Rating: ⭐⭐✨⬜⬜
Title: Such A Fun Age
Author: Kiley Reid
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Author Info: She/Her
Setting: NYC, NY & Philadelphia, PA
Month Read: April 2021
Book Type: Hardcover
Publication: 2019
Pages: 310
*April Books and Brews Book Club Pick
TRIGGER WARNING-
Racism/ Language/ Sexual Themes
"I think it best we went our separate ways, and that those paths never crossed again."
No Spoiler Summary:
Such A Fun Age is a split narrative between an upper class white woman, Alix Chamberlain, and her lower class Black sitter, Emira. A tale of two women with different upbringings, goals, and races set the novel off right from the beginning.
Alix is a woman used to getting what she wants- she runs a successful small business and speaks at conferences to inspire women and push them to get their goals.
Emira is a lost 20- something with no goals, no money, and a future coming quicker than she expected. She's trying to afford girls nights out, while still paying rent, and working multiple part time jobs to get through- all while about to lose her health insurance as she spirals toward 26.
We see how both women handle a racist encounter at a local market, where Emira is accused of kidnapping Alix's toddler daughter while babysitting her during a family emergency. A man records the encounter, one that Emira would rather just forget and Alix overcompensates for. Will the two women be able to connect to one another despite the barriers of race and class? A social commentary for our times, Such A Fun Age will leave you with lots to talk about.
Review:
It wasn't very hard to tell that this book was a debut novel, and I really wanted to love this book. To be fair, I had just read 2 novels directly before this one that could be early Novels of the Year for me--- so it was going to be an uphill battle either way.
Flat, unlikable characters filled this book and I didn't really find myself rooting for much of anyone except for Briar and Catherine. Alix is self centered, a horrible mother, relatively racist (without meaning to be--- which I think might be worse???), and still harboring an (admittedly) shitty Senior year about a decade and a half after the fact.
Emira is supposed to be the character you want to succeed, and I think I would have felt that way if she had any direction, likes, or goals. I guess not everyone finds their purpose early in life, which is fine, but when she does find her passion it doesn't seem to stick? I guess I'm confused why she didn't stick with kids.
This book could have said so many things about the current climate of our world, but I think it all fell so short. The messages were lost in the overly descriptive writing, the over the top drama about almost miniscule things. I also thought this would focus WAY more on the racism at the grocery store, and while it being a huge plot point its barely even talked about in the book except for a few small moments. I don't really get it.
Tell me, if you liked Such A Fun Age, why did you like it? Is there something I missed? As a new mom, did I just hate what a horrible mom Alix is? I do think the moments with Briar were the sweetest, and I loved her connection with Emira.
Recommendation:
Women in different social/economic classes:
*The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
*The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Race and police:
*Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
*The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
"Family means no favorites."
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