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