"[4] Philyaw stated in an interview with Richmond Free Press, "I see the book as centering Black women in their own stories of the tug of war they experience between their desires and what they may have learned at church.

"[2] Wendeline O. Wright further praised Philyaw in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "“The Secret Lives of Church Ladies” is an unforgettable look inside the hearts of Black women as they evaluate their relationships — with God, their families, and themselves.

"[8] Kirkus wrote in a starred review, "No saints exist in these pages, just full-throated, flesh-and-blood women who embrace and redefine love, and their own selves, in powerfully imperfect renditions.

"[9] In a similarly positive review, Publishers Weekly wrote, "Philyaw’s stories inform and build on one another, turning her characters’ private struggles into a beautiful chorus.

"[4] In January 2021, it was announced that Tessa Thompson's newly formed production company, Viva Maude, had picked up the collection to be adapted for television.