Alix Chamberlain gets what she wants, and has made a career of literally that: writing letters to companies for free products and teaching others to do the same. She has a beautiful house in Philadelphia, a successful husband, and two young children. She also has Emira Tucker, a mid-20’s babysitter, to help watch her oldest daughter Briar. Emira is lost; she has a degree but isn’t doing much with it, she has friends whose lives are taking off around her, and she barely enough money to scrap by. That’s why when Alix calls Emira late one night for some last-minute babysitting, Emira cannot pass up the money. The night goes south when Emira and Briar head to a bougie grocery store. Emira, an African American woman, is accused of kidnapping Briar, a while little girl, by the grocery store’s security guard. Though the situation is diffused, Emira is left shaken. A random bystander captures it all on film, though Emira is not interested in taking her experience to social media. The bystander, a man named Kelley, gets to know Emira. But Kelley has a surprising connection to Alix’s past... and Alix can’t quite get Kelley out of her head.

This book was not at all what I was expecting. Take a cute cover and title along with a romance/drama description and you’d expect a fairly formulaic contemporary family drama. However, the plot moves far beyond surface level troupes and plot points. I thought Such a Fun Age presented race in a very interesting way. Every white main character surrounding Emira is proudly progressive, yet they play the stereotypical “white savior” role that we see so frequently in the media and in literature. I found Emira to be witty and relatable, and I was genuinely rooting for her. There are MANY cringey moments in this novel, which I’m sure was the authors intention as they add to the character development of Alix. I found the ending to be a little rushed, but all characters well developed and the plot points realistic. I can hardly believe that this is author Kiley Reid’s debut novel, and I am very excited to see what she does next! Thank you NetGalley for my advanced readers copy!

Such a Fun Age is the debut novel by Kiley Reid. This is one of those books that is written in a light and engaging manner but is deceptively heavy-hitting. It a compelling contemporary fiction novel that dives into racial issues from two very different standpoints as well as how we identify with ourselves and with one another.

We meet two women, Emira Tucker and Alix Chamberlain. Emira babysits for Alix's young daughter Briar and after a late-night incident where Emira is stopped by security when she is out with Briar, everything changes. While Emira deals with the aftermath of this incident, Alix resolves to make this "right". 

While this book is absolutely engrossing to read, Reid also takes on the issue of "white savior" narratives. I appreciated that Reid created multi-faceted and incredibly detailed characters within these narratives. While I couldn't entirely relate to either of these women, I felt I understood them and a lot of this came from knowing their backstories.

I appreciated that Emira and Alix were both imperfect in their own ways which I think added so much nuance to this storyline. Such a Fun Age was a fascinating and thought-provoking read and I just enjoyed Reid's writing style so much. I predict this one will get a lot of buzz when it is released at the end of December!

I couldn't read this book fast enough, and I am a little tired writing this review because I stayed up to finish it. The racist moment that drives this novel is exactly the right length to be brief but completely unsettling. The way the main characters, black babysitter Emira and white employer Alix, are used to address class and race kept me reading late into the night. Emira, the smart, excellent babysitter who is watching her friends settle into careers without having a direction for herself was so relatable. I know too many people have had too much to say about millennials and their struggles to find jobs and their purpose but she felt so human to me and not preachy at all. And I could say so many things about Alix because I feel like I know a few Alix's. There is a lot of privilege in Alix's interactions with Emira that are funny and awkward and just so well written. Once the book really began to weave in the story of Kelley, the guy who videotapes that racist moment, I knew I would have to read until I finished (I have known a few Kelley's too). This is a really great debut novel and I hope the author keeps writing on race and the privilege it brings for some in such a nuanced way.

Such A Fun Age is primarily about two women, Emira and Alix. The book begins with Emira babysitting Alix's daughter, Briar late at night. While in a grocery store with Briar, Emira is questioned by the police who believe she might have kidnapped the child. The whole incident is filmed by a white bystander. In the aftermath, Alix, a socially conscious, liberal white woman, is determined to make things right with Emira. As Emira becomes more enmeshed in Alix's life, the video from the grocery store is unearthed, bringing someone from Alix's past into Emira's present.

This is an impressive book, especially for a debut. The characters are very well drawn and are perfectly set up to examine the way class and race shapes who we are as people. This book especially has much to offer in terms of commentary on well-intentioned, liberal white people. I was more compelled by Alix as a character rather than Emira throughout. Hearing her inner dialogue as she tried to justify her actions was very interesting. Her motivations as a character were also more clear than Emira's. I wish that I understood who Emira was besides what was laid out at the beginning: someone who is anxious about money with no real future path mapped out. However, I do think the two women played off of each other nicely throughout the book, providing key tense moments.

Other reviewers have mentioned that the ending feels sudden. I would agree, but I think the conclusion perfectly wraps up the story as well as gives really fascinating and conclusive insight as to the psychology of the main characters.

This is Kiley Reid's debut novel and I look forward to reading more from her and seeing where her writing goes. I appreciate that it is a stand alone novel (yay!), but it seemed like there was a fast wrap-up for the ending...and then an epilogue so the reader knew where Emira ends up in her life.

This is the story of Emira, a 25 year old black woman who holds down two part-time jobs and shares an apartment in Philadelphia. It is also the story of Alix/Alex and Kelley, two white people in their early 30's who knew each other in high school and are both involved with Emira - Alix as her boss, and Kelley as her boyfriend.

It is the story of white privilege and relationships. Race is hugely important and is addressed throughout the book, without feeling like it is a hammer hitting the reader on the head. This may be an eye opener for white folks, since racism shows itself in lots of ways - some (most?) that aren't glaringly obvious to the dominant culture.

This is a refreshing book because the protagonist doesn't have super abilities or a drive to be someone different or do something great (with a capital G). She is a good person who enjoys what she's doing and still has to pay the rent and get insurance and be a grown-up, even while feeling like maybe she's not really a grown-up? Her friends are all more successful than she is, and they all have one another's backs.

There is so much to like about these characters. And when you get that suspicion that not everyone is likable, it kind of feels bad. But it also feels real. Bonus points for the Philly backdrop - I love when the setting feels like another character.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This one definitely was more than I expected. From the description it didn’t sound like it would blow my mind but I really loved it. There’s so much more to the story than you think. Many of Emira’s moments with Briar made me cry!

Such a Fun Age is such a fun read! Kiley Reid gives us serious topics, wrapped in a sharp, engaging story that features well-developed characters. The main character is Emira, an African American twenty something who is searching for her true calling. In the meantime, Emira babysits for Alix's children and she's good at it. Alix is white, successful, and a former NYer. The story that unfolds is one of complicated relationships, unresolved pain, racial tensions, and family bonds. Readers who enjoy coming of age stories, new adult fiction, and realistic characters with a touch of wit should check this one out.

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid perfectly captured the angst of being a new adult, not being sure of yourself, what you want, or who you are.

Read if you: Want a thought-provoking novel from a promising debut author.

There's a lot going on here: twenty-something life, interracial relationships, class privilege, and racial profiling. Not to mention a wild coincidence between two characters that Reid manages to make believable and suspenseful. Looking forward to following Kiley Reid's further novels.

Many thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book will keep you up way past your bedtime just to see how things will turn out. Full of nuanced characters and a very current plot, Such a Fun Age will keep you slightly off-balance and questioning how you would react. Emira is a character that you’ll love for her feistiness and strength of character.

I was drawn in by the description of this book. However, I feel extremely underwhelmed. All of the characters in this story come off as petty and childish. Reid forced an odd connection to propel this story and provide turmoil. Even though she is an author of color I felt as though I was reading a story about a young black woman written by a well-to-do white woman, which was awkward and off-putting.

I would have abandoned this book, but I needed to see if it wrapped itself up/redeemed itself in the end. It did not.

Kiley Reid’s debut novel is a gem!
This story is real and sadly... current. It makes you face the harsh realities of racism and privilege while also showing what it means to stand tall when life tests you.

I dare you not to fall in love with Emira and her quiet strength or Briar, the scene stealing toddler.

Beautifully developed characters and hard hitting issues makes for one book I know will top the charts upon release.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

I realize I'm in the minority here, but...uneven writing, badly drawn characters, stilted dialogue, especially between Emira and her friends. And the story itself could have been better, especially the ending.

A wonderful novel well written the characters come alive .Addresses important issues race class wealth,An icidebt of Rachel injustice a young black Nanny accused of a crime ,the adults wealthy members of society ,The effect this act has on all of them told With intensity and humor I Flew through this novel looking forward to more from this debut author.#netgalley #penguinputnam

An excellent debut novel, I am sure is one of many in the future by this wonderful storyteller. When I started reading, I didn’t think the story would appeal to me. The writing drew me in and the storyline and characters hooked me.

Reid’s ability to interweave social themes with narrative is very well done. From aimlessness of youth to privelege to transactional relationships to romance and social justice, all is relevant to our world today.

In a word...unexpected. Going in I thought I knew what was coming, but I was surprised. It's refreshing to read a story where there is no clear cut "right" or "wrong", "good guy" or "bad guy", etc. The characters in this story are flawed, because people are flawed. Reid is able to show that each individual has their own perspective, their own motivations. Maybe what we know about ourselves is completely different from how the world views us. Maybe we don't truly know ourselves at all.

I haven't stayed up late to finish a book in a long time, but I couldn't stop reading Kiley Reid's amazing novel Such a Fun Age (coming out Dec. 31, 2019). This is such a smart book, intertwining a sharp commentary on race, class, identity, motherhood, and privilege in an engrossing narrative.

The main character, Emira, may feel adrift and unsure about when she'll ever be like her friends who have "adult jobs," but she is also a sharp-eyed observer who stands up for herself and doesn't feel compelled to play nice. When she is accused of kidnapping her white employer's child by a woman in a high-end grocery store, she stays calm, stands up for herself, and doesn't let anyone off the hook for their racism. She isn't interested in the outrage shared by her employer and the white man who videotaped the incident; she just wants to live her life and do her job without being harassed - and she definitely isn't interested in being a viral sensation.

Circling around Emira's story are two white characters - the man who recorded her in the grocery store and the mother of the child she sits - each invested in proving how racist they aren't. They are each deeply problematic in different ways that propel the narrative. Emira rightly sees their attempts to "save" her as stemming more from wanting to feel good about themselves than really caring about her.

This is both a deeply troubling and satisfying read. I, for one, stayed up most of the night to see what Emira was going to do next.

Kiley Reid's "Such a Fun Age" is a thought-provoking and thoughtful novel that tells its story through multiple voices. The first chapter is a stand-alone star, and reads like a short-story (reminiscent of Updike's A&P). At that chapter's conclusion, I wasn't sure if this book was a collection of short stories as the narrative voice changes immediately in chapter two. Reid tackles important and contemporary themes and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Does it matter if the assumptions made about you are true or not? Does it put your behavior in a different light when someone has your backstory? Or should your actions be judged by its own merits? Does ignorance and lack of awareness ever justify giving someone the benefit of the doubt or cutting them some slack? 

These are the questions I mull over when I lurk on the Instagram accounts of black activists, and these questions came to mind reading Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. I say lurking, because more often than not, I choose to remain an observer, a learner-- sometimes, because it is clear that the post is directed at a black audience, and therefore, not my place to chime in,  and sometimes because I have nothing productive to add to the conversation, if you can call the one-upping and virtue signaling happening in the comment threads a conversation.

Such a Fun Age would almost be a comedy of errors if the whole situation wasn’t so pathetic.


It only seems right that a novel whose central plot revolves around a racially charged incident should be written by a black author. I want to read that story through a black lens, not a white one. Emira, the central character and one of two narrators, is a fully fleshed out, multi-dimensional figure. She is not stereotypically anything and the language used in the dialogue doesn’t make me cringe in the same way it does when a white author uses the same language.  No matter how many times a white person watches in horror as yet another racist incident unfolds on social media, no matter how many black friends a white person has, no matter if a white person is married to a black person, no white person has internalized the stress that comes with the relentless and steady drumbeat of American systemic racism (looking at you, DeBlasio).


On the other hand, I have trouble agreeing with reviewers who say that the characters in this book are complex because Alix? She is not complex. She is a standard-issue rich white lady who drips with insecurity about everything and everyone, centering herself in moments where it ought not to be about her. She's earnest, she's twee, she begs to be seen as different, as "not like everyone else." Her high school self lacked the self-awareness that would've given her pause about calling the cops on a black classmate trespassing in her swimming pool.


And that, I think, might be the point of Such a Fun Age. Emira is desperately trying to be Emira, the babysitter in the midst of  a quarterlife crisis, who lives in a shitty apartment, watching the clock count down to her 26th birthday, when she'll booted off her parents' health insurance. She and her white boyfriend dance around the issue of race,  but Alix's narration manages to throw a light onto Emira's blackness while also centering her herself.  She desperately wants to shake off the high school incident that came to define her, because no one but the reader knows Alix's backstory, how she arrived at the moment that she decided to call the police. Does it matter, though? Does it change anything? At the end of the day, a black kid still suffered the consequences of the cops being called on him by a white classmate. And Alix is still a standard-issue white lady, with all the privilege that affords.


I love Emira. Alix, not so much, though I understand her. Overall, I enjoyed this book--it gives the genre a little meatiness and moves away somewhat from the coziness that the chick lit genre seems to embody--almost like when everyone's favorite sitcom decides to "take a risk" and tackle a pressing social issue of the day.

This book is something like a German horror film that is unsettling from the start, but is fine. Until the creepiness ratchets up a bit. And then a bit more. And you're uncomfortable, but also OK, because nothing is too scary yet. And then suddenly you're terrified, and you're sure everything will end in the worst possible way. At first this story seems like too many stories we see in the news. A young, black woman takes her toddler, white baby-sitting charge to a grocery store. She is accused by a white woman of kidnapping said toddler, and a passerby records the incident. However, although this event is the catalyst for the events that follow, this book digs deep into the thoughts and motivations of Alix, the toddler's mother, and Emira, the babysitter.

This book is a mass of feelings, emotions, reasoning, and bias. It would make rich fodder for book club discussions, but there's a lot to unpack in this book. Alix is a white woman who has made a place for herself as an influencer, and motivational speaker. (Think Rachel Hollis.) She has a complicated past that isn't much talked about except for one major incident in her senior year. Emira is a black woman who isn't that invested in her future. Unlike her friends, who are eager to be out making money in the professional world, Emira just floats. She is anxious about her lack of funds, but doesn't know how to get herself into the next phase of her life. In a creepy way, the two woman compliment each other in a way that has nothing to do with race. Alix sees in Emira a young, unencumbered woman who has the freedom to be anything Alix wants her to be. Emira sees in Alix a woman who could push her life in a direction she's not sure she wants. . . but hasn't completely made up her mind. In the middle of this is Kelley, the (white) man Emira is dating, who is also caught up in Alix's life as well. The best thing about this book is that it so well portrays the ickiness (this is a word now) that women of color face. It's a bit complicated to explain, but it's very stressful to see yourself through the eyes of others who want to make you over in their image because they think that's what would make you happy. Alix's quiet obsession with Emira borders on fetishizing. Kelley's determination to see Emira only for herself, and to always do the right thing by her is also controlling in a way. Luckily Emira has great friends, who literally save her from the white people when she needs it the most.

There's a lot more that could be said about this book, but like I said, it's a lot to unpack. It makes for a quick, intriguing read, and will leave a lot of thoughts to turn over in the days to come.