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ashleycmms's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Infidelity
Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Murder
anspringel's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
When I read the title I didn’t expect to love the book as I do now. Words can’t describe the enjoyment I felt while reading this and still feel. I don’t usually re-read books but I know for a fact I’ll be coming back to this one. The way each story is written in a different style and pov screams the brilliance of the author. In each story you’re introduced to a cast of characters with different backgrounds and issues in different generations, and as I mentioned earlier a different story telling style which means there is one for everyone to love. I just can’t suggest this book enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Death of parent
Minor: Murder
whimsylindsey's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Murder
catherineclark's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Dementia, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Abortion
dalmavatai's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ahh this short story collection was so impactful and gripping, I loved every single second of it!
All of the stories in here deal with desire, pain, grief, love, family, and Christianity, and all of them do it brilliantly and beautifully. All of the characters are vivid and relatable - they are not without their flaws, in fact these flaws are often prominent in the stories, but they are portrayed with such compassion and humanity that you can't help but feel for them. Every story is unique but what unites them all is their exploration of how Black women navigate desire and pain, love and grief, often simultaneously.
Such a beautiful collection full of humanity, exploring the universally human desire to be loved.
All of the stories in here deal with desire, pain, grief, love, family, and Christianity, and all of them do it brilliantly and beautifully. All of the characters are vivid and relatable - they are not without their flaws, in fact these flaws are often prominent in the stories, but they are portrayed with such compassion and humanity that you can't help but feel for them. Every story is unique but what unites them all is their exploration of how Black women navigate desire and pain, love and grief, often simultaneously.
Such a beautiful collection full of humanity, exploring the universally human desire to be loved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Dementia, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Miscarriage, Racism, and Abortion
michmoo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Murder
riverofpages's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Not what I expected but I’m not mad! I thought there’d be more Jesus here but I think it was a good portrayal of the real lives of southern women of Christian culture (none of the main characters seem to be practicing Christians). So many parts were heart warming. Others heart breaking.
The writing in phenomenal. I only rated .5 less than 5 because I think the order of the short stories could have been different.
The writing in phenomenal. I only rated .5 less than 5 because I think the order of the short stories could have been different.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Murder
hollyd19's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is a collection of short stories that spotlights Black women of various ages as they push against prescribed narratives & wrestle with purpose, sexuality, and worth. One endorsement described the collection as “cheeky and insightful” and I second that. I can’t say every story was for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed How to Make Love to a Physicist, Peach Cobbler, Snowfall, and Instructions for Married Christian Men. The stories are rich, artistically diverse, and deeply human.
I was surprised (perhaps I shouldn’t have been, given the word ‘secrets’ in the title) by how heavily sex factored in nearly all the stories. It was never gratuitous or explicit, but it did play a much larger role than I had expected. Additionally, I had the impression that the collection would be more... fun? Honestly, for the most part I found it fairly bleak. That’s not to say it wasn’t tender and at times funny, but most stories left me feeling rather melancholy. Each woman featured faces some significant strain — emotionally, relationally, etc — and I would have loved at least one story to be robustly joyful (the closest is How To Make Love to a Physicist). Finally, there is ample mention of church life & culture, but I wouldn’t define any of the protagonists as “church ladies.” They are all church-lady-adjacent, but perhaps that was Philyaw’s chosen device: a window into the lives of church ladies from those who are in some way outside the fold.
I was surprised (perhaps I shouldn’t have been, given the word ‘secrets’ in the title) by how heavily sex factored in nearly all the stories. It was never gratuitous or explicit, but it did play a much larger role than I had expected. Additionally, I had the impression that the collection would be more... fun? Honestly, for the most part I found it fairly bleak. That’s not to say it wasn’t tender and at times funny, but most stories left me feeling rather melancholy. Each woman featured faces some significant strain — emotionally, relationally, etc — and I would have loved at least one story to be robustly joyful (the closest is How To Make Love to a Physicist). Finally, there is ample mention of church life & culture, but I wouldn’t define any of the protagonists as “church ladies.” They are all church-lady-adjacent, but perhaps that was Philyaw’s chosen device: a window into the lives of church ladies from those who are in some way outside the fold.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Dementia, and Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Murder
francestea's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A nice mix of stories allowing the reader in on little slices of each characters life. Peach Cobbler, one of the longer stories, was really visceral (and had me craving peaches). Eula, was another story that really stood out for me, about two friends romantically involved (although one is completely in denial of their situation). The characters feel very real, regular people with hardships, joys, desires, and failings. A quick and enjoyable read I’d recommend especially for someone new to short stories. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator as well!
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, and Murder
mamademics's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
I really liked the premise of this book, but it ended up letting me down in the end. Most of the stories included didn't seem like secrets of church women as there was no true connection to the church. They're just secret lives that women sometimes live when they're not accepted in mainstream society. This book definitely had potential to be more but the editor dropped the ball in pushing the author to make deeper connections to the church. Or even connecting the different cast of characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Murder
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