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woahshereads's review against another edition
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.
jadeelizaerrez's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.25
An extremely brave take on race and friendship, this collaborative novel explores the nuance and complexity of modern American race relations as interracial best friends are thrown into chaos from the police murder of a black teen. The narrative doesn’t shy away from tough realities and realistic reactions from each character in their lives. The stakes are very real, the emotions ring true, and every messy complexity is embraced.
ashgoddess2009's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza follows two friends, Jen and Riley, who have been friends ever since Riley’s grandmother, Gigi, began to watch Jen when Jen’s hot mess of a mother couldn’t find anyone else to do so. Because of this, the two grow up as close as sisters even when Riley goes off to college and Jen stays home to work because college is not something she can afford. When Jen’s husband, Kevin, ends up shooting an unarmed 14 year old Black boy, their friendship is tested immensely.
I really wanted to like this book as it covers a topic that is seen over and over again in today’s media with the shooting of an unarmed Black teenager. However, I was personally not a fan. I sincerely wish that the book could have been solely from Riley’s point-of-view or even jumped around to more characters.
I did not like Jen’s character. I found her to be very whiny, selfish, and childish. Throughout the book, she does believe that what happened to Justin (the teen whose shooting is the catalyst of the story) is an unfortunate occurrence, but she goes on and on about how unfair the backlash against her, her husband, and the Philadelphia Police Department is. Every five seconds in the book, she keeps saying that she wishes her life could go back to normal so she can raise her unborn child in anonymity. Never mind the fact that Justin’s mother will never get to hold her child or raise her child. She and her husband are only sorry in a very surface level way. When it comes to Riley’s involvement in the media storm unleashed upon them, she complains that Riley isn’t on her side and is annoyed with her. When she and Riley finally have the conversation that they should have had long before this occurs, she expects Riley to educate her on what being a Black woman in America is like.
Side Note: Let me say now, it is not up to Black people to educate others about what it means to be Black in America. Google is free.
Jen’s family isn’t better. Her husband completely blames the shooting on his partner because his partner shot first. While this may have been the case, he definitely still shot the poor kid also. He is equally to blame, especially because he says that as soon as he sees Justin that he was NOT the suspect they were chasing. I completely LOATHED Jen’s mother-in-law and brother-in-law. Whenever they said something out of pocket, Jen didn’t even try to correct them or stick up for herself. In one scene, her brother-in-law, Matt, calls Riley “that Black b****” when he learns they cannot use her for a positive interview as she’s interviewing Justin’s mother instead. Jen halfheartedly tells him not to call her that and that’s it. Everything with him is “those people” and Jen never gives him so much as a side-eye. That is not what a true best friend/ally would do.
I truly enjoyed Riley’s chapters and her family relationships, especially her relationship with her mother. The only problem I had with her is how much she hinged her career on the tragedy: the interview with Justin’s mother, the interview with the DA, etc. It seemed a bit weird to be so excited to have an interview with a mother of a child in the hospital because he’s been shot.
I also enjoyed reading a book set in Philadelphia. I live about an hour away so it was refreshing to read about locations where I’ve actually been. It’s not everyday you read a book set so close to where you live, especially being from a small town in NJ. There’s a lot of negativity in the news when it comes to Philadelphia and I liked that (other than the shooting) it focused on some positives of living there.
The ending was underwhelming and did not go in the direction that I thought it would. It was a copout. I believe the authors played it safe and wrapped the ending up in a big red bow.
While I did not particularly enjoy We Are Not Like Them, I would recommend this book to those who like dual-narratives, hot button topics, and contemporary fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Gun violence, Infertility, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racism, Miscarriage, and Murder
emmawheatley's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
deannacarp's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sarahkheeter's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
kennedyhubbard's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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
4.0
mildredtail's review
emotional
reflective
medium-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
5.0
dangates's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ttimbrook's review against another edition
4.0
To be honest, literary fiction usually gets me down. Especially books revolving around heavy social issues. I can’t say that this wasn’t the case here. However, this book did really make me think. Throughout my day, I found myself really looking at people - at the grocery store, at my job, on the street - and wondering, “What have you been through? What fears do you have? What have you experienced that I cannot even imagine?” I think the authors would be happy knowing they helped readers to reflect on the issues the book brings up.