Reviews with content warning for Police brutality - We Are Not Like Them

Ending fell a little short for me, especially considering how thought provoking the first half of the book was. I think there were some really interesting character developments brought up that were not explored as much as they could’ve been. Still, for a good portion of the book, an interesting read for someone with some significant childhood interracial friendships.

I’m still not sure if Jen is actually going to take anything away from all this. Kevin’s microagressions were never addressed. I’m sure Cory [sp] is a perfectly nice guy, but that layer of the book was absolutely unnecessary and there was really nothing of note in their relationship for me to grab on to and root for them.

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mrscorytee's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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bookbunny's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.0

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liblibby's review against another edition

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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

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felinesandfelonies's review against another edition

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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.

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