The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

About this book

An irresistible literary debut about the hidden desires of church-going Black women Left me wanting more. Masterfully written Candice Carty-Williams author of Queenie Beautifully crafted Stylist Book of the Week Joyous... Its a book in love with life The Times 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. There is fourteen-year-old Jael who nurses a crush on the preachers wife; the mother who bakes a sublime peach cobbler every Monday for her date with the married Pastor; and Eula and Caroletta single childhood friends who seek solace in each others arms every New Years Eve. 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. Its impossible to pick a standout from this collection... a tender and rich look at all the complexities and layers of female sexuality. - Red magazine Wonderful as wise as it is tender beautiful and honest Caleb Azumah Nelson Beautifully crafted Roxane Gay Startlingly fresh and flavoursome Emma Donoghue