Mary Monroe Reading Order
8 series · 36 books
Mary Monroe is a renowned author known for her impactful contributions to African-American fiction. With a diverse repertoire of 36 books spanning eight series, her notable works include God Don't Like Ugly and Deadly Heart. Active from 1986 to 2026, Monroe’s storytelling beautifully weaves themes of resilience and community throughout her engaging narratives.
Anthologies Series
Complete1 book (2018–2018)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Our Prince of Scribes 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
God Don't Like Ugly Series
Complete6 books (2000–2012)
Start with God Don't Like Ugly, the first of 6 books in the God Don't Like Ugly series.
Lexington, Alabama / Wiggins Series
Ongoing6 books (2022–2026)
Start with Empty Vows, the first of 6 books in the Lexington, Alabama / Wiggins series.
Lonely Heart, Deadly Heart Series
Complete4 books (2016–2017)
Start with Can You Keep a Secret?, the first of 4 books in the Lonely Heart, Deadly Heart series.
Mama Ruby Series
Complete3 books (1986–2013)
Start with The Upper Room and read in order.
Neighbors Series
Complete3 books (2018–2020)
Start with One House Over and read in order.
Short Story Collections Series
Complete1 book (2006–2006)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Borrow Trouble 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
Standalone Novels Series
Likely Complete12 books (2002–2021)
Start with Gonna Lay Down My Burdens, the first of 12 books in the Standalone Novels series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Gonna Lay Down My Burdens 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Red Light Wives 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  In Sheep's Clothing 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | Deliver Me From Evil 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  She Had It Coming 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  The Company We Keep 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Family of Lies 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Bad Blood 2015Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Remembrance 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Right Beside You 2019Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  The Gift of Family 2020Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 | Once in a Lifetime 2021Buy 🇺🇸 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Mary Monroe written?
- Mary Monroe has written 36 books across 8 series. Their published works span from 1986 to 2026.
- What is the first book in each Mary Monroe series?
- Here are the first books in Mary Monroe's series: God Don't Like Ugly: God Don't Like Ugly; Lexington, Alabama / Wiggins: Empty Vows; Lonely Heart, Deadly Heart: Can You Keep a Secret?; Mama Ruby: The Upper Room; Neighbors: One House Over.
- What order should I read Mary Monroe's books?
- We recommend reading Mary Monroe's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Mary Monroe still writing new books?
- Yes, Mary Monroe has 1 ongoing series: Lexington, Alabama / Wiggins.