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greatexpectations77's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is absolutely as good as everyone said it was! Can't wait for more from Ms. Reid. She has such a way with natural dialogue that I only dream of even approaching one day. I also really felt like the interactions between the friends felt real and authentic - the phone bowl, the secret job negotiations in a bathroom. To me, those scenes feel so true to your 20s.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Racism, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book was honestly not what I was expecting at all…but I still loved it.
Such a Fun Age follows Emira, a black women, as she is accused of kidnapping the white child she is babysitting. Alix is the mother of the child, and vows to make things right with Emira. What follows is a story of class, race, obsession, and family.
This book handled important conversations very well, which led me to reflect on my own life. Fetishization is a topic often overlooked in literature, but Riley explored its effect on relationships in such an interesting way. Overall, my favorite aspect of the novel is the two contrasting narrators which offer distinctly different experiences surrounding American life.
After checking trigger warnings and age ratings, I would definitely recommend picking up Such a Fun Age as your next read!
Such a Fun Age follows Emira, a black women, as she is accused of kidnapping the white child she is babysitting. Alix is the mother of the child, and vows to make things right with Emira. What follows is a story of class, race, obsession, and family.
This book handled important conversations very well, which led me to reflect on my own life. Fetishization is a topic often overlooked in literature, but Riley explored its effect on relationships in such an interesting way. Overall, my favorite aspect of the novel is the two contrasting narrators which offer distinctly different experiences surrounding American life.
After checking trigger warnings and age ratings, I would definitely recommend picking up Such a Fun Age as your next read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Cultural appropriation, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Slavery, and Pregnancy
mandi4886's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Racism, Sexism, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Cultural appropriation
seawarrior's review
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a gripping novel, with a poignant final paragraph. Emira's perspective drew me in immediately, she's still finding her way and doesn't fully see herself as a "real" adult, but still manages to possess more wisdom and self-respect than the older characters attempting to mold her do. Emira is a perfect foil to Alix in many ways, she's not invasively interested with the private life of others, nor does she have interest in using people to create more status for herself. Most importantly, she doesn't obsess over these things and herself to the extent that they trump her dedication to raising Briar, as Alix does. Tragically, Emira seems to have more affection for Briar than Alix, and is quicker to notice when Briar is upset or overwhelmed. I felt this created a really interesting and sad dynamic; Emira knows that her life will improve once she quits babysitting Briar, but finds it so difficult to leave that she's nearly willing to sacrifice her own self-interests, while self-interest is nearly all Alix focuses on, to the detriment of Briar and Emira.
While Emira and Alix are opposites, Alix and Kelley are eerily similar to each other. The pair both seemed to think of themselves as Emira's savior in a way, though Emira never asked for their help or wanted it. They both exploit Emira's presence in their lives to bolster their own self-esteem and sense of righteousness, and both do so in ways that insidiously seem loving at first glance, and are only brought to light by understanding the context of their past exploitation of Black people. I was relieved that by the end of the book,Emira accepted that Alix and Kelley were both right about the worst parts of each other, but that she owed nothing to either of them. Going forward, Emira finds her way by trusting her instincts and the people who love and admire her even when she doesn't serve as a symbol to prove their goodness. I would definitely recommend this book to others. It was a very entertaining and engaging read and provided social commentary on race and class without overly traumatizing the Black protagonist who led the story.
While Emira and Alix are opposites, Alix and Kelley are eerily similar to each other. The pair both seemed to think of themselves as Emira's savior in a way, though Emira never asked for their help or wanted it. They both exploit Emira's presence in their lives to bolster their own self-esteem and sense of righteousness, and both do so in ways that insidiously seem loving at first glance, and are only brought to light by understanding the context of their past exploitation of Black people. I was relieved that by the end of the book,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Pregnancy, and Alcohol