Thank you Knopf for providing this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

“Someone Like Us” is an emotional ride that is told in shifting timelines that all come together in the end to reveal a heartbreaking truth. The author was able to spectacularly tackle the themes of generational trauma, diaspora, and grief while following along with an unreliable narrator.

I would recommend this book to those that are fans of stories filled with reflection and don’t mind that a story is not told linearly.

For this not being a very long story, I found this packed in so much depth. We follow Mamush as he takes steps towards better understanding a past he was told never to question. Through even the smallest moments of reflection, we are revealed sides of Mamush’s life that he had kept locked away, even from himself. All of these smaller stories build up into a moment that I found myself having to hold back tears for.

Not only was I not expecting to tear up, I was also taken aback at how much I related to Mamush’s childhood. Being a first-generation Filipino-American with both parents that worked as many hours as they could, I quickly recognized the messaging that Mamush got at a young age. Although his life lessons were told in much different ways, I could definitely relate to the expectations being placed on him to be a model American citizen. 

Ultimately what held me back from giving this a five star rating was how abrupt the use of shifting timelines felt. When this writing style was first introduced in the story I was worried that I had missed a chapter and kept re-reading sections but as things continued I was able to put myself in the proper headspace to fully delve into Mamush’s past and present.

I would definitely read future works by this author. I was most impressed at how they were able to make the moments that seem small feel incredibly heavy and life changing.