Such a Fun Age: Reese's Book Club
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.
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.
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Readers say *Such a Fun Age* by Kiley Reid offers a timely, thought-provoking exploration of race, privilege, and social dynamics with a fresh, access...
I must say, I’m feeling a bit perplexed. I anticipated more character development from Emira. Throughout the story, significant events unfolded, yet Emira’s responses felt lacking in assertiveness. While her advocacy for Briar was admirable, I wished to see her take more control of her own experiences and growth. The author’s choice to neatly tie up Emira’s storyline was appreciated, but I couldn’t help but notice a disconnect between her portrayal and the way she ultimately expressed herself.
Alix, on the other hand, is a detestable character for perpetuating the narrative that Kelley was responsible for ruining her life when she knew it was her own mistake. I had high expectations for this book, but unfortunately, I found myself underwhelmed. There were so many complex issues to unpack, yet nothing seemed to be fully resolved in the end.
This timely book explored human interaction with an emphasis on race and a perspective I have not considered before. The writing is light and easy to breeze through - which made for a pleasant pace. The last few chapters tied up loose ends, but the story leaves me wanting to be more compassionate and questioning how I would act in each situation.
One star off, because I don’t relate to the characters & don’t see myself reading this book again. The further I got in the book, the less I related to Alix or Emira. It was akin to watching a TV show, gawking at the events that unfolded.
One star off, because I don’t relate to the characters & don’t see myself reading this book again. The further I got in the book, the less I related to Alix or Emira. It was akin to watching a TV show, gawking at the events that unfolded.
I wanted to like this book A LOT. I really did. However, it fell short. None of the characters were likable, except the kid. The kid was funny, inquisitive, and interesting. Hard for me to read a book when the main characters is aimless, no ambition in life, Emira- but didn't see a strong character arc. None of the characters were redeemable. Throw a girl a bone. Then you find out more and more horrible things about Alix that are almost unnecessary. Book was Meh.
I really wanted to love this book but it was just ok for me. The book had very good intentions but didn't develop enough to meet the expectations. This is Reid's first novel and I look forward to her next novel and I hope there is growth in the writing.
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