The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw is a powerful short story collection that explores the hidden desires, struggles, and complexities of Black women, particularly those who’ve grown up under the shadow of church culture. This award-winning collection contains nine short stories, each centered around Black women navigating the tension between religious expectations and personal freedom. These women—mothers, daughters, lovers, and friends—grapple with sexuality, identity, shame, longing, secrecy, and self-discovery.