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God Don't Like Ugly #3
God Don't Play
From New York Times bestselling author Mary Monroe comes the story of two lifelong friends, their secrets and lies, and the new challenge that may divide them once and for all. . . With a lovely home and family, Annette Goode finally has it all. Heaven knows she paid her dues--from an abusive childhood to a rocky start as an adult. Annette's friend Rhoda knows too, for Rhoda has been both her savior and her greatest fear. Their relationship has survived some serious shake-ups. But now that things are good, someone apparently thinks they're a little too good. . . When Annette receives an anonymous--and menacing--birthday gift, it's just the beginning of a slew of hostile letters, vicious phone calls, and vile packages from a female who is obviously disguising her voice. Comforted by Rhoda and Rhoda's teenage daughter, Jade, Annette hopes the problem will somehow disappear. But when the threats extend to her child, Annette realizes the situation is dire. For soon her tormentor reveals exactly what she wants--and how it could destroy everything Annette has built. . .Praise for Mary Monroe"Reminiscent of Zora Neale Hurston." --Publishers Weekly"Watch out Toni Morrison, there is a new sister in town." --Rapport
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
167 people are currently reading
2948 people want to read
About the author
Mary Monroe
62 books2,761 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 134 reviews
December 12, 2012
What a disappointing follow up to the first two books in the series. I absolutely loathed the change in Annette as a character. Also, if Annette would just SAY things, most of the events in this book wouldn't have happened. I was so irritated while reading!
February 2, 2009
Hard getting through this one, i cheated a little because i was borded.
April 17, 2012
Really didn't like this one. Too much negative things going on. I hated the way she was always referred to as being big and black. Who really wear house clothes to work when you are in a management position. Rhoda was too smart in the other books not to see how bad her daughter was.
February 5, 2017
This is the 3rd book I read by Mary Monroe. This book's story line was suspenseful but stupid. This story got me really mad. This is the stupidest I read Annette act in this series. I was upset with how Annette treated Jade more like her equal than a child. I was upset with how Annette took Jade to abortion clinic without telling Rhoda. I was upset with how Annette allowed Jade to receive things from a porno shop. I feel if Rhoda didn't allow Jade to do those things Annette should not have allowed her. I was upset with Annette because she didn't have no respect for Charlotte or Pee Wee. I'm sorry I didn't feel bad for Annette in this story, she got what she deserved. I just felt very sorry for Pee Wee. Out of this 3 books I read this book I didn't like.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2009
Mary Monroe returns to Richland, Ohio to visit with Annette and Rhoda, the heroines and survivors of God Don't Like Ugly and God Still Don't Like Ugly. This novel, God Don't Play, picks up some years later, where seemingly not much has changed. A middle-aged, overweight, "Plain Jane" Annette has been promoted to manager at the debt collection agency. She is still happily married to the younger, good-looking, Pee Wee, a successful barbershop owner and operator. Annette's best friend, Rhoda, is still the wealth y and much envied town beauty who is often shadowed by her 17-year old daughter (and Annette's Goddaughter), Jade, a younger version of Rhoda in more ways than one.
Annette's reticent world is shaken when she suddenly receives hate mail that attacks her physical appearance. She immediately confides in Rhoda and Jade. The hate mail continues and becomes more graphic and violent; it eventually graduates to packages with inappropriate and foul content delivered to her place of employment. Threatening phone calls reveal a woman who claims to be having an affair with Pee Wee. In the midst of all this, life happens and Annette must deal with family illness, disgruntled co-workers, gossiping neighbors, Jade's sexuality issues and a seemingly wayward husband.
As complex as it sounds, I found the plot to be largely single-threaded. It follows the antics of fretful, mild-mannered Annette as she (along with Rhoda and Jade) try to find out who is behind the harassment and uncover their motive. Because it was quite obvious to me who the culprit was fairly early in the novel, it was quite frustrating to read through the remainder of the book observing Annette continually miss clue after clue. It takes nearly 300 pages for her to "get it" (and even then, it is largely by accident, not from any deductive reasoning or investigating). There is a brief confrontation and essentially the novel ends with forgiveness all around with a hint of more to come - perhaps another novel?
For those unfamiliar with the series, this novel contains enough subtle references to plots and events that occurred in the other two "God Don't..." books to give the supporting characters some depth. For those who are familiar with the two previous novels, I think they will be pleased to catch glimpses of Scary Mary, Lilliemae, Betty Jean and other quirky characters. As much as I love Mary Monroe as a writer, I was a bit disappointed with this offering, thus the middle of the road rating.
Annette's reticent world is shaken when she suddenly receives hate mail that attacks her physical appearance. She immediately confides in Rhoda and Jade. The hate mail continues and becomes more graphic and violent; it eventually graduates to packages with inappropriate and foul content delivered to her place of employment. Threatening phone calls reveal a woman who claims to be having an affair with Pee Wee. In the midst of all this, life happens and Annette must deal with family illness, disgruntled co-workers, gossiping neighbors, Jade's sexuality issues and a seemingly wayward husband.
As complex as it sounds, I found the plot to be largely single-threaded. It follows the antics of fretful, mild-mannered Annette as she (along with Rhoda and Jade) try to find out who is behind the harassment and uncover their motive. Because it was quite obvious to me who the culprit was fairly early in the novel, it was quite frustrating to read through the remainder of the book observing Annette continually miss clue after clue. It takes nearly 300 pages for her to "get it" (and even then, it is largely by accident, not from any deductive reasoning or investigating). There is a brief confrontation and essentially the novel ends with forgiveness all around with a hint of more to come - perhaps another novel?
For those unfamiliar with the series, this novel contains enough subtle references to plots and events that occurred in the other two "God Don't..." books to give the supporting characters some depth. For those who are familiar with the two previous novels, I think they will be pleased to catch glimpses of Scary Mary, Lilliemae, Betty Jean and other quirky characters. As much as I love Mary Monroe as a writer, I was a bit disappointed with this offering, thus the middle of the road rating.
February 13, 2018
I am currently reading this book. I have to say this is the most frustrating book I have ever read. I am bored and Annette is annoying to me. I have to admit I am sticking it out because I do want to get to the end, but it is rough.
December 11, 2018
So predictable it's embarrassing.
October 18, 2009
I wanted to like this book. I really did. So far, the only book in the series that I found to be almost flawless was God Don't Like Ugly. I've read the two that follow because I want to see how the plot develops and I want to follow the series.
I commend Mary Monroe for her original plot ideas and for the fact that she tells stories that need to be told from a seemingly realistic point of view. Annette's coming to grips with her past and trying to develop a sense of self esteem, Rhoda putting on a front for the public despite her troubled family and failing marriage, and now Rhoda's daughter Jade enters as a very troubled teen.
However, Monroe has a amateurish way of plot development and she's kind of weak when it comes to pulling the reader in through description. For example, hearing Annette and those around her down her day in and day out gets old. We don't need to hear constantly about Rhoda and Jade's Barbie dollish looks. Some of it just gets very old.
In all, I like Monroe for her ideas and I will probably read more books by her. I definitely can appreciate her efforts.
I commend Mary Monroe for her original plot ideas and for the fact that she tells stories that need to be told from a seemingly realistic point of view. Annette's coming to grips with her past and trying to develop a sense of self esteem, Rhoda putting on a front for the public despite her troubled family and failing marriage, and now Rhoda's daughter Jade enters as a very troubled teen.
However, Monroe has a amateurish way of plot development and she's kind of weak when it comes to pulling the reader in through description. For example, hearing Annette and those around her down her day in and day out gets old. We don't need to hear constantly about Rhoda and Jade's Barbie dollish looks. Some of it just gets very old.
In all, I like Monroe for her ideas and I will probably read more books by her. I definitely can appreciate her efforts.
November 9, 2021
Aggravating read
I nearly quit this book a couple of times. The disrespectful way Jade treated Annette was appalling. The secrets they shared no adult should have with a child. Not to mention, covering for a child when her mother is your best friend. This was just outrageous and I lost all respect for Annette. Then, the way she described herself - her size was one thing but failing to do anything about it stumped me. She seemed comfortable within her skin yet her size and how it affected her was what she harped on the most. And the drinking! How was she 'in good health'?
Was Rhoda so busy with her extra curricular activities that she failed to see what was going on with her daughter? Or did she even care? Rhoda and Annette exposed Jade to too much grown folk business. She should have been put in her place a long time ago. And why would Annette allow Jade around her daughter knowing what she knew? Man, this book had me ticked off!
I knew who the tormentor was right away, so I had to finish the book to see how it would be revealed. I know what the Bible says, but I'd have a hard time forgiving in this situation. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in this series.
I nearly quit this book a couple of times. The disrespectful way Jade treated Annette was appalling. The secrets they shared no adult should have with a child. Not to mention, covering for a child when her mother is your best friend. This was just outrageous and I lost all respect for Annette. Then, the way she described herself - her size was one thing but failing to do anything about it stumped me. She seemed comfortable within her skin yet her size and how it affected her was what she harped on the most. And the drinking! How was she 'in good health'?
Was Rhoda so busy with her extra curricular activities that she failed to see what was going on with her daughter? Or did she even care? Rhoda and Annette exposed Jade to too much grown folk business. She should have been put in her place a long time ago. And why would Annette allow Jade around her daughter knowing what she knew? Man, this book had me ticked off!
I knew who the tormentor was right away, so I had to finish the book to see how it would be revealed. I know what the Bible says, but I'd have a hard time forgiving in this situation. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in this series.
October 19, 2019
Anette wrecked my last nerve in this book. She just turned into such an annoying, stupid character. She’s passed naive, just straight up dumb. A pushover. I was hoping PeeWee left her. How do you let a child run you around like that? And it wasn’t right that she got her those abortions behind Rhoda’s back either. And i am so sick of her, “woe is me” attitude! Like when she was getting out of Rhoda’s truck and she says, “I’m sorry I’m so fat and it slows you down” like girl SHUT UP. I’m just disgusted with her at this point, but I will be finishing the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2016
It didn't take me long to finish this book but I tell you I skimmed and jumped over several chapters.... it went on and on and on and frankly Annette was getting on my last nerve. How and when did she get so stupid and dumb...Kinda like the first book. I couldn't take it... I didn't like this one that much. Number 2 was better than number 1, and number 3 was not good at all. Maybe number 4 is better? I don't know...
July 22, 2018
What a drag! lol. A lot of rehashing. Lol. I knew who the stalker was as soon as she came on the scene. lol. I'm gonna continue to read the series because it is on my reading bucket list. I'm halfway through!!
November 20, 2019
Lacked creativity. Jade an irrelevant character was brought into the fold. Passive, Annette is annoying as usual. What adult includes "a child" in their marital affairs? This is a predictable waste of time. Nothing like the previous installments. Disappointed with this book Ms. Mary Monroe.
October 29, 2012
In the book God Don’t Play by Mary Monroe seems to take it to a different level with an exotic twist in the end. In this book she tells a story about a middle aged woman named Annette, who deals major issues in life with her daughter charlotte (6) and husband Peewee Also not to mention her partner in crime Rhonda , and her daughter Jade (17), these two always seem to be caught in a sticky situation with Annette.
Annette has always been in some type of situation, from the time she was raped, to the murder case, and back to the accusing of her husband cheating with a mystery woman who seems to be sending gifts which are very odd, mean postcards, and very rude phone calls. But Annette is never alone her partner in crime Rhonda and Jade always are there when something goes down. But in the end comes a surprise you wouldn’t expect.
I really thought that this was an amazing book I would read it again when I get the chance. And with all the excitement in this book I would strongly recommend this to a young adult reader or to someone with a higher authority. If you love humor you would love this book it’s hilarious and it brings a smile to my face at times when I need it the most .This book will certainly catch your attention and keep you turning page without a doubt.
Annette has always been in some type of situation, from the time she was raped, to the murder case, and back to the accusing of her husband cheating with a mystery woman who seems to be sending gifts which are very odd, mean postcards, and very rude phone calls. But Annette is never alone her partner in crime Rhonda and Jade always are there when something goes down. But in the end comes a surprise you wouldn’t expect.
I really thought that this was an amazing book I would read it again when I get the chance. And with all the excitement in this book I would strongly recommend this to a young adult reader or to someone with a higher authority. If you love humor you would love this book it’s hilarious and it brings a smile to my face at times when I need it the most .This book will certainly catch your attention and keep you turning page without a doubt.
November 23, 2010
This book is horrible. It badly needs an editor (ridiculous things like she bites her lipstick off when a few paragraphs earlier she says she had walked out of the house without a stitch of makeup and I'd love to do a word search for "so" - every other sentence was she hit me so hard, i breathed so hard, he walked so fast...ugh.) I wish I would have read God Don't Like Ugly instead and stopped there. Because I'm compulsive, I finished it but I wasted time.
February 21, 2012
This book didn't get really good until the last 30 or so pages. I figured out how it was going to end almost instantly. I am such a huge Mary Monroe fan but this novel disappointed me. It seem she was just filling the book with jibberish and kept repeating so many things that I thought I was rereading the same page over but I was just rereading it in a different part of the book. A good book to read over a long weekend if you don't have anything else to read.
September 15, 2010
Not as impressed with this book as I was with those earlier in the series. It was a little predictable and repetitive. I don't know if I'm going to read the remaining books in the series, as the writing seems to continue in this same fashion. :(
October 9, 2014
This might be the stupidest book I have ever read
March 2, 2025
This book was ok. Definitely not as good as the first two. I kind of had a feeling the stalker was you-know-who because she just acted weird & was worrying too much about Annette’s marriage. Sort of a struggle to read & I honestly expected more from Ms. Monroe. Being that there are 3 more books in this series and they are all kind of lengthy, I’m not sure if I’ll continue the series but I probably will because I’m curious to see what will happen with Rhoda & Annette’s friendship with you-know-who out of the picture. Might read another before jumping into book 4.
October 29, 2019
I was greatly impressed it kept my interest thoroughly . bravo well done
September 10, 2024
I just love this drama filled series! It is an absolute mess
October 21, 2024
Annette bothered the hell out of me!!!
May 13, 2022
Much better than the first 2 books@
July 17, 2013
(FROM JACKET)With a handsome husband, a beautiful daughter, and a lovely house to come home to every night, it looks like forty-five-year-old Annette Goode finally has it all. And heaven knows she paid her dues to get it-from a childhood filled with abuse to a rocky start as an adult. Annette's friend Rhoda knows too, for Rhoda had been both her savior and her greatest fear. Their erratic relationship has survived some serious bumps in the road, and now things are good. But apparently someone thinks Annette has it a little too good...
When Annette receives an anonymous-and menacing-birthday gift, it is just the beginnig of a slew of hostile letters, vicious phone calls, and vile packages from a female who is obviously disguising her voice. Soon nasty notes about Annette are also being circulated throughout her community. But despite the onslaught, Annette has no clue who the harasser is, or what is behind her contempt.
Gaining comfort from the support of Rhoda and Rhoda's teenage daughter, Jade. Annette hopes that somehow the problem will just go away. But when the threats extend to her little daughter, Annette realizes the situation is dire. And she's right, for soon her tormentor reveals exactly what she wants-and claims to have been playing a role in Annette's life all along. To make matters worse, she provides evidence that may destroy everything Annette has built...
Just as Annette reaches the brink of what she can bear, her mysterious enemy challenges her to a face-to-face showdown. It is a meeting that will not only shock Annette, but will forever change the lives of those closest to her...
*Only on page 13 and have already found this error, " '...An empty house, for that matter. Pee Wee and Charlotte were in Erie, Pennsylvania....'"
On page 9: "I looked around my living room to make sure my nine-year-old daughter, Charlotte, had not snuck into the room"
The initial reviews of this book were discouraging, but I've enjoyed other books by Mz. Monroe. I'm hoping the overall story is better than the example with this oversight.
When Annette receives an anonymous-and menacing-birthday gift, it is just the beginnig of a slew of hostile letters, vicious phone calls, and vile packages from a female who is obviously disguising her voice. Soon nasty notes about Annette are also being circulated throughout her community. But despite the onslaught, Annette has no clue who the harasser is, or what is behind her contempt.
Gaining comfort from the support of Rhoda and Rhoda's teenage daughter, Jade. Annette hopes that somehow the problem will just go away. But when the threats extend to her little daughter, Annette realizes the situation is dire. And she's right, for soon her tormentor reveals exactly what she wants-and claims to have been playing a role in Annette's life all along. To make matters worse, she provides evidence that may destroy everything Annette has built...
Just as Annette reaches the brink of what she can bear, her mysterious enemy challenges her to a face-to-face showdown. It is a meeting that will not only shock Annette, but will forever change the lives of those closest to her...
*Only on page 13 and have already found this error, " '...An empty house, for that matter. Pee Wee and Charlotte were in Erie, Pennsylvania....'"
On page 9: "I looked around my living room to make sure my nine-year-old daughter, Charlotte, had not snuck into the room"
The initial reviews of this book were discouraging, but I've enjoyed other books by Mz. Monroe. I'm hoping the overall story is better than the example with this oversight.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2013
Man...is it just me or is book one the best out of the series?. Really disappointed that I spent money purchasing this book. Since it is a nook book lendable series, the only way i see myself finishing all the books is if I borrow them. In God Don't Play, we find Annette married with a child and happily reunited with estranged family and friends. However, her world starts unraveling as she becomes the victim of anonymous, hateful letters, gifts and calls. Unfortunately, for me, I figured out what was going on way before Annette did, lol. I also got so tired of her whimpering all the time and not standing up for herself whenever a nasty ignorant comment was made to, or about her. Would have liked to have seen a little bit of self confidence in herself this time around seeing how blessed her life had become. Even so, I still want to know what happens to Ms. Annette as her life progresses and what new drama will befall in her later years...but I can definately wait until I find someone kind enough to lend them to me!!
November 25, 2020
Ugh!!!! I had really hoped Mary Monroe would get it together on third book, But it seems I’m all the way up to chapter 20 on this book and we are still reading about what happened in the first book! It’s as if she ran out of content to write about.
And I feel like the entire series should be called, “I Don’t Want to Tell Anybody” because that’s literally the theme of every book: Annette hiding some secret from the people who love (and could protect) her. This one is just stupid! Now she doesn’t want to tell her husband (and childhood friend) PeeWee about receiving threatening calls and a note. Really?!! Like what is the motivation behind taking this secret to your grave? If anything a former military person is the EXACT person you need on the case to figure out who it is. But in true Mary Monroe form, the characters are on some site of memory loop where Annette can ONLY trust Rhonda with the secret.
I’m over it!! 😠
And I feel like the entire series should be called, “I Don’t Want to Tell Anybody” because that’s literally the theme of every book: Annette hiding some secret from the people who love (and could protect) her. This one is just stupid! Now she doesn’t want to tell her husband (and childhood friend) PeeWee about receiving threatening calls and a note. Really?!! Like what is the motivation behind taking this secret to your grave? If anything a former military person is the EXACT person you need on the case to figure out who it is. But in true Mary Monroe form, the characters are on some site of memory loop where Annette can ONLY trust Rhonda with the secret.
I’m over it!! 😠
November 7, 2016
As with the two previous books in this series, I had a hard time putting it down. As they characters progressed to a higher socioeconomic status you would expect their emotional development to improve as well; however, that was far from the truth. At this point in their lives they seemed to be dealing with complex issues using coping skills that were never fully developed. I can't wait to read the next book and see if the characters actually break free from the stigmas that appear to be guiding their paths.
The only issue I had reading this book is the fact that the author repetitively used the same analogies and descriptions.
The only issue I had reading this book is the fact that the author repetitively used the same analogies and descriptions.
May 3, 2020
This is the third book in the series and it has a slow start. For this to be a series, there is a lot of redundancy in the storytelling, which is boring for someone who has already read the previous book. The storyline was a bit predictable, however it still caught my interest. It had the right amount of drama and emotion that I expect from Mary Monroe.
I’m going to continue to read the next books in the series, but this one was okay.
I’m going to continue to read the next books in the series, but this one was okay.
May 22, 2010
I read the books before this one, and I really enjoyed those. This book though, I was really disappointed in. It just seemed to repeat the same things over and over again. It was completely predictable. It just seemed way over the top.
Read
July 28, 2012I love that it follows the same characters. I love that when the series started they were young kids and you get to read about their lives as they get older. Some of it is graphic and sometimes the f word shows up
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews