Book description
FINALIST for the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction WINNER of the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award WINNER of the 2020 Story Prize WINNER of the 2020 L.A. Times Book Prize, Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction "Beguiling." --The New Yorker "Tender, fierce, proudly black and beautiful, these stories will sneak inside you and take root." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Triumphant." --Publishers Weekly "Cheeky, insightful, and irresistible." --Ms. Magazine "This collection marks the emergence of a bona fide literary treasure." --Minneapolis Star Tribune "Full of lived-in humanity, warmth, and compassion." --Pittsburgh Current 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. The nine stories in this collection feature four generations of characters grappling with who they want to be in the world, caught as they are between the church's double standards and their own needs and passions. There is fourteen-year-old Jael, who has a crush on the preacher's wife. At forty-two, Lyra realizes that her discomfort with her own body stands between her and a new love. As Y2K looms, Caroletta's "same time next year" arrangement with her childhood best friend is tenuous. A serial mistress lays down the ground rules for her married lovers. In the dark shadows of a hospice parking lot, grieving strangers find comfort in each other. 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.
Infinite Hole
ListenBook's clean interface and organized layout make it a pleasure to browse through my audiobooks. I can't believe how much I've learned and enjoyed through this app's audiobooks. 🎧 Making housework more enjoyable – audiobooks turn mundane chores into moments of discovery. 🧹📚 Great app! ListenBook supports so many formats, and the playback is always smooth. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
Pink C
With this app, audiobook listening has become an integral part of my daily routines – it's pure bliss. This app is a game-changer for busy individuals who miss reading. My study sessions are more efficient than ever, thanks to the looping playback and bookmark features. I love the quick access to settings. It makes tweaking the app so easy.
Hen Skittle
I'm impressed by how this app seamlessly syncs across my devices. This app's support for various formats has made my audiobook collection even more diverse and exciting. 📱 Carrying stories in my pocket – this app's convenience is a game-changer! 📚🛍️ This app is a game-changer for audiobook lovers! The interface is clean and easy to use.
Dark Horse
The Looping playback and Shuffle features on ListenBook help me customize my listening sessions to my liking. I love how ListenBook extracts artwork and metadata from audio files, adding a visual touch to my listening experience. 📚 Farewell, boredom during ironing sessions – audiobooks make it a breeze! 👗🎧 Great for both casual listening and studying. The audio filters are a nice touch. The app is perfect for people who love to read but don’t have the time.
NecroBull
Seamless audiobook integration – this app's functionality is truly remarkable. ListenBook is my constant companion during workouts. The controls are so easy to use. Book groups are a thoughtful addition. It's like having virtual bookshelves!
Aqua Diva
I love that I can download content directly from the internet within the ListenBook app – so handy! I'm amazed at how this app has made reading fit into every aspect of my life. 🌟 Reading has never been this easy – this app fits right into my fast-paced lifestyle. 📚💫 Sharing books with friends via AirDrop is so convenient. Thanks, ListenBook!
Kawaii Red
I've started a book club with my friends, and this app has been our go-to source for titles. I'm thrilled that ListenBook offers both basic and advanced features to cater to all types of users. I’m blown away by how feature-rich ListenBook is. From the customizable themes to the car mode, everything is designed with the user in mind. The app works flawlessly, and I’ve had zero issues with crashes or bugs. Highly recommend! I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
Boo
I love how this app seamlessly integrates into my busy schedule, making multitasking a breeze. Gone are the days of struggling with formats. Thanks to this app, my audiobook journey is a breeze, and every tale is a tap away. Highly recommended! 📚🎧 The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient.
Marine Dre
My child has also fallen in love with audiobooks, all thanks to the app's kid-friendly collection. No more carrying heavy books – this app has transformed my reading habits. ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. It's my go-to app for literary adventures. I'm impressed by the app's compatibility with CarPlay. It keeps me entertained on long drives.
Steel Solstice
I'm blown away by the silky-smooth playback, even for high-quality formats like FLAC. Top-notch performance! CUE playlist support is a fantastic organizational feature. It keeps my audiobooks neatly arranged.
Mr. 44
📱 It's like having a personal audiobook library at my fingertips! This app's functionality is a dream come true for book lovers. 📚🔥 I love the ability to change the background color. It’s a nice touch.
FRMhndshk
I can't imagine a day without this app – it has made my audiobook journey effortless and rewarding. Seamless audiobook integration – this app's design is remarkable.
Burn
ListenBook's library organization and book groups make managing my collection effortless. The narration elevated an already good book to greatness! The performer's subtle vocal variations conveyed nuance I might have missed while reading. Their ability to maintain consistent character voices across many hours was impressive. Technical quality was flawless throughout.
Sylvester Eye
ListenBook has turned my daily routines into audiobook-driven journeys of imagination. With this app, reading is no longer confined to a specific time or place. ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature simplifies the process of adding new audiobooks to my collection. Finally, an app that supports a wide range of audio formats! It's a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. Automatic metadata retrieval adds a professional touch to my audiobook collection.
Racy Lady
I'm in awe of how this app has brought new dimensions to my reading experience. ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch is a game-changer for my on-the-go listening. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay is a major convenience during road trips. This audiobook transformed my household chores into enjoyable moments! The narrator's lively yet measured delivery kept me engaged throughout. I particularly appreciated how they handled exposition - making potentially dry information interesting through thoughtful inflection and pacing.
Drugstore Cowboy
The ability to adjust playback speed is a game-changer for faster or more immersive listening. Audiobooks have never been this engaging – this app takes them to the next level. Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a true triumph. ListenBook has all the features I need. My go-to audiobook app!
General Finish
With this app, every moment becomes an opportunity to indulge in fantastic stories. The controls, layout, and seamless playback are a reader's dream. 📚🎧 I love the variety of themes available. It makes the app feel personalized.
DreamWeaver
ListenBook has become my go-to app for all things audio – from lectures to speeches, it's got it all. ListenBook's attention to detail is commendable. Every aspect of the app is well-crafted. I love how I can create playlists. It’s perfect for organizing my books. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
Pepper Prada
I appreciate the dark mode option. It’s easy on the eyes during nighttime listening. I love the car mode. It’s so convenient for listening while driving.
Hyper Kong
Binaural audio processing is a godsend. My ears don't fatigue even during extended listening. High-quality playback even with complex formats like FLAC. Impressive!
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience