The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

By: Deesha Philyaw

Narrated by: Janina Edwards

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies explores the raw and tender places where Black women and girls dare to follow their desires and pursue a momentary reprieve from being good. The nine stories in this collection feature four generations of characters grappling with who they want to be in the world, caught as they are between the church's double standards and their own needs and passions.

There is 14-year-old Jael, who has a crush on the preacher's wife. At 42, Lyra realizes that her discomfort with her own body stands between her and a new love. As Y2K looms, Caroletta's "same time next year" arrangement with her childhood best friend is tenuous. A serial mistress lays down the ground rules for her married lovers. In the dark shadows of a hospice parking lot, grieving strangers find comfort in each other.

With their secret longings, new love, and forbidden affairs, these church ladies are as seductive as they want to be, as vulnerable as they need to be, as unfaithful and unrepentant as they care to be, and as free as they deserve to be.

©2020 Deesha Philyaw (P)2020 Tantor

a door ajar that you can’t resist

Beautiful portraits of lives fully lived. I was so sad when this book ended, I could have dipped into these stories for the rest of my days.

Real

Each story was told with feeling. Some will have you laughing out loud. All will give the listener visual pictures of events that are touching and thought provocative situations that give you a feeling of truth being expressed. it's like it is not how you would like it to be.

Strong, Real

I didn't want the stories to end and the narration was superb. Peach Cobbler was one of the best stories I've ever had the pleasure of hearing.

Each story kept me riveted

This book was well written and the narrator really brought al the stories to life. I'll definitely listen to it again. Treat yourself

I loved loved loved these short stories.

Amazing book. Stories are written in an amazing honest and real way. What a gift the writer has.