Book Review: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

Genola Johnson
Jun 9, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Jun 14, 2025

📖 Quick Summary

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is a stunning debut short story collection by Deesha Philyaw that peels back the layered lives of Black women shaped by the church—and yet often at odds with its expectations.

Across nine intimate stories, Philyaw introduces us to women wrestling with their sexuality, longing, mother-daughter dynamics, and the weight of generational expectations. Whether they're sneaking lovers into borrowed bedrooms, finding comfort in forbidden intimacy, or questioning their spiritual inheritance, each woman’s voice feels raw, nuanced, and deeply human.

📝 My Review

I went into this one thinking I’d savor it slowly, but it read like a conversation I didn’t want to end. Philyaw’s prose is lyrical but grounded, honest without being heavy-handed. She gives her characters room to be flawed, soft, angry, spiritual, and sensual—often all at once.

What struck me most was how these stories felt connected—not necessarily by plot, but by the emotional pulse running through them. Themes of silence, shame, and sacredness echo between the lines. The tension between personal freedom and communal belonging is something so many of us can relate to.

While I probably won’t reread the whole collection again, it’s one I’d absolutely recommend for book clubs. There’s so much to unpack—both on the page and in your own reflection.

🎨 My Scrapbook Spread

For this spread, I focused on visual elements that stood out while listening to the book. The image of the church anchors the page, symbolizing the central role of faith and tradition. I included portraits of different Black women to reflect the diverse and complex characters Philyaw brings to life. Images of Southern staples—like peach pie and sweet tea—nod to the recurring theme of food as comfort, memory, and connection. Along the bottom, a neighborhood scene ties the stories together, while the solemn expression of a Black woman captures the quiet strength, longing, and restraint shared by many of the characters.