A review by veganheathen
We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride, Jo Piazza

5.0

This book is basically the conversations we all need to be having with each other. The first pages were heart-wrenching and the story dove right into how various people are thrust into and deal with such tragedy. I felt so many things while reading this, which is the marker of a great book if it can elicit such emotion. Such a great premise and a great book.

I feel like Jen is so many white women who think they are woke and don’t feel they’re racist, while simultaneously holding racist beliefs. Society has ingrained that into so many without us realizing it. Choosing to listen and learn and become allies is important, especially if it makes one uncomfortable. Through discomfort, we can grow if we remain open.

Spoiler

I really disliked Jen for most of the book and found her to be a very poor friend to Riley. Right at the end of the book she starts the baby steps of trying. I’m not sure why Riley put up with so many micro-aggressions and I find it hard to believe conversations about race never happened while Jen was growing up immersed in Riley’s family world.

I received this book for free from a Goodreads giveaway. The review is still my honest and unbiased opinion.