Bent but Not Broken

by Mary Monroe

Brimming with unpredictable twists and scandals, the latest Depression-era Alabama novel from award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Mary Monroe tells of a mistreated wife who finally finds the love she's longed for—only to be plunged into deceit, betrayal, and murder . . .

As a young woman, Naomi Simmons grabbed her one chance to escape the overwhelming demands of her selfish family by marrying devout older man Jacob Purcell. But it only landed her with a controlling, unfaithful husband who delights in hurling insults at her and their troubled now-teenage daughter, Ethel Mae. So, Naomi is amazed and touched when Homer Clark sees her for the vibrant, intelligent woman she truly is. Believing the handsome, worldly widower is her love of a lifetime, Naomi plans to leave with Homer and start fresh in the big city . . .
 
Then Jacob suffers a debilitating stroke, and Naomi can't bring herself to abandon him. Unfortunately, Homer refuses to listen—or understand.  Relieved when he leaves town and disappears, Naomi dedicates herself to the now-grateful Jacob’s care. And she feels truly delighted and blessed when Ethel Mae finally gets her life on track away from home—and comes back with good news . . .
 
But Ethel Mae’s surprise will shock Naomi to her core and threaten everything and everyone she holds most precious. With no one who can help her—or believe her—Naomi battles increasingly insidious mind games even as her world starts falling apart. Can she defeat what appears to be a twisted scheme against her?  Or will she be forced into a devastating showdown that will leave no one undamaged—or standing?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Southern, Audiobook, African American

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2025

About the author

I 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.

Reviews

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Captivating Read

Mary Monroe delivers another gripping and emotional story with Bent But Not Broken, a great addition to the Lexington Alabama series. This story follows Naomi, the youngest child in her family that is raised by her dad. When she continues to hear rumors that her dad is ready to live his life and “marry her off,” she settles for the first man that shows her some attention, in order to fulfill her dads wishes. The years fly by & Jacob’s manipulative, conniving & awful ways surface but Naomi hangs in there. With her teenage daughter’s unladylike behavior, Jacob’s unfaithful ways & dead end jobs, Naomi finds herself seeking comfort from another man. Has Naomi found her Prince Charming in Homer, or has kissed yet another frog?

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy drama and heartfelt novels! Part of Lexington AL series, but can be read as standalone. I do recommend the whole series though, especially books 1 and 4. Thank you Kensington Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I have also read the other books in the series. There is never a dull moment in the books that Mary Monroe writes. This one was good. The ending was different from what I thought it would be. It was better. I look forward to reading more books by Mary Monroe. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review

[Kyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️.75

I’ve read the first book in this series so i had high hopes for this book.

I’ll start with the things i liked. I liked Lula and her love for Naomi, everyone needs a friend that’s gonna show up for them no matter what. I really enjoyed Martha Lou’s character as well, i always like to read about strong women that don’t judge and live in their truth. As well, catty was entertaining, he always seemed to pick up on the characters that were gonna give Naomi hell!

After reading the synopsis, i was intrigued but as the book went on it just didn’t give me what i needed. It felt as though the book started to drag on and there was no growth from the FMC. Her husband treated her poorly and she always made excuses for him, she never chose herself and it started to make me uninterested in the wellbeing of her character. I also didn’t like the fat shaming throughout the book. It didn’t push the plot forward so it felt unnecessary.

[Crystal (Melanatedreader) Forte' · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing Mary Monroe can do is spin a story! This one is no exception. I always pick up her books if I’m looking for some drama with some laughs in between. This one served me both! That Homer can go to hell!

[Lit_Vibrations · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to the author & @kensingtonbooks #Dafina for my gifted copy and ALC‼️

After book 3 I just knew this series was finished but nope Monroe said let me spin the block two more times we ain’t done yet‼️I can honestly say I’m not one to finish a series but this series is one of a kind and I live for the mess so let’s just say book 5 didn’t completely disappoint me.

Set at the backdrop of the Depression era Mary Monroe takes us back to Lexington, Alabama with new characters and more drama. Book 5 follows Naomi Simmons recently married to smooth talking Jacob Purcell who was also a woman beater, manipulator, and the town’s community D (that man stressed me out for her). Naomi didn’t love Jacob one bit but she took a chance simply to escape the pressure her father and his wife were putting her under. They had a daughter Ethel Mae who took right after her daddy. Do with that what you will!!!When Naomi meets Homer Clark they become real close and soon fall in love. But when Jacob has a stroke and Naomi decides not to leave him (just stupid) Homer isn’t pleased and his TRUE colors begin to show.

Mary Monroe has a knack for creating the messiest characters, showcasing the good and bad sides of marriage, and revealing just how shady and ungodly some church folks can be. I don’t think I’ve ever read one of her books that didn’t make me laugh. This book was definitely wild I’m not sure what was worse the way Jacob treated Naomi or what Homer did after the fact.

Overall, the book was okay it was a complete mess from beginning to end just one twist after another. The pacing was very slow in the beginning and throughout the book things get a little repetitive. But Mary knows how to keep you entertained and engaged so it was easy to push through it. Every book in this series will hit different and it’s one that I will always recommend especially if you love historical fiction.

Rating: 3.75/5⭐️

[Markita_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ｅｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
🌟🌟🌟🌟.2
As a young woman, Naomi Simmons grabbed her one chance to escape the overwhelming demands of her selfish family by marrying devout older man Jacob Purcell. But it only landed her with a controlling, unfaithful husband who delights in hurling insults at her and their troubled now-teenage daughter, Ethel Mae. So, Naomi is amazed and touched when Homer Clark sees her for the vibrant, intelligent woman she truly is.

This book will take you on a roll coaster of emotion. I felt so bad for Naomi this entire book. I would have fought my husband back, but I know back in that time. The women took a lot of beating and etc. And the fact she had to deal with daughter who was acting grown since she was 13. *wipe forehead* Those whooping weren't doing anything for her. Overall, I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it! Check trigger warning. This book could he a trigger for DV. Mary Monroe has done it again. I am hoping this is not the last book in this series.

Thank you, Netgellay, and Kensington Publishing for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

I already knew this authors work so I was excited to read this book. But I failed to see that this book was a series so I don’t think I got its full effect. I really liked how Naomi tried to be a good mother, wife, & employee for those in her life in spite of the hand she was dealt. The husband in this book was beyond disgusting & trash to her and her daughter was insecure and out of control. She did seem to have some good friends around her but other then that it was just a sad kind of life she seemed to live. She definitely didn’t seem to have much growth from the time she was young looking to get married to the very end which was disappointing. I like the authors writing style because she has a way with words & getting her story across to where you can see it. Plenty of ups and downs in this book so I do think this was worth the read. Appreciative for this complimentary copy for my honest review.

[Parkway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author never disappoints me. Very realistic. Who among us hasn’t done someone or something against our better judgment. It’s a good thing “dead men tell no tales.” Having girlfriends like these, willing to get rid of nuisances to save our stupid arse is what friendship is all about. 😃

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read, I enjoyed this one better than the other 4

[PrincezzBookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hilarious, I have read the entire series. This one was up there with Mrs Wiggins, just unnecessary nonsense. That man said watch this lol.

[Cortney Ameckson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Mary Monroe’s Bent But Not Broken is a nice read. True to her style, Monroe brings plenty of drama, secrets, and unexpected twists. As fan of the Lexington series I was super excited to read this book.

The book follows Naomi, a woman who’s been through a lot but refuses to let life break her. Monroe does a great job making the characters feel real, even when their decisions are frustrating.

That said, the book has its ups and downs. The pacing is up and down—some parts drag, while others feel rushed. It’s definitely a slow burn, and just when things get really intense, the ending comes. But, to be fair, Monroe does tie everything up nicely, which I appreciated. Some characters could have been fleshed out more, and a few plot twists were predictable, but the drama keeps things entertaining.

Overall, Bent Not Broken is a solid read, but not my favorite in the Lexington series. If you’re into a character-driven stories with plenty of ups and downs, you’ll probably enjoy it. It’s worth a read, but not necessarily a must-read.

[Taliah Anderson-Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of “Bent but not Broken”.

Naomi dreams of the day she is able to leave her abusive husband Jacob and start a new life somewhere else. When she meets Homer one day while fishing, they immediately hit it off and Naomi realizes that her dream of leaving Jacob could soon become a reality. Naomi will be faced with one of the biggest decisions of her life.

Let me just start off saying that I LOVE Mary Monroe’s writing! Her storytelling is amazing. The dialogue in this book had me literally laughing out loud! I was hooked from the first page. I flew through it in one weekend.

One thing that I want to mention is that you don’t need to read the other books in this series in order to enjoy this one.

I highly recommend “Bent But Not Broken” by Mary Monroe and can’t wait to purchase my copy on release day!

[Karyl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was perusing the new fiction shelf at my local library when I saw this book and it looked promising. I will say that I quite enjoy how Monroe is able to portray the lives of people living in Alabama in the 1930s; she really brought that era to life.

I didn’t realize that this was part of a series, but it seems that it’s not an issue to read this as a stand-alone. I was never confused or felt that I was missing important details, not having read the other books.

This is definitely a pretty quick read, but the one thing I didn’t love about this book was I felt Monroe spent more time telling than showing in her novel, which bogged down the action a bit. I also felt that Naomi had very little growth during this book; instead she blamed others or simply gave up. But I was glad she got somewhat of a happily ever after in the end. With as much as she had to endure, she definitely earned it.

[Love BookReviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe I finished the Lexington series. It was a crazy time in Lexington. This series in its entirety touched on so many societal issues, all while making it entertaining.

Bent Not Broken highlights the impact of patriarchy and how a woman views herself and what she allows herself to endure all in the name of having a man and keeping a man. Although this setting was based in the past, some of these societal views still harm the world today in real life. Maybe others can learn from these books of how to make wiser, better, healthier, and safer decisions for ourselves.

I was really hoping that our FMC found true love in a companion, but it was beautiful to see that she had true love between her friends. Sisterhood is a blessing.

[CourtneyRenee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to RBmedia and Netgally for this ARC on audio.

Mary Monroe has delivered yet another emotionally and drama filled story. This story follows Naomi from childhood to motherhood and the ups and downs of being a wife to a cheating and abusive man who she thought was her prince charming. Years into her crumbling marriage Naomi believes that she has meet her true love, or has she?

Looking for drama and wth moments and some laughs, pick this one up and the rest of the series.

This book is the 5th in the Lexington AL Series (can be read as a standalone) which starts with Mrs. Wiggins.

[Asheki Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Monroe didn’t disappoint with the story of Naomi and all the characters involved in her story. In true Lexington fashion drama, gossip, and audacity was at an all time high. The twists had twists. I laughed, hollered, and screamed. The narrator did an excellent job bringing the story to life. I hope we get a book 6 😁

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a mess and a clear reminder that the grass ain't always greener on the other side. People aren’t always what they seem, from Jacob to Homer. Naomi moved way too fast with both of them. The Lexingyon Alabama series in its entirety really shows just how desperate both men and women can be. Just messy, thirsty, and constantly putting themselves through unnecessary drama.

[Purple Heart 💜 Book Queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Monroe will always get 5 star rating from me… I’ve read/listened to everything she has written….

[Chasity McCurdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Mary Monroe and NetGalley for this advance title.

Bent But Not Broken tells the story of Naomi, a Black teen in the south, who is not-so-subtly forced out of her father‘s home and into the arms of the first man to show her interest, Jacob. Not long after they say their vows does Jacob wait to show Naomi his manipulative, cheating, abusive ways.

Many years into the marriage an adult child later, Naomi meets another man, Homer, and is quickly swept off her feet and effectively love bombed into delirium. Their secret whirlwind romance comes to an unexpected yet abrupt end and Naomi finds herself stuck between a rock and a psychopath, in a sinister, odd twist.


Naomi spent all of her life being spoken down on by nearly everyone in her life…that was admittedly tough for me to get through. She was hardly ever pretty, smart or valuable enough to anyone to truly respect her.

I like the tone that the author used throughout the book…made it an easy conversational read. Even the main character's inner thoughts smoothly told the story. The pacing was a bit slow for me in terms of the twist at the end, but the author developed characters well. I would have liked to see more of Ethel Mae’s childhood…something to help set the foundation for her growing up to thirst for male attention at any cost. Perhaps watching her mother bear the brunt of Jacob’s anger her whole life did a number on Ethel Mae’s self worth. I spent the whole book rooting for Naomi to finally be happy. The circumstances that made her escape possible were so catastrophic and tragic…but at least she’s free now?

[Monica B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Monroe simply doesn’t disappoint!!! Naomi was better than me because Jacob would have been on the other side lol

[Bookish_B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I enjoyed it,yes. I just wish this standalone wasn’t apart of a series.

[Amanda ☆ Nana's Books ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I knew now that nobody was what they appeared to be."

Excellent story! Historical fiction with some good twists.

[Symone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ *ARC REVIEW* This was such a sad story. Naomi found herself in a lot of difficult situations she had to power and fight through. From infidelity to murder, it was definitely a messy one. This was actually my first book i read in the series and I wasnt lost or anything so that's good. 👍🏾

[LATOYA LEWIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anotha one...Mary done with it again. I thought she would follow up with the last read because I really wanted to know how Liona and Juble lives changed and if she ever went to find her brothers....
I like how Mary incorporates all her characters in her books. That slimy old reverend Spivey. His spiritual guidance was a front from him sleeping with the women in his congregation. This story had a bunch of lying, cheating, adultery, backstabbing, and death, whewwww. And I wonder if pig ears are Mrs. Monroe's favorite food because she's always talking about them in her books. Every woman is cooking them and the love them. Homer and reverend Spivey is like many men, living double lives, but chastising others, as though they're aren't living in a glass house. I love how you visble see the scenes, the characters, and everything that played out throughout her books. I hope her books turn into movies one day, and I'll pay happily to see them all. Even if she turned them into a TV series
#Book7of2025 #BookWorm #WhatsNext #ToyasBookClub

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for a book club. First I've read of Mary Monroe. Ehhhh, not impressed. Found the storyline very depressing.

[Jasmine Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7/5***

Naomi is our main protagonist and struggling with her relationship status as she is a lonely singleton and the youngest of 13 children raised by a single father. Her daddy is desperate for her to marry,so instead of being pushed off to the first thing walking, Naomi decided to take her fate into her own hands. A choice she will soon learn does not end in a fairy tale with prince charming but more of a nightmare with a devilish frog.

Overall, it was a fast- paced story with short yet dense chapters set in Lexington, Al . Part of a series, Mary Monroe uses a combination of humor and drama to keep readers interested while exploring harsh topics set in the Great Depression adjacent time period. The best aspect of the novel (to me) was the setting as it showed a semi accurate description of small town life. The events particularly towards the end were highly exaggerated creating a surreal experience for readers and causing character likability to decrease drastically. The secondary/supporting characters were both a positive and negative creating a entertaining array of storylines and character depth. The biggest negative was the enhanced virtue of our main character that caused her to presented as weak/docile instead of strong/ emboldened especially since faith was a key factor.

[Aniesha Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m going to give this 2.5 ⭐️ rounded up. It was long for no reason. The book didn’t get good until the last 2 hours. I enjoyed the ending.

[Nene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. Naomi was a bit naive and very much gullible. I sensed something was off about Homer when he came into the picture. If he did kill all of those people, he got what he deserved. Jacob got what he deserved as well. But as the saying goes “hurt people, hurt people”.

[Suprina Bracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG....I did not want this book to end. I loved it so much.
Man talking about ups and downs!!! Whew...
A must read but I would listen to it if you can.