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ashgoddess2009's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
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
1.5
We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza follows two friends, Jen and Riley, who have been friends ever since Riley’s grandmother, Gigi, began to watch Jen when Jen’s hot mess of a mother couldn’t find anyone else to do so. Because of this, the two grow up as close as sisters even when Riley goes off to college and Jen stays home to work because college is not something she can afford. When Jen’s husband, Kevin, ends up shooting an unarmed 14 year old Black boy, their friendship is tested immensely.
I really wanted to like this book as it covers a topic that is seen over and over again in today’s media with the shooting of an unarmed Black teenager. However, I was personally not a fan. I sincerely wish that the book could have been solely from Riley’s point-of-view or even jumped around to more characters.
I did not like Jen’s character. I found her to be very whiny, selfish, and childish. Throughout the book, she does believe that what happened to Justin (the teen whose shooting is the catalyst of the story) is an unfortunate occurrence, but she goes on and on about how unfair the backlash against her, her husband, and the Philadelphia Police Department is. Every five seconds in the book, she keeps saying that she wishes her life could go back to normal so she can raise her unborn child in anonymity. Never mind the fact that Justin’s mother will never get to hold her child or raise her child. She and her husband are only sorry in a very surface level way. When it comes to Riley’s involvement in the media storm unleashed upon them, she complains that Riley isn’t on her side and is annoyed with her. When she and Riley finally have the conversation that they should have had long before this occurs, she expects Riley to educate her on what being a Black woman in America is like.
Side Note: Let me say now, it is not up to Black people to educate others about what it means to be Black in America. Google is free.
Jen’s family isn’t better. Her husband completely blames the shooting on his partner because his partner shot first. While this may have been the case, he definitely still shot the poor kid also. He is equally to blame, especially because he says that as soon as he sees Justin that he was NOT the suspect they were chasing. I completely LOATHED Jen’s mother-in-law and brother-in-law. Whenever they said something out of pocket, Jen didn’t even try to correct them or stick up for herself. In one scene, her brother-in-law, Matt, calls Riley “that Black b****” when he learns they cannot use her for a positive interview as she’s interviewing Justin’s mother instead. Jen halfheartedly tells him not to call her that and that’s it. Everything with him is “those people” and Jen never gives him so much as a side-eye. That is not what a true best friend/ally would do.
I truly enjoyed Riley’s chapters and her family relationships, especially her relationship with her mother. The only problem I had with her is how much she hinged her career on the tragedy: the interview with Justin’s mother, the interview with the DA, etc. It seemed a bit weird to be so excited to have an interview with a mother of a child in the hospital because he’s been shot.
I also enjoyed reading a book set in Philadelphia. I live about an hour away so it was refreshing to read about locations where I’ve actually been. It’s not everyday you read a book set so close to where you live, especially being from a small town in NJ. There’s a lot of negativity in the news when it comes to Philadelphia and I liked that (other than the shooting) it focused on some positives of living there.
The ending was underwhelming and did not go in the direction that I thought it would. It was a copout. I believe the authors played it safe and wrapped the ending up in a big red bow.
While I did not particularly enjoy We Are Not Like Them, I would recommend this book to those who like dual-narratives, hot button topics, and contemporary fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Gun violence, Infertility, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racism, Miscarriage, and Murder
cdoubet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, Violence, Cursing, Death, Grief, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic friendship, Gun violence, Hate crime, Police brutality, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Body horror, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Drug use, and Blood
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
alysereadsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
3.5
I liked this book, heavy and tough read but liked the focus of women’s friendships. The authors overall dealt well with difficult topics of policy brutally, BLM, and class issues. Not a lighthearted read, but an important one. Not sure if I loved the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Police brutality, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Pregnancy, Slavery, Classism, Death, Hate crime, and Genocide
Moderate: Miscarriage, Toxic friendship, and Grief
Minor: Torture and Sexual content
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: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Infertility, and Bullying
Minor: Miscarriage and Grief
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