were used correctly. Even the mention of the wedding chapel across from the court house is a very important detail, as there are many wedding chapels to this day right across the street. A huge pet peeve of mine is to read a book featuring a place the author has not researched.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for the eARC via NetGalley.

[Mandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of self exploration and the realities of women seeking divorce in the 1930s, how vast and unique each woman’s situation is. Night life in prohibition era. A retro read. I enjoyed seeing Evelyn shed all the expectations and rules everyone has placed on her and seeing her choose what she wants and how she wants to live.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing, Brilliance Audio, Lake Union Publishing and Lucy H. Hedrick for giving me an advanced listener’s copy and an ARC for this book!

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in the day, divorce was hard to come by and was very much frowned upon, but then Reno, Nevada shortened the residency requirement law to six weeks and a new niche Depression Era industry was born. Lucy H Hedrick makes her fictional debut with this fascinating bit of American Women’s History and I just had to read it.

Six Weeks in Reno begins in 1931 when Evelyn Henderson leaves behind a twenty-year marriage under the disapproval of her wealthy East Coast family to journey by train to Reno and become one of the “six-weekers” who are there to obtain a divorce and a new life. Her mother arranged her marriage with a much older man and Evelyn is done stifling and struggling when her husband won’t find a job and claims he can’t during the depression. A secret she learns is the impetus for her new adventure.

Evelyn meets other women who come from all walks of life and marriage situations that have become untenable for various reasons. Their destination is a hick town in her eyes with no culture and she’s staying on one of the many local ranches who are using the “six-weeker” rush to become “Divorce Ranches” to help pay the bills.
Evelyn’s journey is not just the physical train ride that brings her to the Divorce Capital, but a private journey of finding herself. She has followed her strict, conservative family’s rules all her life and obeyed her mother in her marriage, but she is dreadfully unhappy and come unmoored. Arriving in Reno, getting to know the other women and the people on the ranch start to open her up and work changes on her. She starts out judgmental and reserved to the point of rudeness, but slowly she learns to connect, to trust, and to have real friends for the first time. She can meet a studly cowboy at a Reno dancehall and explore what attraction does to her and she can commiserate with women who have been abused, don’t have their paperwork, or, even now are vulnerable to a real estate con involving a casino. By the finish of her six-weeks, the new Evelyn can barely recognize the old and she’s facing the world with courage and confidence.

Six Weeks in Reno is historical fiction and I chose it for that as I was curious about the Divorce ranches and the “six-weeker”s since I had an older family member who was a Reno divorcee in her time. The detail and description of it all was all there. Even to the point of being just on the “too much” side so it drowned out plot. There are repetitive descriptions of the daily life and less attention to the story characters than I would have liked. But, what struck me was that this was a part of women’s history, too, and women had to be pretty brave, desperate, and determined to go this route because it wasn’t easy back in the ‘30’s and it wasn’t thought well of to be a divorced woman.

And, so, I was well-satisfied and glad I spotted Six Weeks to Reno now having a better understanding and feeling for that time, place, and the people through this fictional story. It is an obvious debut book and feels it, but well worth it for those who love women’s historical fiction in unique niche corners of history.

I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.

My full review will post at Books of My Heart on 3.16.25.

[Di · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spending six weeks in Reno, which qualifies as residency, gives a person the chance to get a “quicky” divorce without having grounds or having to pay huge legal bills. The story takes place in 1931 when divorces were still considered very scandalous. Most of the people going to Reno were women, all of them had their individual reasons.

Evelyn, from New Jersey, is the main character, backed up by several other women in the same position. They are all in Reno, spending six weeks, to get divorced. I have trouble connecting with Evelyn. She has been a runway model previously, a fact that she likes to repeat often. I couldn’t find any endearing characteristics.

Reno was just in the early development stages in the story. I found this interesting. There were brothels, casinos, dance halls. It was still a frontier town, full of cowboys. There were ranches to accommodate and feed the “six weekers”.

There were day-by-day accounts of the divorce seekers' activities. Mostly rather dull: shopping trips, visiting a hair salon, manicures, going to dance halls.

One of the things that really bugged me: one of the woman’s names was Thistlena. Seriously??? It shouldn't affect how I feel about the book but I cringed every time it was mentioned. It didn't even come up when I Googled.

The second half of the book was slightly better than the first. But it's a long way to go to find enjoyment in a book. The premise of the book sounded interesting. However, the delivery, lack of character development and simplistic writing style did not appeal.
Sadly, this book did not do it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of Six Weeks in Reno.

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.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me a fascinating insight into what it was like to get a divorce in the early 1930s. It also gave me a look into the different types of people who came to Reno for their divorces. Mostly, they were all monied women since this was at the height of the depression. I doubt that a less monied woman would be able to afford to become a "six-weeker."

Many things surprised me about this book, and some things that I could see from a mile off. I could see Evelyn's husband for what he was, even though she didn't speak of it until the very last chapter.
We saw the best and the worst of people, and we even had a bit of a romance going. It would have been interesting to have a couple more chapters that dealt with the consequences of Evelyns divorce once she got home. Did her kids forgive her? Did she resume modeling? How did she get along with her sister?

All in all, it is an excellent read and perfect for book clubs since it gives us a lot to chew over.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Lake Union Publishing, the author, and NetGalley.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book about a short period in women’s history in the 1930s 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

[Liz Lahue · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved the idea of this book, and actually just read another book about the divorce ranches in Reno recently. I liked the main character growing into her own, and empathized with all the women trying to get free from unhappy marriages. I felt like some of the chapters were a bit clunky and didn’t flow but overall I really enjoyed reading it!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for honest feedback

[Amy in the Desert · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 30%

Good lord, the main character had her snooty-pooty nose in the air the ENTIRE time. I wanted to slap her. Once they get to Reno, it gets hella boring.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very boring.

[Alyssa · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 34% 🫢 Historical accuracy who?

[Melissa Corday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher Lake Union Publishing, and author Lucy H. Hedrick for providing an eARC. I'm leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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If you like women-focused historical fiction with bits of feminism sprinkled in, you'll like this.

If you don't, you'll probably be bored.

FMC Evelyn is, as a character, not very exciting. What makes this book so compelling is everything that happens around her. Evelyn is a straight laced (literally, she still wears corsets in an era when corsets are not in fashion) goody-goody who's biggest risk is probably wearing white shoes after Labor Day. She's securing a divorce because she's unhappy in her marriage for a number of reasons, but she's not at risk of kidnapping, abuse, or destitution, like some of the other "six-weekers" staying at the ranch. She's wealthy, conventionally attractive enough to still be a model at nearly forty years old, doesn't own pants, doesn't own shoes that aren't heels, and finds joy in homemaking, childrearing, and charity work.

I cannot relate to this woman in nearly any capacity.

However, if the reader pauses and stops viewing Evelyn as a character, and instead views her as a reader-insert into the scary and foreign world of 1931 Nevada with the stigma of being a divorcee and trying to forge a life as an unmarried woman of a certain age, and with the rowdy gambling and dancing halls, and with the cruel possibility of Mother Nature herself tearing the roof off from over your head, it gets a lot more interesting. Through Evelyn as a device, we readers get to experience the stigma of divorce, the fear of being alone, the danger of walking alone at night, the risk of scandals and swindlers, and the unexpected impacts all these things could have on a person's conscience, and constitution. Mental health is explored a lot in this book, and while it doesn't use modern terms we're familiar (depression) it does describe the same things in the terms that were in use back then (bouts of melancholy).

To that point, every single supporting character stood out to me and felt richly developed and complex. Particular favorites were Savannah with her "demons", Beatrice with her melancholy, Madeline with her business acumen, Thistlena with her scandals (all of them, omg), Romana and Arthur with their tenacity, Little Hawk with his strength, and Miss Helen with her business and charity, Violet with her business, Neppy with her balance between dreams and duty, Sundown with his tenderness and independence... Even Dean, Evelyn's soon-to-be-ex-husband, is compelling to read about.

There were some reveals later in the book that readers can probably predict early on, but even still the reveals were well done and left with just a whisper of mystery around them. I liked that not everything was spelled out in an over-abundance of detail, but readers could piece together what happened with little to no doubt.

This book probably could use some trigger warnings, but also, I feel like if you know anything about divorce pre-1990, then you probably understand some of the things these women experienced both on and off page.

Originally, I picked this up because another "divorce ranch" book left me incredibly disappointed and wanting more; I had felt like that book was a whole lot of nothing. Six Weeks in Reno kept me interested with all the interpersonal drama and descriptions of life in a snapshot of a six-week period, and a lot happened. Evelyn didn't change much except for stepping outside her comfort zone a little bit, which is why this isn't a 5 star read for me (no one likes a dull main character), but everyone and everything around her was rich and colorful. I'm left hoping that Neppy can balance her dreams and duty, that Dean finds happiness, and that even Thistlena finds a happy ending.

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy H. Hedrick's debut novel, Six Weeks in Reno, takes readers on an emotional journey through 1930s Nevada, where a determined woman seeks not just a divorce but a reclamation of her very identity. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, this historical fiction weaves together the stories of women who travel to Reno—nicknamed the "Divorce Colony"—to take advantage of Nevada's six-week residency requirement for uncontested divorces.

With meticulous attention to historical detail and deeply developed characters, Hedrick paints a vivid portrait of a time when a woman's decision to end her marriage often meant risking social ostracism and financial ruin. The novel delves into the complexity of such choices while celebrating the resilience of women who dared to redefine themselves despite societal constraints.

The Journey Begins: Plot and Setting

The story follows Evelyn Henderson, a 39-year-old woman from Hackensack, New Jersey, who boards a train in September 1931, leaving behind her sister Marion and a twenty-year marriage to Dean, a man who lost his job fifteen years earlier and has since retreated into himself. During her six-week stay at the Flying N Ranch, Evelyn meets a cast of colorful characters—fellow "six-weekers" with their own reasons for seeking divorce, ranch hands, cowboys, and business schemers.

Hedrick brilliantly captures the stark contrast between East Coast propriety and the libertine atmosphere of Reno. The desert landscape becomes a character in itself—harsh, unforgiving, yet oddly liberating. Dance halls, casinos, and the famous Virginia Street Bridge (where divorcées traditionally threw their wedding rings into the Truckee River) come alive through Hedrick's evocative prose.

Character Development: Transformation Through Connection

What truly shines in this novel is the evolution of Evelyn's character. Initially judgmental and afraid, she gradually sheds the constraints of her eastern upbringing through her interactions with others:

- Thistlena Duncan: The seemingly aristocratic businesswoman entangles Evelyn in both emotional support during an abortion and a suspicious hotel investment scheme.
- Madeline Abel: Initially viewed as weak by Evelyn, she demonstrates surprising courage when confronting her abusive husband.
- Beatrice Winters: Her tragic inability to face life alone serves as a counterpoint to Evelyn's growing independence.
- Sundown Ahrens: The cowboy who awakens Evelyn's sensuality and helps her rediscover joy.

Through these relationships, Evelyn transforms from a prim, proper eastern lady into a woman who learns to judge people "for their goodness rather than their appearance, for their competence rather than their social position, and for their resilience rather than their family background."

Historical Authenticity: The Depression-Era Context

Hedrick's research shines in her depiction of 1930s America. The novel skillfully incorporates:

- The economic devastation of the Great Depression
- The cultural divide between East and West
- The changing roles of women in society
- The evolution of divorce laws and societal attitudes
- The contrast between urban and rural America

These historical elements never feel forced but instead form an integral backdrop to the characters' personal journeys. Particularly effective is Hedrick's portrayal of the "divorce industry" that flourished in Reno—from the ranch owners who housed the six-weekers to the attorneys who processed their cases and the businesses that catered to them.

Thematic Depth: Freedom, Identity, and Judgment

The novel explores several interconnected themes that resonate beyond its historical setting:

- Liberation vs. Loneliness: Evelyn and her fellow six-weekers grapple with the paradox of freedom—the exhilaration of independence versus the fear of isolation.

- Societal Judgment: The "scarlet D" of divorce looms large, especially for women from religious or conservative backgrounds.

- Self-Determination: Through Evelyn's journey, we witness the awakening of a woman determined to live life on her own terms.

- Appearances vs. Reality: From Thistlena's con scheme to the respectable façade of Evelyn's marriage, the novel repeatedly examines how appearances can deceive.

Strengths and Critiques: A Balanced Assessment

Narrative Strengths:

Hedrick's greatest success lies in her character development and historical immersion. Evelyn's voice feels authentic to the period yet accessible to modern readers. The pacing effectively balances introspection with surprising plot developments—from Madeline's husband attempting to kidnap her on the train to the shocking suicide of Beatrice.

The novel's structure—framed by train journeys west and east—creates a satisfying narrative arc that mirrors Evelyn's transformation. Secondary characters avoid becoming stereotypes, each revealing unexpected depth and complexity.

Areas for Improvement:

While generally well-crafted, the novel occasionally relies on coincidences that stretch credibility. The Thistlena-Ray-Nat investment scheme subplot, while providing dramatic tension, sometimes feels like a distraction from the more compelling personal journeys of the characters.

Some readers might find the resolution of Evelyn's relationship with Sundown too neat, avoiding the messier complications that would likely arise from such an intense connection. Similarly, the revelation about Dean's potential homosexuality feels somewhat underdeveloped given its significance to Evelyn's marriage.

Prose and Style: Finding an Authentic Voice

For a debut novelist, Hedrick demonstrates remarkable control over her prose. The writing style effectively captures the formality of 1930s speech patterns without becoming stilted. Evelyn's first-person narration balances period-appropriate restraint with emotional honesty:

"I have never been farther west than Toledo, where I visited my cousin Alice years ago. Yes, I am a mature woman with considerable poise, but who knows what I'll encounter in the 'Wild West'?"

Particularly effective are the scenes where Evelyn's carefully maintained composure cracks, revealing the vulnerability beneath her polished exterior. The descriptive passages of the Nevada landscape evoke both its harshness and its beauty—mirroring Evelyn's gradual appreciation for a way of life initially alien to her sensibilities.

Final Verdict: A Captivating Historical Journey

Six Weeks in Reno is worth reading for its engaging characters, vivid historical setting, and thoughtful exploration of female independence. Lucy H. Hedrick has crafted a novel that educates while it entertains, shedding light on a fascinating chapter in American social history through the lens of one woman's personal awakening.

The novel's greatest achievement is its nuanced portrayal of freedom—the costs it exacts, the courage it requires, and ultimately, the fulfillment it promises. As Evelyn reflects near the end of her journey: "I am now unfettered to set goals for myself beyond the restrictions of my family's, or husband's, rules. I am free to try new things, and perhaps fall down, but continue to stay my course on my terms."

This sentiment resonates beyond the novel's 1931 setting, making Six Weeks in Reno not just a historical curiosity but a timeless exploration of one woman's determination to write her own story. Readers who appreciate historical fiction with strong female protagonists and richly detailed settings will find much to enjoy in Hedrick's debut novel.

[Sadie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Evelyn goes to Reno to secure a divorce from a man she never loved. She is a snob and conceited; I did not like her at all. She’s a judgy hypocrite. She has sex with the first man that pays attention to her. 🍑🍆

[Aimee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I simply needed to read something easy peasy and it filled a gap

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If Las Vegas was known as the place to get a quick marriage, Reno, during the Great Depression, was the place to get a quick divorce. All you had to do was “live” in Reno for six weeks to be considered a resident. Then, as a resident, you could ask the courts for a divorce. Women from all over the US would travel by train to Reno to get a divorce.

The women that arrived in Reno were quickly termed the “six-weekers”. They stayed on ranches set up just for these types of situations. The staff would feed them, take them to town for shopping and hair appointments, and then later to the hall for dances with the local cowboys. Some of the women were wealthy and others just scraping enough money together to get to Reno and then off to start a new life.

I had never heard of these Reno divorces before reading this book. During the 1930s, divorce was very scandalous. But women sought them for various reasons much like today. Infidelity, abuse, a loveless marriage, and other disagreements sent the women to Reno and sometimes, the men came along after them trying to win them back. Other women found new love with one of the many cowboys and married again shortly after receiving their divorce. While others never returned home again, traveling to new cities to start over.

“It takes courage to come all the way out here. You have courage. You are a brave woman. If I’ve observed one thing since I’ve been here, it’s that we six-weekers are loaded with bravery. The world is full of wives who remain in loveless and sometimes abusive marriages. We’re the ones who have said, ‘Enough!’ And do you know what it really means? We’ve decided that we deserve better.”

In this story, we mostly followed Evelyn and the other “six-weekers” who lived together during their time in Reno. Of course, there are always going to be people who prey on vulnerable women, and Reno had plenty of them. Some cowboys were looking for a quick romance. Investors were looking to capitalize on Reno’s popularity and swindle innocent women out of their hard-earned money.

Evelyn came from a mostly sheltered childhood and life. She didn’t believe in drinking alcohol or other unseemly behaviors. She was very naive about the kind of life people lived outside of her circle including bar fights, poverty, and gambling. During her train ride west she was exposed to people and situations that she had never been around before and then again during her time in Reno. Evelyn was seeking a divorce from a husband who refused to work and live off her family’s money but she had also recently found out he had been keeping a scandalous secret from her which was the last straw, sending her to Reno.

Evelyn’s life is forever changed by the many women (and one particular man) she met during her six weeks in Reno. She watched women overcome adversity and great disappointment, became friends with women she had already made a snap judgment about, and witnessed many women blossom right before her eyes as they became free from their particular situations.

I didn’t appreciate Evelyn’s character in the beginning as I found her to be too uppity and unforgiving, but as Evelyn began to learn more about herself, she changed into a caring friend who would put herself between a woman and an abuser to save her.

“From now on, I am determined to judge people for their goodness rather than their appearance, for their competence rather than their social position, and for their resilience rather than their family background. “

I enjoyed this journey to Reno and into the lives of these women who quickly became friends and depended on each other. There are some themes that readers may find difficult to read including domestic abuse, suicide, and abortion. However, each of these situations was handled with care and accuracy for the time period the characters were in. If you like realistic historical fiction and being transported to a time and place in history full of dust storms, cowboys, and country dances, check out this book.

“But freedom is more than an absence of hurt. It is elbow room to try new things. Plenty of rope, as the cowboys would say, to play, and no doubt stumble, but with the license to get up and play again…I am now unfettered to set goals for myself beyond the restrictions of my family’s, or my husband’s rules. I am free to try new things, and perhaps fall down, but continue to stay my course on my terms.”

[Serendipity · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the 1930s, Reno, Nevada made a name for itself in the divorce market. Women would travel there from all over the country, and after residing there for six weeks, often in one of the many ranches that specialised in the market, be granted a divorce. The concept of divorce ranches fascinated me. I read a couple of novels focused on this topic last year, but my interest wasn't sated.

Six Weeks in Reno follows Evelyn, a woman who was in a loveless marriage for more than 20 years. She thought long and hard about the implications and, despite her sister's vehement objections, decided to travel to Reno and get a divorce. For Evelyn, her stay is mostly filled with good times - shopping, visits to the hair salon, socialising, horseriding, and nights out dancing with cowboys. Evelyn is smart and wealthy; her marriage is not beset by violence or blatant infidelity. Not all women were so lucky. While Evelyn's is the main storyline we do get to see the experiences of other women - one who is working at the ranch to pay for her stay, one who is stalked by her abusive husband, one who can't fathom being single and is already searching for another husband, and one who becomes increasingly more distraught at the prospect of divorce even though her husband is objectively terrible. Hedrick also doesn't shy away from what all women risked by getting divorced, including financial hardship and becoming the topic of gossip, if not social rejection. And yet, for many, it was well worth it. The joy of groups of newly divorced women throwing their wedding rings into the river really sprang from the page. I thought the benefits of divorce as well as its costs for women were well represented and well balanced. The other aspect of this book that was especially well done was the setting. The cowboys, the dance halls, the gambling dens, as well as prostitution, a shoot out, and a group of swindlers all created a vivid picture of a Western town on the edge of lawlessness, one far outside the experiences of a woman like Evelyn. The change of energy in the town as new groups of divorce seeking women arrived, and the newly divorced departed came across well. It was clear the six weekers were contributing to an economic boom in Reno.

I did have a few quibbles. One was my desire to know what happened next for Evelyn? Did her children come to understand her decision? Did she manage to return to modelling? How did she cope with any social ostracism? Another was her husband's homosexulaity which is alluded to but never fully explored and thus felt an unnecessary inclusion. Overall though this was a solid, well-researched, and engaging story exploring an aspect of women's history in America that continues to fascinate me.
Many thanks to @netgalley and the publishers for the eARC. Six Weeks in Reno releases 4 March.

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

How much can a life change in six weeks?

For the women who traveled to Reno to acquire uncontested divorces that were denied them in their home states in Depression Era America, six weeks changed everything. I have always found the idea of these "Divorce Ranches" fascinating. I have seen novels about the topic, but this was the first I've read and I wish I had jumped into another one because I struggled my way through the audio version. It was hard for me to connect to the main character as she was the least interesting in the novel. I can't for the life of me understand why she was the POV this story was told through.

Exploring The Biggest Little Town in the World by day and dancing with cowboys at night reawakens feelings long since thought lost, and the newfound freedom sparks new perspectives for these women. Seeing some of these women blossom with new possibilities was my favorite aspect of the novel. The ability to cuts ties with an abusive or untrustworthy spouse was a life changer for women in the 1930's that is taken for granted today. Reno began crawling out of the financial ruin of the Great Depression thanks to the influx of these "Six Weekers" and gambling.

The story is told through Evelyn's perspective. She is a former model (of which the reader is reminded ad nauseam) driven to divorce her husband who refuses to work and engages in secret behavior. Her husband is listless and prone to bouts of depression. She arrives at the Flying N Ranch where they provide rooms and meals to divorce seekers for the required six week stay in an attempt to keep their ranch open amid plummeting beef prices. Being inside her mind was not for me. I found her to be superficial, judgmental, but worst of all she's boring. I thought every other character in the novel was more interesting. I longed for the scenes that contained groups of characters because Evelyn's POV was tiresome.

There were many ways this could have gone wrong at the end, but the author gave this an ending I appreciated.

The narration and writing style here are just ok. I understand that this is the author's first foray into fiction as non-fiction is her usual genre. There may be some growing pains here. Kudos for giving a look at this important moment in history though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for providing an Advance Listening Copy for review. All opinions are my own.

[Bailey Douglass · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

This book is a novel about a woman going to Reno for 6 weeks to establish Nevada residency so that she can divorce her husband. You meet the other temporary residents as well as Reno's permanent residents and the odd relationships and transactions that exist between the two. There are various sub-plot lines, but the real goal of the narrator is to make it through the 6 weeks to get a divorce, so really you're just spending the 6 weeks with her.

Based on the cover and subject matter, I expected this to be fairly pulpy, but I was impressed by the complexity of the characters. The narrator is a wealthy woman who is leaving her husband for a variety of reasons that don't seem nearly as good as most of the other woman's reasons. You don't fall in love with the main character, but you do end up understanding how she made her choices and having empathy for the limited choices women have during this time.

The other characters in the book are interesting and have their own arcs. Just like in real life, not everyone has a happy ending, Also like in real life there are lots of scenes that exist a bit more for world building and atmosphere creation than plot advancement. That's ok and I really enjoyed that element of the book, but I can imagine people calling it a bit slow moving since the narrator's own arc is much more of an observer than anything else.

This is actually the third book I've read about divorce ranches in the last year, so I'd say this is a topic that's of interest to me. (The other books I read were Rowan Beaird's novel The Divorcees, and April White's nonfiction The Divorce Colony.) All of them books are, but this was the most fun to read, since it blended a story with a lot of context and description of the world of Reno during this time. I felt like the narrator was my guide taking me around the area and it was a fun way to consume the info.

My biggest criticism of this book is that in the final chapter the narrator outlines her conclusions in an almost academic way, which harkens back to Hedrick's background as a non-fiction writer. Without that I would give this book 4 stars, but I found it to be quite distracting and take me out of the book.

Thank you to Brilliance Audio for an advance review copy of this book., My opinions expressed are my own.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up SIX WEEKS IN RENO because I needed to read a book set in Nevada for a reading challenge and they're not that easy to find! The subject of Reno's "divorce ranches" sounded interesting as well. I'd never heard of them before and knew nothing at all about Reno's history. I enjoyed learning some of these details, but the thing about a good historical novel is that there needs to be more to the story than just some intriguing historical tidbits. Like a plot. And complex, well-developed characters. And intellectual depth. Unfortunately, SIX WEEKS IN RENO doesn't have these things, which made it a long, dull, very putdownable read for me.

Evelyn isn't an unlikeable character exactly, but she's not super appealing either. She's stiff and snooty and there just isn't a lot of depth to her. Yes, she loosens up by the end of the book, but she's still annoying. The other characters are pretty bland as well. Evelyn's fellow divorcees-to-be all blended together so much that I couldn't tell one from the other and, frankly, didn't care enough to bother. Part of the problem for me, maybe, is that while I respect the idea that it took courage for women in the 1930s to buck convention and seek divorces on their own in order to free themselves from abusive and loveless marriages, I couldn't wrap my head around it being "work" to hang around in Reno for six weeks going to dances, flirting with cowboys, shopping, and getting gussied up at the hair salon. It was difficult—for me, anyway—to care much about a group of women partying their way to a divorce. They all just seemed lazy and selfish.

Like I said, there's also no plot to the book. Nothing really happens. The story is very episodic and, while some of the scenes are exciting or interesting, on the whole the tale is quite boring. If I hadn't needed a Nevada book so badly, I would have DNFd this baby after a couple of chapters. I just DID NOT CARE. Enough said. I'm giving SIX WEEKS IN RENO two stars because I did manage to finish it and it's not the worst book in the world. It didn't work for me, but others may find it worth reading.

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for mild language, violence, some disturbing subject matter, and sexual content

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman at a “divorce ranch” in 1930s Reno strives to live life on her own terms in a powerful novel about heartbreak, hope, and the allure of the unknown.

A few states with more lenient policies sprung up as “divorce mills,” places where one-half of the couple could set up residence relatively quickly and split from their spouse on less stringent grounds. As men were the majority of the workforce, residency duties usually fell to the wife.

Nevada was entrepreneurial and strategic from the beginning, and liberal as a matter of necessity. When the Silver State was established in 1864, the residency requirements to enjoy such benefits as voting and filing legal suits—especially divorce suits—was just six months. It had to be brief: The population of Western boomtowns was transient by nature.But, on top of that, the grounds for divorce had wide berth. In some cases, it saved women from dangerously abusive relationships.

By 1909, Reno had already gained a reputation as a go-to for a quickie divorce. A very specific industry sprung up, with lodging and entertainment proliferating within steps of the Washoe County Courthouse. Divorce tourism bloomed: The bridge a block from the courthouse steps became known as the "Wedding Ring Bridge," where the newly divorced would dramatically toss their wedding rings into the Truckee River. Famous actresses like Mary Pickford had come for a divorce, and with them, the eyes of the world.

In 1927, the residency requirement was reduced to three months. After the Great Depression decimated the domestic industry, the 1931 Nevada legislature passed two crucial economically driven bills that would end up forever changing the state’s fortune. The first legalised gambling. And the second
upped the total grounds for divorce to nine and reduced the residency requirement from three months to just six weeks.

Divorce seekers had one thing in common: They needed somewhere to stay for six weeks, complete with a housing manager willing to testify that they hadn’t left the state for over 24 hours in that time.
If people had money and needed privacy, they stayed at one of the dude ranches around town, aka divorce ranches.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Brilliance Publishing for the digital copy of this book and audiobook; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I’m not sure why I requested this book about a “divorce ranch” other than the title intrigued me, and I love reading historical fiction. I knew from a lot of previous reading that Reno was THE place to go for a “quickie” divorce. I had no idea that the six-week requirement used to be six months and that it changed in the early 1930s.

It is because of this loosening of requirements that the protagonist of the story, Evelyn, has decided to make the trip, divorce her husband, and start a new life. She has spent 20 years with her husband and was one of those women who stayed with him as long as she did because of their two children. Her husband lost his job some years prior (even before the Great Depression started), and their family has been living with Evelyn’s well-to-do parents the past ten years.

Evelyn meets some women at the divorce ranch who are leaving their husbands for various reasons: infidelity, domestic violence, and other reasons. These six-weekers become roommates and friends as they await their divorces. Many of the women are enjoying the freedom that they haven’t felt in years, just like Evelyn. The book proceeds with their stories, which are a bit repetitive and monotonous, interspersed with some of the excitement of being in the wild wild west of Nevada.

Overall, I enjoyed this book for the most part. From other reviews I’ve read, it’s apparent that the author did her research into the history of Reno with accurate details. I always appreciate it when I hear from locals who confirm the writer didn’t play fast and loose with details. Sarah Naughton is the narrator of the book, and I especially liked the tone of her voice. It made the listening experience enjoyable, even when dealing with some unsavory conduct by men in the novel. I would definitely listen to something narrated by Naughton again.

[Melinda Hamilton]

New Jersey resident Evelyn wants a divorce from her husband. In 1931, during the Great Depression, the easiest way to get an uncontested one was to move to Nevada for six weeks.

During the four day train journey and her time in Reno, Evelyn meets plenty of other women who are leaving their marriages, all for their own reasons. Hosting and entertaining these women was a cottage industry, and the residents of Reno welcomed them and their money with open arms. Some of the women blossom and find themselves, others struggle mightily. For East Coast resident Evelyn, it was a chance to remind herself of who she really is and find her inner strength.

I really enjoyed this book. I’m a big fan of YA historical fiction author Stacey Lee, and this seemed like it could be a grown up version of one of her books. It was clearly very well researched, and the characters were varied and well-defined. There were a variety of outcomes for the women, and it clearly felt like the author was trying to represent many of the various outcomes that the actual women, or six weekers as they were called, experienced during that time. That wasn’t a drawback; it made the story feel more authentic.

I wish the author had spent just a bit more time on Evelyn’s reentry to society when she returned to the East Coast. I would have liked to see how her college-age children reacted—they are the two least developed characters in the book—and perhaps how she was received in society upon her return. But to delve into those aspects is almost a different book, so I understand the author’s choice. I do wish she had found a way to develop the characters of the two children through communications while she was in Reno. I would have like to have heard more from them.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction, you should definitely check this one out.

This is an honest review based on the book provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down
I have read another book about the Divorce Colony, it had similarities to this one.

There was lots of repeating over chapters, is this helping the reader remember or to show worry of the character or just trying to fill pages to make the minimum words? The repeating was hearing Evelyn’s thoughts about the situation. Could this be a me thing that bothers as I read quickly usually finishing a book in one or two sittings, so I don’t feel like I need to be reminded?

Also, there was SO much stuffed into this short novel- there is divorce shaming, suicide, drunkenness, theft, gambling, prostitution, domestic abuse, attempted kidnapping, fleecing for a scam, abortion, “respectability”, racism, homophobia, classism, adultery, arson. Like my head was spinning. This novel is only 256 pages and takes place over 6 weeks!

The MC Evelyn starts out talking about how she was “poor-ish” but in every comment and action she is showing the reader that she is well off during the depression. So much so that she can afford to buy someone else fine hosiery, meals, access to the divorce colony on her own dime, and $5000 to invest in the scam. She also is “model” beautiful and able to support herself and her ex plus send her kids to college off the inheritance from her parents. She has the knowledge to speak with lawyers and city officials, this doesn’t strike me as someone scraping through life.

Now did I enjoy reading about the location- yes. I want more books about this topic or about the lives of people who changed directions during this time period.

I also appreciated the ending, it was what I expected and wanted to see happen. However, she is continuing the life her parents basically picked for her, silently suffering just as a divorcée. She is the reason we have the Second Sex in 1949.