Such a Fun Age

by Kiley Reid

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.

• ISBN10: 059308733X
• ISBN13: 9780593087336
• Publish Date: 31 December 2019
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: G.P. Putnam's Sons
• Edition: International edition
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[Marissa Lupe Author]

I LOVED this book by @kileyreid for so many reasons.. but mostly for highlighting the little nuances in a person (and society), that can seem good natured, but are in actuality self serving.
This is a meaningful story about finding oneself, and seeing the verity of those around us. Much like realizing for the first time that not everyone has the same truth as you, and how to maneuver that reality.
I felt complete at the end. ❤️

[payton]

it was a fast read and that was the best part. don’t read if you’re looking for a book that handles important racial topics in a thoughtful and fleshed-out manner

[kiracanread]

This was a really interesting book that says a lot about preformative activism, it's incredibly hard hitting and I enjoyed reading it. I just thought that the plot was quite slow and I couldn't get behind the slow pacing, hence the 3 stars.

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

Such as Fun Age by Kiley Reid is an engrossing read.  The characters and their stories stick with you for days after you finish it.

I'll admit I wasn't 100% happy with the ending. All the anticipation for the releasing (on purpose or accidentally) of the video should have played a bigger role in the story if, in the end, it was going to be the impetus for Emira getting her well-deserved-on-her-own-terms happy ending.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.