Review: Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Such a Fun Age by @kileyreid has been EVERYWHERE. The FOMO was real and I’m so glad I was able to get my hands on a copy, especially after it was chosen as Reese Witherspoon’s January Bookclub pick. But that also made my nervous, because I haven’t *loved* all of Reese’s picks. But the synopsis totally made me want to pick it up. I didn’t love Little Fires Everywhere, another Reese pick, and Such a Fun Age totally filled the void it left for me. I loved it!
Synopsis: 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 white employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both.
What I loved:
Reid’s writing pulls you in. It’s like Mary Beth Keane and Fredrik Backman, mixed with unicorn dust to create the magic that is Reid’s story telling.
This book makes you think and take a very hard look at yourself. I loved that at the end, I was questioning all the characters. Who’s the good guy? Who’s the bad guy? There isn’t an answer. It’s a unique, raw, vulnerable look into our own biases. As someone who deems herself as educated, aware, and a bleeding heart liberal, I still had moments of, “oh...I’ve said something like that before.” It’s beautifully eye opening WITHOUT pointing fingers. It just makes you look at yourself harder.
The relatability of all the characters. There is something to connect with from EVERY character. I found myself so drawn to Emira’s insecurities over how different her life/job is from the rest of her friends. I feel that so often, since most of my close friends have traditional jobs and I’m over here in the entertainment world.
Perfect for fans of Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Character Authenticity: 4.5/5 Steam: 1/5 Overall Rating: 4.5/5