The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is an exceptionally successful short story collection! Each tale is captivating, distinct from the others and the perfect length. I often feel like short stories end too abruptly but no matter how much I enjoyed reading these ones, I didn’t want them to be longer. Deesha Philyaw compactly conveys what she wants to convey: black female experiences of religion, family and sex. I also usually prefer short fiction with magical elements, but here realism really worked for me. I would love to read a full-length novel, or just more collections from Philyaw in the future! Her prose is perceptive and fun, the kind that really engages you.