Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

24 reviews

ingridreadss's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, 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.

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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

clarabooksit's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Grief, and Abandonment

Minor: Bullying, Death, Violence, Abortion, Death of parent, and Murder

josie2k's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

i didn’t think i could ever give a story collection 5 stars. this collection had absolutely no misses, a few were better than others, but none were even close to bad. i loved loved this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism

anitra2319's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

I read this book as a buddy read with a long distance friend of mine. I was expecting it to be a lighter read but I was completely wrong. Philyaw weaves marvelous and complex tales of what happens behind the closed doors of church ladies. Some of these stories were lighthearted and funny, but there were also a good amount that made me have to put the book down for awhile. 

I can’t wait to see what my friend thinks!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, and Alcohol

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

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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

quirkko24's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, Dementia, Grief, and Religious bigotry

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Grief

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

brookey8888's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

This was good, but I don’t really enjoy short stories especially in this case because I feel like I can’t connect and get to know the characters. I did like the stories in this but sometimes I got confused because the POV would change and I wouldn’t know who I was following. I do appreciate the diversity in this(race,sexuality). Also the topic of what makes you a Christian and church going was interesting and how the different characters interpreted religion. I do think if this sounds interesting pick it up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Abandonment