Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

30 reviews

cecereads__'s review against another edition

4.5

This was so, so good. I had to stop myself after each story to savour it rather than just continue on bc it really was a page-turner for me. Really enjoyed the writing, and there was not a word out of place. It was spicy, sexy, direct, confronting, liberating, reflective, sweet and bitter and everything in between.
- I get why Peach Cobbler seems to be a general favourite
(though every story is quality and has a clear purpose)

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Dementia, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment

nad_books623's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

I did not like how the last story was written but I liked the idea. Each story had something that I could relate to or that I knew a family member could relate to.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Child death and Grief

buttermellow's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Dementia, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Physical abuse

kendal_reads's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Dementia

Minor: Abortion

sashawins's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

📚Book Review📚

Rate: 4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

🎵songs for book

"I hate you so much right now" Kelis

" I want you " Ciara

"Giving you the best that I got" Anita Baker

" Rich spirit" Kendrick Lamar

📚 Quotes

" Mother's raise their daughters and love their sons."

" You can't save me, I am not in peril."

" Friendship is not the same as history, just as bone is not the same as marrow"

📚 Review

Packed full of short stories that left me in reflection mood. Dessha Philyaw as a way to pull you in viscerally to each story. I laughed out loud, I cringed, shook my head, and my heart ache for majority of the characters.

Discuss themes of childhood trauma, love, friendship, death & grief, fear, daughter & mother dynamics, male predators, sexuality, self love,  colorismand how the Black church can cause harm. 

📚Favorite Stories:

●" When Eddie Levart Comes"

●" Instructions for married Christian Husbands"

●" Eula"

●"Peach clobber"

●"Jael"

📚 When Eddie Levart Comes--

I want to focus on the quote, " Mother's raise daughters and love their sons" as seen in the story When Eddie Levart Comes, in this story --Daughter cares for her mom who has dementia.  She cares for her mom 24/7 even though there is unresolved issues. Daughter still seeks the love of her mother she never received as a child. She does her best caring for her mother's needs even though her mother doesn't recognize her. Her babt bother, Rico, though hardly there, is the apple of his mommas eye--she recognized him with no issues.

I truly felt sad for Daughter-- not only did she need a true vacatio from caregiver role, she needed therapy for this childhood traumas.

What I learned from this story is to speak and pure love into your children. Childhood trauma is real and have lasting effects in adulthood❤️.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

clairew97's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

jodierose14's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

abbyluvsfrogs444's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is such a stunning collection of short stories. I fell in love with all the characters. I adored the writing. I became absorbed in all the stories. I love this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Grief

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Medical content, Dementia, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol

cinderrunner's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book captures such a depth of emotional complexity and humanity. Its a wonderful read. The examination of living at the cross roads of personal freedom/truth and doing what is expected of you from your culture/the people around you is beautifully done. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

mraddd's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Drug abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism