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msvernier's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Infertility and Miscarriage
martachbc's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
We Are Not Like Them tells the story of Jen and Riley, lifelong BFFs from Philadelphia. Riley is a Black, up-and-coming TV journalist. Jen is white, married to police officer Kevin, and after years of struggling, finally pregnant with their first child. Lacking a present mom, Jen grew up around Riley’s close-knit family. When Kevin kills an innocent 14-year-old Black kid on the job, Jen’s life falls apart - but Riley has a chance to cover a story that could make her career.
I was drawn in by the timely concept of this book when it came out last year (and I love Jo Piazza’s books) - although now, doesn’t it feel beyond ”timely”? Aside from the fact that IRL I’d be pretty critical of Riley’s decision to cover the story in spite of being directly connected to it, I appreciated how this book didn’t shy away from exploring the uncomfortable, gritty and devastating nuances of its subject matter.
The writing overall was excellent. But some elements of the friendship rang a little hollow to me - exacerbated by Jen having just a few redeeming qualities - and other elements of the story (Riley’s brother Shaun’s own experience in the criminal justice system, and her interracial relationship) could have been fleshed out more earlier.
I would describe this as entry-level to the exploration of social justice - I am always happy to support books that get more people reading about important topics. But I’ll note, it was fairly easy for me, a white woman, to find some comfort with the outcome of this book, though no one was let off the hook. While things tie up somewhat neatly, the readers exist in a world where that’s not always the case - and we know that’s likely to be true for Jen and Riley eventually, even if we don’t see it.
This would be a great book club read because there’s a lot to discuss. I find I enjoy books more when they really give me something to chew on - and this certainly did. I guess in some ways I still am thinking on it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was drawn in by the timely concept of this book when it came out last year (and I love Jo Piazza’s books) - although now, doesn’t it feel beyond ”timely”? Aside from the fact that IRL I’d be pretty critical of Riley’s decision to cover the story in spite of being directly connected to it, I appreciated how this book didn’t shy away from exploring the uncomfortable, gritty and devastating nuances of its subject matter.
The writing overall was excellent. But some elements of the friendship rang a little hollow to me - exacerbated by Jen having just a few redeeming qualities - and other elements of the story (Riley’s brother Shaun’s own experience in the criminal justice system, and her interracial relationship) could have been fleshed out more earlier.
I would describe this as entry-level to the exploration of social justice - I am always happy to support books that get more people reading about important topics. But I’ll note, it was fairly easy for me, a white woman, to find some comfort with the outcome of this book, though no one was let off the hook. While things tie up somewhat neatly, the readers exist in a world where that’s not always the case - and we know that’s likely to be true for Jen and Riley eventually, even if we don’t see it.
This would be a great book club read because there’s a lot to discuss. I find I enjoy books more when they really give me something to chew on - and this certainly did. I guess in some ways I still am thinking on it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Bullying, Infertility, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage and Grief
bookchatwithbeth's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
franklola's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
tnociti's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, and Grief
lenny9987's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It’s always interesting to read a novel that was written as a true collaboration but when I stumbled across the premise of Christine Pride and Jo Piazza’s We Are Not Like Them, it sounded like a natural and logical approach to a such a difficult and highly emotional subject. We Are Not Like Them manages to capture the difficulties and awkwardness that arise when the role of race is ignored in interpersonal relationships. They’re able to convey the subtle ways it affects our interactions with our loved ones – the things we say or don’t say, the tension between acting and holding back, when to give in to anger or frustration and when to let something go. In the end, ignoring and avoiding lead to the same unavoidable place of confrontation and they may make that confrontation all the more explosive for the misunderstandings and resentments that accumulate along the way.
Riley Wilson and Jen Murphy have been best friends since they were in grade school and while their friendship has raised a few eyebrows over the years, they’re in the same city again and each within grasp of what they’ve always wanted. For Riley, it’s a promotion to replace her retiring idol as the only Black woman anchor for their major local news station. For Jen, it’s to finally become a mother after years of trying and several devastating miscarriages. But in one night both their lives change forever – an unarmed Black teenager is gunned down by police. Riley’s assigned to cover the story and Jen’s husband is one of the police officers involved in the shooting. The assignment will almost certainly make Riley’s career and the tragedy strikes particularly close to home as she learns more of her own family’s history from her terminally ill grandmother. But Jen feels like Riley is turning on her in her hour of need, her loyalty torn between her husband and her best friend. As the world around them erupts, could their friendship become another casualty or will they find a way to finally open up to each other and address the issues they’ve carefully avoided all their lives?
For the rest of my review, please visit my blog: https://wp.me/pUEx4-1ak
Riley Wilson and Jen Murphy have been best friends since they were in grade school and while their friendship has raised a few eyebrows over the years, they’re in the same city again and each within grasp of what they’ve always wanted. For Riley, it’s a promotion to replace her retiring idol as the only Black woman anchor for their major local news station. For Jen, it’s to finally become a mother after years of trying and several devastating miscarriages. But in one night both their lives change forever – an unarmed Black teenager is gunned down by police. Riley’s assigned to cover the story and Jen’s husband is one of the police officers involved in the shooting. The assignment will almost certainly make Riley’s career and the tragedy strikes particularly close to home as she learns more of her own family’s history from her terminally ill grandmother. But Jen feels like Riley is turning on her in her hour of need, her loyalty torn between her husband and her best friend. As the world around them erupts, could their friendship become another casualty or will they find a way to finally open up to each other and address the issues they’ve carefully avoided all their lives?
For the rest of my review, please visit my blog: https://wp.me/pUEx4-1ak
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Gun violence, Racism, Police brutality, and Grief
bookellys's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book touched on some sensitive subjects around race but it does so in such a way that it helps you to understand and hopefully open up discussions about race with friends and family.
The one bit that sticks in my mind is when Jen (the white friend) says she rarely thinks about race and actually it made me realise that that is one of the privileges of being white. Whilst I think it’s great to look at my friends and family and just see people (not colour, race, sexuality etc) I understand now that these are things they have to deal with on a daily basis, often behind closed doors and I will strive to be more attuned to that.
I’m my opinion, a book everyone should read.
The one bit that sticks in my mind is when Jen (the white friend) says she rarely thinks about race and actually it made me realise that that is one of the privileges of being white. Whilst I think it’s great to look at my friends and family and just see people (not colour, race, sexuality etc) I understand now that these are things they have to deal with on a daily basis, often behind closed doors and I will strive to be more attuned to that.
I’m my opinion, a book everyone should read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Sexual content and Pregnancy
christenreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Grief and Murder
mmarlborough's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m a big fan of Jo Piazza’s podcasts, so this has been on my radar for awhile. The racial complexities brought up in this book will have me thinking for a long time.
Jen and Riley have been best friends their whole lives, despite their differences. Jen is finally pregnant after years of infertility and Riley is climbing her way to be a top news anchor. Their friendship is put to the test when Jen’s police officer husband shoots an unarmed Black teenager. As a Black woman in the media, Riley has to cover this story and bring her critical eye to the issues present. The pair’s friendship begins to fracture under decades of unaddressed issues.
Pride and Piazza bring so much to this story, making it three dimensional and not just a light book club chat about race in America. While the issues here are staggering, these writers have flushed out a real and raw friendship between two flawed women. I empathized with both characters and their plights while also wanting to shake them to their core and make them communicate better- with each other and themselves.
You’re probably seeing this book everywhere and it’s for good reason. This is an important but accessible book not to be missed.
⚠️Trigger Warning: Gun Violence, Police Brutality, Infertility, Racism, Suicide, Death, Lynching, Miscarriage
Jen and Riley have been best friends their whole lives, despite their differences. Jen is finally pregnant after years of infertility and Riley is climbing her way to be a top news anchor. Their friendship is put to the test when Jen’s police officer husband shoots an unarmed Black teenager. As a Black woman in the media, Riley has to cover this story and bring her critical eye to the issues present. The pair’s friendship begins to fracture under decades of unaddressed issues.
Pride and Piazza bring so much to this story, making it three dimensional and not just a light book club chat about race in America. While the issues here are staggering, these writers have flushed out a real and raw friendship between two flawed women. I empathized with both characters and their plights while also wanting to shake them to their core and make them communicate better- with each other and themselves.
You’re probably seeing this book everywhere and it’s for good reason. This is an important but accessible book not to be missed.
⚠️Trigger Warning: Gun Violence, Police Brutality, Infertility, Racism, Suicide, Death, Lynching, Miscarriage
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Infertility, Racism, and Police brutality
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Suicide
thebookmarkedmama's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Infertility and Miscarriage