Better Luck Next Time: A Novel

What an interesting read! The time is 1938 Reno Nevada where quickie divorces require a 6 week residency. Scene: a dude ranch for soon-to-be divorcees who need an address for 6 weeks. Cast of characters: Ward a delectable ranch hand with a cleft in his chin and a sparkle in his eyes; Max and Margaret, the owners of the ranch, Nina a nimble aviatrix at the ranch for the third time and Emily, a wealthy woman, waiting to divorce he cheating spouse, plus an assorted cast of characters who can warm your heart or make your blood boil.Told from the perspective of an elderly doctor’s recollections the plot unfolds quite beautifully really. Who finds love, who loses it, who stops caring about it? Read this book and enjoy the story telling!

The story was good, the characters were well developed, the dialogue was good, and I had never heard of these divorce ranches in the 30's. Maybe the novel resonated because of having gone through a divorce myself. I found it odd that the author used a male narrator, and I found the very casual style of this male narrator's direct chat with the reader kind of annoying ... but putting that aside, I enjoyed reading it.

Kudos to Julia Claiborne Johnson for setting her novel in this era. She's introducing generations to a slice of remarkable history in the contemporary American West few know about today. I know something of this era. From 1947 to 1949, my late husband was the head dude wrangler on Nevada's most famous dude & divorce ranch, the Flying M.E., twenty miles south of Reno. We recaptured the history and his stories in "The Divorce Seekers - A Photo Memoir of a Nevada Dude Wrangler" (on Amazon). Thank you, Ms. Johnson, for bringing this period to light. And I love the cover!

I didn't expect this book to be so humorous, but Julia Johnson is pretty hilarious. In 1988, Ward narrates his adventures as a cowboy at a 'divorce ranch' during a summer in 1938. There are poignant moments, and divorce is not trivialized. I enjoyed the characters and learning about these ranches in Reno. I felt the ending needed a bit more depth.

I read "Be Frank with me" and was so moved that when I saw this book in an airport I was thrilled to have another opportunity to enjoy Julia Claiborne Johnson's creativity. Better Luck Next Time tells a story so relatable that you feel like you are part of the tex - and everyone needs to meet a friend like Nina. Truly worth reading and rereading.

Ever since watching “the women” (1939)the existence of the Reno divorce dude ranches intrigued me. It was fun reading a novel delving into some fun personalities while weaving a wonderful story of a man’s life as he dealt with some strong female personalities , their passions and faults. An enjoyable read

I've been a huge fan of the author's since Be Frank with Me stole my heart. This one is so different, but an absolute lark of a story, with surprising emotional punch. The 1930s divorce/dude-ranch setting is a character all on its own (the author's personal family connection to it in her author's note is fascinating), but it's also populated with larger-than-life characters who leap off the page, and peppered with Johnson's signature humor. A delightful read--Johnson never disappoints.

When the cover art is the best thing about a book, it’s a bad sign. Enough said.