Thank you to NetGalley for an opportunity to read the advanced reader copy of this book. I have to admit that I was skeptical when I read the description for this book. I have been around sets of identical twins. Although they look alike, people close them can tell the difference. Twins have different cadences to their speech, different mannerisms, and different personalities. Therefore, the fact that Fiona and Leona's mother couldn't even tell them apart wasn't believable. In this book, nobody could tell the twins apart (not even significant others or best friends).
However, this book was definitely entertaining. As the story opens the reader realizes that the twins have developed two different constructs of themselves. One construct was "good" and the other was "bad." The Fiona that people knew wasn't really a person, she was just the good parts of both twins. The same with Leona (the "naughty" or bad part of both twins). Throughout the book I did feel like Leona was codling her sister, which gave her a sense of entitlement. During the last quarter of the book, true to form, Mary Monroe threw in her plot twist. However, she did develop the story throughout the book so that the ending wasn't a total surprise. Overall, this was a good read.

I typically like Mary Monroe’s books, but I wasn’t a fan of this one. The two leads are allegedly very different, but their perspectives run together, so it was impossible to remember whose POV I was in. The book was also deadly slow, with not much of interest happening.

Mary Monroe is a queen of historical fiction. In this new wonderful masterpiece she writes about two twin sisters who decide to live each others lives. This book was beyond engaging, it had you along for the ride with both of the sisters and wanting more as the pages turned. Monroe has such a finesse when it comes to writing historical fiction. I will definitely the intricacies of this book and can not recommend it enough. Not was the book beautifully written but the cover is absolutely Stunning.

Another hit for Mary Monroe. I adored this book and Monroe can tackle historical fiction like no one else. The plot was engaging and very believable, twins living each other's lives. I loved all the many details that were put into the story and I appreciated that I learned a few things along the read.

A great read.

"Double Lives" by Mary Monroe is an absolute triumph, earning every one of its well-deserved five stars. In this latest masterpiece, Monroe takes readers on a riveting journey into the lives of identical twin sisters, Leona and Fiona Dunbar, navigating the complexities of the Depression-era South with finesse and drama.

From the very beginning, Monroe's storytelling prowess captivates as she weaves a tale of deception, scandal, and unbreakable sisterly bonds. The duo's penchant for switching lives is not just a mere gimmick but a powerful narrative device that allows Monroe to delve into the stark differences between the outspoken Leona and the seemingly demure Fiona. The way they navigate their small, respectable hometown of Lexington, fooling everyone from teachers to boyfriends, is both entertaining and captivating.

The heart of the story lies in the unshakeable bond between the sisters, as evidenced by Leona's willingness to endure jail time for Fiona. Monroe skillfully explores the intricacies of their relationship, making it a poignant and central element of the narrative. The characters are vividly drawn, and the dynamics between them add layers of complexity to the plot.

What sets "Double Lives" apart is the masterful exploration of desire, independence, and the consequences of hidden passions. Leona's shock at discovering the security of domestic life and Fiona reveling in newfound freedom create a compelling dynamic. The unexpected sparks between Leona and Fiona's husband add an extra layer of tension and delicious intrigue, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

As the sisters' masquerade unfolds, Monroe expertly delves into the depths of human desires and the repercussions of unearthing long-buried secrets. The fallout rocks their small town, creating a gripping narrative that explores the limits of sisterhood, trust, and redemption. Monroe navigates the complexities of love, betrayal, and forgiveness with finesse, leaving readers emotionally invested until the very end.

"Double Lives" is a tour de force of Southern drama, skillfully written by an award-winning New York Times bestselling author at the top of her game. Mary Monroe's storytelling prowess shines through every page, making this novel an absolute must-read for fans of drama, scandal, and the enduring power of sisterhood. Highly recommended!

Mary Monroe just keeps delivering with this series. I love the characters and her books always leave me wanting more. Highly recommended!!

I absolutely loved it. I knew I had to read this the moment I came upon the blurb and it delivered. The story was phenomenal and had me in chokehold and took me on an emotional rollercoaster from the get go with amazing characters I love to hate. Leona was my absolute favorite. Loved her to death. Fiona and Mavis, I had a love hate relationship with because they got on my nerves all the time lol.


As a black historical fiction it was emotionally difficult to read at times with elements of racism and segregation at the core of the story.

My favorite part of this story was the bond between Leona and Fiona. A sisterly bond that transcends all.

This was my first read by this author and it definitely won’t be my last.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC

Double Lives is a book about twin sisters and their deep dark secrets. As the story unfolds, themes of selfishness, love, betrayal, manipulation, and the consequences of the sister’s secrets start to unravel. The secrets lead to unexpected twists and turns that would make your head spin. The book will keep you turning pages until the end and leave you want just one more page.

This was my first Mary Monroe book. I liked the plot however I did not like the writing style. In my opinion it lacked depth leading to very poor character development. The description of the environments was also very weak which made it very difficult for me as a reader to immerse myself in the story.

Amazing!! I love all of Mary Monroe’s books and this one did not disappoint. It was well written, the plot was interesting and pulled me in from the beginning. I love how Mary brings these characters to life and all of the twists made sense.

Yes! Yes! Yes!!! This is the Mary Monroe I have come to know and love! What an excellent read. I enjoyed this story from start to finish. The boldness of Leona and Fiona to switch lives randomly for their benefit whenever they felt like it was mind blowing. A times I wondered how much one sister who I won’t name cared for the other as she would do things that were very damaging but led everyone to believe it was her sister. I feel conflicted by the ending. I enjoyed it, but if I keep typing I’m going to tell too much. All I can say is GET this book now!!!!! It’s a must read.

Thank you Dafina, Kensington and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advance copy of this book.

Another winner from the talented Mary Monroe. Great plot with twins switching roles and living each others life. Very interesting read and the twists were very believable. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.

I am a fan of Mary Monroe, and she did not disappoint! Her patented penchant for drama and flair for plot twists is the spice that makes this a wonderful read. I cannot wait for the next installment!

Just wow to this book. Way better than i expected for sure. My mama has always read this author and this was my first time reading her work.

This was an excellent read! I really enjoyed reading about the identical twins in this book . This book had historical fiction, identity changes, marriage, and church all rolled into one that didn’t disappoint. Incredible ending! Hopefully this will become a series.

I enjoy historical books & this one was right on the money. The story was a bit slow in some areas, but it kept me intrigued enough to finish it in 1 day. These twins, Leona & Fiona were a bit weird & different. I did not enjoy the fact that Leona was so naive when it came to her twin sister & Bonnie Sue. She wanted to see the good in everyone even if it ended up hurting her. Fiona was very conniving & she was my least favorite twin. I knew switching identities would eventually lead to some serious trouble & Fiona would be the cause of it. She was just so sneaky. I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but overall it was a decent book with a positive ending. I’m grateful that NetGalley and the publisher provided me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

Good read. Slow in some parts but overall entertaining. Very unexpected ending. The book actually went a different route than I expected.

I really just did not enjoy this book. I haven’t really read much from this author since the Mama Ruby series. The couple of books I attempted after that I just did not enjoy. I thought I would give this one a chance though because the subject matter seemed interesting. However, it was not. The writing style was just not one that I enjoyed—it seemed pretty sophomoric , and the story itself seemed formulaic and pretty predictable. I wish that she would add more to the Mama Ruby series, but if she does not do that, I probably will not read anything else from this author.

I don't read many historical novels. This one by Mary Monroe was good. I liked the relationships the sisters had with each other and how they pranked people. The ending could have been better. It was different than I thought. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Mrs Wiggins by Mary Monroe so I was excited to get an ARC copy of Double Lives. Double Lives tells the story of identical twins Fiona and Leona. They live in Alabama with their mother Mavis. Fiona and Leona are always up to something and they switch lives which leads Mavis to believe one of her daughters is a trouble maker and the other is a saint but is this true. Leona has a best friend Bonnie Sue that is a little too clingy and she truly got on my nerves. This book was fast paced and kept me engaged with the plot twist. The book focuses on how at times people may want to escape from their life but it may take someone else to step in their shoes to show them maybe the grass is not greener on the other side.