Reviews

Better Luck Next Time by Julia Claiborne Johnson

emmabeckman's review against another edition

2.0

My overall sentiment about this book is: disappointing. I had very high hopes. Look at that fun cover! But it did not live up to my expectations. I should have realized it was told from the man's perspective, so that's my error, but I would have MUCH rather have read from the perspective of a woman at the ranch. I didn't think the plot or the romance were compelling, I didn't have strong feelings about any characters (the best among them, Nina and Sam, were cast aside for boring Ward and Emily, in my opinion), sometimes it felt like the writing couldn't remember what decade the story was told in. I HATED the way the story was told in this frame of an interview with Ward (yes, I understand why it was done. No, this is not the first time I haven't enjoyed that storytelling method: see The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, The Green Mile). I think that's a trope that works far better on screen than in writing.

In sum, I was bored. I kept reading because I hoped it would get better but it really didn't. Nothing happens and anything that does happen was predictable (like, you can literally see things coming from a mile away. There are no subtle hints). No one has any chemistry. Sorry, fam. (But note, it didn't do anything offensive [other than sort of using someone's sexuality as a plot twist, but a plot twist that you probably saw coming from a mile away] I'm still giving it two stars rather than one.)

cinlovesbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

4.0

aimsro's review against another edition

adventurous funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

rubbertree14's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

kowithers's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

amieeaya's review

4.0

I think I might have liked this more if I had read this book in print instead of listening to it. The story itself is fun and fresh, the protagonist is charming and unassuming. Surprising ending. I think maybe I'll try to read this again next summer. 

lbolesta's review against another edition

3.0

I wanted just a little bit more out of this.

leslico's review against another edition

4.0

Hilarious, entertaining and heartwarming, a quirky story of a divorce ranch in Reno in the 1930s, about wives who book a 6 week stay at the Flying Leap ranch in Reno to establish themselves as residents of Nevada and qualify for a quickie divorce. While they are there, the ranch has plenty of activities (and cowboys) to entertain them and they meet lots of women in a similar situation to commiserate with.. sounds like the perfect way to get over a divorce! The story is told through the eyes of Ward, a young ranch hand who had to leave medical school to work after his family lost everything in the Great Depression and learned a lot about life from some very spunky ladies, including Nina, an amateur pilot, and Emily, a kind young lady who has finally worked up the nerve to leave her cheating husband. I was surprised by the ending, and thoroughly enjoyed the both the light and serious parts of this story!

Thank you very much to NetGalley, William Morrow and Custom House for allowing me to listen to this story in exchange for an honest review.

sdillon's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

hurricanejeanne's review against another edition

funny fast-paced

4.0