Lucy H. Hedrick’s debut novel, Six Weeks in Reno, takes readers on an emotional journey through 1930s Nevada, where a determined woman seeks not just a divorce but a reclamation of her very identity. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, this historical fiction weaves together the stories of women who travel to Reno—nicknamed the “Divorce Colony”—to take advantage of Nevada’s six-week residency requirement for uncontested divorces.
With meticulous attention to historical detail and deeply developed characters, Hedrick paints a vivid portrait of a time when a woman’s decision to end her marriage often meant risking social ostracism and financial ruin. The novel delves into the complexity of such choices while celebrating the resilience of women who dared to redefine themselves despite societal constraints.
The Journey Begins: Plot and Setting
The story follows Evelyn Henderson, a 39-year-old woman from Hackensack, New Jersey, who boards a train in September 1931, leaving behind her sister Marion and a twenty-year marriage to Dean, a man who lost his job fifteen years earlier and has since retreated into himself. During her six-week stay at the Flying N Ranch, Evelyn meets a cast of colorful characters—fellow “six-weekers” with their own reasons for seeking divorce, ranch hands, cowboys, and business schemers.
Hedrick brilliantly captures the stark contrast between East Coast propriety and the libertine atmosphere of Reno. The desert landscape becomes a character in itself—harsh, unforgiving, yet oddly liberating. Dance halls, casinos, and the famous Virginia Street Bridge (where divorcées traditionally threw their wedding rings into the Truckee River) come alive through Hedrick’s evocative prose.
Character Development: Transformation Through Connection
What truly shines in this novel is the evolution of Evelyn’s character. Initially judgmental and afraid, she gradually sheds the constraints of her eastern upbringing through her interactions with others:
Thistlena Duncan: The seemingly aristocratic businesswoman entangles Evelyn in both emotional support during an abortion and a suspicious hotel investment scheme.
Madeline Abel: Initially viewed as weak by Evelyn, she demonstrates surprising courage when confronting her abusive husband.
Beatrice Winters: Her tragic inability to face life alone serves as a counterpoint to Evelyn’s growing independence.
Sundown Ahrens: The cowboy who awakens Evelyn’s sensuality and helps her rediscover joy.
Through these relationships, Evelyn transforms from a prim, proper eastern lady into a woman who learns to judge people “for their goodness rather than their appearance, for their competence rather than their social position, and for their resilience rather than their family background.”
Historical Authenticity: The Depression-Era Context
Hedrick’s research shines in her depiction of 1930s America. The novel skillfully incorporates:
The economic devastation of the Great Depression
The cultural divide between East and West
The changing roles of women in society
The evolution of divorce laws and societal attitudes
The contrast between urban and rural America
These historical elements never feel forced but instead form an integral backdrop to the characters’ personal journeys. Particularly effective is Hedrick’s portrayal of the “divorce industry” that flourished in Reno—from the ranch owners who housed the six-weekers to the attorneys who processed their cases and the businesses that catered to them.
Thematic Depth: Freedom, Identity, and Judgment
The novel explores several interconnected themes that resonate beyond its historical setting:
Liberation vs. Loneliness: Evelyn and her fellow six-weekers grapple with the paradox of freedom—the exhilaration of independence versus the fear of isolation.
Societal Judgment: The “scarlet D” of divorce looms large, especially for women from religious or conservative backgrounds.
Self-Determination: Through Evelyn’s journey, we witness the awakening of a woman determined to live life on her own terms.
Appearances vs. Reality: From Thistlena’s con scheme to the respectable façade of Evelyn’s marriage, the novel repeatedly examines how appearances can deceive.
Strengths and Critiques: A Balanced Assessment
Narrative Strengths:
Hedrick’s greatest success lies in her character development and historical immersion. Evelyn’s voice feels authentic to the period yet accessible to modern readers. The pacing effectively balances introspection with surprising plot developments—from Madeline’s husband attempting to kidnap her on the train to the shocking suicide of Beatrice.
The novel’s structure—framed by train journeys west and east—creates a satisfying narrative arc that mirrors Evelyn’s transformation. Secondary characters avoid becoming stereotypes, each revealing unexpected depth and complexity.
Areas for Improvement:
While generally well-crafted, the novel occasionally relies on coincidences that stretch credibility. The Thistlena-Ray-Nat investment scheme subplot, while providing dramatic tension, sometimes feels like a distraction from the more compelling personal journeys of the characters.
Some readers might find the resolution of Evelyn’s relationship with Sundown too neat, avoiding the messier complications that would likely arise from such an intense connection. Similarly, the revelation about Dean’s potential homosexuality feels somewhat underdeveloped given its significance to Evelyn’s marriage.
Prose and Style: Finding an Authentic Voice
For a debut novelist, Hedrick demonstrates remarkable control over her prose. The writing style effectively captures the formality of 1930s speech patterns without becoming stilted. Evelyn’s first-person narration balances period-appropriate restraint with emotional honesty:
“I have never been farther west than Toledo, where I visited my cousin Alice years ago. Yes, I am a mature woman with considerable poise, but who knows what I’ll encounter in the ‘Wild West’?”
Particularly effective are the scenes where Evelyn’s carefully maintained composure cracks, revealing the vulnerability beneath her polished exterior. The descriptive passages of the Nevada landscape evoke both its harshness and its beauty—mirroring Evelyn’s gradual appreciation for a way of life initially alien to her sensibilities.
Comparative Analysis: Finding Its Place in Historical Fiction
Six Weeks in Reno stands alongside other notable historical novels about women seeking independence in restrictive times, such as Martha Hall Kelly’s Lilac Girls or Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds. Like these works, Hedrick’s novel illuminates a lesser-known aspect of women’s history while creating characters whose struggles feel relevant to contemporary readers.
As Hedrick’s first venture into fiction after publishing five works of nonfiction, the novel demonstrates her ability to translate historical research into compelling narrative. Fans of historical fiction set in the American West might also appreciate Christina Baker Kline’s Orphan Train or Adriana Trigiani’s Big Stone Gap series, though Hedrick brings her own distinct sensibility to her portrayal of Reno’s unique place in American cultural history.
Final Verdict: A Captivating Historical Journey
Six Weeks in Reno is worth reading for its engaging characters, vivid historical setting, and thoughtful exploration of female independence. Lucy H. Hedrick has crafted a novel that educates while it entertains, shedding light on a fascinating chapter in American social history through the lens of one woman’s personal awakening.
The novel’s greatest achievement is its nuanced portrayal of freedom—the costs it exacts, the courage it requires, and ultimately, the fulfillment it promises. As Evelyn reflects near the end of her journey: “I am now unfettered to set goals for myself beyond the restrictions of my family’s, or husband’s, rules. I am free to try new things, and perhaps fall down, but continue to stay my course on my terms.”
This sentiment resonates beyond the novel’s 1931 setting, making Six Weeks in Reno not just a historical curiosity but a timeless exploration of one woman’s determination to write her own story. Readers who appreciate historical fiction with strong female protagonists and richly detailed settings will find much to enjoy in Hedrick’s debut novel.
Recommended For:
Fans of women’s historical fiction set in the American West
Readers interested in Depression-era social history
Those who enjoy character-driven narratives about personal transformation
Anyone fascinated by the evolution of marriage, divorce, and women’s independence in American culture
Six Weeks in Reno reminds us that true freedom often begins with the courage to board a train heading west into the unknown—both geographically and emotionally—and that sometimes, six weeks can indeed change a life forever.