I will never understand what it is like to be Black in America. Books like The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, however, allow me a deeper insight and empathy into the full lives, joy, and also injustice that Black women face. This compilation of short stories explores spirituality and sexuality. It's raw and compelling. I was left wanting more, which is exactly where I want to be at the end of a book. I can't wait to talk about this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I'm always interested in novels concerning religion and Black women and this collection did a fantastic job. While religion is integrated into the narrative, it's not the sole focus. The novel really focuses on the Black women of each story and the different ways religion can either hinder or help expand past the limits of what is possible. Each story, while brief, is intimate and personal that at times, I felt as if I was intruding. But it still felt like I was being invited to this enclave where Black women are allowed to be free, loud, and act in any way they please. This should be on everyone's reading list.

This was a great book about African American women and their journey through the Christian faith. Really enjoyed the short stories . My favorite story was Sista. Some of the stories you wanted them to continue more, but that’s how it’s with really good short stories. A must read!!’

This book reminds me so much of a Gloria Naylor title, almost like The Women Of Brewster Place. Sympathetic Black women as main characters are so very rare. This voice is needed and so is this collection. Please continue publishing books like this. #ownvoices

I read this book the week that George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis. With that as a background, these stories carried with them the burden of institutional racism that women of color experience every day in America. Even the most independent and self-reliant woman in these stories displays a tiredness and a loss. Philyaw has done an extraordinary job of sharing these women's stories in a sensitive, thoughtful and very respectful way. You will be thinking of Jael and Daughter and Eula and all the others for days after you finish reading.
Thank you to #NetGalley for an advance copy of this beautiful book, #TheSecretLivesofChurchLadies.

This collection, about women struggling between the dictates of society and spirituality, and the desires of their own hearts was difficult, delicious, heartbreaking and affirming. I recognized the women Deesha Philyaw depicted in these stories, and both knew and wanted to know them better. There wasn't a single inauthentic moment, though there was a sliver of an agenda or point of view about the hypocrisy that sometimes lies beneath religious observance and the ways moralizing can obscure deeper truths about who people are.

Apart from the women themselves, I also loved this author's voice--clear and concise in delivery, emotionally accessible and not overly lofty. I got to the end far too soon and found myself wishing and hoping that sometime soon this writer will deliver for us a full-length novel. Recommended.

The Secret Lives of Church Women is excellently written. It did not have to be church women but that component is resonant. It’s resonant because it shows everyone has secret lives, secret loves, secret secrets that color their lives and the lives of those they are involved with.

Ms. Philyaw takes no prisoners with her characterizations, holding all equally accountable in their humanity. She lays bare the things whispered about. Even characters we might not usually see as sympathetic; we understand them if we are willing to admit it.

I felt like I did as a young girl sitting in the room with my mom, aunts and Godma and hearing them talk about the hypocrisy of church folk. I smiled in memory but as a woman I’m not fully sure it’s hypocrisy as much as it is trying to navigate life and maintain oneself in a world hard on women, black women, church women and the familial, church and love ties that bind us. Well done...

Christianity, sex, and Blackness. Each story introduces the reader to black Christians, their dilemmas, sins, excitement, faith, and frustration. All of the stories have different plots and outcomes but the tie that bonds is God. Everyone can relate to the stories within this book. Be it from personal experience or word of mouth. You can glean lessons from each ofor the stories that will apply to your life.

You will wish some of the stories were longer and wonder to yourself, what ever happened to Jael or dear sister. I hope this isn't the last book by this author,

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies follows the lives of different black women as they reconcile their developing sexuality, identities, and independence with their strict religious upbringings. All these topics were done incredibly well and the short story format made this one a super quick read.
First off, the writing is gorgeous and compelling and it really draws you in. Philyaw's use of imagery made me feel like I was there with these women and experiencing these things along with them. I felt like I was part of the world that Philyaw had created.
Some of the stories are heartbreaking, some of them funny, some of them uplifting, but all of them are very compelling and worth the read. I know that these were just short stories, but all of them left me wanting to read more about these characters and know more about their rich and complex lives.
I look forward to reading more by Deesha Philyaw in the future.

This phenomenal book of short stories will no doubt create a fuss when it is released to the general public. In each story, Philyaw jumps right into the heart of it all and yanks the reader in alongside her so that we feel so much of what is being felt by the characters. She deliciously describes women in all their glory and mess; the heartbreaks and triumphs; and both the internal and external conflicts with all the contexts they entail. Parts of it were relatable, but others seem specially designed for Black women, which only adds to the treasure that is this collection.

this was a collection of short stories about various ladies. Based off the title of the book I thought each story was going to be drama filled (which some were) I enjoyed a couple of the stories one being called Jael which follows a girl named Jael and her grandmother. Her grandmother reads her diary and just learns about her granddaughter that she never knew.

One thing I liked about these stories is how God and religion wasn’t like a in your face type of thing. The way church , God or scriptures was bought up in a fun way to the story. I don’t really have much else to say. This was a quick read and enjoyable

Rich, passionate, nuanced. entertaining... A stellar collection of short stories that will have readers thinking and rereading. I teared up while reading Peach Cobbler. Deeply moving, beautiful collection of stories. My only criticism is the cover art.

I am not usually a fan of short stories. I prefer a long juicy novel (with sequels!) that I can sink my literary teeth into. But these stories about African American women were SO good, and so engaging; I'm glad I made an exception and dove in. Each story is filled with passion and the characters were amazingly well developed (there were usually only 2 or 3 which made it easy to just dive in to their story, and some of the stories revisited characters). Throughout the book we learn about the painful histories, the day-today difficulties, and the sexual longings and desires of these characters, along with their conflicts with their church community. I think my favorite story might be "How To Make Love To A Physicist," which tells the story of a female middle school art teacher who meets a male physicist at a conference, and proceeds very slowly to regain her trust in men, and to open herself to the idea of falling in love:

"And as your body begins to feel like a home, your courage grows. It grows bigger than your mother’s chastisement in the parking lot after service the first time you go to church unbound. She asks why you aren’t wearing a girdle, why you aren’t sucking in the way she taught you thirty years ago, and how dare you come into the house of the Lord that way. Your mother, who complains of women in the church nowadays committing the sin of visible pantylines, reminds you that she raised you better than this. And you say, 'I’m tired of holding my breath.' Then you promise you won’t come to church that way again. And you keep your word because you won’t go to church again at all."

This author has a gorgeous way of drawing the reader into the lives of these characters. I will recommend this book to everyone of every gender, race and age.

Thank you #netgallery for letting me review an advance copy of #TheSecretLivesofChurchLadies! Due out in September 2020. Estimated reading time on Kindle: 3 hrs, 17 minutes.

The stories in this collection explore the lives of black women and girls who yearn to express their individuality and remain true to themselves while trying to navigate the influence of their religious doctrine and community. ⁠While church and religion may provide structure and reassurance for some, they may also produce conflict and double standards for others.⁠
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I couldn't put this down and finished all nine stories in one day. Deesha's writing is precise and her prose is rich and filled with emotion. She does an effective job of capturing the nuances of Christianity and its community in the lives of black women and girls. These stories don't feel confrontational as they present these topics. They are simple presented to the reader as is for them to think about and reach their own decision. ⁠

I first saw this book when Kiese Laymon retweeted the author’s thank you for his blurb. I was intrigued by the title and gorgeous cover.

This short story collection is one of the best I have read. I finished the collection in 2 days. I would have read the entire collection in one sitting but I stopped to meditate on the 4th story.

The author writes the first sentence of each of the story to draw the reader in. Once you are in, the story unfolds over a few pages and the reader can identify with the setting and characters. The concluding sentences wrap the short stories up in a way that is satisfying to the reader but still could be fleshed out to a novella or novel. Lovers of short stories will enjoy this collection.

The stories are not bible study stories. They do have church and Christian elements. Many of the stories explore topics that are not often discussed in church settings.

I was given the opportunity to review an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.

I would like to thank NetGalley, West Virginia University Press, and author Deesha Philyaw for providing me with an ARC of this novel!

I was so excited to see this available on NetGalley! A Pittsburgh author? YES! I have been hearing so much about this, and for good reason. The little synopsis provided doesn’t even begin to do this justice. This was a truly beautiful read, and I feel honored to have experienced it. This was raw and honest; and don’t let the title trip you up about religion. That was not the main focus of this novel at ALL, more so breaking free of the constraints of religion. Each story was beautifully crafted, and I can see myself re-reading this in the future. This will be groundbreaking once it hits the shelves.

Thank you to those named above for the chance to read and review this ARC!

I didn't know what to expect, as the blurb doesn't give away much. But wow! I really loved each and every story in this anthology. I read it in one day! I haven't actually read 'literary fiction' for some time, but this really  struck a cord and memorable. The author has a very unique and frank way about her.

The reviews on Netgallery when I stumbled across this title, under the multicultural interest section made me wonder what I'd find inside the book. I don't normally read reviews at all. If I want to read, I will regardless of who said what, but I do sometimes just look at star ratings from reviews, many seemed low when I picked up this title. I can't understand it, as this is a gem of a book! I honestly think no matter your race  or gender anyone can really get into this literary fiction, even if the focus is on woman of colour and their experiences.

In all honesty, the blurb does not give away the true beauty of this author's work, I was pulled in by the blurb, cover etc, but after reading it I feel that this for me was one of those books that took me by surprise, in how good, raw, honest and frank, and engaging these stories are. There is no heavy 'religious focus' either, it's used in context of experiences of women who really wanna break free of all that, or have been chained to it for whatever reason.  And it makes very insightful and thought  provoking reading.

I would say, if you are overly sensitive then pass this up, and save  your one star review for 'bad language'. If you put the characters into context, time frame etc, you can totally understand the language the characters (not author) use, it makes sense.  In fact if you're a very sensitive reader full stop, it may not be for you.

There are  more than a handful of stories here, I lost count I was just turning pages really quickly. I don't have a favourite as I loved them all, but some really hit me and struck me as 'wow'. There's one about a young girl, and her mother is dating or 'seeing' a married pastor for a decade and what she went through. The ending and 'moral' of the story touched me when I reflected. The second one that was highly memorable for me, was the story about a young  girl who had a 'thing' for a lady at church, the ending was crazy! Lastly 'How to  Make Love to a  Physicist' was touch a beautiful, heart-warming story, showing a woman's growth and her ability to love herself, and fall in love, and run away and fall in love again!  I loved it. All about two people connecting at a distance, then falling together as maybe 'fate' and growing. I could go on,  I loved them all.

Overall, this is a great literary fiction piece of art here, I enjoyed every page and would even read it a second time, later down the line. I felt each story had some kind of moral to it. The characters were just fantastic! Lively, bold, and  at times had me in chuckling. I would read more from this author, and I would love a copy for my book case not just e-book. I wish her so much luck when this drops for publication in September 2020.  5 'wow good read' stars from me!

This book did not keep my interest as much as I would have liked. It could have been the author’s use of language. It was well-developed but just not as interesting as the description made it seem

Full disclosure, I read this advance digital copy through net galley.

I really didn't know what to expect with this collection but am glad to have read it. I don't normally read stories in vignette format but these were beautiful and intimate. Each story was brief but so deeply personal, it was like being in the minds of the women for a moment. This is a great read for someone who is looking for insight and kinship among women.

I simply could not get into this novel at all. I loved the title and the idea, and even the cover photograph, which was exquisite, but the actual text seemed so rambling I honestly could not follow what was going on.

It began perfectly fine and I was really getting into it as these two women, approaching middle age, were evidently conducting some sort of casual lesbian relationship even as one of them seemed to be desperately searching for a man to latch onto. The other seemed quite happy with the status quo, but evidently her friend was uncomfortable with living out the rest of her life like that, or at least felt she ought to have more, and was trying to talk her lover into finding a man herself.

From there it seemed to quickly explode into a score of different directions with characters popping up out of nowhere and I lost track of who was who and what was what. The writing style seemed like some sort of free-association, stream-of-conscious affair which completely lost me. I would have been happy to have read a whole novel about those two women and no one else, but they became quickly buried under the other characters, in whom I had zero interest, so I gave up reading it. I can't commend this based on what I read of it, even though the beginning was remarkable and quite captivating.