What do you think?
Rate this book
Lonely Heart, Deadly Heart #1.5
Can You Keep a Secret?
The prequel to the New York Times bestselling author’s provocative series featuring best friends getting a crash course in love, family, and betrayal. They couldn’t be less alike—except for their restless spirits. Lola came from a loving home, even though it included her father’s live-in mistress. And Joan is a secret wild child chafing under her mother’s watchful eye. So when Lola’s quiet world shatters and her hopes seem out of reach for good, Joan has the perfect consolation in mind. But the besties will soon discover that boyfriends, money, and good times are no real escape from their families’ ever-scandalous drama. Soon, with demanding stepparents, conniving relatives, and simmering secrets closing in, they’ll have to watch each other’s backs and use their quick wits to save their lifelong dreams . . . Praise for Mary Monroe “Mary Monroe is an exceptional writer and phenomenal storyteller!”—Kimberla Lawson Roby, New York Times bestselling author of Here and Now “Impossible to put down.”—Susan Holloway Scott, national bestselling author of The Secret Wife of Aaron Burr “Readers who enjoy watching characters’ fortunes rise and fall will relish this tumultuous family.” —Booklist on Family of Lies “Once again, Monroe displays her gift as a marvel with this sensational novel.” —RT Book Reviews on Lost Daughters
110 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2016
268 people are currently reading
566 people want to read
About the author
Mary Monroe
61 books2,782 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
October 16, 2016
I've written several reviews about the decline of Monroe's work, so I will keep this brief. I decided to stop reading this author's work because the writing is terrible. Her stories are filled with ridiculous one-dimensional characters and the last few stories didn't even have a plot. Apparently, I preordered this book prior to deciding to stop reading Monroe's book.
This book is the prequel to another series and it wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't good. It was just two characters going back and forth dishing on their teenage years. That's it. If you still are a huge fan of Monroe's work, you will enjoy this. If you are interested in Monroe's work, go back to her earlier novels. They were fantastic.
This book is the prequel to another series and it wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't good. It was just two characters going back and forth dishing on their teenage years. That's it. If you still are a huge fan of Monroe's work, you will enjoy this. If you are interested in Monroe's work, go back to her earlier novels. They were fantastic.
November 13, 2017
This short novel is funny, refreshing and engaging. The dialogue and pace of the events between Joan Proctor and Lola Poole.
The diatribe and friendship of Joan and Lola is superbly written. I could find parallels in Lola and myself. I didn't see Joan as Lola's friend but more as an adversary.
The ending was a shocker, but being that this novel is a prequel to Monroe's "Lonely Heart, Deadly Heart" series, I can better understand the direction it's going.
I'm going to read book #1 "Every Woman's Dream" next.
The diatribe and friendship of Joan and Lola is superbly written. I could find parallels in Lola and myself. I didn't see Joan as Lola's friend but more as an adversary.
The ending was a shocker, but being that this novel is a prequel to Monroe's "Lonely Heart, Deadly Heart" series, I can better understand the direction it's going.
I'm going to read book #1 "Every Woman's Dream" next.
April 2, 2025
Interesting short read but not long enough to get attached to main characters
April 29, 2024
I wanted to read this to complete the series. It was good. I enjoyed reading about the chaos of Lola's childhood and how she got to the events in the first book. At the end of the day, I feel that even if we don't agree with the decisions other people make it's ok for folks to mind their business and don't judge and gossip about shit you know nothing about. Lola and her family were the talk of that little town and really they shouldn't have been cause nothing them people did effected anyone else. Joan and Lola are cute friends but I still think Joan is self centered and I liked the other little girl Lola hung out with sometimes when Joan wasn't available better. Merial was her name. She should have been Lola's best friend. She seemed to have her head on a little straighter than Joan. It was crazy how much BS poor Lola went through. I'm just glad things work out for her ultimately.
August 8, 2024
Interesting storyline but…
I guess this book is a novella but I don’t understand the abrupt ending. I want to root for Joan but she is way too gullible and seems to accept her fate and has no fight in her. I will try the next book in the series with the hopes that Joan gets a backbone but I’m not optimistic.
I guess this book is a novella but I don’t understand the abrupt ending. I want to root for Joan but she is way too gullible and seems to accept her fate and has no fight in her. I will try the next book in the series with the hopes that Joan gets a backbone but I’m not optimistic.
October 3, 2020
Sad
Little Lola suffered a lot in her young age. Dealing with her father cheating on her mother, moving the girlfriend in, mother dying, father dying could break a person down. I feel for Lola.
Little Lola suffered a lot in her young age. Dealing with her father cheating on her mother, moving the girlfriend in, mother dying, father dying could break a person down. I feel for Lola.
January 11, 2021
Relationships and young people
I found this story to be quite interesting. The only gripe I have is with some of the details. They seem to make the time frame of the story, confusing. I couldn’t determine what years they were in. I did enjoy the storyline, however.
I found this story to be quite interesting. The only gripe I have is with some of the details. They seem to make the time frame of the story, confusing. I couldn’t determine what years they were in. I did enjoy the storyline, however.
March 30, 2022
Interestering Read
I enjoyed the storyline
it kept me interested
I work the night shift and was able to complete it
before my shift ended
I Have Followed Mary Monroe for years
thats why i gave 5stars
I love her books
I enjoyed the storyline
it kept me interested
I work the night shift and was able to complete it
before my shift ended
I Have Followed Mary Monroe for years
thats why i gave 5stars
I love her books
February 19, 2017
Good book
Jim enjoyed this ebook very very much
I can't wait to read the sequel g o this book. Good job!,
Jim enjoyed this ebook very very much
I can't wait to read the sequel g o this book. Good job!,
March 16, 2017
Good Character Development
I liked how the author went back and forth with the main two characters. What I found annoying was how naive Lola's character could be and how she let herself be controlled. I gave this book four stars because it was well written and had entertaining characters.
I liked how the author went back and forth with the main two characters. What I found annoying was how naive Lola's character could be and how she let herself be controlled. I gave this book four stars because it was well written and had entertaining characters.
July 26, 2017
Can you keep a secret
A great prequel. The very beginning of Lola and Joan who are best friends since elementary school. Some would see it as a reflection others a prediction.
A great prequel. The very beginning of Lola and Joan who are best friends since elementary school. Some would see it as a reflection others a prediction.
August 3, 2017
Didn't have a clear ending
Very disappointed, story didn't end clearly. I kept turning the pages and only saw the titles of other books written by this author
Very disappointed, story didn't end clearly. I kept turning the pages and only saw the titles of other books written by this author
August 29, 2017
Secrets part 1 & 2
A good prequel to what happens 16 years later in the lives of Lola, Joan, Bertha, Jeffrey & the twins
A good prequel to what happens 16 years later in the lives of Lola, Joan, Bertha, Jeffrey & the twins
May 4, 2018
What is the Secret?
The main characters Lola and Joan are introduced. They are childhood friends and loyal to each other.
Joan is assertive and is more knowledgeable than Lola. Lola is naive. Joan is the youngest child in her family and shares her room with a maiden cousin. Lola is an only child.
The story ends not explaining the Secret.
This is a prequel to Never Trust A Stranger.
The main characters Lola and Joan are introduced. They are childhood friends and loyal to each other.
Joan is assertive and is more knowledgeable than Lola. Lola is naive. Joan is the youngest child in her family and shares her room with a maiden cousin. Lola is an only child.
The story ends not explaining the Secret.
This is a prequel to Never Trust A Stranger.
April 3, 2019
I just love reading this book it keeps you going to see what's next
Cause it kept me wanting to read more
I want to know what happened in the end I can't put it down
Cause it kept me wanting to read more
I want to know what happened in the end I can't put it down
October 21, 2019
Great read. I enjoy all of her books
January 9, 2020
She is one of my favourite author's so I have read so many of her novels
January 20, 2020
Good
Good read. Have finish the series if there is one. Fast and easy read. Will continue to look for this author's work
Good read. Have finish the series if there is one. Fast and easy read. Will continue to look for this author's work
June 27, 2020
A good short story
At turns sad and funny. All of this author's work seems to have a similar theme; a death or a bunch of people lying and cheating.
At turns sad and funny. All of this author's work seems to have a similar theme; a death or a bunch of people lying and cheating.
August 5, 2020
Great read!
Can't wait to purchase it...The sample sold me. Very intriguing 🤔. Going to purchase the whole series. Will definitely recommend it 👌
Can't wait to purchase it...The sample sold me. Very intriguing 🤔. Going to purchase the whole series. Will definitely recommend it 👌
September 8, 2020
Quick, 89 page prequel to what I learned is a series. It’s definitely a page turner just by the sheer oddity of Lola’s life. Jumping right in to Book 1.
September 30, 2020
Good Read!!!
Enjoyed this good read . I've always read this authors book. This story kept my attention from beginning to the end.
Enjoyed this good read . I've always read this authors book. This story kept my attention from beginning to the end.
June 4, 2021
Hmm, I don't like to be judgemental, but this friendship is one that parents would not be to happy with.
August 6, 2021
It was good but not what I had expected after reading the other books in the series
October 6, 2023
Enjoyed reading this book! A lot of messy drama that was very entertaining.
February 15, 2024
I love Mary Monroe... although they are not like they use to be! I still it enjoy as a quick read between series!
August 4, 2024
A fast good read. Can’t wait for the next book to see what is going to happen in next book
November 24, 2024
4.7 ⭐️. This is the backstory of Joan and Lola. Their younger years. I read this book out of order. Please read this book before or after Every Woman’s Dream.
January 3, 2019
Excellent prequel
If you have read the Lonely Heart series, this novella provides the backstory on Lola and Joan.
Well-written and a real page-turner, Can You Keep Secret is a must read.
If you have read the Lonely Heart series, this novella provides the backstory on Lola and Joan.
Well-written and a real page-turner, Can You Keep Secret is a must read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews