Church Girl by Naima Simone
- Brandan Wilburn-Herbert
- Mar 14
- 3 min read
I was all set to give this book 4 stars. It was good and I enjoyed it, but did I love it? Welp, I knew I needed to upgrade the rating when I finished it and damn near reread the book again immediately after! The dialogue, banter and character growth was incredibly well done.
Aaliyah has always been a good girl. Her father is a bishop of a big church in Alabama. Her mother is a typical first lady but she is not the typical preacher‘s kid. She actually follows the rules. She pays attention. She does everything that her parents ask of her. But on one particular day, when she had to make the ultimate sacrifice (at least in her eyes), she bolted. She got to her, cousin who her parents never really liked, and asked for her help in escaping and escape she did.
*
Von is in need of a nanny and had crap luck in finding a stable one. On a recent interview, he’s not expecting the someone who walks into his shop looking like she needs to be in somebody’s church and vying for the job to take care of his young daughter. He dislikes her on sight, but what he’s not saying is that he is tempted by all that is Aaliyah. Her innocence, her sweetness, deep dimples, her generous curves and the freckles that go across her cheeks. So when he kicks her out, it’s for his own good because you can’t be so cliche as to be tempted by the nanny.
However, in a moment of desperation we knew was gonna happen because otherwise the book would’ve been done by chapter 3, Aaliyah is needed in a pinch to watch his daughter. Of course his daughter loves Aaliyah and they form a quick and fast bond. Von sees in Aaliyah the mother that he hoped that his daughter would have. His ex-wife is still in the picture, but she is so bitter about their divorce that she uses their daughter as a pawn to get back at him for petty reasons.
There didn’t seem to be an intent, at least immediately, for Von to pursue or for Aaliyah to be receptive to his advances.
*
Aaliyah isn’t completely innocent, but she is definitely not worldly. Living with her cousin, who cares for her without the judgement she experienced with her parents, and experiencing this life that she never thought she would get a chance life. She’s navigating a new city that is much bigger than her hometown. She’s a college freshman after receiving a partial scholarship. Aaliyah realizes that she’s tired of always playing it safe. Von seems like the perfect person to enjoy this new found freedom with.
*
We know it’s never that simple, though. She left without closing everything that happened to her back in her hometown and it follows her to Chicago. Von, hurt by his past, doesn’t trust that Aaliyah is honest and Aaliyah’s hurt that after all that they have been through, his first inclination is to not trust her.
*
The good part about their engagements is the banter between Aaliyah and Von. The great parts are the sexy, sexy times! The author has an amazing way with language. It’s very clear that Von has seen more of the world by the way he talks and the way that he approaches things. Granted he is a father and a successful business owner at the top tattoo studios in Chicago. Von is wealthy and knows how to take care of his people. In Aaliyah he sees someone who he describes as a Russian doll- just when you think you understand everything that about her, another person is revealed, and he is enjoying the opportunity to get to know all of her.
This book is messy. It helps that we get to read both view points so we “see” how they are reacting to one another and their insecurities are on full display. It’s also very tender and realistic as we’re witnessing one person learning how to advocate for herself and to experience true independence and a man who has been hurt and is trying really hard not to let that past dictate his future.
*
This was a very well written book. I highly recommend it and I’m just sad that I didn’t read it sooner. I’m very much looking forward to reading the book about Aaliyah‘s cousin who was her fiercest advocate and constantly reminded her that she has more control and more power than she was led to believe.
5 out of 5 stars/Highly recommend
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