Julia Claiborne Johnson drew the title of this tale from
the words of a judge in Reno, Nevada, the capital for quick divorces in the
1930s, who would dismiss his divorce cases with these words: “Better luck next
time.”
Told from the viewpoint of Ward, a young man who
worked on The Flying Leap divorce ranch, the story follows two would-be
divorcees as they navigate the 6-week waiting period for a divorce. Much-married
Nina and first-time-divorce Emily, both wealthy women, become involved in a
number of antics – involving stolen costumes, horses, a litter of kittens, a gun,
a bicycle, and an airplane -- as they waited out their divorces. They
befriended Ward, requesting him as the driver for various adventures.
Ward’s folksy narration of that brief time in his life
is told from his days as a senior citizen when he has several conversations
with an unnamed interviewer. His
accounts of life at the ranch are both entertaining and filled with humor. This
novel would fill the needs of a reader looking for a lighthearted, just-for-fun
story.
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 now lives in Los Angeles with her
comedy-writer husband and their two children.
My review will be posted on Goodreads starting January
6, 2021.
I would like to thank Custom House/HarperCollins
Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an
objective opinion.
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