Better Luck Next Time: A Novel

Written by Julia Claiborne Johnson

Narrated by David Aaron Baker

""Do you want to read something funny?  Let’s say, a novel set at a divorce ranch in Reno in the 1930s?  A book with memorably eccentric characters, sparkling dialogue, a satisfying plot twist, and some romance and sex?  A feel-good literary comedy/western?  Here it is, then, the book you've been looking for: Julia Claiborne Johnson’s Better Luck Next Time.""—Julie Schumacher, author of Dear Committee Members and The Shakespeare Requirement

The long anticipated second novel from the bestselling author of Be Frank with Me, a charming story of endings, new beginnings, and the complexities and complications of friendship and love, set in late 1930s Reno.

It’s 1938 and women seeking a quick, no-questions split from their husbands head to the “divorce capital of the world,” Reno, Nevada. There’s one catch: they have to wait six-weeks to become “residents.” Many of these wealthy, soon-to-be divorcees flock to the Flying Leap, a dude ranch that caters to their every need. 

Twenty-four-year-old Ward spent one year at Yale before his family lost everything in the Great Depression; now he’s earning an honest living as a ranch hand at the Flying Leap. Admired for his dashing good looks—“Cary Grant in cowboy boots”—Ward thinks he’s got the Flying Leap’s clients all figured out. But two new guests are about to upend everything he thinks he knows: Nina, a St Louis heiress and amateur pilot back for her third divorce, and Emily, whose bravest moment in life was leaving her cheating husband back in San Francisco and driving herself to Reno.

A novel about divorce, marriage, and everything that comes in between (money, class, ambition, and opportunity), Better Luck Next Time is a hilarious yet poignant examination of the ways friendship can save us, love can destroy us, and the family we create can be stronger than the family we come from.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Jan 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9780063065871

Julia Claiborne Johnson

Julia Claiborne Johnson is the author of the bestselling Be Frank with Me, a finalist for the American Bookseller’s Association Best Debut Novel Award. She grew up on a farm in Tennessee before moving to New York City, where she worked at Mademoiselle and Glamour magazines. She now lives in Los Angeles with her comedy-writer husband and their two children.

Reviews for Better Luck Next Time

[quondame · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Outside Reno in 1938 a young man works at a ranch for well off women spending the 6 weeks in Nevada to establish residency for devorcing under that state's laws. Two young women, one returning for the third time, catch his particular attention, partly for their interactions with him, partly for the connects between them and partly for themselves. The author never quite manages to inflate the the 4 named but otherwise absent women who are resident at the same time, using only 2 of 6 to add in a bit of interaction outside the main characters, so that rather than a full constant mix of people in a small set there is a jarringly, clearly inaccurate sense that there is significant space around all the actors in every scene within the house. The book is very readable and not at all unpleasant, just not all that.

[sturlington_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A very light read - something of a palate cleanser, if you need that. This historical story is set on a Reno ranch during the 1930s. The ranch is where rich women go to wait out their time before they can divorce (six weeks' residency in Nevada is required). The ranch employs handsome cowboys to keep the ladies amused--generally the innocent kind of amusement. The narrator is one of these cowboys, a 24-year-old trying to figure out his life. He befriends Nina, a feisty lady who seems like she stepped straight out of a Lauren Bacall movie to be in this book, and her roommate, Emily, who Nina is bringing out of her shell. Of course he falls in love. It ends up about how you'd expect. My main quibble is the author giving us a totally adorable horse named Dumpling and then killing him to bring about the resolution. Seems like a cheap shot. My favorite bit was the other cowboy having an affair with one of the estranged husbands. I don't think this book will be particularly memorable, but it was an easy read.

[etxgardener · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In 1938 a group of wealthy women check into the Flying Leap dude ranch near Reno, Nevada to wait out their six-week residency so they can get a quickie, no questions asked divorce. Twenty-four year old Ward is also on hand to cater to their needs – especially those of Nina, a wealthy St. Louis heiress and aviatrix, and Emily whose bravest act was leaving her husband in San Francisco.But Ward discovers that he really knows a whole lot less than he thought about these women and along the way finds out a whole lot about himself.

[justacatandabook · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In the 1930s, women seeking divorce--no-questions-asked--could come to Reno, Nevada. The only catch was they had to spend six weeks there to become residents. Enter the Flying Leap, a dude ranch for the wealthy that facilitates the divorces by giving them a lovely stay and helping take care of everything. Ward, age 24, spent a year in college before his family lost everything to the Great Depression. Now he's working at the Flying Leap. Handsome and helpful, he's quite adored by the women. Soon, his life will be upended again by the arrival of two of the latest guests: Nina, who is back for her third divorce, and Emily, who is struggling after leaving her cheating husband.I adored Julia Claiborne Johnson's book BE FRANK WITH ME and was so excited to read this one. The books are very different, but she's such a good writer and brings you into the worlds she creates. LUCK is told in a conversational style by Ward, about the time period when he wasn't quite 25, though he's now quite an older man. It's not the kind of book you'd typically come across, but it's fascinating too. It's honestly refreshing to read such a unique book with such memorable characters. The plot is so interesting and while it certainly covers serious topics, it's also really funny and witty in places and could make me laugh out loud.The characters could be totally frustrating at times, but also truly real. If you're looking for a read unlike most, I recommend this one. 3.5 stars.I received a copy of this book from Custom House and LibraryThing in return for an unbiased review.

[cjordan916 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Slow, didn't really care about any of the characters. Be Frank with Me was much better

[pomo58 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Better Luck Next Time from Julia Claiborne Johnson was a fun and light read that highlights the period and locale that was 1930s Reno. The dude ranch is every bit as much a character here as the actual people.I did enjoy the book but I think for me this is a case of being let down by my own expectations. I don't mean to imply this book let me down. But I so enjoyed Be Frank with Me that I set myself up for disappointment. I actually stopped reading this book after about 50 pages and set it aside. When I came back to it and started over with realistic expectations a few weeks and a few dozen books later, I was able to appreciate this book for what it is.While the story was fun and a bit quirky I was far more interested in simply reading the characters. This isn't meant to be a deep psychological study of any of them, though I think we learn enough to gain some such understanding. This is simply a fun character-driven romp through a time and place that lent itself to strange entanglements.I would recommend this to readers who want fun characters in a historical novel in the not too distant past. If you are looking for a complex plot or more depth, this may be one you will want to set aside for when you just want a lighthearted read with good characterization.Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

[mm_jones · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A heart tugging story of friendship and family set in a Reno, NV Dude Ranch in the 1930's. Known as the divorce capital of America for a few short years, a six week residency in Reno would allow a quick divorce. Unfortunately, the much shorter amount of time the author spent in the location didn't allow Reno to be anything other than a minor character in the story. Not much chance you'll stumble upon a roadrunner that far north.Light weight for a book, reminiscent of Women's Magazine fiction of years gone by.

[jphamilton-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I just read the last half of Better Luck Next Time in one setting, and I found it a very curious and funny book with a well-crafted and touching conclusion. Reading this book was a great example of the power of concentrating on a book and of appreciating the writing. You see, my liking of the book’s ending was the flip side of the book’s first half, which was read only a few pages at a time, scattered over several days, and that left me profoundly unimpressed. Granted, the ending had all the book’s juicy storylines to bring together, but the whole experience clearly illustrated the disservice to literature of distracted reading. The book was a sad, sweet and somewhat lusty, loving remembrance of one of the handsome “cowboys” that saw to the women waiting for their divorces to come through on a “divorce ranch” near Reno during the Great Depression. A divorce ranch was where the wives waited out the two-week period that the courts required before a divorce was finalized. The owners of The Flying Leap Dude Ranch obviously hired their two employees/cowboys based on their good looks and youth. Our 24-year-old storyteller went by Ward, as a cowboy hat wouldn’t have fit as convincingly on his full name, Howard Stovall Bennett III. He was a “Cary Grant in cowboy boots” and was used to the rhythms of the job, until two more wives (Emily and Nina) showed up. Nina made a much flashier entrance by landing her own plane. She was an heiress and amateur pilot who often wore a sidearm, and constantly looked to enjoy herself. In contrast, Emily’s bravest moment in her life was to have come to the divorce court and the ranch. Yet, she couldn’t resist the wild time that Nina was always ready for and they were constantly together. The happenings on the ranch are often bigger-than-life and told with great humor. On one of the book’s first pages, there’s a quote from Zsa Zsa Gabor, “A girl must marry for love, and keep marrying until she finds it.” It is in the book’s conclusion where there’s a tenderness that’s revealed, and it’s very touching. By the end, we see that not only was this a funny look back at Ward’s time on the ranch, but a revealing look at people making huge changes in their lives, on how wealth and security can change everything, and also how emotions and love were at work all around the ranch. Ward and Emily become very close, and Ward is ready to leave the ranch and start a new and exciting life … but then there’s how Ward’s story ends. I’m not going to give the ending away, just know that it made the book for this reader.

[dgmlrhodes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed the "voice" of the narrator of this novel. The story came easily and naturally. The book is set in the 1930's at a "divorce ranch" in Reno. The characters have to stay at the ranch for six weeks so that they can achieve residency and obtain their divorce. The main character is that of Ward, a young handsome ranch hand. The ranch hands are asked to work with their shirts off and there are many funny stories along the way during the novel. The characters are big, witty and very enjoyable with subtle humor and many situations. Reader received a complimentary copy of the book from GoodReads First Reads.

[bookchickdi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Julia Claiborne Johnson’s new novel, Better Luck Next Time is a lighter read. She takes us to the Flying Leap, a dude ranch in 1938 Reno where wealthy women go to complete a six week Nevada residency in order to obtain a quick divorce.Told from the perspective of a handsome young cowboy Ward, we meet some of the women staying there one summer. Nina is an aviatrix who arrives to stay for the third time in order to divorce her latest husband. She is a lively one, always ready with a quip or cutting insult.Nina takes a shine to Emily, who came from San Francisco to await her divorce from her wealthy husband. Emily misses her teenage daughter terribly, but her husband has left her for a younger woman and she has no choice.The writing is crisp and very witty; I laughed out loud several times at some of the dialogue between the characters. Ward is such a wonderful character, you can see while some of the women fall in love with him. Better Luck Next Time would make a delightful movie.

[leslico · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[rglossne · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was the escape I didn't know I needed! Twenty-four year old Ward is a handsome Yale dropout working at a Reno divorce ranch in 1938 when his world is upended by two new residents: Nina, a St. Louis heiress who is a repeat customer of the ranch; and Emily, a young San Francisco beauty who drives herself across the desert to escape her marriage. The novel is told as his reminiscences as an old man, to an unseen visitor. Ward, Emily, and Nina have adventures, laughs, and heartaches and bring the reader along with them. A little contrived, but lots of fun.

[dallenbaugh_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This novel of historical fiction set on a divorce ranch in Reno during the Great Depression was interesting, but ultimately failed in feeling like real life was happening, but more being aware that the author was rearranging scenes in front of our eyes to make for an interesting story. There was very little plot . The characters were well fleshed out but Ward, the narrator, kept intruding into the story to remind us he was telling this story as a retired doctor. Often he would directly appeal to the reader to pay attention to what was happening. Knowing what eventually happened to Ward lessened the impact of Ward's actions in the story. With that being said I was still interested in finding out what happened to these characters.

[andsoitgoes_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Set in Reno, NV in 1938 this book introduces us to the Reno quickie divorce where people established residency after living there for 6 weeks to get a quick divorce. The ranch the women stay at hires only handsome men to wait on the soon to be divorcees. I found most of the book interesting and entertaining but one of the main characters, Nina, was very hard to relate to. Really didn't believe her "act". A nice, quick read that does keep you turning the pages. The wrap up at the end was somewhat predictable.

[lorelai2_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In Better Luck Next Time, Julia Claiborne Johnson introduces us to Wade, who has fond memories of his time working at a resident cowboy at the Flying Leap Dude Ranch, which wasn't involved in cattle drives.The Flying Leap was a temporary residence for women seeking divorce in Reno during the 1920s(you had to live within the state for at least six weeks in order to get a quick divorce) and Wade was meant to be a guide on the local trails as well as a dance partner for the ladies.Some of his best times back then were with Emily, a soft spoken woman whose daughter Portia shows up unannounced and Nina, a tough talking pilot who takes Portia under her wing. While Wade doesn't wind up with any of them in the long run, he has great tales to tell of their wild times to last him the rest of his life.This story has the flair of an old school film with snappy dialogue and engaging characters full of lively wit, which offers a good time had by all here.

[kimkimkim-7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Some days you get lucky and pick up the perfect book for your mindset on a rainy, danky, miserable day. The Flying Leap Dude Ranch in Reno, Nevada in June of 1938 is host to a group of women seeking divorces that are not obtainable in their home states. They arrive, stay for six weeks, and then as residents of the state of Nevada are entitled to file for divorce. These women are wealthy, some are wronged by their husbands also called “infidels”, some are just bored, some have secrets, some will cave and return home still married, others will go through the process and return on multiple occasions shedding husband #2, #3, #4 .The story is narrated by Ward, now an octogenarian, who was a major player in the story back in 1938. He relates his experience at the tender age of twenty five and introduces us to Max, Margaret, his bunk mate Sam, his favorite horse Dumpling and the women waiting for their divorces, Nina, Emily, the Zeppelin, Mary Louise and others with lesser stories. Six weeks is enough time for these women to come together and come apart, reveal some of their history and make new relationships. They can be rude, inconsiderate, shrewish, caring and irreverent. They will act up, act out, embarrass themselves and each other. Whether they find and get what they have come for is often as surprising to them as it is to the story. I often go hunting for the rhyme and reason of a title to a book after I have finished it. Usually it is a great frustration. I loved that the title to this book is dispensed with in the first few pages when a judge slams the gavel declaring the divorce and “Better luck next time.” Thank you LibraryThing and Custom House for a copy and keeping me entertained on a nasty day.

[w.mdo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this book, which was the perfect light read for the end of 2020. The premise was delightful, the characters all more or less likable and interesting, and even if it became a bit predictable toward the end I still enjoyed it to the very last chapter.

[fastforward-46127 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I always welcome the opportunity to read a historical fiction book that does not take place during World War 2 as that seems to dominate the genre. A story revolving around a 1930s dude ranch in Nevada where wealthy women come to stay as they await their divorce paperwork to be finalized was certainly enough to convince me to check this one out. An interesting idea and I appreciate the author's attempt to bring something different to the genre. Unfortunately, I can't say I loved the actual reading experience of it all.Way back when, Reno, Nevada was known as the divorce capital of the world. If you wanted a quickie divorce, you stayed in the state for 6 weeks in order to become a "resident", and there you go, divorce granted. In 1938, Ward was 24 years old and working as a ranch hand at the Flying Leap dude ranch. Nina and Emily are two of the guests staying at the ranch as they are both going through the process of divorcing their husbands. Nina is an amateur pilot and a frequent guest at this ranch as she is back for her third divorce. Emily left her husband in San Francisco to kick him to the curb so to speak, but it also meant leaving her daughter behind as well.The story doesn't have much action and that's part of the reason it was a slow read for me. The main issue though was I struggled with my interest level in the characters. Every single one fell flat, including Nina, who I believe was set up to be the fascinating one of the bunch. I wanted to feel more invested in their lives.Having said that, when I finally finished the book, I had a much better understanding of what the author was trying to accomplish with the story. There are complex layers to each character but it doesn't come across very well until you have the time to sit back and reflect. So while it is frustrating it wasn't that much of a fun read at the time, I do think I got something of value from the experience.Thank you to William Morrow for sending me an advance copy of this book! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.

[fjumonvi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In 1931, Nevada shortened its residency requirement to obtain a divorce to just six weeks and, unlike most states, did not require proof of fault. For at least the next 40 years, it was the self-proclaimed divorce capital of the world. To cater to the divorce trade, “divorce ranches” sprang up, providing accommodations for the women, mostly, who were waiting out their six weeks. Anyone who has seen the 1939 movie “The Women,” set in part on a divorce ranch, will instantly recognize this curious practice. Better Luck Next Time takes place on a divorce ranch and does an excellent job of evoking this unfamiliar setting. Characters include the proprietors of the ranch, the two cowboys they employ to help in the kitchen and chauffeur the “guests” to town for shopping and appointments with their lawyers, and, of course, the eight or so guests, along with a daughter and a couple of husbands on the brink of becoming exes.This is a slice-of-life narrative, chronicling the six weeks in 1938 when two particular guests dwelt at the Flying Leap Ranch, causing havoc and changing several lives forever. It focuses on Ward, one of the cowboys who, as an old man, recounts his life—with emphasis on his employment at the ranch—for an interviewer. Ward has a way with words, and his story is, by turns, amusing, romantic, and sad. Better Luck Next Time is different, well plotted, and well worth the reader’s time.

[nancyadair-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had heard good reviews of Julia Claiborne Johnson's debut novel Be Frank With Me. I was intrigued by the cover of Better Luck Next Time, the vintage photo of women at play. I am so, so happy that I put in my name in to win an ARC. This was a bright, warm, and happy light in the midst of Michigan's dismal winter and COVID-19 self isolation.I laughed out loud, starting with the first page with the narrator's epigram, "Some men are born gigolos; others have it thrust upon them." In 1988, Dr. Howard Stovall Bennett III (Ward) tells his story to an unnamed interviewer, recalling six weeks in 1938 that changed his life. He took any job he could find during the Depression after his family lost their wealth and home. A Cary Grant look-a-like, he leaves his manual labor work to become a fake cowboy on a Reno dude ranch that offers wannabe divorcees a six-week residency to qualify for a quick divorce.Ward was hired to perform ranch chores, provide eye-candy, and to "squire rich, brokenhearted ladies around Reno," which he proclaims was good experience for his future career as a doctor.But that career was far in the future in 1938 when Nina and Emily arrive at The Flying Leap ranch. Nina is a 'repeat customer' with all the vibe and audacity of a Flapper, and she determines to help Emily loosen up and live a little.OK, actually live it up a LOT. Like teenage schoolgirls, they go on larks and involve Ward as their chauffeur and partner in crime. Over-the-top scenes involve skinny dipping and Bottom's head and fairy wings from the theater department.I loved all the women at the ranch, and the other cowboy Sam, and the ranch owners, and even the husbands and insolent daughter; it's an ensemble that lends itself to insight and humor.The writing is so clever, the setting so unique and bizarre, the characters flawed and zany but human and lovable. Warm and generous, with a heartwarming twisted ending, this was a real delight. I received an ARC from the publisher through LibraryThing. My review is fair and unbiased.

[librarian1204 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In the 1930’s wealthy women looking to divorce their husbands had a dude ranch option. Spending 6 weeks of residency in Nevada was the choice for the ladies at the Flying Leap Dude Ranch. The ranch offered shopping excursions to Reno, horseback riding and good looking, cowboy ranch hands.Ward is a college drop out, working at the ranch and enjoying watching and learning from the ladies who cycle in and out every 6 weeks. Two of the latest ladies to arrive are Nina and Emily. They will change Ward’s life forever.The setting is very well done, as is the description of the role of women and their options which are not the same as now. Good characters and good character interactions. An enjoyable read .Read as an ARC from LibraryThing.

[susan.h.schofield · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars. This was an enjoyable and entertaining book. Who knew there used to be such a thing as a 'divorce ranch'? I loved the author's first book, Be Frank With Me. While this book was written in a similar style with quirky characters, it just didn't grab me in the same way. But I like her writing and look forward to reading more by her. Thanks to Book Club Girls and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

[jsbancroft · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*I really loved Julia Caliborne Johnson's previous novel, Be Frank With Me, so I was looking forward to reading Better Luck Next Time. While I enjoyed this book, I didn't love it. I felt no connection with any of the main characters. In fact, I intensely disliked the 2 main female characters. I did enjoy the narrative device of the main male character, late in his life, speaking with an unidentified visitor and remembering the people and events of a summer of his youth. The depictions of a summer in Reno were beautiful, and reminded me of the time I lived there (though I didn't move there just to get a divorce!).

[bookczuk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Utterly delightful pandemic read courtesy of Library Thing Early Reviewer's program and the publisher. I'd read the author's earlier book (Be Frank With Me) and had enjoyed the fresh approach, good writing, and interesting characters. Thankfully, the same held true here. I kind of knew where the journey would play out, but enjoyed the ride (by horse, Pierce-Arrow, stagecoach, bicycle and plane) just the same.

[strongstuff · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ah, this scratched an itch. Better Luck Next Time is an enjoyable bit of escapism, back to the 1930’s, out in the Nevada desert, and with a memorable cast of characters. Our man Ward is empathetic, the ladies are eccentric and outspoken, and Sam has the best lines. Fun!

[bale_5 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A fun, light-hearted read that takes place during the Great Depression. Sound impossible? Not so for a young man working at a divorce ranch in Reno. Well written and enjoyable.