Such a Fun Age - Kiley Reid

Such a Fun Age

By Kiley Reid

  • Release Date: 2019-12-31
  • Genre: Literary Fiction
4 Score: 4 (From 2,992 Ratings)

Description

A Best Book of the Year:
The Washington Post • Chicago Tribune • NPR Vogue • Elle  Real Simple • InStyle • Good Housekeeping • Parade • Slate  Vox  Kirkus Reviews • Library Journal  BookPage

Longlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize

An Instant New York Times Bestseller

A Reese's Book Club Pick 

"The most provocative page-turner of the year." --Entertainment Weekly

"I urge you to read Such a Fun Age." --NPR

A striking and surprising debut novel from an exhilarating new voice, Such a Fun Age is a page-turning and big-hearted story about race and privilege, set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both.


Alix Chamberlain is a woman who gets what she wants and has made a living, with her confidence-driven brand, showing other women how to do the same. So she is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains' toddler one night, walking the aisles of their local high-end supermarket. The store's security guard, seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, accuses Emira of kidnapping two-year-old Briar. A small crowd gathers, a bystander films everything, and Emira is furious and humiliated. Alix resolves to make things right.

But Emira herself is aimless, broke, and wary of Alix's desire to help. At twenty-five, she is about to lose her health insurance and has no idea what to do with her life. When the video of Emira unearths someone from Alix's past, both women find themselves on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know about themselves, and each other.

With empathy and piercing social commentary, Such a Fun Age explores the stickiness of transactional relationships, what it means to make someone "family," and the complicated reality of being a grown up. It is a searing debut for our times.

Reviews

  • Okay read

    3
    By Autumatic45
    This story had great promise, slow at times, the writing was also hard to read at times but I did enjoy the story about white privilege, white guilt and the perspective of the "mammy" system.
  • Tik Tok made me do it

    3
    By Fat back computer shaped b?$@!
    Overall I did like the fact that the book made me come back to read more to find out what happens in the end. The characters were annoying and hard to grasp. The message of racism and fetishes were clear in the novel, it just needed more elaboration on the entire plot. Emira, although relatable, given the fact that she’s clueless in life, she wasn’t given more time to “shine” in the story. It was a big let down in the end. I wanted more for Emira.
  • Fun age…

    5
    By Yogurt Mamma
    I really liked this book. I even learned some lessons around racism. I read it twice, about a year apart. A worthy read.
  • Thought provoking!

    5
    By Sunshine_BDM
    Overall, this was a good read! I didn’t like the slow build, but the story kept me wanting to continue reading. Certain parts angered me as a Black woman, but others made me laugh. I really liked the main character and I appreciated the ending. I’m still pondering the lessons learned.
  • Enthralling, Engrossing and Enjoyable

    5
    By K.schoff
    The characters develop beautifully throughout the story. Right, and wrong, are explored in an insightful story full of twists. It’s easy to choose favorites, only to revise those choices as the story develops. And the book was impossible to put down for the second half. Thank you. Thank you.
  • An interesting read

    4
    By Sweetlips329
    Well, at first I struggled getting into this book. Half-way through the story picked up, it was an interesting read. Story plot wasn't what I expected but I will say I enjoyed this book.
  • Good read

    5
    By Kingstongirl32
     This book was not necessarily what I was expecting but it was good from beginning to end.
  • Drama, Pomp, & Circumstance

    4
    By Richard Bakare
    It is hard to believe that this book is Kiley Reid’s debut novel. Based on its success, she is going to be under a lot of pressure to match or beat it. Deservedly so. I could not put it down and caught myself gasping loudly at every new revelation. I am still scratching my head at how the debut novelist was able to pack so much into a fast read. There are so many intersecting themes that were so well managed through the course of the book. Race, privilege, miscommunication, imposter experience, identity crisis, and so much more. Each of these subjects getting adequate coverage and without the need of a sprawling array of characters and subplots. What’s really interesting is that Kiley Reid does not attempt to answer or justify any position on these topics. Her characters are flawed in every perceivable way. Each of them is blameless and a victim in one moment, while also blameworthy and guilty victimizer on the end. With the thread of miscommunication layered on for added effect.
  • Wow

    5
    By renee emory
    I loved it. Now my fav book!
  • Expected More

    2
    By Hfgbudtggdygvg
    The writing was good but the story was just meh. Felt like it was building and building to little payoff.

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