The title of the book, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, already sets up a major theme present throughout Philyaw’s short stories. Each story draws some connection between Christianity and the shame that it instills surrounding sexuality, specifically in women. In “Eula,” we witness the secret relationship between Eula and Caroletta that is genuine but feels forbidden. Eula is so devout in the church that she is not even entertaining the idea that she could have a happy relationship with a woman instead of a man. After being intimate with Caroletta and discussing her sexual history, Eula cries, “It wasn’t supposed to be this way,” and “I just want to be happy. And normal” (8). Her upbringing in the church leaves no option for her to explore this potential relationship and her sexuality.

In “Peach Cobbler,” Olivia’s maturing body brings her and her mother grief. Olivia feels that her mother’s “crumpled face and the bulky pad between [her] legs” are a punishment (53). Rather than seeing this development as normal and neutral, she is conditioned to feel bad for growing into a woman. As her breasts grow, her mother “feels more embarrassed than [Olivia] was” and chastises her to cover up.