DigeeBooks

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. Like Tayari Jones’s An American Marriage and Jodi Picoult’s Small Great Things, We Are Not Like Them explores complex questions of race and how they pervade and shape our most intimate spaces in a deeply divided world. But at its heart, it’s a story of enduring friendship—a love that defies the odds even as it faces its most difficult challenges.

In "We Are Not Like Them," Jo Piazza delves into the complexities of identity, privilege, and the consequences of assumptions in a compelling and thought-provoking novel. Set against the backdrop of an elite New York City neighborhood, the story revolves around two families from vastly different backgrounds whose lives become intertwined in unexpected ways.

At the heart of the narrative are the two mothers, Riley and Jen. Riley is a successful real estate agent and a pillar of the Upper East Side community. She is married to Ben, a hedge fund manager. They have two children, Emma and Jack. Jen, on the other hand, is a struggling single mother from Queens. She works as a housekeeper for Riley's family.

Through the alternating perspectives of Riley and Jen, Piazza deftly explores the subtle and not-so-subtle prejudices that exist between the two families. Riley, with her privileged upbringing, struggles to understand the challenges faced by Jen, who is constantly trying to make ends meet and provide a better life for her son, Noah.

As their paths collide, Riley and Jen are forced to confront the assumptions they have held about each other and the world around them. They begin to see the complexities of their own lives and the lives of those they once saw as outsiders. Piazza masterfully weaves together their stories, revealing the commonalities that unite them despite their apparent differences.

"We Are Not Like Them" is a poignant and insightful novel that challenges readers to question their own biases and the ways they perceive the world. With her keen eye for detail and her ability to craft compelling characters, Piazza creates a powerful narrative that resonates long after the final page is turned.