Better Luck Next Time: A Novel

By Julia Claiborne Johnson

“Doesn’t a romantic comedy set on a 1930s Nevada dude ranch teeming with about-to-be-divorced women owe a certain debt to the era’s big-screen classics? Then again, it’s hard to believe a cinematic version could be any more fun.” — New York Times Book Review

The dazzling 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: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jan 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9780062916396

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!).

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[cjordan916 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

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

[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.

[jacsun · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book starts with an interview by Dr. Howard Stovall Bennett, III (Ward) who reflects back on the days when he was working as a cowboy at the Flying Leap ranch in Reno, Nevada in 1938, during the Depression. His job - like the other men - was to assist women staying at the ranch who were broken hearted. Reno was one of the few places at that time where women could file for a divorce and it took six weeks for them as residents to make the claim. As the reader can easily guess, this cowboy not only helped one lady with her shopping, there was also romance in the picture. The historical novel presents itself well with the times and gives the reader lots to think about from those days. When Ward gave the interview in 1988, he said, "divorce isn't a big deal anymore." Let's hope it stays that way with women's rights.

[clue_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In 1938 Wade dropped out of Yale when the family money was lost in the Depression, and went West to work. Handsome and friendly, he ended up on the Flying Leap dude ranch in Reno, Nevada. The ranch catered to wealthy women needing to establish the six weeks residency requirements for divorce.All went well for Wade until Nina, an heiress who pilots her own plane and has come for her third divorce, and childlike and spoiled Emily who is trying to make it through her first, arrive and become friends. Wade takes them on trail rides, chauffers them to town, and breaks the hardfast rule not to become personally involved with a guest.I had trouble settling into this and thought it boring for awhile. The description of it claims it is hilarious but I didn't think so. There are amusing moments, but it isn't comedy. It was the ending that made me glad I stuck with it. Wade returned to Tennessee and a lifetime later gives a poignant summation of what happened to the three and to the beloved owners of the ranch once they were seperated.