Mamush, a journalist, lives in Paris with his wife, Hannah (not Helen), a photographer, and their young son, who has a neurological disorder. Mamush was raised in an Ethiopian community near Washington, D.C., after his mother and a man named Samuel—whose biological connection to Mamush is uncertain—immigrated from Ethiopia. His marriage is strained, and he has long harbored questions about his roots. The story opens with Mamush altering his travel plans and lying to Hannah about it.

Driven by the need to understand Samuel’s apparent suicide, Mamush embarks on both a physical and emotional journey, seeking clarity about his past and his identity. The narrative shifts between past and present, blending real-life events, memories, and imagined scenarios. Mamush frequently struggles with honesty, and there are signs that he may be grappling with psychological issues. This is a deeply character-focused novel, not one propelled by fast-paced action. It’s a well-crafted work of literary fiction that held my interest throughout. I found the conclusion particularly well-executed and emotionally satisfying.

To be honest, I couldn't get into this book very well. From the beginning the timeline went back and forth and I couldn't follow it well whereas with other books I never suffer from this. I did keep reading because the story appealed to me
But along the way I did not get excited. The characters were not really likable, the story moved slowly. I guess it just wasn't for me

Someone Like Us by Dinaw Mengestu is a complex and multi-layered novel about the immigrant experience, identity, community, family and relationships, addiction, loss.