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A review by woahshereads
We Are Not Like Them by Jo Piazza, Christine Pride
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
3 Stars - A great book club choice!
The premise of this book sounds great. It brings up a very important and a very real reality that many families have gone through. However, the difference is this book particularly focuses on a pair of best friends who have to navigate this situation together as they are both involved. Jen's husband, who is white, is involved in a fatal shooting of an unarmed black kid. Jen's best friend, Riley, who is black and pursuing a news anchor position, has to cover the story.
Unfortunately, I don't think the book lived up to the potential or the impact that it could have had. There are quite a few talking points brought up from both authors, which is why I believe this would be a great book for a book club because those talking points aren't really discussed any further in depth by the two main characters, Jen & Riley. Those tough conversations that both characters have said they wished they had had don't happen and you are left wondering, well what does happen then in this situation then?
In my opinion, I didn't really feel any particular way towards Jen because she was incredibly selfish and I don't feel she made any sort of progress of understanding from Riley's perspective throughout the book. Jen's progress? She convinces her husband to "do what's right" & then they live happily ever after in Florida where they are able to start over. Jen has the luxury of not struggling for more than a few mere months while the trial is going on. She also never has to have those tough yet productive and educating conversations with Riley. Bottom line, Jen doesn't deserve Riley's friendship.
Whereas in Riley's case, she had mentioned that her past behavior of ignoring micro-aggressions & not bringing those to light & educating those around her about how and why what was being said or done was wrong, was not the best way to handle the situation at the time. But later on in the book, we see Riley stand up for herself to Jen when Jen says some insensitive shit (again).
Unfortunately, Riley doesn't get to just forget the heartbreaking story that led her to a potential anchor position. Unfortunately, Tamara doesn't get to forget that her son was murdered for no reason or that an officer involved gets to move away with his newborn son and start over. Furthermore, just a few months after Justin's case, there is another fatal shooting involving a young black male and a police officer and both Tamara and Riley seemingly gear up to show up for those families yet again.
The premise of this book sounds great. It brings up a very important and a very real reality that many families have gone through. However, the difference is this book particularly focuses on a pair of best friends who have to navigate this situation together as they are both involved. Jen's husband, who is white, is involved in a fatal shooting of an unarmed black kid. Jen's best friend, Riley, who is black and pursuing a news anchor position, has to cover the story.
Unfortunately, I don't think the book lived up to the potential or the impact that it could have had. There are quite a few talking points brought up from both authors, which is why I believe this would be a great book for a book club because those talking points aren't really discussed any further in depth by the two main characters, Jen & Riley. Those tough conversations that both characters have said they wished they had had don't happen and you are left wondering, well what does happen then in this situation then?
In my opinion, I didn't really feel any particular way towards Jen because she was incredibly selfish and I don't feel she made any sort of progress of understanding from Riley's perspective throughout the book. Jen's progress? She convinces her husband to "do what's right" & then they live happily ever after in Florida where they are able to start over. Jen has the luxury of not struggling for more than a few mere months while the trial is going on. She also never has to have those tough yet productive and educating conversations with Riley. Bottom line, Jen doesn't deserve Riley's friendship.
Whereas in Riley's case, she had mentioned that her past behavior of ignoring micro-aggressions & not bringing those to light & educating those around her about how and why what was being said or done was wrong, was not the best way to handle the situation at the time. But later on in the book, we see Riley stand up for herself to Jen when Jen says some insensitive shit (again).
Unfortunately, Riley doesn't get to just forget the heartbreaking story that led her to a potential anchor position. Unfortunately, Tamara doesn't get to forget that her son was murdered for no reason or that an officer involved gets to move away with his newborn son and start over. Furthermore, just a few months after Justin's case, there is another fatal shooting involving a young black male and a police officer and both Tamara and Riley seemingly gear up to show up for those families yet again.