This is the book I needed 7 years ago when my son first entered a PWI, to learn how to navigate these white spaces. Meet De'Andrea and Rebecca, 1 Black mother and 1 White mother navigating the world of Magnolia Country Day School. Expectations are set too high about this diversity committee and true colors are shown when they petition to take down a confederate statue. It reminded me a little of The Hate U Give, but with PA parents. Oppression Olympics are brought up with the character of Jenny Q. The question of whether all white women are Beckys or Karens is raised and whether or not it is on Black people to educate them. I found the ending to be a bit unrealistic though- I would've never went back! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the questions it raises. If our Black children have to learn about race at an early age, so should White kids.

I DNFed this (twice!) so I won't be rating on other sites. I picked this up shortly after being approved for it, couldn't get past the first or second chapter. Picked it back up again recently, and - try as I may - couldn't finish it again. The characters were unlikable and such flat stereotypes. It felt like it was trying too hard to make a point, reinforcing a lot of telling not showing and using those stereotypes and other things that just felt really topically trendy and that will age poorly. :(

This book taught me a lot about the growing I still need to do to become anti-racist.

The novel is told from two viewpoints: DeAndrea and Rebecca. DeAndrea and her family are moving from Atlanta to Rolling Hills, from a vibrant urban city filled with successful black people to a very white town. They are drawn here by the wonderful dementia facility, which will house DeAndrea's mother-in-law. Her early onset dementia is hard to watch, but there's no question that they want to be close enough to visit her a few times a week.

Rebecca is the president of the diversity committee at her children's school. When she learns DeAndrea's family is moving into their neighborhood and attending school with her kids, she can't wait to meet her and finally have a black face on the diversity committee (not to mention a black friend).

At first, this book really irritated me. DeAndrea expects the worst when she moves to Rolling Hills. Rebecca is clueless and naive. They seemed more caricature than real people. But the more I read, the more I understood them. The more I realized I'm not that different than Rebecca (or Becky), and I had something to learn from this book.

You won't be surprised what happens to DeAndrea's family, but hopefully you also will be moved to do your part to make things better in your own world. I'm going to continue to do my reading and learning about racism, and examine my life to find the micro aggressions I'm sure I'm committing.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

The summary of this book felt right up my alley, but I couldn't finish, mostly because the main characters ended up feeling a bit more like caricatures than fully fleshed out characters. The set up does feel as though it's full of great conflict. I just don't think I'm the reader for this.

This was a great book on looking at racism from two different view points. All things equal except one friend was white and other person was black. To see even within your own family you can have different view points on racisms. I loved how the two friends worked to gain a better understanding of each others view point and how to navigate life to allow their kids to become friends.

Received this as an e-book ARC from NetGalley.

De’Andrea Whitman is being uprooted from her comfortable home and network of close friends in Atlanta to move to a predominantly white, gated community that is hours away from everything she knows and values. Her only child is starting kindergarten, prompting De’Andrea, who left off practising law to be a stay-at-home mom, to question what she should do with the next stage of her life.

Her daughter’s new best friend is the only child of Rebecca, the painfully earnest white chair of the school’s diversity committee, who launches herself at De’Andrea like a heat-seeking missile. At last, a Black family has arrived!

Sounds like the setup for a great read, but I felt like the story never really got there. Strong parallels are drawn between De’Andrea and Rebecca, but both characters are written as superficial and unlikeable. I didn’t see any growth over the course of the novel from either woman.

The pacing is a bit uneven - it moves very slowly at first, but about a quarter of the way in the story picks up considerably. There are some really good scenes that explore racism and internalized racism, but I kept waiting for some character development that never happened.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with an ARC.

Rebecca Myland's daughter Isabella announces after 1 day of kindergarten that she has a new best friend named Nina. Nina Whitman and her parents DeAndrea and Malik have just moved to the very affluent suburb of Rolling Hills in Virginia. DeAndrea, especially, is having a hard time with the move from Atlanta. Their social group there was the "family that you choose" ,and she is missing her friends immensely. DeAndrea is fairly sure they are the only black family in the entire community, leaving her feeling even more isolated. Her therapist challenges her to make a white friend, and when Rebecca invites her to join the school's diversity committee, the unlikely pair find they have more in common than either of them expected.

Thanks to NetGalley, the authors and the publishe rAmistad for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, writing, and the many different perspectives. This book captures many important issues that occur all too much in the US. Great read. Thank you, NetGalley.

Good story. Real enough and current enough to sometimes be difficult to read, but a good, balanced story of people trying to figure out how to do interracial friendships well.

Rebecca, Not Becky is the story of two women in Northern Virginia. Both are financially quite comfortable and one is Black and one is white. I enjoyed the early part of DeAndrea's story but felt it got bogged down. Rebecca just wasn't an appealing character for me and so the story dragged for me. DeAndrea's character did feel better defined to me and her dialogue especially with her friends rang more authentic.
All in all just not my favorite read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

I really liked this book, it was different than anything else I've read which was a breath of fresh air. I will be recommending this to my friends, and auto buy this author!

This book is not an ordinary book—it’s not your run-of-the-mill women’s fiction piece about friendship and adversity. No, no. This piece is deeper. It requires thought and encourages action. It is emotional, vulnerable, and complicated. I suppose that’s no surprise.

I would almost venture to say that this is a non-fiction piece clothed in a narrative. It reads almost like a series of essays, except the book is character-driven. Unfortunately, it is not plot driven, and there is more telling than showing. Those are the biggest reason for my rating.

Other reasons for my rating are:
- unlikeable main characters
- shallow interactions between characters
- on-page conflict with off-page resolution

Really, I guess I had higher expectations for this book. But that’s not to say the book doesn’t have real world value. It poses questions and prompts conversations that we need to consider. And naturally, we shouldn’t stop at consideration.

If you want to read this book, please walk into it with your eyes open. It will leave you with more questions than answers, and I believe this is on purpose. This book is meant to challenge you. Additionally, be aware that there is no HEA in this story—because it is a reflection of the real world. Again, I believe this is intentional. We are meant to feel the discomfort of this book. And THAT is where the genius of this book lies.

Thank you to the authors, NetGalley, and Amistad for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. It was a pleasure.

I had to DNF this one because it just wasn’t very enjoyable. I’m all for unlikable main characters but these ladies just felt really stereotypical and obvious. I wanted to love it because the concept was there. The execution just wasn’t.

I don't quite know how to describe the way I feel about this book...

The writing of some of the characters irked me. Also "zaddy" was used unironically, which made me wince.

I absolutely LOVED Rebecca, Not Becky, and it will be among my favorites of 2023. This book deals with so many topics—racism, friendship, aging parents—and does so in a very relatable way. I liked the characters, faults and all, and felt like the main characters were very well developed. It made me think, and it would be a great book club choice! Thank you, NetGalley and Amistad, for the advance reader copy of this five star read!

This book was just okay, for me. It felt like everything was just glossed over and nothing was fully fleshed out or explored, be it characters or plot lines.

"Rebecca, Not Becky" by Christine Platt and Catherine Wigginton Greene is a captivating and socially relevant novel that masterfully explores the dynamics of race, motherhood, and friendship in the privileged enclave of Rolling Hills, Virginia. Drawing inspiration from contemporary works like "Such a Fun Age," the authors deliver a whip-smart and compulsively readable narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

The story revolves around De’Andrea Whitman, her husband Malik, and their daughter Nina, as they navigate the challenges of moving to the predominantly white suburb of Rolling Hills. Platt and Greene skillfully capture De’Andrea's emotional journey, blending the heartbreak of leaving behind the Black oasis of Atlanta with the overwhelming adjustments required in her new community. The authors' portrayal of the struggles faced by De’Andrea is both poignant and relatable, creating a strong connection between the reader and the character.

The introduction of Rebecca Myland, the white chair of the Parent Diversity Committee, adds another layer to the narrative. The serendipitous friendship between Rebecca's daughter, Isabella, and Nina becomes a catalyst for exploration into the complexities of race and friendship. The storyline, driven by the characters' interactions within the committee, provides a nuanced commentary on the genuine challenges of fostering diversity in well-intentioned but imperfect ways.

The novel excels in its exploration of the racial reckoning in America, effectively integrating contemporary issues into the narrative. The authors cleverly weave in elements of antiracism activism, social media dynamics, and the subtle nuances of racial dynamics within the community. This timely exploration adds depth and relevance to the storyline, making it a powerful reflection of the current socio-political climate.

While the narrative is rich in its exploration of racial complexities, motherhood, and friendship, there are instances where the plot feels somewhat predictable, and certain characters may lack the depth needed for a fully immersive experience. However, these minor shortcomings are overshadowed by the overall strength of the novel's themes and character dynamics.

"Rebecca, Not Becky" earns its four-star rating by delivering a compelling narrative that successfully captures the challenges faced by its characters in a turbulent social landscape. Platt and Greene offer readers a thought-provoking and enjoyable exploration of sisterhood, motherhood, and the pursuit of genuine connections amidst the backdrop of America’s racial reckoning. This novel is a commendable addition to contemporary literature, inviting readers to reflect on the complexities of modern society.

De'Andrea and her family move from Atlanta to Rolling Hills by circumstance and not choice. It's quite an adjustment leaving a comfortable life in the Black oasis of Atlanta to the overwhelming whiteness of Rolling Hills, Virginia. De'Andrea's therapist challenges her to befriend a white woman to help ease the transition.

Rebecca is thrilled there's a new Black family in the neighborhood. She can put everything she's learned about antiracism into practice while running the Parent Diversity Committee. The two women come together for a common cause amidst the community's rising racial sentiments.

Le sigh. This could have been a really good novel if done right.

The conflict of the story happened past the halfway mark. There was no reason to drag on this plot for such an underwhelming climax. I wanted to give up early on but kept pushing through. When is the good part? The dialogue is riddled with slang that will be outdated soon and the author leans into stereotypes with the unlikeable main characters.

Where is the originality? What are the lessons learned that can help potential readers in a similar racial situation? At 55% through the galley, I figured I might as well finish the second half since the writing seemed better. But then the ending was thrown together.

Bye, Becky! Don't listen to the blurb. This is not along the same vein as Such a Fun Age. It is not compulsively readable. Unfortunately, my recommendation is to skip this new release. Keep in mind though, just because I did not enjoy it does not mean you won't either.

Happy Pub Day, Christine Platt and Catherine Wigginton Greene! Rebecca, Not Becky is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

This was an interesting look at a (perhaps too) wide variety of issues, everything from racism to friendship, from aging parents facing dementia to racist monuments.

e’Andrea, her husband, and their daughter are new to the suburbs in Virginia. De’Andrea is not happy to be leaving her comfortable life in Atlanta. This move has her overwhelmed and struggling to adjust to her new community.

Rebecca, Not Becky wasn’t my favorite book of the year, unfortunately. I had trouble relating to the characters and honestly, they weren’t very likable. This book will definitely have a specific audience and I wasn’t it. At first I had trouble getting into it but it ended up picking up and I was able to finish it rather than DNF, which is a plus! Overall, it felt a little lack luster but I really think I was just the wrong person for it. If this is on your TBR I still say you pick it up and give it a go, you may just enjoy it more than I did!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Amistad for the ARC and the chance to read and review it honestly.

Happy reading!