Title: Lies in White Dresses by Sofia Grant
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Historical (50s), Women’s Fiction
Length: 375 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
Award winning author Sofia Grant weaves an entrancing tale of female friendship and new beginnings inspired by the true stories of those who “took the Reno cure”. In the 1940s and 50s, women who needed a fast divorce went to Nevada to live on a ranch with other women in the same boat.
“Sofia Grant entices us into following three women seeking the Reno Cure, as they overcome their disillusionment over the lives they expected to have and summon the bravery to embrace new and unexpected paths.” –Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Woman in the Room
Francie Meeker and Vi Carothers were sold a bill of goods: find a man, marry him in a white wedding gown, and live happily ever after. These best friends never expected to be on the train to Reno, those “lies in white dresses” shattered, their marriages over.
On board the train they meet June Samples, who is fleeing an abusive husband with her daughter, and take the vulnerable young mother under their wing. The three decide to wait out the required six weeks together, and then they can toss their wedding bands into the Truckee River and start new lives as divorcees.
But as they settle in at the ranch, one shocking moment will change their lives forever. As it brings their deceptions and fears into focus, it will also demand a reckoning with the past, and the choices that a person in love can be driven to make.
Review:
Set in 1952, Lies in White Dresses by Sofia Grant is a poignant yet ultimately uplifting historical novel.
Best friends for over thirty years, Francie Meeker and Vi Carothers are going to Reno, NV together to divorce their husbands. While en route to their destination, they befriend another divorcee to be, June Samples and her four year daughter, Patty. The three women are trying to make the best of their decision to divorce their husbands, but their futures are a bit uncertain. Vi and Francie will not have any financial worries but they both worry about how their social lives will change. June’s financial situation is already uncertain and she knows she must find employment immediately. Quickly bonding over their shared experience, Francie and Vi do everything they can to assist June but even more changes than just their marital status await them in Reno.
Neither Francie’s nor Vi’s marriages have been happy for several years, but with such stigma surrounding divorce, they felt they had no choice but to remain married. Recent circumstances have forced Vi’s hand which in turn gives Francie the courage to end her marriage. June’s situation is completely different but she has very sound reasons for seeking a divorce. Not long after their arrival in Reno, a shocking situation provides the catalyst for unexpected life altering changes.
Lies in White Dresses is an engrossing novel with a thought-provoking, topical storyline. The characters are from different socio-economic backgrounds with varied life experiences. The story is well-researched and springs vibrantly to life. Sofia Grant’s newest release is clever and unique and readers will enjoy this intriguing glimpse the realities of divorce during the 1950s.
