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The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman
The wife of a popular and powerful megachurch pastor upends her charmed “rags-to-Rolex” life when her secret past comes roaring into the spotlight—in this "funny and juicy and sexy and delicious peek behind the pulpit" (Samantha Irby) from the acclaimed and beloved author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies.
From the moment Scharisse Freeman ditched her humble roots and married a megachurch pastor fifteen years her senior, she’s been labeled too brash and too “of the world” by church folks who grudgingly accepted her into their fold, and too holy by her estranged childhood bestie Petra. Schar doesn’t have many allies, but that hasn’t stopped her from building an enviable business empire spanning books to clothing to branded products, and living the comfortable life her husband's power affords her.
On the eve of her 40th birthday, Schar gets the final bit of validation she’s always dreamt of: a coveted invitation to participate in the First Lady USA pageant. This is her chance to be accepted by the other pastors’ wives—First Ladies—who are “like Jesus’ disciples if they had been a group of mean girls.” Finally, blissfully, the ice between Schar and the other First Ladies begins to thaw.
But as the pageant nears, a sensational scandal breaks with Schar at its center, and her carefully curated life implodes. Schar faces down shame and terrible secrets from her childhood and is reminded that in the eyes of the church, optics can matter more than the truth.
Unflinchingly funny, frank, and packed with surprising turns, The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman exults in the luscious, messy pleasure of finally feeling free.
From the moment Scharisse Freeman ditched her humble roots and married a megachurch pastor fifteen years her senior, she’s been labeled too brash and too “of the world” by church folks who grudgingly accepted her into their fold, and too holy by her estranged childhood bestie Petra. Schar doesn’t have many allies, but that hasn’t stopped her from building an enviable business empire spanning books to clothing to branded products, and living the comfortable life her husband's power affords her.
On the eve of her 40th birthday, Schar gets the final bit of validation she’s always dreamt of: a coveted invitation to participate in the First Lady USA pageant. This is her chance to be accepted by the other pastors’ wives—First Ladies—who are “like Jesus’ disciples if they had been a group of mean girls.” Finally, blissfully, the ice between Schar and the other First Ladies begins to thaw.
But as the pageant nears, a sensational scandal breaks with Schar at its center, and her carefully curated life implodes. Schar faces down shame and terrible secrets from her childhood and is reminded that in the eyes of the church, optics can matter more than the truth.
Unflinchingly funny, frank, and packed with surprising turns, The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman exults in the luscious, messy pleasure of finally feeling free.
12 pages, Audible Audio
First published September 29, 2026
About the author
Deesha Philyaw
18 books1,497 followersDeesha Philyaw’s debut short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the Story Prize, the LA Times Book Prize: The Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction and was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction. Deesha is a Kimbilio Fiction Fellow, a Baldwin for the Arts Fellow, a United States Artists Fellow, and co-host of two podcasts, Ursa Short Fiction (with Dawnie Walton) and Reckon True Stories (with Kiese Laymon). She is currently at work developing TV shows based on her short fiction.
Deesha’s debut novel, The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman, is forthcoming from Mariner Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, on September 29, 2026.
Deesha’s debut novel, The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman, is forthcoming from Mariner Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, on September 29, 2026.
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Review of advance copy received from Author
Deesha Philyaw is a consummate storyteller and in her debut novel, she bares the breadth her ferocious talent onto the page for all to see. The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman has a satirical bent but really, it's a story of a woman from outside of a tight-knit Black church community who has spent years fighting for her position alongside her pastor husband who, when scandal arises, puts the woman he's supposed to love and protect, into the most impossible positions. There are generational secrets and complicated pasts and grief and friendships torn asunder. There are countless laugh-out-loud moments and instances of palpable sorrow and still, Philyaw manages to balance it all. She wields an impeccable control over a story that could, in lesser hands, careen into the absurd. The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman is an admirable, unforgettable debut that promises much more to come.
September 14, 2026
i am interested in any and all stories of wives of megachurch pastors competing in pageants which first induct them into the world of fellow wives and then post-scandal back to the outskirts. i think that’s only this one but keep me updated on any others.
(review to come / thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
(review to come / thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman definitely took me out of my wheelhouse. But as someone who finds a lot to fault in megachurches and the lifestyles of their pastors, I was intrigued. I can never understand why folks are willing to see so much of their tithes go to a rich and famous lifestyle.
Scharisse has “married up”. Her husband is the pastor of a mega church and 15 years her senior. She and her husband have built a retail empire and are extremely wealthy. But she has no friends, the church women aren’t her fans and her life is one big acting job. She’s not even sure she believes in God. She at least had the good grace to feel guilty. “I’ve always felt conflicted about having our lifestyle funded by our congregation, some of whom can barely afford their rent.” Philyaw gets the hypocrisy just right.
There is humor of the snarky variety. But as the book goes on, it also tackles darker topics. It looks at our patriarchal society in which women are often the losers. And how women are often co-conspirators in their loss. “It’s funny how men do the dirt and expect us to hide the dirty laundry…To bear their burdens, their secrets, their shame.” Much is made of the idea of a Proverbs 31 wife. As with too many Biblical sections, it’s been falsely interpreted to keep women subservient. Warning, parts of the book are pretty steamy but it wouldn’t work without the sex.
I enjoyed watching Scharisse finally figure out who she is and what and who are important in her life. There are some great secondary characters in this book, especially Aunt Marie, Petra, Jennifer and Gabrielle. In the end, it’s a feel-good story.
My thanks to Netgalley and Mariner Books for an advance copy of this book.
Scharisse has “married up”. Her husband is the pastor of a mega church and 15 years her senior. She and her husband have built a retail empire and are extremely wealthy. But she has no friends, the church women aren’t her fans and her life is one big acting job. She’s not even sure she believes in God. She at least had the good grace to feel guilty. “I’ve always felt conflicted about having our lifestyle funded by our congregation, some of whom can barely afford their rent.” Philyaw gets the hypocrisy just right.
There is humor of the snarky variety. But as the book goes on, it also tackles darker topics. It looks at our patriarchal society in which women are often the losers. And how women are often co-conspirators in their loss. “It’s funny how men do the dirt and expect us to hide the dirty laundry…To bear their burdens, their secrets, their shame.” Much is made of the idea of a Proverbs 31 wife. As with too many Biblical sections, it’s been falsely interpreted to keep women subservient. Warning, parts of the book are pretty steamy but it wouldn’t work without the sex.
I enjoyed watching Scharisse finally figure out who she is and what and who are important in her life. There are some great secondary characters in this book, especially Aunt Marie, Petra, Jennifer and Gabrielle. In the end, it’s a feel-good story.
My thanks to Netgalley and Mariner Books for an advance copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Audio for an advanced audio copy of THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF FIRST LADY FREEMAN by Deesha Philyaw. Janina Edwards is an amazing narrator for this satirical story. Her range is outstanding. She is a new favorite narrator. Expected release is September 29, 2026.
Scharisse (Shar) Freeman is the wife of a very wealthy pastor of an Atlanta Georgia megachurch, and therefore the First Lady of her church. Her husband is 15 years her senior, and she has always felt snubbed by the other women in the church because she came from humble beginnings coming from the wrong side of the tracks. Adding to that, not only was she not raised in the bosom of the church, but her mother had also her out of wedlock. She worked diligently to create a wholesome and worthy image. She has a teenage daughter who she intends to raise to be a strong and independent woman. Can she do that within the confines of church expectations?
Philyaw writes Shar as a sassy, strong and complicated woman who is navigating the patriarchy of church beliefs which is supported by many of the women members. It was fun to listen to the different interpretations of scripture and faith, belted out by women and men alike. Philyaw shows the duplicity of the megachurch industry, the money, the celebrity, the power, and the status while showing a front of living the life of scripture. To keep the outward appearance of piousness the meek are silenced. The optics supersedes authenticity.
There is more spice to this story than I expected. I am not a fan of spice and there is plenty in this, yet it wasn’t off-putting to me because Philyaw is making a point of the hypocrisy in sexual expectations. She also touches upon the lack of sexual agency that women often possess and men abuse.
I fully enjoyed the story and the narration. If you are Megachurch curious and love a good story about a strong woman, this is a story for you!
Scharisse (Shar) Freeman is the wife of a very wealthy pastor of an Atlanta Georgia megachurch, and therefore the First Lady of her church. Her husband is 15 years her senior, and she has always felt snubbed by the other women in the church because she came from humble beginnings coming from the wrong side of the tracks. Adding to that, not only was she not raised in the bosom of the church, but her mother had also her out of wedlock. She worked diligently to create a wholesome and worthy image. She has a teenage daughter who she intends to raise to be a strong and independent woman. Can she do that within the confines of church expectations?
Philyaw writes Shar as a sassy, strong and complicated woman who is navigating the patriarchy of church beliefs which is supported by many of the women members. It was fun to listen to the different interpretations of scripture and faith, belted out by women and men alike. Philyaw shows the duplicity of the megachurch industry, the money, the celebrity, the power, and the status while showing a front of living the life of scripture. To keep the outward appearance of piousness the meek are silenced. The optics supersedes authenticity.
There is more spice to this story than I expected. I am not a fan of spice and there is plenty in this, yet it wasn’t off-putting to me because Philyaw is making a point of the hypocrisy in sexual expectations. She also touches upon the lack of sexual agency that women often possess and men abuse.
I fully enjoyed the story and the narration. If you are Megachurch curious and love a good story about a strong woman, this is a story for you!
October 25, 2026
As a Little Free Library Shed donation, I was quite excited to discover this book had barely made it out of the gate before being read and deposited for the neighborhood to enjoy. It was also a Book of the Month Club selection for October 2026, with a publication date of September 29, 2026. It was also one of the books named as the #1 must-read book of the fall by People Magazine.
This debut novel features Scharisse (Schar) Freeman, who has been married for the last 18 years to one of the most prominent megachurch pastors in America. And, she wants to talk about it. Which may or may not be a good thing for him.
Schar is theatrical, extravagant, sexy, and loud – especially when describing the devout women she has had to associate with as a pastor’s wife.
She is a rather mouthy narrator, and readers can’t help but be mesmerized by her candor. The story unfolds out of order, beginning near the end, before circling back to explain how Schar became the woman she is today.
The writing is sharp and satirical, with a messy, comedic, and raw tone. The novel lays bare marital neglect, feminine piety, systemic church hypocrisy, and the ways socially conservative women navigate a patriarchal structure.
In many ways, this is a story of awakening, particularly for Schar herself – a character readers may find themselves rooting for, even when her choices are difficult to embrace.
That said, some of the narrative made me uncomfortable, and the following content warnings are worth noting.
⚠️Content warnings: explicit sexual encounters, infidelity, grooming of young women by older, powerful men, systemic trauma, pervasive religious bigotry, abuse and violence, and profanity.
This debut novel features Scharisse (Schar) Freeman, who has been married for the last 18 years to one of the most prominent megachurch pastors in America. And, she wants to talk about it. Which may or may not be a good thing for him.
Schar is theatrical, extravagant, sexy, and loud – especially when describing the devout women she has had to associate with as a pastor’s wife.
She is a rather mouthy narrator, and readers can’t help but be mesmerized by her candor. The story unfolds out of order, beginning near the end, before circling back to explain how Schar became the woman she is today.
The writing is sharp and satirical, with a messy, comedic, and raw tone. The novel lays bare marital neglect, feminine piety, systemic church hypocrisy, and the ways socially conservative women navigate a patriarchal structure.
In many ways, this is a story of awakening, particularly for Schar herself – a character readers may find themselves rooting for, even when her choices are difficult to embrace.
That said, some of the narrative made me uncomfortable, and the following content warnings are worth noting.
⚠️Content warnings: explicit sexual encounters, infidelity, grooming of young women by older, powerful men, systemic trauma, pervasive religious bigotry, abuse and violence, and profanity.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The sins of a book critic are mostly sins of omission. Sure, I get things wrong — the sentimental drama I swooned over, the future classic I panned. But my biggest mistakes take place right at the point of selection from a tower of books. There are, after all, so many new titles to choose from. Stepping obliviously over a vein of gold is almost inevitable.
In 2020, an unknown fiction writer named Deesha Philyaw published her debut short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, with West Virginia University Press.
Honestly, I didn’t even consider it.
But when The Secret Lives of Church Ladies was named a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, I became curious. When it won the Story Prize, I was concerned. When it won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, I began to sweat. And when Philyaw accepted the PEN/Faulkner Fiction Award — at a ceremony where I served as emcee — I felt downright mortified.
I vowed right then and there that I would not miss Deesha Philyaw’s next book, and here it is, and it’s a smart and saucy delight.
The church ladies still have secrets in The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman — secrets wedded mostly to sex — but they’re much wealthier now and the comedy has risen to the heavens.
Our outrageous narrator, Scharisse Freeman, opens by declaring that she wouldn’t sign an NDA. “I’m telling it just like it happened,” she swears, “protecting no one, least of all my damn self.”
Philyaw sweeps us into the rarefied world of First Ladies, the queens of America’s Black megachurches. At 40, Scharisse is the wife of Rev. David Freeman, 15 years her senior and the pastor of one of the largest and richest congregations. The couple’s empire includes a mansion with a 30-seat theater, a fleet of luxury cars, a branded set of dishware “sold exclusively at Dillard’s,” a popular salad dressing, a bestselling book that Obama loves, and, if Scharisse had her way, a line of sex toys.
Yes, Scharisse has a voice — and a libido — that just won’t quit, and she’s not ashamed of either. When the page isn’t big enough for her, she jumps down to the footnotes. And indeed, the sexual explicitness of The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman would inspire the church ladies I once knew to mutter, “Get thee behind me, Satan!”
The challenge, as Scharisse lets us know on the first page, is that becoming a First Lady at 22 was not the salvation she’d....
Read the rest of this review for free on Substack:
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/hol...
In 2020, an unknown fiction writer named Deesha Philyaw published her debut short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, with West Virginia University Press.
Honestly, I didn’t even consider it.
But when The Secret Lives of Church Ladies was named a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, I became curious. When it won the Story Prize, I was concerned. When it won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, I began to sweat. And when Philyaw accepted the PEN/Faulkner Fiction Award — at a ceremony where I served as emcee — I felt downright mortified.
I vowed right then and there that I would not miss Deesha Philyaw’s next book, and here it is, and it’s a smart and saucy delight.
The church ladies still have secrets in The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman — secrets wedded mostly to sex — but they’re much wealthier now and the comedy has risen to the heavens.
Our outrageous narrator, Scharisse Freeman, opens by declaring that she wouldn’t sign an NDA. “I’m telling it just like it happened,” she swears, “protecting no one, least of all my damn self.”
Philyaw sweeps us into the rarefied world of First Ladies, the queens of America’s Black megachurches. At 40, Scharisse is the wife of Rev. David Freeman, 15 years her senior and the pastor of one of the largest and richest congregations. The couple’s empire includes a mansion with a 30-seat theater, a fleet of luxury cars, a branded set of dishware “sold exclusively at Dillard’s,” a popular salad dressing, a bestselling book that Obama loves, and, if Scharisse had her way, a line of sex toys.
Yes, Scharisse has a voice — and a libido — that just won’t quit, and she’s not ashamed of either. When the page isn’t big enough for her, she jumps down to the footnotes. And indeed, the sexual explicitness of The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman would inspire the church ladies I once knew to mutter, “Get thee behind me, Satan!”
The challenge, as Scharisse lets us know on the first page, is that becoming a First Lady at 22 was not the salvation she’d....
Read the rest of this review for free on Substack:
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/hol...
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Ummm......... mmmmmm....I have thoughts.
I read Philyaw's debut collection of short stories which is brilliant and I could not wait to read her debut novel. I really wanted to love this one but it fell flat on so many levels. I actually did not enjoy anything about this book.
I read Philyaw's debut collection of short stories which is brilliant and I could not wait to read her debut novel. I really wanted to love this one but it fell flat on so many levels. I actually did not enjoy anything about this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a fantastic story, both heartbreaking and full of hope. It was captivating.
The treatment of women by religious communities, and especially in regard of the treatment of men for the same actions, is written with so much force and heart, it gives the story a lot of impact and resonance.
I'm not in proximity to black churches, but I think the messages are universal.
The heroine is strong, complex, and so interesting.
It doesn't mean she's above it all or above any reproach, far from it, but that she can find the motivation to break the circle. That what made her real in my eyes.
Thank you Mariner Books for this ARC.
The treatment of women by religious communities, and especially in regard of the treatment of men for the same actions, is written with so much force and heart, it gives the story a lot of impact and resonance.
I'm not in proximity to black churches, but I think the messages are universal.
The heroine is strong, complex, and so interesting.
It doesn't mean she's above it all or above any reproach, far from it, but that she can find the motivation to break the circle. That what made her real in my eyes.
Thank you Mariner Books for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Going in completely blind, I had heard great things about The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman but knew nothing about the plot. I initially assumed "First Lady" referred to a presidential spouse, but the story actually centers on Chelsea Freeman—the wife of Pastor David Freeman. We kick off in 2011 at the 51st Annual First Lady’s Pageant in Belton, Georgia, an invitation-only event for pastors' wives. Married to a pastor 18 years her senior, Chelsea has endured years of "mean girl" behavior from the other church wives and hopes winning this pageant will finally earn her their respect.
Packed with dry, witty, and matter-of-fact humor, this story features an unapologetic lead character whose bluntness and spice make her feel deeply authentic as she grows into her full self. While the timeline jumps around a bit, the book is overflowing with personality and tackles heavy themes—including motherhood, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, church politics, family secrets, enduring friendship, and a touch of romance. It won't be for everyone due to its raw honesty, but it's a compelling, thought-provoking read that really makes you question traditional religious dynamics.
Packed with dry, witty, and matter-of-fact humor, this story features an unapologetic lead character whose bluntness and spice make her feel deeply authentic as she grows into her full self. While the timeline jumps around a bit, the book is overflowing with personality and tackles heavy themes—including motherhood, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, church politics, family secrets, enduring friendship, and a touch of romance. It won't be for everyone due to its raw honesty, but it's a compelling, thought-provoking read that really makes you question traditional religious dynamics.
May 17, 2026
Deesha Philyaw sure knows her bible, and doesn’t mince words on the hypocrisy of it all. Scathing commentary on mega churches and the people who long to habituate in a world where people with an economic status they can only dream of, The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman is a quotable book lover’s dream.
"And I’ve always felt conflicted about having my lifestyle funded by our congregation, some of whom can barely afford their rent, and who worship a god I’m not entirely sure I believe in."
However, and I say this lightly: our main character, Sharisse Freeman, fast-tracks herself into relationships with people who have absolutely zero backstory. These bonds are rushed through so quickly you’ll get whiplash trying to figure out why she even likes them. Pair that with the rest of the adult cast making silly decisions and Sharisse being in a loveless marriage, but the sex is decent? A lot of weird connections happening.
I did enjoy this book however there are some pacing issues and lack of character depth, but this book will resonate with many.
It's a solid four stars for me!
Thanks Mariner for the Advanced copy!
"And I’ve always felt conflicted about having my lifestyle funded by our congregation, some of whom can barely afford their rent, and who worship a god I’m not entirely sure I believe in."
However, and I say this lightly: our main character, Sharisse Freeman, fast-tracks herself into relationships with people who have absolutely zero backstory. These bonds are rushed through so quickly you’ll get whiplash trying to figure out why she even likes them. Pair that with the rest of the adult cast making silly decisions and Sharisse being in a loveless marriage, but the sex is decent? A lot of weird connections happening.
I did enjoy this book however there are some pacing issues and lack of character depth, but this book will resonate with many.
It's a solid four stars for me!
Thanks Mariner for the Advanced copy!
October 7, 2026
The antithesis to Yesteryear.
Schar Freeman is an ambitious megachurch pastor's wife striving for acceptance in the elite First Lady USA pageant. Her carefully curated, luxury-filled life implodes when a sensational scandal and long-buried childhood secrets force her to confront the hypocrisy of her religious community.
I don’t have much knowledge about USA mega churches and I do wish there was a bit more stage setting for that, however I enjoyed the contrasting of this strong woman with a no-nonsense interior attitude face off against her desire to conform and match her husband’s and community’s expectations.
This book is a commentary on the one-sided pressure on conservative Black church women to curate a flawless, submissive public facade while hiding private disillusionment. Particularly grating when their yielding is to uplift their husbands. Or when there exists a consensus privately, but a need to portray a certain image outside.
By protecting toxic male leadership and upholding hierarchical systems, women are denied their voice, autonomy, choice. Schar’s confident narrative and internal voice, paired with her sex-positive attitude (shown by lots of raunchy sex scenes) shows that it is not only the meek who bend.
I do think this was too perfect and optimistic. The climax, resolution, and fallout. Schar was not a particularly likeable character either. Don’t get me wrong - Yesteryear’s Natalie was distinctly unlikeable, but Schar was someone I felt I should be rooting for. She felt shallow and I think this was due to the ‘tell not show’ which made any emotional enlightenment feel forced and transient.
Despite this being a lengthy book, I don’t think the themes were explored enough. The age gap, the yearning for her brother-in-law, her coming to grips with her mother’s death.
Where did all the pages go? Well, a lot to sex scenes. I appreciated how this was used to show how it can be used to assert dominance and show emotions from both wife and husband, but perhaps used too many times.
I did like the mother/daughter relationship. There was communication, trust, and space/support as needed.
I liked this book, but think it could have benefited from a tighter, more refined story.
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Tiktok
Schar Freeman is an ambitious megachurch pastor's wife striving for acceptance in the elite First Lady USA pageant. Her carefully curated, luxury-filled life implodes when a sensational scandal and long-buried childhood secrets force her to confront the hypocrisy of her religious community.
I don’t have much knowledge about USA mega churches and I do wish there was a bit more stage setting for that, however I enjoyed the contrasting of this strong woman with a no-nonsense interior attitude face off against her desire to conform and match her husband’s and community’s expectations.
This book is a commentary on the one-sided pressure on conservative Black church women to curate a flawless, submissive public facade while hiding private disillusionment. Particularly grating when their yielding is to uplift their husbands. Or when there exists a consensus privately, but a need to portray a certain image outside.
By protecting toxic male leadership and upholding hierarchical systems, women are denied their voice, autonomy, choice. Schar’s confident narrative and internal voice, paired with her sex-positive attitude (shown by lots of raunchy sex scenes) shows that it is not only the meek who bend.
I do think this was too perfect and optimistic. The climax, resolution, and fallout. Schar was not a particularly likeable character either. Don’t get me wrong - Yesteryear’s Natalie was distinctly unlikeable, but Schar was someone I felt I should be rooting for. She felt shallow and I think this was due to the ‘tell not show’ which made any emotional enlightenment feel forced and transient.
Despite this being a lengthy book, I don’t think the themes were explored enough. The age gap, the yearning for her brother-in-law, her coming to grips with her mother’s death.
Where did all the pages go? Well, a lot to sex scenes. I appreciated how this was used to show how it can be used to assert dominance and show emotions from both wife and husband, but perhaps used too many times.
I did like the mother/daughter relationship. There was communication, trust, and space/support as needed.
I liked this book, but think it could have benefited from a tighter, more refined story.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman balances snark and scandal in the realm of a Black Southern megachurch. Scharisse "Schar" Freeman is from the east side of town, wasn’t raised religiously, and lost her single mother when she was young. But after marrying David, a megachurch pastor, she was thrust into the role of famed pastor wife, building an empire. Years later and now forty years old with a teenage daughter, Schar still feels like an outcast among the world of church folks.
So, when she gets the coveted invitation to compete in the First Lady USA pageant, she thinks it is the perfect opportunity to finally be accepted by the other church wives. As the pageant nears and the contestants prepare, things take a turn when a scandal comes forth. And at its center is Schar, who is forced to admit to something she never did. What she feels forced to hide goes back to her own mother and childhood, a secret that would poison the church.
The book heavily dives into the hypocrisy and shame surrounding the church. It takes us on quite a wild ride, telling the story with such wit and comical footnotes. Schar was the best narrator, saying things like it is and not shying from raunchy dialogue. Even under the glam and satire of a pageant and the martial drama, it also touches on themes such as AIDS, institutional misogyny, and shame against women.
Based on the synopsis, I went into this novel hesitant that it would feel too much like a social commentary; that it would overly dramatize how awful the south is. However, I never felt as if the author was trying to impose her views on me. I came to love the world build surrounding Schar and all her drama. I loved the footnotes and even giggled at a few of them. I'm not familiar with the concept of megachurches, but enjoyed reading about this take on them. Seeing the hidden background of the industry kept me hooked.
Overall, this book took me on a wild ride. Though I have nothing in common with Schar, Black megachurches, being a mother, or competing in pageants, I loved this read! The writing style was so unique, pulling me in and making me somehow feel connected. It gets messy, dramatic, funny, and even a bit emotional. We do not exactly get a storybook "perfect" ending, but I still finished the book glad I read it and desperate to see more of Schar.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC!
So, when she gets the coveted invitation to compete in the First Lady USA pageant, she thinks it is the perfect opportunity to finally be accepted by the other church wives. As the pageant nears and the contestants prepare, things take a turn when a scandal comes forth. And at its center is Schar, who is forced to admit to something she never did. What she feels forced to hide goes back to her own mother and childhood, a secret that would poison the church.
The book heavily dives into the hypocrisy and shame surrounding the church. It takes us on quite a wild ride, telling the story with such wit and comical footnotes. Schar was the best narrator, saying things like it is and not shying from raunchy dialogue. Even under the glam and satire of a pageant and the martial drama, it also touches on themes such as AIDS, institutional misogyny, and shame against women.
Based on the synopsis, I went into this novel hesitant that it would feel too much like a social commentary; that it would overly dramatize how awful the south is. However, I never felt as if the author was trying to impose her views on me. I came to love the world build surrounding Schar and all her drama. I loved the footnotes and even giggled at a few of them. I'm not familiar with the concept of megachurches, but enjoyed reading about this take on them. Seeing the hidden background of the industry kept me hooked.
Overall, this book took me on a wild ride. Though I have nothing in common with Schar, Black megachurches, being a mother, or competing in pageants, I loved this read! The writing style was so unique, pulling me in and making me somehow feel connected. It gets messy, dramatic, funny, and even a bit emotional. We do not exactly get a storybook "perfect" ending, but I still finished the book glad I read it and desperate to see more of Schar.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC!
September 13, 2026
i really wanted to like this because i remember loving deesha philyaw’s short story collection ‘the secret lives of church ladies’, but this just didn’t work for me and i found it a chore to get through. a great premise, but i don’t think it was executed very well.
September 26, 2026
This book is fun and has lots of mess. The start and end work well with plenty to play with. The story and character arcs are a bit predictable which works for a fun punchy read but also made the book feel long in parts. It’s a fast read that feels live a tv show and provides loads of entertainment.
Want to Read
March 31, 2026september 2026 is going to be insane for good releases
♡.) The Secret Lives of Church Ladies ★★★★★
♡.) The Secret Lives of Church Ladies ★★★★★
Read
October 26, 2026Between the edgy cover and my own hopes, I expected a book version of ‘The Righteous Gemstones,’ but Black. I came ready to laugh.
Instead, this is a slower story about self acceptance and deconstructing from Black church. I’m sure its readers will adore it, but it felt (to me) more like a tale that’d engage that specific subgroup than a general interest story introducing that subgroup to a wider audience through humor and shenanigans. I’m still on the lookout for the latter!
Instead, this is a slower story about self acceptance and deconstructing from Black church. I’m sure its readers will adore it, but it felt (to me) more like a tale that’d engage that specific subgroup than a general interest story introducing that subgroup to a wider audience through humor and shenanigans. I’m still on the lookout for the latter!
October 22, 2026
Extremely entertaining and messy! There's nothing more entertaining than church mess and this book had ALOT of it. I found myself literally laughing out loud. It was well balanced with commentary on misogyny, the patriarchy, and how hypocritical Christianity can be. I enjoyed the entertaining bits but I must admit there were moments where I felt something was constantly coming up. It's over 400 pages and I think if we cut out maybe 1 or 2 of the dramatic events we could have focused more on the plot and moving it forward. Instead we stalled in a few parts longer than needed. Overall I really enjoyed my time with this book. I was never bored and would definitely recommend if you are looking for something entertaining without sacrificing depth.
May 15, 2026
Love love love! An indictment on the hypocrisy of church folks. How church folks let the violence of the patriarchy reign and control the church.
Scharisse is a hilarious main character who inherits her mother’s naivety but has a strength that her mother never got to have.
So much more to think about with this book so I might come back and add more. Just trust me when I say to read this! Thank you to publisher Mariner for me arc review copy.
Scharisse is a hilarious main character who inherits her mother’s naivety but has a strength that her mother never got to have.
So much more to think about with this book so I might come back and add more. Just trust me when I say to read this! Thank you to publisher Mariner for me arc review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It took me a while to warm up to Scharisse Freeman, wife of a megachurch pastor. She is a snarky social climber, obsessed with winning the First Ladies beauty pageant and becoming accepted by her peers. That storyline does get quite funny. As the layers are peeled away, the novel gets better and deeper as she awakens to what truly matters. I listened to the audio and Janina Edwards's rendition of Schar was pitch-perfect.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the early audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the early audiobook.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wanted to love this, but it was ultimately a disappointment. I have been loving all of the recent women-penned stories with satirical and feminist bents—Yesteryear and Best Offer Wins come to mind. Unfortunately, TTCOFLF doesn’t quite get there, and I am placing my blame on a lack of editing. Not since Margaret Douaihy’s Scorched Grace have I read a book with such a strong premise failed by a lack of true editing. This reads like a first draft; I’ve reviewing the ARC, so perhaps things will be fixed, but at this point, I’m not talking about grammar/usage errors.
First, there is the issue of First Lady Freeman herself. Schar is deeply unlikeable. That’s not a problem in and of itself; I loved the aforementioned Yesteryear and all anyone call talk about is how despicable that MC is. The problem here is that Schar is written in such a way that it seems like she’s actually supposed to be likeable. But she is too cruel and dismissive of others, offering insults and rude comments about random strangers in ways that make it clear that she’s meant to be funny but just make her look like a jackass. Her entire motivation is ~winning the First Lady USA pageant~ and continue to live her extravagant First Lady life, but she sabotages herself at every turn. She puts herself in compromising situations, refuses to do anything to help her image, and doesn’t seem to actually care about the pageant she wants to win.
Secondary characters are unsteady at best. David is never clear—does Schar love him? Does their age gap present an interesting conflict (yes) to be explored in light of Schar’s familial history (never /s)? Gabrielle incoherently moves from being a typical moody teenager to acting like a six-year-old curling up in mommy’s lap. Petra’s accent reads like it was written by a 13-year-old who just watched Skins UK for the first time. And of course it completely disappears during a climactic moment near the end. What is the point of Schar’s friend Kathryn? And what is with the weird hotel room scene with Jennifer (you know the one)? And Marcus… We don’t know what character development is. I did actually like Sheila’s progression; it could have been done better (needs a better editor!) but the idea was there.
Oof, and the dialogue. Way, WAY too much telling and not showing. Constant streams of dialogue with no breaks. As another viewer noted, this would make a great limited series in television, but it doesn’t work on the page.
One more petty complaint—the “inhale, exhale” motif is used incorrectly again and again. It’s supposed to be “inhale [good thing], exhale [bad thing].” Where was the editor???
This had so much potential. The story approaches serious issues, including HIV, infidelity, corruption, and loyalty. I appreciate stories that interrogates religious institutions, especially ones that recognize and respect the importance of these institutions in so many lives. This story was also funny! The endnotes were often chuckle-worthy, and I am a sucker for that. Unfortunately, it just didn’t come together.
Overall, a disappointing first novel from Deesha Philyaw. The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is still worth checking out.
**ARC via NetGalley**
First, there is the issue of First Lady Freeman herself. Schar is deeply unlikeable. That’s not a problem in and of itself; I loved the aforementioned Yesteryear and all anyone call talk about is how despicable that MC is. The problem here is that Schar is written in such a way that it seems like she’s actually supposed to be likeable. But she is too cruel and dismissive of others, offering insults and rude comments about random strangers in ways that make it clear that she’s meant to be funny but just make her look like a jackass. Her entire motivation is ~winning the First Lady USA pageant~ and continue to live her extravagant First Lady life, but she sabotages herself at every turn. She puts herself in compromising situations, refuses to do anything to help her image, and doesn’t seem to actually care about the pageant she wants to win.
Secondary characters are unsteady at best. David is never clear—does Schar love him? Does their age gap present an interesting conflict (yes) to be explored in light of Schar’s familial history (never /s)? Gabrielle incoherently moves from being a typical moody teenager to acting like a six-year-old curling up in mommy’s lap. Petra’s accent reads like it was written by a 13-year-old who just watched Skins UK for the first time. And of course it completely disappears during a climactic moment near the end. What is the point of Schar’s friend Kathryn? And what is with the weird hotel room scene with Jennifer (you know the one)? And Marcus… We don’t know what character development is. I did actually like Sheila’s progression; it could have been done better (needs a better editor!) but the idea was there.
Oof, and the dialogue. Way, WAY too much telling and not showing. Constant streams of dialogue with no breaks. As another viewer noted, this would make a great limited series in television, but it doesn’t work on the page.
One more petty complaint—the “inhale, exhale” motif is used incorrectly again and again. It’s supposed to be “inhale [good thing], exhale [bad thing].” Where was the editor???
This had so much potential. The story approaches serious issues, including HIV, infidelity, corruption, and loyalty. I appreciate stories that interrogates religious institutions, especially ones that recognize and respect the importance of these institutions in so many lives. This story was also funny! The endnotes were often chuckle-worthy, and I am a sucker for that. Unfortunately, it just didn’t come together.
Overall, a disappointing first novel from Deesha Philyaw. The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is still worth checking out.
**ARC via NetGalley**
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Deesha Philyaw's debut novel is just as smart, juicy, funny, and thought-provoking as you would expect if you read her excellent short story collection!
The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman is a sexy, irreverent, yet poignant look at the Southern Black church through the eyes of a megachurch pastor's wife with a less than pristine pedigree. Scharisse grew up with a struggling single mother, unsure who her father was. Now she's the fashionable and wealthy "first lady" of a well-known church, but the other first ladies don't like her her husband doesn't want to have sex as often as she does, and she's secretly agnostic.
Then she's invited to compete in a first ladies pageant for the first time and is determined to win over the women giving her the cold shoulder. But dark secrets glossed over in the church come bubbling to the surface, and Scharisse ends up at the center of a very public scandal where she will have to make hard decisions about what to do.
I absolutely loved this book. It is both fun and juicy, while also being incredibly nuanced with pointed commentary on issues like how churches cover up abuse, treatment of LGBT people, and the misogyny of gendered expectations. The cover is perfection and I about died at a certain, REVEALING scene at the pageant. This is going to be a hit and I can't wait to see more from Philyaw! The audio narration is perfection. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman is a sexy, irreverent, yet poignant look at the Southern Black church through the eyes of a megachurch pastor's wife with a less than pristine pedigree. Scharisse grew up with a struggling single mother, unsure who her father was. Now she's the fashionable and wealthy "first lady" of a well-known church, but the other first ladies don't like her her husband doesn't want to have sex as often as she does, and she's secretly agnostic.
Then she's invited to compete in a first ladies pageant for the first time and is determined to win over the women giving her the cold shoulder. But dark secrets glossed over in the church come bubbling to the surface, and Scharisse ends up at the center of a very public scandal where she will have to make hard decisions about what to do.
I absolutely loved this book. It is both fun and juicy, while also being incredibly nuanced with pointed commentary on issues like how churches cover up abuse, treatment of LGBT people, and the misogyny of gendered expectations. The cover is perfection and I about died at a certain, REVEALING scene at the pageant. This is going to be a hit and I can't wait to see more from Philyaw! The audio narration is perfection. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC for review. To be published September 29, 2026.
4 stars
I absolutely loved THE SECRET LIVES OF CHURCH LADIES so I was excited to read this look into the lives of “First Ladies,” the wives of pastors of black mega churches.
Scharisse Freeman is a wild character from the wrong side of Belleton (read: Atlanta) when she marries an influential pastor fifteen years her senior when she is still in her early twenties. Now she’s 40. They have a daughter, Scharisse has alienated most of the other First Ladies, she’s estranged from her childhood best friend and doesn’t talk to her one remaining blood relative, but she and David have more money and influence than Schar ever thought they might. And now she might realize her dream of being able to compete in the annual First Ladies pageant. But then things take a turn.
The story is messy, raunchy, enlightening and pretty fun, though I doubt the real First Ladies are getting up to anything quite this scandalous (I see the Atlanta ones on billboards when in the city.) Those in this world will definitely be interested in the book and I liked it, even though I did not always understand Scharisse’s motivations (she often acted like she was in thirteenth grade and she went to Yale?!)
4 stars
I absolutely loved THE SECRET LIVES OF CHURCH LADIES so I was excited to read this look into the lives of “First Ladies,” the wives of pastors of black mega churches.
Scharisse Freeman is a wild character from the wrong side of Belleton (read: Atlanta) when she marries an influential pastor fifteen years her senior when she is still in her early twenties. Now she’s 40. They have a daughter, Scharisse has alienated most of the other First Ladies, she’s estranged from her childhood best friend and doesn’t talk to her one remaining blood relative, but she and David have more money and influence than Schar ever thought they might. And now she might realize her dream of being able to compete in the annual First Ladies pageant. But then things take a turn.
The story is messy, raunchy, enlightening and pretty fun, though I doubt the real First Ladies are getting up to anything quite this scandalous (I see the Atlanta ones on billboards when in the city.) Those in this world will definitely be interested in the book and I liked it, even though I did not always understand Scharisse’s motivations (she often acted like she was in thirteenth grade and she went to Yale?!)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Can I get an “amen”? Deesha Philyaw’s first novel is deliciously gossipy, thought-provoking, steamy, and emotional. Having been an enormous fan of Philyaw’s debut story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies , I’m not surprised how good this is. But it’s a lot of fun, too.
“And you know what? I own all the parts that are true. The lies and the lessons. The messes and the mistakes. Because they are the stones that forged the path leading from my difficult past to my beautiful present.”
Scharisse Freeman is the much-younger wife of Rev. David Freeman, pastor of the Hope in Christ Baptist Church, one of the largest Black megachurches in the U.S. Given the age difference and the fact that Scharisse had no real religious background before marrying her husband, it’s taken quite a while for some in the church to warm up to her as First Lady. But she hasn’t let that stop her from using her brand to make millions of dollars.
What she craves more than anything, however, is acceptance from the First Ladies of other churches. Yet a misstep when she was first married has made her a pariah. But when she finally gets an invitation to compete in the First Lady USA pageant, she believes that winning will be her ticket to acceptance.
However, she doesn’t anticipate being in the middle of a huge scandal, which calls her reputation into question. It also highlights the hypocrisy of many so-called devout people, as well as the double standard that exists between men and women where infidelity is concerned. She needs to find her own path and be her authentic self—no matter what.
Schar isn’t always the most sympathetic character, and when miscommunication occurs a few times, I wanted to shake her a bit. But she is a woman who wears her heart on her sleeve, and definitely doesn’t suffer fools! I really enjoyed this.
The book publishes 9/29.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
Can I get an “amen”? Deesha Philyaw’s first novel is deliciously gossipy, thought-provoking, steamy, and emotional. Having been an enormous fan of Philyaw’s debut story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies , I’m not surprised how good this is. But it’s a lot of fun, too.
“And you know what? I own all the parts that are true. The lies and the lessons. The messes and the mistakes. Because they are the stones that forged the path leading from my difficult past to my beautiful present.”
Scharisse Freeman is the much-younger wife of Rev. David Freeman, pastor of the Hope in Christ Baptist Church, one of the largest Black megachurches in the U.S. Given the age difference and the fact that Scharisse had no real religious background before marrying her husband, it’s taken quite a while for some in the church to warm up to her as First Lady. But she hasn’t let that stop her from using her brand to make millions of dollars.
What she craves more than anything, however, is acceptance from the First Ladies of other churches. Yet a misstep when she was first married has made her a pariah. But when she finally gets an invitation to compete in the First Lady USA pageant, she believes that winning will be her ticket to acceptance.
However, she doesn’t anticipate being in the middle of a huge scandal, which calls her reputation into question. It also highlights the hypocrisy of many so-called devout people, as well as the double standard that exists between men and women where infidelity is concerned. She needs to find her own path and be her authentic self—no matter what.
Schar isn’t always the most sympathetic character, and when miscommunication occurs a few times, I wanted to shake her a bit. But she is a woman who wears her heart on her sleeve, and definitely doesn’t suffer fools! I really enjoyed this.
The book publishes 9/29.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
March 5, 2026
ARC Review: Book releasing September 2026
Thank you to Mariner Books for the review copy of The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman.
I was so excited to get this ARC because I loved Deesha Philyaw’s short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies. Her debut novel continues with similar themes of the type of shame and secrecy that women and girls within the church hold. The main character, Scharisse Freeman, is the wife of a pastor with a past that she’s been running away from. She tries to hide within the apparent success of her marriage and all the perks that come with it, but that can only last for so long. This was a hilarious and heartbreaking all at the same time. The story tackles themes like patriarchy, misogyny within the church, shame, grief, and the desire to belong. Once I got to the 170 page mark I couldn’t put this down!
Thank you to Mariner Books for the review copy of The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman.
I was so excited to get this ARC because I loved Deesha Philyaw’s short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies. Her debut novel continues with similar themes of the type of shame and secrecy that women and girls within the church hold. The main character, Scharisse Freeman, is the wife of a pastor with a past that she’s been running away from. She tries to hide within the apparent success of her marriage and all the perks that come with it, but that can only last for so long. This was a hilarious and heartbreaking all at the same time. The story tackles themes like patriarchy, misogyny within the church, shame, grief, and the desire to belong. Once I got to the 170 page mark I couldn’t put this down!
Read
April 7, 2026If Honk For Jesus, Save Your Soul and The Real Housewives were combined, it would be this insanely well-written book! I enjoyed the drama but also appreciated where the heartache took us as a story. Truly a great dissection of how women are used in the church to uplift men and how hypocritical religious people can be. Recommend this highly!
September 16, 2026
This book surprised me. It quietly gets under your skin, exploring what people hide behind closed doors—faith, marriage, desire, disappointment, and the pressure placed on women to always be “good.”
First Lady Freeman is complicated, flawed, and deeply human. I felt frustrated with her at times, but I also understood her choices. Watching her reconcile who she is with who everyone expects her to be stayed with me.
I loved how Deesha Philyaw explores religion, womanhood, and relationships. There’s humor—coconut water is definitely disgusting 🤢—alongside loneliness, vulnerability, and uncomfortable truths. No one is completely innocent, which makes these characters feel real.
This wasn’t quite a five-star read, but it made me feel something and kept me thinking after I finished. A messy, honest, thought-provoking story about a woman trying to figure out what she wants when everyone else has already decided who she should be.
First Lady Freeman is complicated, flawed, and deeply human. I felt frustrated with her at times, but I also understood her choices. Watching her reconcile who she is with who everyone expects her to be stayed with me.
I loved how Deesha Philyaw explores religion, womanhood, and relationships. There’s humor—coconut water is definitely disgusting 🤢—alongside loneliness, vulnerability, and uncomfortable truths. No one is completely innocent, which makes these characters feel real.
This wasn’t quite a five-star read, but it made me feel something and kept me thinking after I finished. A messy, honest, thought-provoking story about a woman trying to figure out what she wants when everyone else has already decided who she should be.
September 24, 2026
Sometimes a book is so bad, I only finish it for the sake of the review I’ll eventually get to leave. This is one of those times.
The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman is… garbage. I feel stupider having read it. There’s no other way to say it.
From the jump you get pure millennial cringe mixed with constant religious sermon, populated by adults who communicate and behave like teenagers despite dealing with incredibly heavy subjects like rape, AIDS, death, infidelity, and marriage.
The characters are comically contradictory without a shred of complexity. And, they’re all hiding improbably enormous secrets, make baffling decisions, and swing wildly between devotion and betrayal with zero believable emotional logic.
Major conflicts are repeatedly interrupted with bizarre sex scenes or increasingly ridiculous plot twists: secret half-siblings, sex-addiction cover stories, Christian sex-party UTI outbreaks, and mean girl church scandals.
Mind you, these characters are meant to be **checks notes** forty year-old pageant girls.
Not a single character, relationship, or story line felt remotely believable. It reads like a badly written tween novel tackling subject matter far beyond its emotional maturity.
This book was offensively bad.
The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman is… garbage. I feel stupider having read it. There’s no other way to say it.
From the jump you get pure millennial cringe mixed with constant religious sermon, populated by adults who communicate and behave like teenagers despite dealing with incredibly heavy subjects like rape, AIDS, death, infidelity, and marriage.
The characters are comically contradictory without a shred of complexity. And, they’re all hiding improbably enormous secrets, make baffling decisions, and swing wildly between devotion and betrayal with zero believable emotional logic.
Major conflicts are repeatedly interrupted with bizarre sex scenes or increasingly ridiculous plot twists: secret half-siblings, sex-addiction cover stories, Christian sex-party UTI outbreaks, and mean girl church scandals.
Mind you, these characters are meant to be **checks notes** forty year-old pageant girls.
Not a single character, relationship, or story line felt remotely believable. It reads like a badly written tween novel tackling subject matter far beyond its emotional maturity.
This book was offensively bad.
October 4, 2026
Rating - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
If you love Southern snark, church gossip, and messy insider-versus-outsider dynamics, this is absolutely a book to pick up. I was hooked early on and flew through this one.
The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman felt like being let in on every conversation that was never supposed to leave the church walls. The gossip, shifting loyalties, and community tensions made the story impossible to put down, while the humor kept everything feeling sharp and entertaining.
One of my favorite aspects was how well the characters were developed. They felt flawed, layered, and authentically human, making it easy to understand their choices even when I didn't always agree with them. The Southern setting and church community were so vividly written that they became characters in their own right.
If you've read The Hunting Wives and loved the Southern atmosphere, gossip, and social dynamics but are looking for something much milder in content, I think this would be an excellent choice. It captures that same feeling of everyone knowing everyone else's business while telling a completely different kind of story.
If you're looking for a character-driven Southern novel filled with sharp wit, layered relationships, and enough gossip to keep you turning pages, I highly recommend adding this one to your TBR. It's an entertaining, thoughtful read that reminds us every community has its secrets and every story has more than one side.
If you love Southern snark, church gossip, and messy insider-versus-outsider dynamics, this is absolutely a book to pick up. I was hooked early on and flew through this one.
The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman felt like being let in on every conversation that was never supposed to leave the church walls. The gossip, shifting loyalties, and community tensions made the story impossible to put down, while the humor kept everything feeling sharp and entertaining.
One of my favorite aspects was how well the characters were developed. They felt flawed, layered, and authentically human, making it easy to understand their choices even when I didn't always agree with them. The Southern setting and church community were so vividly written that they became characters in their own right.
If you've read The Hunting Wives and loved the Southern atmosphere, gossip, and social dynamics but are looking for something much milder in content, I think this would be an excellent choice. It captures that same feeling of everyone knowing everyone else's business while telling a completely different kind of story.
If you're looking for a character-driven Southern novel filled with sharp wit, layered relationships, and enough gossip to keep you turning pages, I highly recommend adding this one to your TBR. It's an entertaining, thoughtful read that reminds us every community has its secrets and every story has more than one side.
February 14, 2026
I haven’t heard a lot of people talking about this book when it comes to 2026 anticipated reads, but I think it deserves some hype! Deesha Philyaw’s The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is one of my favorite short stories collections of all time, so I was excited to receive the ARC of The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman.
If you like the concept of a sexy Real Housewives with a cast of First Ladies of black mega church pastors, lots of biting racial, class, gender, and of course, religious commentary, you might really enjoy this. First Lady Freeman is a protagonist who’s frustrating to read at times, but seeing her slowly deconstruct her world, her institution, her beliefs, and her privilege is deeply satisfying. All the First Ladies are just as petty and ruthless and funny as you might expect, so there’s never a dull moment.
There are aspects of how the characters behave and talk that I wish were more realistic, but at the end of the day, it didn’t really take away from the fun time I had with this book.
If you like the concept of a sexy Real Housewives with a cast of First Ladies of black mega church pastors, lots of biting racial, class, gender, and of course, religious commentary, you might really enjoy this. First Lady Freeman is a protagonist who’s frustrating to read at times, but seeing her slowly deconstruct her world, her institution, her beliefs, and her privilege is deeply satisfying. All the First Ladies are just as petty and ruthless and funny as you might expect, so there’s never a dull moment.
There are aspects of how the characters behave and talk that I wish were more realistic, but at the end of the day, it didn’t really take away from the fun time I had with this book.
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