“The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman” by Deesha Philyaw

Hello. My name is Allison, and I have an addiction to reality TV. Specifically, I love “The Real Housewives of Quite Literally Anywhere.” I know I'm not the only one, and if you are like me, this week's book pick is a dark humor/satire selection that will surely bring back memories of Gizelle and others from Potomac, Phaedra from Atlanta, definitely Mary M. Cosby from Salt Lake. As the kids would say, if you know, you know!

Deesha Philyaw’s novel “The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman” follows 40-year-old Scharisse “Schar” Freeman, a bold and ambitious woman living a “rags-to-Rolex” lifestyle as the first lady of a massive Black megachurch alongside her pastor husband, who is 15 years her senior. To the outside world, Scharisse has it all, but among other pastors’ wives, she has always been treated like a pariah for being too outspoken and unapologetic. Beneath the designer dresses, luxury cars, and polished social media presence, she is deeply in touch with her physical desires, harbors growing doubts about her faith, and feels exhausted by the performative expectations forced upon women in religious leadership.

The main story kicks into high gear around Scharisse’s 40th birthday, when she receives the ultimate validation she has always craved: an invitation to compete in the prestigious First Lady USA pageant. This glamorized competition brings together the elite first ladies of the megachurch ecosystem to crown the nation’s model preacher’s wife. Winning the pageant represents the peak of acceptance and respectability for Scharisse, offering a chance to finally prove her worth to the conservative church community that has constantly judged her.

However, as the pageant date draws closer, the high-pressure environment of the competition collides with sudden scandals, dark secrets, and unresolved trauma from Scharisse’s past. Her carefully built world threatens to implode as church politics, systemic misogyny, and deep-seated hypocrisy within her inner circle erupt into full view. Instead of quietly retreating to protect her husband’s reputation and pageant optics, Scharisse reaches a dramatic turning point. Supported by key allies like her fierce Aunt Marie, she decides to take control of her own narrative by laying out her unfiltered truths.

As the narrative unfolds like a series of wildly candid confessions, Scharisse systematically dismantles the illusions surrounding her life, choosing authentic self-acceptance over corporate church approval. It transforms into a hilarious, high-stakes, and deeply liberating journey where a woman decides to stop performing for a crown and start living entirely on her own terms.

I hope you enjoy this week’s book. Don't forget to check out my Instagram, @allison.the.reader, for more book recommendations — or maybe just to share your thoughts on whatever “Real Housewives” franchise is currently airing! 12a.Book_Report_Allison