I listened to the audiobook of this novel and while the synopsis sounded intriguing I did not enjoy the narrator or the writing style. I did enjoy the story and all of the twists and turns that came throughout. What made me unhappy is the way Naomi handled her marriage with her husband and the abuse she endured for years. There is no way I would have stayed that long and then to take care of him after he had a stroke! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Bent But Not Broken

By Mary Monroe
Narrated by Shari Peele
Published March 25,2025

Mary Monroe had from in a hold from start to finish of this book. Set in Lexington Alabama in 1918,
Naomi is one of thirteen children where unfortunately her mother died during her birth leaving her with only her father.
Naomi agrees to marry to have financial security after her father’s girlfriend was overheard talking about her. They spoke of how she needed a job, and to be married and move out of the house so that they could live alone in peace. Unfortunately once Naomi got married she had to deal with a cheating husband, a rude unruly daughter and a lover who is obsessive. Naomi gets a job working for a wealthy white family cooking and doing other things around for them, Reverend Spivey, his wife and Annie Lou who is half black but passes for white. Not only is Naomi’s husband Jasob a cheater, hes also abusive verbally, physically and mentally.
Naomi would head off fishing just to get away from it all at her home and she meets a nice, so she thought man Homer who she begins to have an affair with since her husband is a cheating abuser. Their affair lasted for some time and only ended because her husband Jacob had a massive stroke leaving him unable to do anything for himself so Naomi and Ethel Mae to care for him.
Mary puts so many twists in her books you never know what is going to happen next. I absolutely loved him book and cannot wait to read more from Mary Monroe in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for this ALC Audiobook. All opinions are my own.

3.5⭐️ 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. 👍🏾

This is my first time reading Mary Monroe’s work & I enjoyed it. The book is like a soap opera filled with a lot of jaw dropping moments. There are moments when I thought everything was going well & then boom… A surprise! Some part, however, felt dragged out but because of the drama and wanting to know what happened next, I just could not put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley & Unabridged for the ARC!

This book grabbed me from page one! Mary Monroe is back with another powerful entry in her Lexington, Alabama series—and true to my reading habits this year, I started it completely out of order. But let me tell you, that didn’t take away from the experience one bit.

We follow Naomi, a woman still living at home with her father, though it’s clear that arrangement has an expiration date. After overhearing a harsh conversation between her father and his new lover, Naomi decides to make a bold move—marrying an older man, Jacob, out of spite. But what she ends up with is far worse than disapproval: an abusive, unfaithful husband.

Just when you think Naomi’s stuck, she crosses paths with Homer, a newcomer who shows her what real love looks like. But peace is short-lived. When Jacob suffers a stroke, Naomi returns to care for him, and the emotional whirlwind begins again.

This story took me through *every* emotion. I wanted to shake Naomi so many times, but I had to remind myself of the era and the limited choices women often had. It’s raw, layered, and emotionally charged. I'm officially a fan of this series and already looking for the next book.

✨ Recommend for: lovers of historical fiction, Southern Black storytelling, and emotionally complex characters.
⚠️ Content note: check trigger warnings before diving in.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the eALC in exchange for my honest review!

Mary Monroe is a MUST read author for me. She crafts stories about women who hard hard lives, but persevere through it all. Naomi is a God fearing woman, married to an abusive husband and has a daughter who disrespects her. She meets Homer, a widower, and they start an affair. Will Naomi ever get her "happily ever after"?
I look forward to more books by this author. She doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of life- racism, infidelity, spousal abuse. But her books always have hope in them. Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

A story spun with with a good pace and devout woman. 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. Unfortunately it only landed her with a controlling, unfaithful husband who delights in hurling insults at her and their troubled now-teenage daughter, Ethel Mae. Naomi is amazed and touched when Homer Clark sees her for the vibrant, intelligent woman she truly is and starts providing large amounts of attention. Naomi being a bit starved for possitive attention falls into the devils grasp. Monroe crafts a rich, complex story set in Depression-era Alabama that grabbed me from the first page. Very realistic characters that many might be able to relate with and identify some aspects. Thank you, Netgellay, the author, and Kensington Publishing

This was my first book by Mary Monroe, but definitely not my last! I went in completely blind, so I had no idea what to expect—but it pulled me in right away. What started as a simple story kept unfolding with more and more layers. I felt everything while reading this—frustration, hope, disappointment, stress, panic, shock—you name it. Despite its serious themes, the humor and wit in the character interactions had me laughing more than a few times. The ending wasn’t exactly what I expected, but I appreciated how realistically everything was wrapped up.

Thank you for this ARC copy to review!

Thank you to Net Galley and Rb media for the ARC audio book.
I have already read the first book in the series and was so excited for this one. This book is juicy and drama filled from page one. I literally couldn't stop listening and finished this book in a day and a half. The way this story kept my jaw on the floor is crazy.
Please check triggers warnings for DV and animal abuse.

I have loved Mary Monroe’s books in the past but this one disappointed me. I struggled to get into the plot as I usually can.

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. I read half of this book and listened to the other half, I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator who helped bring the story to life even more!

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.

Mary Monroe is one of my favorite historical fiction writers. Her latest, Bent But Not Broken was amazing, as I expected.

Mary Monroe once again takes us to Lexington, AL, delivering her signature dose of drama, though not quite as much as in her previous books.

In the fifth book of the series, we meet Naomi Simmons — a selfless, kind-hearted woman yearning for her happily ever after. As a pillar of strength, she endures so much, but I couldn’t help but wish she had learned to be a bit more selfish and put herself first.

I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook, with Shari Peele once again delivering a phenomenal performance.

Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for this ARC.

Ａｕｄｉｏｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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.

The audiobook was great and gave depth to the storyline. The narrators did a good job telling the story and bringing it alive. Easy to listen to and understand. Listened at 2x speed.

Thank you, NetGalley, and RB Media for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

🎧 Audiobook +📗 eBook: Bent but Not Broken- A Lexington, Alabama Novel #5-I read it as a standalone

✍🏾 Author: Mary Monroe -I read Double Lives and gave it 5 ⭐

📃Page Count: 288

📅Publication date: 3/25/25 | Read: 3/23/25

🏃🏾‍➡️Run Time: 9:30

🌎 Setting: Lexington, AL 1916

👆🏾POV: 1st person single-Naomi

Genre: Historical, AA Interests, Women's Fic

Tropes: small town, family drama, marriage, age gap 16/26

⚠️TW: SA, abuse, cheating, DV, murder, stalking, animal cruelty, racism/segregation

🗣️Narrator: Shari Peele voices all the characters with standouts from Naomi, Ethel Mae, Reverend Spivey, and Lula. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

Summary: Naomi agrees to marry for financial security after overhearing her father and his girlfriend Maddie talking about her. They want her to get married, get a job, and move out so they can be alone. Once married, Naomi deals with a cheating husband, an unruly daughter, and an obsessive lover.

👩🏾 Heroine: Naomi Simmons/Purcell-gets a job cooking for wealthy, white family Reverend Spivey, his wife, and half-black sister Annie Lou passing as white.

🎭 Side Characters:
*Willard-Naomi's father, married to her mother for 20 years, had thirteen kids. Wife died in childbirth having Naomi.
*Jacob Purcell-Naomi's husband, an injured army vet w/ money for a nice house
*Ethel Mae-Naomi's daughter, promiscuous
*Reverend Garth Spivey-Naomi's employer
*Lula Pittman-Naomi's BFF
*Homer Clark-a widower Naomi meets

🤔 My Thoughts: This had twists and turns I didn't see coming. Naomi dealt with so much from Jacob, Ethel Mae, and later Homer. Lula was the MVP for me because she supported Naomi through everything.

*Spice 3/5 🌶️
*Rating: 5/5 ⭐

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing| Dafina, RB Media| Recorded Books, and Mary Monroe for this ARC & ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

Wonderful story and excellent addition to this series! I have read this entire series and was looking forward to book 5! Mary Monroe did NOT disappoint & Shari Peele can do no wrong when it comes to narrating novels. I was very excited to see that she was the narrator and she did an amazing job!

Naomi was raised by her single father & as she gets older her father’s makes it known that he is ready for her to be out of his house so that he can live his best life! Naomi trying to appease him, settles for the first boy that shows her some attention. When his true colors begin to show over the years, Naomi decides to get a little payback but she puts herself from one bad situation to another. This story was attention getting, emotional, well placed with likable and dislikable characters! Mary Monroe fans will surely enjoy this one! Thank you RBmedia and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This was my first Mary Monroe read, and off this book alone I will be checking out her entire catalog. The book took a turn that I did not predict and OMG had me locked in. The narratoe was also really good as well. I finished this book in just a few short hours. Would highly recommend to anyone who loves a book full of drama!!!!