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Lexington, Alabama #4
Double Lives
Award-winning New York Times bestselling author Mary Monroe returns with an outrageous new tale of Depression-era Southern drama starring identical twin sisters with a talent for switching lives and hiding the scandalous results—until one risk too many changes the game forever . . .
Since childhood, identical twins Leona and Fiona Dunbar have been getting in—and out—of trouble by pretending to be each other. Yet underneath, they couldn't be more different. Outspoken Leona lives to break rules, have a good time, and scandalize their respectable hometown of Lexington. Fiona is a seemingly-demure churchgoing girl who is the apple of her domineering, widowed mother Mavis’s eye.
But together, the twins have fooled teachers, boyfriends, bosses, racist police—and most importantly, strait-laced Mavis. Even when Leona does jail time for Fiona, their unbreakable bond keeps them fiercely loyal. . . . So when Fiona feels stifled in her passionless marriage, and Leona is heartbroken over losing her one true love, it's perfect timing to change places once again . . .
Leona is shocked to discover she enjoys the security of being a wife and homebody. And the unexpected spark between her and Fiona’s husband is giving her all kinds of deliciously sexy ideas. Meanwhile, Fiona enjoys being free, single, and reveling in the independence she's never had. And the more she indulges her secret, long-repressed wild child, the more Leona’s ex-lover becomes one temptation she’s having trouble resisting . . .
As the sisters’ masquerade ignites desires and appetites they never expected, it also puts their most damning secrets on the line. Once the fallout rocks their small town, can Fiona and Leona's deep sisterhood shield them from total disaster and help them reconcile their mistakes? Or will the trust between them become a weapon that shatters their lives for good?
Since childhood, identical twins Leona and Fiona Dunbar have been getting in—and out—of trouble by pretending to be each other. Yet underneath, they couldn't be more different. Outspoken Leona lives to break rules, have a good time, and scandalize their respectable hometown of Lexington. Fiona is a seemingly-demure churchgoing girl who is the apple of her domineering, widowed mother Mavis’s eye.
But together, the twins have fooled teachers, boyfriends, bosses, racist police—and most importantly, strait-laced Mavis. Even when Leona does jail time for Fiona, their unbreakable bond keeps them fiercely loyal. . . . So when Fiona feels stifled in her passionless marriage, and Leona is heartbroken over losing her one true love, it's perfect timing to change places once again . . .
Leona is shocked to discover she enjoys the security of being a wife and homebody. And the unexpected spark between her and Fiona’s husband is giving her all kinds of deliciously sexy ideas. Meanwhile, Fiona enjoys being free, single, and reveling in the independence she's never had. And the more she indulges her secret, long-repressed wild child, the more Leona’s ex-lover becomes one temptation she’s having trouble resisting . . .
As the sisters’ masquerade ignites desires and appetites they never expected, it also puts their most damning secrets on the line. Once the fallout rocks their small town, can Fiona and Leona's deep sisterhood shield them from total disaster and help them reconcile their mistakes? Or will the trust between them become a weapon that shatters their lives for good?
321 pages, Paperback
Published February 25, 2025
36 people are currently reading
7434 people want to read
About the author
Mary Monroe
63 books2,765 followersI am the third child of Alabama sharecroppers and the first and only member of my family to finish high school. I never attended college or any writing classes. I taught myself how to write and started writing short stories around age four. I spent the first part of my life in Alabama and Ohio and moved to Richmond, California in 1973. I have lived in Oakland since 1984.
My first novel THE UPPER ROOM was published by St. Martin's Press in 1985 and was widely reviewed throughout the U.S. and in Great Britain. An excerpt is included in Terry McMillan's anthology BREAKING ICE. I endured fifteen years and hundreds of more rejection letters before I landed a contract for my second novel, GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY. It was published in October 2000 by Kensington Books. GOD DON'T PLAY is my seventh novel to be published, and it landed me a spot on the prestigious New York Times Bestsellers list for the first time! My eighth novel, "BORROW TROUBLE," was released December 2006. My ninth novel, DELIVER ME FROM EVIL, was released September 2007 and my tenth novel, SHE HAD IT COMING, was released in September 2008, and my eleventh novel THE COMPANY WE KEEP, will be released March 2009.
I won the Oakland Pen Award for Best Fiction of the Year in 2001 for GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY. I won the Best Southern Author Award for GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDENS, in 2004.
I am divorced, I love to travel, I love to mingle with other authors, and I love to read anything by Ernest Gaines, Stephen King, Alice Walker, and James Patterson. I still write seven days a week and I get most of my ideas from current events, the people around me, but most of my material is autobiographical.
My first novel THE UPPER ROOM was published by St. Martin's Press in 1985 and was widely reviewed throughout the U.S. and in Great Britain. An excerpt is included in Terry McMillan's anthology BREAKING ICE. I endured fifteen years and hundreds of more rejection letters before I landed a contract for my second novel, GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY. It was published in October 2000 by Kensington Books. GOD DON'T PLAY is my seventh novel to be published, and it landed me a spot on the prestigious New York Times Bestsellers list for the first time! My eighth novel, "BORROW TROUBLE," was released December 2006. My ninth novel, DELIVER ME FROM EVIL, was released September 2007 and my tenth novel, SHE HAD IT COMING, was released in September 2008, and my eleventh novel THE COMPANY WE KEEP, will be released March 2009.
I won the Oakland Pen Award for Best Fiction of the Year in 2001 for GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY. I won the Best Southern Author Award for GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDENS, in 2004.
I am divorced, I love to travel, I love to mingle with other authors, and I love to read anything by Ernest Gaines, Stephen King, Alice Walker, and James Patterson. I still write seven days a week and I get most of my ideas from current events, the people around me, but most of my material is autobiographical.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
March 9, 2024
I absolutely loved it. I knew I had to read this the moment I came upon the blurb and it delivered. The story was phenomenal and had me in chokehold and took me on an emotional rollercoaster from the get go with amazing characters I love to hate. Leona was my absolute favorite. Loved her to death. Fiona and Mavis, I had a love hate relationship with because they got on my nerves all the time lol.
As a black historical fiction it was emotionally difficult to read at times with elements of racism and segregation at the core of the story.
My favorite part of this story was the bond between Leona and Fiona. A sisterly bond that transcends all.
This was my first read by this author and it definitely won’t be my last.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC
As a black historical fiction it was emotionally difficult to read at times with elements of racism and segregation at the core of the story.
My favorite part of this story was the bond between Leona and Fiona. A sisterly bond that transcends all.
This was my first read by this author and it definitely won’t be my last.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC
April 9, 2024
I don't even know how to rate this, to be honest! I always grab a Mary Monroe book because her characters make me shake my head. They are simultaneously the dumbest and the most entertaining people I have ever read. Mary is an author whose writing is very simple (some say sophomoric) but whose stories are so deeply complex. I felt the beginning of this novel was a little slow and heavy on the detail. It ramped up considerably about 50% in and I DID NOT EXPECT THE ENDING .
April 1, 2024
The last time I journeyed through Lexington, Alabama I said goodbye to Jessie and Hubert. Now I’m back in book 4 and there’s some new characters on the scene identical twin sisters Leona and Fiona. If you’ve read this series then you know the messy drama that comes with it. While Double Lives was full of mess it didn’t hold up against the other books in the series.
The storyline was interesting and seeing the sisters switch identities knowing the switch really only benefited one of them was a wild ride. Everybody saw Fiona as the saint but that girl was far from it. The things she did lol and Leona was always there to protect her even when she was in the wrong. A lot of craziness happened in this book shared boyfriends, unexpected pregnancies, infidelity, secret crushes, murder, and a little prostitution. 😂 If nothing more Monroe definitely knows how to make you laugh because I had a few moments.
Overall, I think this one was meh it really dragged a lot up until the 2nd part of the book when the sisters became adults. The last few chapters increased my rating and the ending was unexpected which makes me wonder if there will be another book in the series. Not gonna lie she should really end things here but if there is another book I’ll be reading it. Special thanks to the author & @kensingtonbooks #Dafina for my gifted copy‼️
Rating: 3.75/5⭐️
The storyline was interesting and seeing the sisters switch identities knowing the switch really only benefited one of them was a wild ride. Everybody saw Fiona as the saint but that girl was far from it. The things she did lol and Leona was always there to protect her even when she was in the wrong. A lot of craziness happened in this book shared boyfriends, unexpected pregnancies, infidelity, secret crushes, murder, and a little prostitution. 😂 If nothing more Monroe definitely knows how to make you laugh because I had a few moments.
Overall, I think this one was meh it really dragged a lot up until the 2nd part of the book when the sisters became adults. The last few chapters increased my rating and the ending was unexpected which makes me wonder if there will be another book in the series. Not gonna lie she should really end things here but if there is another book I’ll be reading it. Special thanks to the author & @kensingtonbooks #Dafina for my gifted copy‼️
Rating: 3.75/5⭐️
November 4, 2023
Mary Monroe is an absolute treasure. Her historical fiction is like sampling a bit of history for yourself, one juicy bite at a time. She writes such distinctive and memorable characters, and Leona & Fiona are no exception!
The story is told from each sister's point of view. And while they are twins whose devotion to each other is stronger than anything else in life, they are each at times loveable, pitiable, dislikable, and honorable.
I was definitely caught up in the story. Anticipating a twist, but not expecting the story's endings.
You won't be able to put this one down. I read it in one afternoon! (And definitely pick up some of the author's other books too!)
The story is told from each sister's point of view. And while they are twins whose devotion to each other is stronger than anything else in life, they are each at times loveable, pitiable, dislikable, and honorable.
I was definitely caught up in the story. Anticipating a twist, but not expecting the story's endings.
You won't be able to put this one down. I read it in one afternoon! (And definitely pick up some of the author's other books too!)
November 23, 2023
I really just did not enjoy this book. I haven’t really read much from this author since the Mama Ruby series. The couple of books I attempted after that I just did not enjoy. I thought I would give this one a chance though because the subject matter seemed interesting. However, it was not. The writing style was just not one that I enjoyed—it seemed pretty sophomoric , and the story itself seemed formulaic and pretty predictable. I wish that she would add more to the Mama Ruby series, but if she does not do that, I probably will not read anything else from this author.
November 8, 2023
I love historical fiction, and this book lived up to expectations. Let’s say you have a twin and no one, not even your parents, can tell you apart. What if you and your twin were to trade places? This was something Leona and Fiona repeatedly accomplished. I didn’t think Leona’s friendship with Bonnie Sue was going to end the way that it did; however, I didn’t like that Leona was so naive. Mary Monroe did it again. This will be a great book club pick.
April 22, 2024
Mary Monroe has penned a very interesting latest addition to her “Lexington, Alabama” series. This Exceptional author has once again given readers nothing less than Phenomenal!
Mary Monroe will always be a must-read author for me. Ever since her first novel, ‘The Upper Room’, her storytelling capacity and cleverness continues to be a “Treat” I look forward to in every single novel and series. She is sure to release a page turning story to remember, flawlessly…
We meet Identical twin sisters, Fiona and Leona Dunbar. The only way their Mother, Mavis can tell them apart is by the different color hair ribbon she makes each one wear, daily. These sisters are very close, of course. Yet, one is more protective of the other. And, this author brings such a shocking twist-filled story to unravel in Lexington, Alabama.
As One who loves this author’s novels, I can depend on her to create characters for readers to love right alongside those characters that will make your skin crawl. This time, it was no holds barred with Bonnie Sue. She is the high-yellow friend of the Dunbar twins, Fiona and Leona. I’m telling you…as this story evolves in the Depression Era, Mary Monroe, leaves nothing to the imagination describing this character and vividly depicting how HIGHLY this character thinks of herself. Everything about this character was without error! “Bobbed her head like a rooster.”
With this exciting Work of Fiction, readers will experience laughter, indelible quotes, historical dates and events. Mary Monroe will also take readers back down memory lane with some old folk vocabulary words you may not have heard since the 70s. lol. I enjoyed this one so much!!
Most importantly, her novel takes time to uncover greed, selfishness, racism, and twists & turns that will make your head spin!
The most satisfying aspect of this novel was being able to view the two completely different lives of the twins in reverse perspective. Loved it!! (pg. 161)
And, I cannot say enough about BOAZ!!
Ending Thoughts:
* What Burden to carry??
* In the End, she still cared and worried about the other person.
* There is so much to be discussed about this novel.
I’m sure to revisit this Breathtaking novel before this year is over. They just keep getting more Thrilling!
Mary Monroe will always be a must-read author for me. Ever since her first novel, ‘The Upper Room’, her storytelling capacity and cleverness continues to be a “Treat” I look forward to in every single novel and series. She is sure to release a page turning story to remember, flawlessly…
We meet Identical twin sisters, Fiona and Leona Dunbar. The only way their Mother, Mavis can tell them apart is by the different color hair ribbon she makes each one wear, daily. These sisters are very close, of course. Yet, one is more protective of the other. And, this author brings such a shocking twist-filled story to unravel in Lexington, Alabama.
As One who loves this author’s novels, I can depend on her to create characters for readers to love right alongside those characters that will make your skin crawl. This time, it was no holds barred with Bonnie Sue. She is the high-yellow friend of the Dunbar twins, Fiona and Leona. I’m telling you…as this story evolves in the Depression Era, Mary Monroe, leaves nothing to the imagination describing this character and vividly depicting how HIGHLY this character thinks of herself. Everything about this character was without error! “Bobbed her head like a rooster.”
With this exciting Work of Fiction, readers will experience laughter, indelible quotes, historical dates and events. Mary Monroe will also take readers back down memory lane with some old folk vocabulary words you may not have heard since the 70s. lol. I enjoyed this one so much!!
Most importantly, her novel takes time to uncover greed, selfishness, racism, and twists & turns that will make your head spin!
The most satisfying aspect of this novel was being able to view the two completely different lives of the twins in reverse perspective. Loved it!! (pg. 161)
And, I cannot say enough about BOAZ!!
Ending Thoughts:
* What Burden to carry??
* In the End, she still cared and worried about the other person.
* There is so much to be discussed about this novel.
I’m sure to revisit this Breathtaking novel before this year is over. They just keep getting more Thrilling!
June 29, 2025
Please do not sleep on this series!
This book by far had the most laugh out loud moments.
Characters 5
Plot 5
Pace 4
Place 3 ( not much this book)
I flew through this book. It will keep you hooked! I loved Leona, Fiona, Bonnie Sue, and Boaz. There’s a few twist I figured out and a bomb that I should’ve known.
Mary should be more widely known. I’ve devoured 4 of her books in 10 days, I think. Thank you Mary for getting me back were I belong.
PLEASE GIVE Shari Peele the awesomely talented narrator her flowers! She made the characters come to life.
This book by far had the most laugh out loud moments.
Characters 5
Plot 5
Pace 4
Place 3 ( not much this book)
I flew through this book. It will keep you hooked! I loved Leona, Fiona, Bonnie Sue, and Boaz. There’s a few twist I figured out and a bomb that I should’ve known.
Mary should be more widely known. I’ve devoured 4 of her books in 10 days, I think. Thank you Mary for getting me back were I belong.
PLEASE GIVE Shari Peele the awesomely talented narrator her flowers! She made the characters come to life.
November 14, 2023
I loved Mrs Wiggins by Mary Monroe so I was excited to get an ARC copy of Double Lives. Double Lives tells the story of identical twins Fiona and Leona. They live in Alabama with their mother Mavis. Fiona and Leona are always up to something and they switch lives which leads Mavis to believe one of her daughters is a trouble maker and the other is a saint but is this true. Leona has a best friend Bonnie Sue that is a little too clingy and she truly got on my nerves. This book was fast paced and kept me engaged with the plot twist. The book focuses on how at times people may want to escape from their life but it may take someone else to step in their shoes to show them maybe the grass is not greener on the other side.
September 7, 2024
Although it started off a little slow, I liked this read. Leona was very naive, while Fiona was a fast tailed hussie. I didn’t like how their mother scolded Leona growing up knowing she had secrets too. In the end, I think Fiona got what she deserved for all of the foolishness she put Leona through, like going to jail. It was shocking to know Jubal knew Fiona and Leona switched places.
And for the author, when will a book be written to merge all of these characters? I’m sure the scene takes place in the same little town and time period since the first God don’t like ugly.
And for the author, when will a book be written to merge all of these characters? I’m sure the scene takes place in the same little town and time period since the first God don’t like ugly.
March 12, 2024
Another hit for Mary Monroe. I adored this book and Monroe can tackle historical fiction like no one else. The plot was engaging and very believable, twins living each other's lives. I loved all the many details that were put into the story and I appreciated that I learned a few things along the read.
A great read.
A great read.
October 4, 2025
Rating: 4.5/5
This book was really good. I’d definitely recommend it. It had a slow start, but since I’m familiar with this author, I knew to stick with it because things always pick up.
This story is messyyyy! I felt for Leona. She went through so much and was constantly mistreated. I couldn’t believe how much she endured just to support her twin sister. Fiona was wild. I kept wondering if she ever truly considered the weight of what she was asking from Leona.
By the end, the switch between the twins came at a horrible cost. Leona let both her twin and her best friend steer her life, sadly.
This book was really good. I’d definitely recommend it. It had a slow start, but since I’m familiar with this author, I knew to stick with it because things always pick up.
This story is messyyyy! I felt for Leona. She went through so much and was constantly mistreated. I couldn’t believe how much she endured just to support her twin sister. Fiona was wild. I kept wondering if she ever truly considered the weight of what she was asking from Leona.
By the end, the switch between the twins came at a horrible cost. Leona let both her twin and her best friend steer her life, sadly.
December 11, 2024
2.75 ⭐️
Welp, Double Lives had all of the usual Mary Monroe book traits:
✅Complete or half moronic main character with no to low morals. Said main character always lets a side character take advantage of her and pretty much take over her life
✅Eccentric side character who is clearly not in her right mind
✅Random horrific events happening to most characters, side and main (although thankfully the events didn’t happen to kids in this particular book)
✅Male side character with an unusual first name
✅Characters randomly dying left and right
✅Frustrating, yet entertaining stories
I gotta give it to her, Monroe is a fantastic storyteller.
Welp, Double Lives had all of the usual Mary Monroe book traits:
✅Complete or half moronic main character with no to low morals. Said main character always lets a side character take advantage of her and pretty much take over her life
✅Eccentric side character who is clearly not in her right mind
✅Random horrific events happening to most characters, side and main (although thankfully the events didn’t happen to kids in this particular book)
✅Male side character with an unusual first name
✅Characters randomly dying left and right
✅Frustrating, yet entertaining stories
I gotta give it to her, Monroe is a fantastic storyteller.
April 11, 2024
This book was so good! I absolutely love Mary Monroe! I love the way her stories take you back in time! This one was amazing!!!
April 2, 2024
I enjoyed the twin's relationship and shenanigans even though I found some things they did odd, unnecessary and quite confusing (as a reader lol). I'm not a twin so I don't know if they're thinking was normal but it's fiction so I also don't care because it was thoroughly entertaining 😁. I have mixed feelings about the end and how things played out with Boaz. There were a few things that I had guessed would happen and that I figured out before it was revealed but it didn't ruin the story for me. It was more of a "I knew it!" revelation and I still enjoyed hearing the details play out. What I do kind of wish was that the twin's names were more different and not rhyming so I could keep who was who more separate. Mary Monroe is one of my favorite authors and she did not disappoint with this book. I shy away from historical fiction because it usually doesn't grab me, but something about her writing always pulls me in and doesn't let go. I love it!
January 30, 2025
Mary Monroe outdid herself with this one! Double Lives is a jaw-dropping story about twin sisters who trade places during the most bizarre times. The twists and turns in this novel will have you in a trance, and you will not want to stop reading. Other than the well-developed characters, the thing I love most about this novel is the ending doesn't leave you hanging.
July 25, 2025
I love her writing but this is my least favorite of the series ! Her books keep me on the edge of my seat ! The last one was amazing ! But this one was too slow
May 5, 2024
3.25 ⭐⭐⭐💫
July 10, 2024
I think I rounded up from a 3.5 due to the face that I love Mary Monroe. I love her storytelling and it’s a great story I think I was just thrown off because the connection to the early books in the series wasn’t there like I thought it would be. By itself it is a great story of twins who mix identities and experience all types of chaos and negative outcomes as a result.
November 27, 2025
DNF after about 15%. Is it Leona or Fiona? Or Leona being Fiona? Too confusing and made my head hurt. I gave up.
August 26, 2024
I’ll give this one 3 1/2 stars! It is time for the Lexington series to end. Even though I enjoyed the book and the dramatic yet comical situations of the main characters in, it’s time to retire.
These twins were over the top and not only as kids and teenagers but also as adults. What happened towards the end did not surprise me. I was just thinking .. “What if that happened in real life?” And the ending was good. I wasn’t expecting the reaction.
Good book. Let’s end it there please.
These twins were over the top and not only as kids and teenagers but also as adults. What happened towards the end did not surprise me. I was just thinking .. “What if that happened in real life?” And the ending was good. I wasn’t expecting the reaction.
Good book. Let’s end it there please.
November 14, 2023
I don't read many historical novels. This one by Mary Monroe was good. I liked the relationships the sisters had with each other and how they pranked people. The ending could have been better. It was different than I thought. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2025
I don't know where to begin. I'm kind of speechless. There is no way Leona did what she could for her twin. I get the I got my sisters back concept....in this story it is to the extreme!! I am glad Leona got her "happy marriage" in the end, but at the cost of it all.
December 5, 2023
Good read. Slow in some parts but overall entertaining. Very unexpected ending. The book actually went a different route than I expected.
April 24, 2024
I didn’t like the ending and how the devils were portrayed as having a heart. Their ilk will burn in hell no matter how much forgiveness they seek from their fictitious divine being.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2024
I picked this book up from my local library while I was browsing. I have read several other books by this author and I love her style of writing (always messy with some jaw dropping twists) so I knew this would be no different. This was a quick little read, nothing too special about it. Leona definitely took me on a ride!! I was shocked with the outcome of everything. I love Mary Monroe, so I’m going to read anything by her.
June 3, 2024
I was taken on an emotional roller-coaster ride throughout the story. I enjoyed loving or hating many of the characters and could not put the book down. I always love a big twist at the end of the story and Mary Monroe did not disappoint.
This is the first time I have read anything by her but it definitely won't be the last. So happy for the free giveaway win.
This is the first time I have read anything by her but it definitely won't be the last. So happy for the free giveaway win.
April 10, 2024
4.5⭐️
May 20, 2024
I love this story! The twins had a very weird relationship but that made the story more interesting. Hmm I wonder if there would be a sequel.
December 21, 2024
This book was so good, but this series has me in a chokehold. I can't wait to read the next book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews