bibliopage's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this read--I gobbled it up in about 2 days! The story really pulled me in and had interesting characters! I would love to see this as a movie!
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I particularly enjoyed the oddball historical tidbits in this... Bill Shakespeare the football player, Elinor Smith the aviatrix, etc. Johnson succeeds in creating the voice of an elderly man looking back on his past, which in this case involves a young Yale dropout who goes West to escape his family, work on the Hoover Dam, and eventually work as a ranch hand on a dude ranch outside Reno, Nevada, which has become famous as a divorce destination for wealthy womenin the 1930s and 40s. Nina and Emily are an unforgettable pair, and the setting is well rendered. The ending is unexpected and clever. I enjoyed this.
pschaffner's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bookemrocko's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
raeleechoins's review against another edition
5.0
This book is fantastic!! Perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
I absolutely loved this wonderful novel. The characters are refreshing with plenty of wit and spunk considering their circumstances. Nina is recklessly daring and her friendship with Emily is heartwarming. Ward is a charmer but he is genuinely kind and compassionate. The divorce "ranch" is a fantastic setting and it is so well developed it springs brilliantly to life. This marvelous novel is a little poignant and the conclusion is bittersweet. A fabulous novel I LOVED and highly recommend.
Although I won Better Luck Next Time in a contest, my review is based entirely on my opinion of the novel. Nor was I obligated to write a review.
I absolutely loved this wonderful novel. The characters are refreshing with plenty of wit and spunk considering their circumstances. Nina is recklessly daring and her friendship with Emily is heartwarming. Ward is a charmer but he is genuinely kind and compassionate. The divorce "ranch" is a fantastic setting and it is so well developed it springs brilliantly to life. This marvelous novel is a little poignant and the conclusion is bittersweet. A fabulous novel I LOVED and highly recommend.
Although I won Better Luck Next Time in a contest, my review is based entirely on my opinion of the novel. Nor was I obligated to write a review.
emily_miller's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
mattgroot1980's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
missamandamae's review against another edition
4.0
I adored the author’s previous book Be Frank With Me, and once I read the premise of this one I HAD to read it! I loved it start to finish, and was totally charmed by the characters on the Flying Leap ranch. Great way to pass pandemic time!
thathappyreader's review against another edition
3.0
This book is set in 1938 in Reno, Nevada - a state where women could stay for six weeks and obtain a “no questions asked” divorce which was quite unusual in the day. This book describes the relationships formed at the Flying Leap Dude Ranch which hosted many wealthy women who fled to Reno in order to dissolve their marriages.
Told from the perspective of a retired physician, Ward reflects about his time working at the ranch at the age of 24. He particularly recalls two women Nina, a St. Louis heiress and amateur pilot at the ranch to obtain her third divorce, and Emily whose most courageous act to date was to drive herself to the ranch from San Francisco. These two women share a suite at the ranch and they develop a special bond. Not only do their personalities complement one another, but they bring out the best in one another as well. The story also demonstrates the difference in social class, aspirations and gender in 1938 - some of which have not improved much over the past eighty years.
While the book was entertaining, I did not feel connected to these characters. Moreover, I felt the book lacked emotion which was not only disappointing, but a must for me to enjoy a book. Having said that, the stories and antics from the ranch were amusing - just not often enough to keep me fully engaged. I enjoyed the bit of romance in the story, which provided insight into the personalities, and differences, of the characters involved. I recommend this book to those that enjoy literary fiction.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by David Aaron Baker who had a good performance. Reminiscent of listening to a cowboy telling stories of his past, I appreciated this quality which brought some authenticity to the book. I listened to the book at my usual 1.25x speed which was perfect for me. I would not hesitate to recommend the audiobook version of the book to those that enjoy this format.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper audio for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.
Told from the perspective of a retired physician, Ward reflects about his time working at the ranch at the age of 24. He particularly recalls two women Nina, a St. Louis heiress and amateur pilot at the ranch to obtain her third divorce, and Emily whose most courageous act to date was to drive herself to the ranch from San Francisco. These two women share a suite at the ranch and they develop a special bond. Not only do their personalities complement one another, but they bring out the best in one another as well. The story also demonstrates the difference in social class, aspirations and gender in 1938 - some of which have not improved much over the past eighty years.
While the book was entertaining, I did not feel connected to these characters. Moreover, I felt the book lacked emotion which was not only disappointing, but a must for me to enjoy a book. Having said that, the stories and antics from the ranch were amusing - just not often enough to keep me fully engaged. I enjoyed the bit of romance in the story, which provided insight into the personalities, and differences, of the characters involved. I recommend this book to those that enjoy literary fiction.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by David Aaron Baker who had a good performance. Reminiscent of listening to a cowboy telling stories of his past, I appreciated this quality which brought some authenticity to the book. I listened to the book at my usual 1.25x speed which was perfect for me. I would not hesitate to recommend the audiobook version of the book to those that enjoy this format.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper audio for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.