“We Are Not Like Them” by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza does a beautiful job at deeply examining the effects of police brutality on different people. Published Oct. 5, the novel tackles the timely and sensitive topic of unwarranted police shootings in a powerful way.
The two main characters, Jen Murphy and Riley Wilson, are lifelong best friends. Jen is white and Riley is Black, and the day that Jen’s police officer husband shoots unarmed Black teenager Justin while on duty is when their friendship changes. Jen is pregnant with her and Kevin’s baby, conceived after many rounds of in vitro fertilization; the stress of Kevin’s potential jail time makes her fear for her baby’s safety. Riley, a TV newscaster, is the lead reporter on Justin’s murder, which causes tension between her and Jen. Their friendship is put to the test as Jen supports her husband and justifies his actions, while Riley sympathizes with the victim’s family, taking notice of how ignorant Jen is of Black struggles. The story highlights the Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter movements, while exploring how Jen and Riley’s relationship shifts because of their opposing ends of the tragedy.
The book has two authors, one Black and one white, which makes the conflicting perspectives between Jen as a white woman and Riley as a Black woman feel authentic and insightful. The chapters alternate between the two friends’ points of view, allowing the reader to gain varying degrees of empathy for each side and see how the incident affects the women differently.
It was fascinating to read about the same situation through Jen and Riley’s contrasting outlooks since their backgrounds and races influence their perceptions of the murder and what justice should look like.
The authors don’t waste time introducing Justin’s murder, which makes the story captivating and heart-wrenching from the start. They did not shy away from addressing police brutality and showing how the tragedy is not just painful for the victim’s family, but for the Black community as a whole.
Pride and Piazza did a great job detailing the complex issue of racism by providing insightful flashbacks on Riley’s life, analyzing past conversations between her and Jen and picking out microaggressions that Riley had once brushed over. Although the story is fiction, the authors succeeded in making the plot feel relevant as it reflects on the many police killings of unarmed Black people that occur often in real life.
Interestingly, Kevin was not painted like the reader might expect. He was apologetic about the killing and distraught, far from a heartless killer. However, he was also self-absorbed at times, often valuing his own family’s well-being over closure for Justin’s family. There are layers to the shooting which add complexity, depth and compel the reader to consider morality and justice.
“We Are Not Like Them” gives the reader the opportunity to form their own opinion on what outcome they think Kevin deserves, which is thought-provoking and likely the authors’ goal: to encourage discussion on such a controversial and sensitive topic.
Overall, “We Are Not Like Them” is a heavy read that addresses the prevalent issue of police brutality with the complexity and maturity it deserves. Jen and Riley’s friendship is dynamic and raw, and the plot itself is well-thought-out and gripping. It would make for a great book club read, as it touches on microaggressions in interracial friendships and inspires conversation regarding how justice can be achieved in a world with so little.
Edited by Elise Mulligan | emulligan@themaneater.com