You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
We Are Not Like Them is the story of Riley and Jen, best friends since childhood. Riley is a Black television reporter. Jen is white and finally pregnant after battling infertility. Her husband is a police officer. When he is involved in shooting an unarmed Black teen Riley is assigned to cover the story.
My reaction to this book is mixed at best. The plot and dialogue felt really artificial and contrived, as if the authors wanted to educate white readers on issues of race and police brutality. It often reads like an educational primer on current race issues in the US. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, although the fact that there are still people who aren’t aware of these issues is a little mind boggling. The friendship between Riley and Jen never felt believable in the present. I can see how they had been close in the past, but any friendship felt based more on nostalgia than present reality. I felt Riley as a character was strong and well-written. I loved that she was a successful career woman who had overcome the odds. While I sympathised with Jen for her fertility struggles and for suffering as a result of her husband’s actions, she irritated me due to her self-centredness. I wasn’t convinced that she or her husband ever fully understood the nature and extent of racism and the role it played in the shooting. Any regret they felt seemed as much for how it had impacted them as for the victim and his family.
I found this book pretty uneven. Sometime sections held my interest (chiefly Riley’s storyline) while others irritated me or left my mind wandering. The ending also felt too tidy and convenient - palatable for a white audience rather than reality based.
If this novel inspires conversation and reflection that actually leads to anti-racism actions from its white readers that will be great. For me it mostly missed the mark and left me wanting something meatier and harder hitting.
My reaction to this book is mixed at best. The plot and dialogue felt really artificial and contrived, as if the authors wanted to educate white readers on issues of race and police brutality. It often reads like an educational primer on current race issues in the US. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, although the fact that there are still people who aren’t aware of these issues is a little mind boggling. The friendship between Riley and Jen never felt believable in the present. I can see how they had been close in the past, but any friendship felt based more on nostalgia than present reality. I felt Riley as a character was strong and well-written. I loved that she was a successful career woman who had overcome the odds. While I sympathised with Jen for her fertility struggles and for suffering as a result of her husband’s actions, she irritated me due to her self-centredness. I wasn’t convinced that she or her husband ever fully understood the nature and extent of racism and the role it played in the shooting. Any regret they felt seemed as much for how it had impacted them as for the victim and his family.
I found this book pretty uneven. Sometime sections held my interest (chiefly Riley’s storyline) while others irritated me or left my mind wandering. The ending also felt too tidy and convenient - palatable for a white audience rather than reality based.
If this novel inspires conversation and reflection that actually leads to anti-racism actions from its white readers that will be great. For me it mostly missed the mark and left me wanting something meatier and harder hitting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Police brutality
Moderate: Infertility
rishel's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racism, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Racial slurs
Minor: Grief
amcghig's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infertility, Racial slurs, Racism, and Police brutality
Minor: Pregnancy
soobooksalot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
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
5.0
What a powerful read.
We Are Not Like Them shows us issues that need highlighting in an unforgettable and emotional way.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for my eARC for review.
Authors Christine Pride and Jo Piazza seamlessly wrote this book about two friends - one black, one white - whose lives and relationship has been altered by a tragic event.
Jen and Riley have been best friends since they were young children. Jen is married to a cop involved in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teen. Riley is an up-and-coming broadcast journalist assigned to the story.
The novel is presented in alternating voices, and feels honest and real - heartbreak on both sides, seemingly without resolution.
Issues of racism and profiling, justice, social equality, gender roles, infertility and motherhood, grief, and the bonds of family and friendship weave through our central characters. It's insightful and relevant and there is so much food for thought.
I can't say enough good about this gem of a book.
Recommended!
Released on Oct. 5.
We Are Not Like Them shows us issues that need highlighting in an unforgettable and emotional way.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for my eARC for review.
Authors Christine Pride and Jo Piazza seamlessly wrote this book about two friends - one black, one white - whose lives and relationship has been altered by a tragic event.
Jen and Riley have been best friends since they were young children. Jen is married to a cop involved in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teen. Riley is an up-and-coming broadcast journalist assigned to the story.
The novel is presented in alternating voices, and feels honest and real - heartbreak on both sides, seemingly without resolution.
Issues of racism and profiling, justice, social equality, gender roles, infertility and motherhood, grief, and the bonds of family and friendship weave through our central characters. It's insightful and relevant and there is so much food for thought.
I can't say enough good about this gem of a book.
Recommended!
Released on Oct. 5.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Grief, and Pregnancy
liblibby's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Racism, Police brutality, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage