Naomi Simmons took a risk when she decided to marry Jacob Purcell. Her father and the rest of the community in Lexington, Alabama pressured her to get married, and Jacob was the first who asked. Naomi then endures decades of emotional and physical abuse while Jacob also flaunts his infidelity. Her one escape is fishing and one day she meets Homer Clark, a charming new resident of Lexington. Naomi decides that she deserves a bit of happiness now that her daughter, Ethel Mae, is out of the house. She falls into a love affair with Homer and even plans on leaving and divorcing Jacob. Just a month before Naomi plans to leave with Homer, Jacob suffers a stroke and needs full-time care. Naomi tells Homer that she cannot leave Jacob in such a condition and then Homer reveals his true colors. Homer swears that he will make Naomi's life miserable and for a time, he succeeds. A brutally honest novel about the choices we make and how we can change our lives with the right people in our corner.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

Bent but Not Broken is a dramatic tale filled with family turmoil, deceit, and the complex emotional struggles of its protagonist, Naomi Simmons. Mary Monroe does an excellent job of developing Naomi’s character—a woman torn between her obligations to her ungrateful husband and her desire for happiness with another man. The early parts of the novel are engaging, especially as Naomi navigates her relationships and the growing tension between her family responsibilities and personal dreams.

However, the story's pacing feels uneven, and some plot twists, especially Ethel Mae’s shocking revelation, think over the top and, at times, strain believability. The novel has moments of real emotional depth, but the drama can become overwhelming, making it hard to connect with the characters’ motives. While Naomi’s journey is compelling, the supporting characters, especially Homer and Jacob, often appear one-dimensional, making the relationships less authentic.

The story’s darker turns, with mind games and manipulation, are intriguing but leave some unanswered questions by the end. Fans of family sagas and Monroe’s previous works might enjoy the ride, but for others, the heavy drama and rushed resolution may fall short of expectations. Overall, it’s a good read with exciting moments, but it didn’t quite reach its full potential.

This book was okay! I think the story was ok, there were lots of themes going on - family issues, lies, secrets, scandals, etc. I think the twists and turns were good, however I was able to guess a lot of the plot twists that were coming. I think it was overall not as deep as I wanted it to be, and not planned out well.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!