In her debut novel, Lucy H. Hedrick transports readers to the bustling “Divorce Colony” of 1931 Reno, Nevada, where women seeking freedom from unhappy marriages travel from across the country to establish the six-week residency required for a Nevada divorce. Six Weeks in Reno follows Evelyn Henderson, a 39-year-old model and mother of two grown children, as she escapes her loveless marriage to a chronically unemployed husband to forge a new identity among the desert mountains and gambling halls of the “Biggest Little City in the World.”
Hedrick crafts a story that balances personal transformation against the backdrop of a unique moment in American women’s history. Like many historical novels centered on women’s experiences, this book examines the social constraints that limited women’s choices while celebrating the courage required to break free from them.
A Woman at the Crossroads
Evelyn Henderson embodies the complexity of women’s lives in the early 20th century. Having been pressured into marriage with Dean, a man twenty years her senior, she has dutifully played the roles of wife and mother for two decades. When Dean loses his job at the Lawrenceville School and they’re forced to move in with her parents, Evelyn watches as her husband retreats into himself, making little genuine effort to find new employment.
What makes Evelyn compelling as a protagonist is her multifaceted nature. She’s simultaneously traditional and forward-thinking, judgmental yet kind, fearful but courageous. She holds fast to societal expectations about proper behavior while secretly modeling behind her family’s back. Her inner dialogue reveals her struggles with guilt, shame, and determination as she navigates her way through Reno’s unfamiliar terrain:
“Would I ever recover from a morose husband who had withdrawn from me into silence? Secretly, I prayed I could abandon my need to regurgitate. I lifted my chin and marched forth.”
The Divorce Colony: A Portrait of Time and Place
Hedrick’s meticulous research brings 1931 Reno vividly to life. The author skillfully depicts the contrast between the eastern women’s genteel backgrounds and the western landscape they temporarily inhabit. Her descriptions of the harsh desert terrain, the dance halls filled with cowboys eager to partner with “six-weekers,” and the gambling establishments create an atmospheric setting that becomes a character in its own right.
The Flying N Ranch, where Evelyn stays, serves as a microcosm of this unique cultural phenomenon. Run by the stoic, half-Native American Ramona and her husband Arthur, the ranch houses a diverse cast of female characters, each with her own reason for seeking divorce:
- Madeline Abel: A timid woman escaping an abusive husband
- Beatrice Winters: A dramatic personality terrified of being alone after divorcing her philandering husband
- Thistlena Duncan: A mysterious businesswoman whose secrets gradually unfold
- Neppy Gunther: A young mother divorcing her jailed husband while working at the ranch
Through Evelyn’s interactions with these women, Hedrick explores themes of female friendship, betrayal, and the many ways women both support and judge one another. The narrative effectively captures how shared adversity creates bonds between women from different backgrounds.
The Price of Freedom
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its unflinching portrayal of the challenges faced by these women. Hedrick doesn’t romanticize the divorce experience but instead shows the emotional toll, social stigma, and dangers involved in challenging societal norms.
The women encounter unexpected perils during their stay in Reno:
- Madeline’s abusive husband attempts to kidnap her
- Evelyn witnesses a murder in an alley
- Beatrice faces sexual assault after drinking too much
- The emotional strain drives one character to suicide
- A financial scam threatens to steal the women’s investments
Through these plot points, Hedrick reminds readers of the vulnerability of women navigating an unfamiliar environment without the protection of family or reputation. Yet these dangers are balanced against the exhilaration of newfound freedom, especially for Evelyn, whose relationship with the cowboy Sundown Ahrens awakens passions she had long suppressed.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Hedrick excels at capturing the internal conflicts of women caught between societal expectations and personal desires. Evelyn’s first-person narration draws readers into her emotional journey as she gradually sheds the limitations imposed on her by family and upbringing. The period details feel authentic without overwhelming the narrative, and the secondary characters are distinct and memorable.
However, the novel occasionally relies too heavily on dramatic events to maintain tension, particularly in the latter half when financial scams, suicides, and fires pile up in quick succession. Some readers might find that these incidents detract from the more nuanced emotional journey at the heart of the story.
Additionally, while Evelyn’s romance with Sundown provides a compelling subplot, their relationship sometimes feels idealized compared to the more complex portrayal of her other relationships. Their passionate encounters serve as important catalysts for Evelyn’s self-discovery, but Sundown himself occasionally seems more like a symbol of western freedom than a fully realized character.
Historical Context with Contemporary Resonance
What makes Six Weeks in Reno particularly effective is how it illuminates a fascinating chapter in women’s history while drawing parallels to contemporary issues. The novel explores:
- The economic impact of divorce on women in an era when financial independence was difficult to achieve
- The double standards applied to men and women regarding marital fidelity and personal freedom
- The ways in which social stigma enforces conformity
- The complex interplay between financial security and personal autonomy
For modern readers, these themes resonate with ongoing conversations about marriage, divorce, and women’s autonomy. Hedrick’s novel reminds us how recently women gained basic legal rights and how costly challenging social norms could be.
Final Assessment
Six Weeks in Reno is an impressive debut that combines historical detail with emotional depth. Hedrick crafts a protagonist whose journey from constraint to liberation feels both specific to her historical moment and universal in its portrayal of self-discovery. The supporting characters represent different responses to similar circumstances, creating a rich tapestry of female experience.
While the novel occasionally relies too heavily on dramatic plot twists, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. Hedrick’s prose is elegant but accessible, carrying readers smoothly through Evelyn’s transformative six weeks.
This novel will appeal to fans of historical fiction focused on women’s experiences, such as Martha Hall Kelly’s Lilac Girls or Kate Quinn’s The Alice Network. Readers who enjoyed Christina Baker Kline’s Orphan Train will appreciate the similar attention to a little-known aspect of American history.
For those interested in the real history behind the novel, Anne Vilen’s non-fiction work Divorce Ranches of Nevada provides additional context about this fascinating period when Reno became known as the “divorce capital of the world.”
Who Should Read This Book
- Readers interested in women’s history and the evolution of marriage and divorce in America
- Fans of historical fiction set in the early 20th century
- Those who enjoy stories about female friendship and solidarity
- Readers drawn to narratives about personal transformation and self-discovery
- Anyone fascinated by the unique culture and landscape of the American West
In Six Weeks in Reno, Hedrick has created a compelling portrait of a woman who, like the desert landscape she temporarily inhabits, contains surprising depth and resilience beneath her carefully maintained exterior. Through Evelyn’s journey, readers are reminded that freedom—whether personal, financial, or social—often comes at a cost, but that the price may be worth paying to live authentically on one’s own terms.
