How’s your Summer shaping up? Doing any reading? We’re big fans of reading around here. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that we’re always on the hunt for a good Summer read. Whether it’s a romance, a thriller or something that shows a new perspective, we’re all about it. This week, let’s talk about a book that had us thinking and talking about what it really looks like to have a friendship tested.

A Good Summer Read

We Are Not Like Them had the conversations flowing. Unique in its storytelling, we really enjoyed this book. It’s written by two authors, one Black woman and one white woman. They each bring their individual perspectives to the story which make for a really interesting read.

The characters are two women who have known each other and been best friends since they were little girls. One is a Black woman (Riley), the other is a white woman (Jen). Their lives take different turns as Riley is soaring in her career as a news reporter. Jen marries young and is pregnant with her first child. She’s married to a police officer. Her police officer husband is embroiled in controversy after being a part of an officer involved shooting that left a Black teenager dead. Riley has to cover the story for work. Their lifelong friendship is tested.

Nothing about this situation is easy. Jen is like family to Riley. Jen grew up with a non-supportive mother who had sketchy boyfriends. She did as little as possible to raise Jen. Her negligence is what she and Riley closer together as friends. Riley’s family allow Jen to spend so much time their family that she’s like a sister to Riley. All of that history makes it hard to sort to the issues they now face in their friendship.

What’s a good Summer read that’s making your list this year?