Six Weeks in Reno

A Novel

By: Lucy H. Hedrick

Narrated by: Sarah Naughton

A woman at a “divorce ranch” in 1930s Reno strives to live life on her own terms in a powerful novel about heartbreak, hope, and the allure of the unknown.

September 27, 1931. Today my new life begins.

After twenty years in a loveless marriage, Evelyn Henderson will do anything to escape her stifling suburban life. She boards a train for Reno, Nevada, a former frontier town that’s booming thanks to “six-weekers”: women from all walks of life who take up residence there just long enough to secure an uncontested divorce—a right they don’t yet have in their home states.

Evelyn settles into the Flying N Ranch and soon bonds with her housemates, most of whom have never ventured this far from home—or from societal conventions. The Biggest Little City in the World offers a heady taste of freedom for the six-weekers: horseback riding in denim and fringe by day and being courted by dance-hall cowboys by night. But underneath the glamour are the grim realities of Depression-era America, as well as the devastating consequences of escape.

As Evelyn is drawn out of her shell by a Hollywood-handsome wrangler and challenged by her new friends to reengage with the world in all its heartbreaking complexity, one thing becomes clear: six weeks will change her life forever.

©2025 Lucy H. Hedrick. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“A terrific book with well-developed characters who we can root for all the way through their six-week metamorphosis.”—Historical Novels Review

A fast paced "must read."

What a ride! Not my typical genre, but I'm sooo glad I read this.

This novel tells the story of Evelyn's courage, and the women she meets, traveling to Reno NV, to get a divorce in 1931.

The story is fast paced, highly detailed, and include surviving male predators and con artists.

In this historical novel we experience an infamous "divorce ranch" where women from various walks of life converged to legally end their marriages during the Great Depression.

The story follows an ensemble of women whose paths cross at a time when a divorced woman was subjected to immense social stigma. Yet, Reno offered this opportunity through its residency requirements.

From socialites fleeing loveless marriages to working-class mothers seeking escape from abuse, each of the women brings a unique perspective to this story.

Friendships are forged in the face of adversity, as the women navigate their newfound independence. And indeed, some even find romance and love.

The narrator also did a fantastic performance. :)

Well written and engaging story!

I really enjoyed this audiobook, more than I even expected. It offered an entertaining storyline that was performed and written well and is an original topic. I listened to the entire book within a two day time frame. I would highly recommend!

Outstanding Read

I loved the premise of the story and enjoyed the reader. I ours recommend this read.