Jaclyn’s Review: Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Such a Fun Age
written by Kiley Reid
published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2019

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Apple Books, Target, Walmart, Kobo, Book Depository, Goodreads

Did I enjoy this book? This book was another great beach read. I loved the story, and I loved the characters. Each of the characters were believable and honest, which lent an air of authenticity to the story. I thought Emira was great, and I loved everything about her character, but I had a huge sweet spot for how much she genuinely cared for Briar. From a plot perspective, I really appreciated how your opinion of Alix changes throughout the story. I started out thinking that she was a mostly good person caught in an uncomfortable situation. But as the story progresses, her true colors are shown, and we learn that she isn’t a good person at all. I love a great anti-redemption story!

Would I recommend it? This was such a great story, I would absolutely recommend it!
 

 

About the book – from Goodreads: 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.

 

 
 

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** This post first appeared on Every Free Chance Books (everyfreechance.com) on July 12, 2021.