People Like Us: Book Review

Today, we will be reviewing People Like Us by Jason Mott, one of the most talked about books of 2025. Keep reading to find out if the hype is real and if you should read it next!

People Like Us Summary

The novel follows two protagonists who are in two different places. One of them is on an international book tour in Europe after winning the National Book Award. The other one is in Minnesota, preparing to give a speech after a school shooting.

After winning the National Book Award, our protagonist has been invited to France by one of the richest people in the world. Maybe France is the place for our protagonist. He keeps hearing the phrase “people like us” and tries to understand what it means and if it exists or not.

Traveling to Minnesota, our other protagonist is trying to help this community come to terms with the passing of their students. Some people think him coming is distasteful but he knows what they are going through. He has lost his daughter and knows their pain.

While their stories may seem different, overarching themes come together as the story progresses. Both our protagonists are trying to find answers to questions that many have been asking for ages.

Commentary

People Like Us was released in 2025 and has been longlisted for the 2026 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. Like our protagonist, Jason Mott has won the National Book Award. The novel feels like a memoir at times and you have to wonder who the protagonist really is.

What I loved about this novel is the characters and the humor intertwined throughout the book. The subject matter is heavy and yet Mott is in his element the whole time. There are tons of great quotes and you can feel Mott in each line.

The subject matter focuses on trauma, guns, violence, a sense of belonging, and what it means to be black. I enjoyed seeing Mott call out America and the world that we live in. You don’t get novels that are as good as this while also being easy to consume.

Conclusion

People Like Us is going to win a few awards and it will make the rounds again during award season. There are some authors that were born to write and Mott is one of them. Trying to put this novel into a genre is a hard task in itself which should tell you everything you need to know.

I recommend this novel to fans of fiction books and anyone that enjoys great writing. This book has been making various end of year lists for a reason. I will have a hard time decided my favorite books of 2025 and this book is sure to make the list. Until next time, happy reading!

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