What do you think?
Rate this book
People Like Us
Welcome to Eka, a country controlled by Authority, where each gender is completely segregated and isolated from the opposite sex. Men are only permitted to marry other males and become the fathers of sons. Women, the lesser gender, must remain in the female faction, marrying and mothering only other females. The interaction of genders is entirely forbidden and punishable by death.
Seventeen-year-old, rule-following Vicissitude “Cissy” Maddox is closing in on her final days of her senior year. With the most beautiful girl on her arm and two doting and loving mothers, Cissy should be basking in the glory of graduation and adulthood. Yet, something is holding her back, forbidding her to feel the excitement of what comes next.
Lacrosse star, Riot Logan, is determined to break free from the confines of the Authority-controlled, homogenous world that stifles him. Riot yearns for nothing more than to create art with his hands, a crime for men in Eka. With dreams of a life that isn’t dictated by the Laws of Life and Liberty, Riot begins to push the limits, demanding answers about the Ekian way of life.
But when a careless encounter deep in the forest puts Cissy and Riot face-to-face, the rules and boundaries blur. A man and woman are forbidden to interact in any way. A “linear” lifestyle is the ultimate crime. One greeting or one touch could land them in the Confinery for life—or worse. Quickly, they discover homogeny is the very law they cannot obey. Unable to endure the stifling rules, Riot and Cissy embark upon a journey to uncover the truth that led to their so-called perfect society
Seventeen-year-old, rule-following Vicissitude “Cissy” Maddox is closing in on her final days of her senior year. With the most beautiful girl on her arm and two doting and loving mothers, Cissy should be basking in the glory of graduation and adulthood. Yet, something is holding her back, forbidding her to feel the excitement of what comes next.
Lacrosse star, Riot Logan, is determined to break free from the confines of the Authority-controlled, homogenous world that stifles him. Riot yearns for nothing more than to create art with his hands, a crime for men in Eka. With dreams of a life that isn’t dictated by the Laws of Life and Liberty, Riot begins to push the limits, demanding answers about the Ekian way of life.
But when a careless encounter deep in the forest puts Cissy and Riot face-to-face, the rules and boundaries blur. A man and woman are forbidden to interact in any way. A “linear” lifestyle is the ultimate crime. One greeting or one touch could land them in the Confinery for life—or worse. Quickly, they discover homogeny is the very law they cannot obey. Unable to endure the stifling rules, Riot and Cissy embark upon a journey to uncover the truth that led to their so-called perfect society
390 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2024
13 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 7, 2025
Thank you so much to Carol for sending me this book! All thoughts and options are my own.
People like us is a dystopian novel that focuses on a world where men and women are kept separate and heterosexuality is illegal. Cissy and Riot both go on a transformative journey where they question the world they are raised in and also question who they are and who they want to be in a world that would not accept them if they were honest about themselves.
I really enjoyed this book, it flipped a lot of societal and political problems we face on a day to day basis and gave us this alternate reality. I found myself getting so angry at the treatment of the characters and then realising this is what happens on a daily basis to so many people in the world. It is a very well thought of storyline and I had moments of laughter, sadness, anger and such empathy. We are left with many unanswered questions and I hope in the next book there can be a happy ending for Cissy and Riot. I will be thinking about this book for a long time and definitely recommending it!
4.5 stars!
People like us is a dystopian novel that focuses on a world where men and women are kept separate and heterosexuality is illegal. Cissy and Riot both go on a transformative journey where they question the world they are raised in and also question who they are and who they want to be in a world that would not accept them if they were honest about themselves.
I really enjoyed this book, it flipped a lot of societal and political problems we face on a day to day basis and gave us this alternate reality. I found myself getting so angry at the treatment of the characters and then realising this is what happens on a daily basis to so many people in the world. It is a very well thought of storyline and I had moments of laughter, sadness, anger and such empathy. We are left with many unanswered questions and I hope in the next book there can be a happy ending for Cissy and Riot. I will be thinking about this book for a long time and definitely recommending it!
4.5 stars!
July 22, 2024
This book is phenomenal! I typically stick to romance books or true crime because well I’m basic I suppose. I was skeptical because this books doesn’t stand out as either of those. However!!!!!!! Give it a chance and fall in love! There are multiple love stories or romance scenes in this book among crime and mischief! I literally could not put book this down! It’s truly an amazing journey of ups and downs much like the lives we live every day. If you want a little escape into the unknown sit down with this book and get lost while relaxing on the couch, at the pool, at the beach, honestly where ever!
August 8, 2024
I loved this book so much! The connection to the characters and the buy in when reading the book is unreal! I can’t wait for the next one!
January 12, 2025
A good dystopian. Think about our world, if being heterosexual is a crime. Historical knowledge is illegal, etc. Fun read.
July 31, 2025
It's absolutely phenomenal! I was sucked in right from the beginning and didn't want to put it down. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I like to read fiction to get away from our everyday world and the tragedies we deal with. This book mentions ALOT of our current issues, and I didn't care for it.
November 25, 2024
I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting before I read this book, but it ended up being much more than I could have anticipated. There is a lot to unpack here, but what a special thing it is when a book makes you feel a range of emotions. The passion woven into these pages is truly palpable. I hope this book continues to reach diverse readers of all ages.
November 21, 2025
5 tear-stained, heart-aching stars
This book… oh this book. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read. Raw, daring, and achingly beautiful in ways I didn’t even know I needed. The world these characters live in feels terrifyingly close to our own… where power that be shapes, the knowledge we learn, what we consume, where we work how much we make and worst of all who we’re allowed to love.🧐
“Do you ever feel like you’re just watching your life happen, but you’re not the one in charge of it?”
That line hit me like a punch to the soul.
What moved me the most wasn’t just the plot it was Cissy and Riot characters as a whole. These characters, so young yet so brave, questioning everything they’ve been told, trusting their instincts, and stumbling into truths about themselves that cracked my heart wide open. Their hope, their fear, their desperate desire to simply be. I felt every bit of it.
I laughed with them. I cried for them. I rooted for them with every page, my chest tightening with that fierce, aching wish for them to reach their own finish line together. The love, the struggle, the courage… it all felt so real.
“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
Carol Ann, if you ever read this… I am waiting..impatiently, desperately, lovingly for Part 2. My heart won’t rest until I know how this love story ends. 🙏🏽🫶🏽
This book… oh this book. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read. Raw, daring, and achingly beautiful in ways I didn’t even know I needed. The world these characters live in feels terrifyingly close to our own… where power that be shapes, the knowledge we learn, what we consume, where we work how much we make and worst of all who we’re allowed to love.🧐
“Do you ever feel like you’re just watching your life happen, but you’re not the one in charge of it?”
That line hit me like a punch to the soul.
What moved me the most wasn’t just the plot it was Cissy and Riot characters as a whole. These characters, so young yet so brave, questioning everything they’ve been told, trusting their instincts, and stumbling into truths about themselves that cracked my heart wide open. Their hope, their fear, their desperate desire to simply be. I felt every bit of it.
I laughed with them. I cried for them. I rooted for them with every page, my chest tightening with that fierce, aching wish for them to reach their own finish line together. The love, the struggle, the courage… it all felt so real.
“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
Carol Ann, if you ever read this… I am waiting..impatiently, desperately, lovingly for Part 2. My heart won’t rest until I know how this love story ends. 🙏🏽🫶🏽
February 6, 2025
Went in blind…
First off Carol Ann Eastman, if you are in here I need the next book NOW! I can not wait. Literally.
This book was brilliant.
I don’t normally leave real reviews with words, but this book is going to stick with me for awhile.
Not to give too much away, but what if heterosexual relationships were against the law? What if you were told what your career would be based on your gender & grades, but not only that, it’s even more limited. What if every calorie was tracked - and your every move was tracked? Welcome to 2030ish, where everything prior to knowing Before is forbidden.
Buckle up readers because Holy Authority it’s a wild ride!
First off Carol Ann Eastman, if you are in here I need the next book NOW! I can not wait. Literally.
This book was brilliant.
I don’t normally leave real reviews with words, but this book is going to stick with me for awhile.
Not to give too much away, but what if heterosexual relationships were against the law? What if you were told what your career would be based on your gender & grades, but not only that, it’s even more limited. What if every calorie was tracked - and your every move was tracked? Welcome to 2030ish, where everything prior to knowing Before is forbidden.
Buckle up readers because Holy Authority it’s a wild ride!
February 12, 2025
Ok first off, I owe the author an apology. I downloaded this book in June, but could never bring myself to read it because it’s totally different from any type of book I read. This book had me hooked from probably the second paragraph I couldn’t put it down. I laughed, I cried, i rolled my eyes and I was on the edge of my seat. I loved everything about this book, from the characters to how the author intertwined our world in their world. It was all just magnificent. Do yourself a favor and read the book.
July 28, 2024
What if we lived in a world where genders were completely separated? Where interests, hobbies, and careers were decided by gender. Where the government decides if you can have children, how much you can weigh, and are constantly monitoring your whereabouts.
Welcome to Eka. In this world, men and women are completely separated. Homosexual relationships are the norm as they believe that men and women should never interact. Vicissitude (Cissy) and Riot have grown up in this world and have never thought to question the way the world works. As the novel progresses we get to experience the character's growth and increased curiosity into what the world used to look like.
People Like Us is a tale of self-discovery, independence, and challenging society's expectations.
I really enjoyed how this novel seemed to pick fun at modern society and emphasized how insane some of our social norms can be. I believe that this book is the perfect mix of political satire and coming of age story.
Thank you to the author for a free copy to review!
Welcome to Eka. In this world, men and women are completely separated. Homosexual relationships are the norm as they believe that men and women should never interact. Vicissitude (Cissy) and Riot have grown up in this world and have never thought to question the way the world works. As the novel progresses we get to experience the character's growth and increased curiosity into what the world used to look like.
People Like Us is a tale of self-discovery, independence, and challenging society's expectations.
I really enjoyed how this novel seemed to pick fun at modern society and emphasized how insane some of our social norms can be. I believe that this book is the perfect mix of political satire and coming of age story.
Thank you to the author for a free copy to review!
July 19, 2024
This was a great book. I love the concept. It was very different and unique. I binged it in a day because I just had to know what happened to the characters. I rated it 4 stars because I feel the beginning could have been paced a little faster but honestly that’s probably just a me issue 💖. Can’t wait for the next one!
June 5, 2024
Best work yet!!! And that is 💯 percent what I think.
July 7, 2024
This book was phenomenal! I couldn’t put it down and am dying in anticipation for the sequel. It is apparent that this is a passion piece for the author. The care and love poured out into every word is astounding.
What an ally! Her students are truly blessed to have crossed paths with her. Books like this give me hope for an inclusive and loving future. I wish everyone would read it.
What an ally! Her students are truly blessed to have crossed paths with her. Books like this give me hope for an inclusive and loving future. I wish everyone would read it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews