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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: Racial slurs, Racism, and Gun violence
Minor: Sexual content and Pregnancy
ramenfuneral's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Racism, Pregnancy, Infertility, Hate crime, Gun violence, and Dementia
desertmountainreads's review
3.5
This book started out really strong and the narration was excellent. The last third of the book struggled a bit. There were parts that felt unrealistic and parts that just felt unnecessary to the story. The potential to be a really powerful read was there… it just wasn’t quite the 5 star stunner I expected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Infertility, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Murder, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
kelly_e'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? It's complicated
4.5
Title: We Are Not Like Them
Author: Christine Pride & Jo Piazza
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.5
Pub Date: October 5, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Timely • Intuitive • Authentic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Jen, a white pregnant wife of a police officer, and Riley, a Black female reporter, have been best friends since childhood. However, one event is about to test their lifelong bond: Jen's husband, Kevin, is involved in a shooting of an unarmed Black teenager. Each woman's life is about to change forever. When Riley is asked to cover the story, she knows this could be here big break. Meanwhile, Jen is devastated and contemplating a future where Kevin goes to jail. A story of friendship, love, race, forgiveness, justice, hope, and redemption.
💭 T H O U G H T S
This book wasn't on my radar until I received it in my Fall It's A Good Day Book Box, which is surprising given it was chosen as a GMA book club selection. When I first saw the cover I gasped, and what this book holds within its pages is a timely, tender, and immersive story told in alternating perspectives. It opens up so many questions in the debate on policing and justice, race and having hard conversations, and the changing dynamics of friendship. I've read various fiction books about racial injustice, but never one like this.
One of the things I found so compulsive is how based in reality it felt, and as a white woman, it most definitely made me feel uncomfortable, which it should. It raised so many questions that made me think and hypothesize, as well as, opened up so much discussion - all signs of a great book!
It's hard to believe We Are Not Like Them is written by a duo, as the writing is provocative and engaging. The alternating perspectives was the perfect fit. And for me this story really went beyond just the topic of race, but the power of speaking up and truly listening in all aspects of life. There were times when I felt grief echoed in a lot of the prose.
We Are Not Like Them covers a lot of ground, and it's a journey worth taking as you attempt to put yourself into another person's shoes and contemplate what you would do in the same situation. It's a story I won't soon forget. This book is designed to make you think, make you uncomfortable, and spark conversations, and it does all of that and more. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where they go next, as I know they're working on their next novel.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of Small Great Things
• readers who want something reflective
• book clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"It kills me how some people want so badly to believe racism is buried beneath layers of history, "ancient history," they say. But it's not. It's like an umpire brushing the thinnest layer of dirt off home plate: it's right there. Only too often the trauma, the toll of it, remains unknown generation after generation."
"There are no easy choices, no safe choices, you can't plan your way to happiness."
"It comes in waves, moments like these, a sense of hopelessness so strong it steals her breath. The sense that no one will understand and nothing will ever change."
"It's the one thing she appreciates about this letter. He doesn't try to justify himself. Some things can't be justified. Still, the letter won't bring peace or closure. Nothing will. But on a good day, when the sun is shining and when her memories of her son are the strongest, when she feels him in the room with her, on those days, she lets herself believe that maybe, just maybe, there's a world in which another mother won't have to go through this pain."
Author: Christine Pride & Jo Piazza
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.5
Pub Date: October 5, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Timely • Intuitive • Authentic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Jen, a white pregnant wife of a police officer, and Riley, a Black female reporter, have been best friends since childhood. However, one event is about to test their lifelong bond: Jen's husband, Kevin, is involved in a shooting of an unarmed Black teenager. Each woman's life is about to change forever. When Riley is asked to cover the story, she knows this could be here big break. Meanwhile, Jen is devastated and contemplating a future where Kevin goes to jail. A story of friendship, love, race, forgiveness, justice, hope, and redemption.
💭 T H O U G H T S
This book wasn't on my radar until I received it in my Fall It's A Good Day Book Box, which is surprising given it was chosen as a GMA book club selection. When I first saw the cover I gasped, and what this book holds within its pages is a timely, tender, and immersive story told in alternating perspectives. It opens up so many questions in the debate on policing and justice, race and having hard conversations, and the changing dynamics of friendship. I've read various fiction books about racial injustice, but never one like this.
One of the things I found so compulsive is how based in reality it felt, and as a white woman, it most definitely made me feel uncomfortable, which it should. It raised so many questions that made me think and hypothesize, as well as, opened up so much discussion - all signs of a great book!
It's hard to believe We Are Not Like Them is written by a duo, as the writing is provocative and engaging. The alternating perspectives was the perfect fit. And for me this story really went beyond just the topic of race, but the power of speaking up and truly listening in all aspects of life. There were times when I felt grief echoed in a lot of the prose.
We Are Not Like Them covers a lot of ground, and it's a journey worth taking as you attempt to put yourself into another person's shoes and contemplate what you would do in the same situation. It's a story I won't soon forget. This book is designed to make you think, make you uncomfortable, and spark conversations, and it does all of that and more. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where they go next, as I know they're working on their next novel.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of Small Great Things
• readers who want something reflective
• book clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"It kills me how some people want so badly to believe racism is buried beneath layers of history, "ancient history," they say. But it's not. It's like an umpire brushing the thinnest layer of dirt off home plate: it's right there. Only too often the trauma, the toll of it, remains unknown generation after generation."
"There are no easy choices, no safe choices, you can't plan your way to happiness."
"It comes in waves, moments like these, a sense of hopelessness so strong it steals her breath. The sense that no one will understand and nothing will ever change."
"It's the one thing she appreciates about this letter. He doesn't try to justify himself. Some things can't be justified. Still, the letter won't bring peace or closure. Nothing will. But on a good day, when the sun is shining and when her memories of her son are the strongest, when she feels him in the room with her, on those days, she lets herself believe that maybe, just maybe, there's a world in which another mother won't have to go through this pain."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Pregnancy, Racism, Police brutality, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Suicide and Infertility
Minor: Miscarriage and Gun violence
hangingashhearddwrites's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racism, Racial slurs, Infertility, and Grief
Moderate: Pedophilia, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
rishel's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Miscarriage, Racial slurs, and Infertility
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: Death, Child death, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, and Infertility
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, Grief, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Racism
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, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Racism, Pregnancy, and Police brutality
Minor: Miscarriage
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