Riley just moved back to her hometown and her dream job working at the local news station. It’s also giving her the opportunity to reconnect in person with her childhood best friend Jen, who is expecting her first child soon. After a decades of friendship, Jen and Riley have started to drift apart – Riley’s busy career and Jen’s family with her husband, a police officer, have taken them on different paths. What should be a time for the women to celebrate and reconnect, turns into a moment that threatens to end their friendship when something the women have always taken for granted is thrust into the spotlight – their different races. Will their friendship grow through the tragedy, or will this be the end of their decades-long friendship?
Christina Pride and Jo Piazza bring readers on a journey in We Are Not Like Them that feels ripped from the headlines. A white cop shoots a black, unarmed teen, and the community seeks retribution. The pair are known for giving voices to strong female leads and telling stories about race. This remarkable tale feels especially poignant at this point in our community’s history where, after years of making strides towards equality for minority groups on the basis of nationality, race, and gender, suddenly diversity is a four letter word and inclusion is not the desired path moving forward. This novel is a heartbreak, breathtaking tale of friendship beyond skin tone, but also of how far we still need to go to remove unconscious bias from our everyday actions.
I give We Are Not Like Them 5 out of 5 stars. A few years ago, I listened to a podcast about unconscious bias and how to be a better ally as a white woman in America. This book feels like a fictional version of that podcast. These authors wove the voices of these characters together in a realistic and moving way – from the two main characters, to the families, to all the supporting characters. I found myself moved to tears by many moments throughout the book and I know this will bring many readers to a new level of understanding about life for those on the other side of the racial equation.
Given themes of gun violence and police shootings, I would caution readers who may be sensitive to these topics before picking up this book. I would also direct this novel to more mature readers over 13. However, if you enjoyed other books we’ve previously read like Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez or Maame by Jessica George, I think you will love this one based on the subject matter. I would also recommend this book to readers who have enjoyed Ann Napolitano’s works like Hello Beautiful based on her writing style – this was very similar. If you’re looking for a new book club selection for a women’s literature group, this might be a fantastic selection for your group!
I chose We Are Not Like Them for the Read With Lindsey Reading Challenge prompt by an African American author. While only one of the two authors fit this prompt, I thought this book was fitting for the prompt given the subject matter. This was the first book I’ve read by either author. What book are you reading for this prompt?
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Greetings from Somewhere Else, Monica McInerney
- Current audio book: The Deathly Grimm, Kathryn Purdie
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Light a Penny Candle, Maeve Binchy
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