Lies in White Dresses: A Novel

About the Book

Award winning author Sofia Grant weaves an entrancing tale of female friendship and new beginnings inspired by the true stories of those who “took the Reno cure”. In the 1940s and 50s, women who needed a fast divorce went to Nevada to live on a ranch with other women in the same boat.

“Sofia Grant entices us into following three women seeking the Reno Cure, as they overcome their disillusionment over the lives they expected to have and summon the bravery to embrace new and unexpected paths.” --Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Woman in the Room

Francie Meeker and Vi Carothers were sold a bill of goods: find a man, marry him in a white wedding gown, and live happily ever after. These best friends never expected to be on the train to Reno, those “lies in white dresses” shattered, their marriages over.

On board the train they meet June Samples, who is fleeing an abusive husband with her daughter, and take the vulnerable young mother under their wing.  The three decide to wait out the required six weeks together, and then they can toss their wedding bands into the Truckee River and start new lives as divorcees.

But as they settle in at the ranch, one shocking moment will change their lives forever. As it brings their deceptions and fears into focus, it will also demand a reckoning with the past, and the choices that a person in love can be driven to make.

About the Author :
Sofia Grant has the heart of a homemaker, the curiosity of a cat, and the keen eye of a scout. She works from an urban aerie in Oakland, California.

Review :
“More than a skillfully woven novel, Lies in White Dresses reads like a black-and-white film that pulls you in from the very first scene...A memorable, atmospheric tale to savor with a friend and a rum-ginger fizz.” — Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author of The Edge of Lost “Sofia Grant entices us into following three women seeking the Reno Cure, as they overcome their disillusionment over the lives they expected to have and summon the bravery to embrace new and unexpected paths.”  — Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Woman in the Room “Lies in White Dresses presents one of the most unique plots I’ve seen in women-friendship fiction. Immersive characters bond during a greatly unknown and intriguing slice of American history. It’s a novel that is so hard to put down.” — Karen Harper, New York Times bestselling author of American Duchess “Part coming of age, part mystery, [Lies In White Dresses is] a rich and evocative story about the unshakable bonds of female friendship.” — Jillian Cantor, USA Today bestselling author of In Another Time “It’s 1952, and three women are on a train to Reno, each one with her own reasons for ending her marriage. Sofia Grant tells their intersecting stories with insight, tenderness and grace, and by the novel’s end, we have come to know and love them...An illuminating and resonant story.” — Kitty Zeldis, author of Not Our Kind “For those who enjoyed the author’s previous novels, as well as readers of women’s fiction and fans of Melanie Benjamin, Jennifer Chiaverini, and Meg Waite Clayton.” — Library Journal Praise for The Daisy Children: “Sofia Grant’s evocative prose sparkles with intensity and brings to life a bygone era of American vintage fashion -- before it was considered ‘vintage.’ [...] A remarkable story of sewing, sisterhood, reinvention, and redemption, as only Grant can tell it.” — Juliet Blackwell, New York Times bestselling author of Letters from Paris “An unspeakable tragedy taints the lives of four generations of women in this poignant story of loss, tumultuous relationships and rupture. [...] Relevant and timely, this novel will compel you to turn the pages until the secret at the heart of this family is finally revealed.” — Lorena Hughes, author of The Sisters of Alameda Street “In this evocative novel… is a multilayered story of heartache, hope, and healing.” — Publishers Weekly “The research into the past and the illustration of fashion and other trends through the decades make the book relevant to fans of twentieth century historical mysteries.” — Historical Novel Society Praise for The Dress in the Window: “Readers who enjoy plots offering strong family relationships, artistic creativity, and enterprising business schemes will relish this portrait of mid-century America.” — Library Journal