We Are Not Like Them
Fiction
Atria Books
October 5, 2021
Advance reader copy
336
Free from publisher
Told from alternating perspectives, an evocative and riveting novel about the lifelong bond between two women, one Black and one white, whose friendship is indelibly altered by a tragic event—a powerful and poignant exploration of race in America today and its devastating impact on ordinary lives.
Jen and Riley have been best friends since kindergarten. As adults, they remain as close as sisters, though their lives have taken different directions. Jen married young, and after years of trying, is finally pregnant. Riley pursued her childhood dream of becoming a television journalist and is poised to become one of the first Black female anchors of the top news channel in their hometown of Philadelphia.
But the deep bond they share is severely tested when Jen’s husband, a city police officer, is involved in the shooting of an unarmed Black teenager. Six months pregnant, Jen is in freefall as her future, her husband’s freedom, and her friendship with Riley are thrown into uncertainty. Covering this career-making story, Riley wrestles with the implications of this tragic incident for her Black community, her ambitions, and her relationship with her lifelong friend.
Wow! Ripped from the headlines, this is a book that explores how two best friends handle things when a huge obstacle comes between them. Told in alternating chapters from Jen and Riley, best friends since kindergarten, Jen is white, Riley is Black. Due to a less than stellar homelife, Jen has basically grown up in Riley's family. Both are happy with where they've landed in life, Jen finally pregnant with the baby she has tried so hard for, and Riley on the cusp of becoming a television news anchor. Riley's final test for the promotion comes when she is given a story to report on, the death of an unarmed young black boy by a police officer. She's ready to make her mark, and try to end this madness of young black men being targeted, but there is one problem, the officer involved in the shooting is Jen's husband! The two characters are so well written that you find yourself flipping sides throughout the novel. It really makes you think about how a split second decision can have such devastating consequences. You will find yourself transported into the lives of each of these women, wondering what you would do in their shoes. Very well crafted, you would never suspect that there are two authors collaborating. The supporting characters also lend another layer to the tension, and the parallels with current events are evident. I had no idea how the authors could end this story, and I felt that they did a good job in coming to a justifiable conclusion.
This book will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions, and is a must read for everyone in today's tumultuous society.
