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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
felinesandfelonies's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-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
5.0
In a year of great books, We Are Not Like Them still manages to stand out. The story of Jen & Riley gives a fresh perspective to the social justice issues currently plaguing our country. The unique format allows for voices to be heard in a way that cuts to your core.
Riley & Jen are not just friends - they are best friends. The women met as children & have a shared history that extends from their youth, over distance, through time, & into the present. It's 2019 & the issues of police brutality & injustice for minorities is front & center. Although Jen is white & Riley is Black, race has never consciously influenced their relationship.
Until...
Jen's husband, Kevin, is a white police officer patrolling a predominantly minority neighborhood in Philadelphia. Riley is a rising star within the local media. When a shooting involving a police officer & an unarmed, 14-year-old Black youth occurs, Jen & Riley are forced to confront race, racism, privilege, & injustice in a way that they never have before.
As the tension in the city grows, the women find their relationship equally strained. When forced to pick a side the women are forced to choose between history, heritage, family, & friends.
Pride & Piazza do an incredible job of presenting this American epidemic from the alternating perspectives of a white woman & a Black woman. The presentation is effective & realistic. The pain of both women is palpable on the pages. I absolutely did not want to put it down. This is a must read given our current climate.
"But as important as voting is, it's the personal changes & accountability that matter too. You think racism is so awful. You want to level that playing field I mentioned. But are you willing to acknowledge how much you benefit from white supremacy? That every single social, political, & legal system in this country is built & maintained by white people, on the bedrock idea of white power, & that allows you to move through the world with a basic confidence in your sense of safety, opportunity, & respect. That as white people you are automatically associated with everything that is good & right & 'normal' & everyone else's experiences & value are weighed relative to that."
Thank you to Atria Books, Simon & Schuster & Christine Pride & Jo Piazza for providing an advanced reader copy of this groundbreaking book in exchange for an honest review.
Riley & Jen are not just friends - they are best friends. The women met as children & have a shared history that extends from their youth, over distance, through time, & into the present. It's 2019 & the issues of police brutality & injustice for minorities is front & center. Although Jen is white & Riley is Black, race has never consciously influenced their relationship.
Until...
Jen's husband, Kevin, is a white police officer patrolling a predominantly minority neighborhood in Philadelphia. Riley is a rising star within the local media. When a shooting involving a police officer & an unarmed, 14-year-old Black youth occurs, Jen & Riley are forced to confront race, racism, privilege, & injustice in a way that they never have before.
As the tension in the city grows, the women find their relationship equally strained. When forced to pick a side the women are forced to choose between history, heritage, family, & friends.
Pride & Piazza do an incredible job of presenting this American epidemic from the alternating perspectives of a white woman & a Black woman. The presentation is effective & realistic. The pain of both women is palpable on the pages. I absolutely did not want to put it down. This is a must read given our current climate.
"But as important as voting is, it's the personal changes & accountability that matter too. You think racism is so awful. You want to level that playing field I mentioned. But are you willing to acknowledge how much you benefit from white supremacy? That every single social, political, & legal system in this country is built & maintained by white people, on the bedrock idea of white power, & that allows you to move through the world with a basic confidence in your sense of safety, opportunity, & respect. That as white people you are automatically associated with everything that is good & right & 'normal' & everyone else's experiences & value are weighed relative to that."
Thank you to Atria Books, Simon & Schuster & Christine Pride & Jo Piazza for providing an advanced reader copy of this groundbreaking book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality and Racism
Minor: Drug use and Drug abuse
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