Such a Fun Age in Book Club for Introverts

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Such a Fun Age

Kiley Reid

Start date: January 1, 2020

Finish date: January 31, 2020

Discussion: Such A Fun Age

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Such A Fun Age

General discussion, final thoughts, etc - WILL contain spoilers
By Jennifer · 10 posts · 100 views

last updated Jan 31, 2020 09:30PM

Chapters 24 - The End
By Jennifer · 4 posts · 37 views

last updated Jan 29, 2020 02:31PM

What Members Thought

Jan 21, 2020 Candace Arnold rated it really liked it

This story was super uncomfortable at times, but maybe that鈥檚 what it takes to learn lessons from something. I don鈥檛 know. I loved the characters, even the more unlikeable ones. The author wrote them so that even they have their redeeming qualities.

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Jan 15, 2020 Jude (HeyJudeReads) Fricano rated it really liked it · review of another edition

鈥淚 don't need you to be mad that it happened. I need you to be mad that it just like... happens.鈥�
鈥� Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

"Alix Chamberlain is a woman who gets what she wants and has made a living showing other women how to do the same. A mother to two small girls, she started out as a blogger and has quickly built herself into a confidence-driven brand. So she is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains鈥� toddler one night. Seeing a young black 鈥淚 don't need you to be mad that it happened. I need you to be mad that it just like... happens.鈥�
鈥� Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

"Alix Chamberlain is a woman who gets what she wants and has made a living showing other women how to do the same. A mother to two small girls, she started out as a blogger and has quickly built herself into a confidence-driven brand. So she is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains鈥� toddler one night. Seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, a security guard at their local high-end supermarket 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 it right.

But Emira herself is aimless, broke, and wary of Alix鈥檚 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鈥檚 past, both women find themselves on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know about themselves, and each other."

Another book with a title that only made sense once the story was complete. As I read I interpreted the title to me the age of Briar in the toddler stage of verbalizing every thought that entered her mind. And as a mom recalling what a fun age that is to watch develop and grow. The wonder of a child and the honesty of their words, once old enough to form sentences. As I continued through the story what I came to put together was that 'such a fun age' could really mean a young woman in her 20's struggling to make her way in the world. One who matters to herself, yet often struggles due to societal norms to feel good about her path. I certainly recall when I was the same age and the torture I put myself through believing I wasn't good enough. With many years, struggles, rebounds came wisdom that wasn't possible in my twenties to be grounded in who I am and my choices.

Kiley Reid's beautifully told perspective truly enlightened me to cultural and racial truths that I haven't lived. They were eye opening and so thoughtfully shared. This story should be necessary reading for all women of this age - regardless of background. The friendships that Emira leaned on, the connection she felt with 3 year old Briar, the respect she had for herself combined with her wishes and dreams as she dealt with her current reality made for a colorful, dynamic, often funny and always honest read.

Easily 4 stars for me! ...more

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Nov 07, 2019 Sue rated it really liked it

Do you ever pick up a book solely because of the cover and read it without knowing ANYthing about it?
That鈥檚 how I went in to Such a Fun Age.
鈥�
Alix (pronounced Ah-LEEKS), is a rich, blonde, beautiful 鈥渋nfluencer鈥�. She鈥檚 well rounded鈥攕he鈥檚 read everything by Toni Morrison, she鈥檚 writing a book and trying to join Hilary Clinton鈥檚 campaign. Emira is a 25 year old black woman who is trying to decide what she wants to do with her life, in the meantime she鈥檚 babysitting Alix鈥檚 two young daughters.
When A ...more

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Jan 11, 2021 Danielle Phillips rated it it was amazing

Shelves: buddy-reads

I read Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid for my neighborhood book club but it had been on my TBR for awhile. I felt like it was an easy read in that I read it fast and it held my attention throughout, but it was not an easy read as far as content. I wasn鈥檛 sure how I would feel about this book at first. We are in a time in our life when it鈥檚 uncomfortable to talk about race and how people of different colors interact with each other, the division we are facing and how we got here. This book made me t I read Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid for my neighborhood book club but it had been on my TBR for awhile. I felt like it was an easy read in that I read it fast and it held my attention throughout, but it was not an easy read as far as content. I wasn鈥檛 sure how I would feel about this book at first. We are in a time in our life when it鈥檚 uncomfortable to talk about race and how people of different colors interact with each other, the division we are facing and how we got here. This book made me take a look at my interactions with people and how I see the world and how the world sees me. In the book, all of the white people were searching for a way to connect with POC and not always in a genuine way. I felt like the POC just wanted to be left alone of seen as just people.

As for the book itself I thought the plot line was great and interesting. The reader wasn鈥檛 given all the information at first but instead little bits at a time as the story unravels. I loved all the characters and hated all the characters. I found Alix repulsive throughout, she was crazy, but at the same time boy was she interesting. The worst part of Alix is how she knew she wrong, in more than one incident yet never admitted to her faults and played the victim that was better than her circumstances. In the end I think every person was wrong at some point whether it was self deprecation or hate or manipulation. My least favorite partnership or character pair was Kelley and Emira. They were never going to work and Kelley was an ass and I didn鈥檛 like him at all.

My ultimate takeaway is that Emira was treated poorly by everyone including herself. She was a pawn in everyone鈥檚 agenda and Briar, the little girl, was the only person that saw Emira for who she really was. This proves that adults are unable to see the truth in people because of life experiences and prejudice.

I gave Such a Fun Age 5 stars. The courage of Kiley Reid and the beautiful way she shared this story are worthy of this rating. ...more

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Jan 03, 2020 Sarah Cetra rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites

4.5 stars. A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I鈥檓 not really sure how to talk about this book, but it is razor sharp, made me laugh out loud multiple times, had me gasping in recognition, and keeps me thinking. It鈥檚 an incredibly incisive look at class, race, politics, and a coming into your voice story rolled into one. The writing reminded me a bit of Fleishman is in Trouble, and I鈥檒l be recommending this one a lot.

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Jan 26, 2020 Jody added it

Thank you @netgalley and @putnambooks for my review copy of this book.

I throughly enjoyed this combination of a light, engaging read,, with relatable characters that was also serious and thought provoking.

Reid does an amazing job of intertwining tough issues, such as racism, class, privilege and feminism in a very captivating, and at times funny, story without being 鈥渉eavy handed.鈥�

The cast of characters are brilliant, relatable, interesting and truly will make you feel all the feels from sadnes ...more

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Feb 21, 2020 Dara Tinius rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Loved this one. It combines the witty and razor sharp satire of Crazy Rich Asians or Big Littles Lies with the straightforward race and class discussions of The Hate U Give. Such a Fun Age is funny, uncomfortable, and not afraid to make you cringe at yourself.

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