Reviews with content warning for Hate crime - Such a Fun Age

I really enjoyed the plot, characters and setting. It was a really thought-provoking and nuanced read. I loved the focus on this one moment in all the characters' lives that changed things forever - but in other ways changed nothing at all. It was an interesting look into how we perceive events and interact with others, and how white people can change or influence the narrative with their own bias, prejudice and systemic power.

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laurenjbb's review against another edition

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funny informative inspiring slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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floraforlora's review against another edition

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emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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bree_klass's review against another edition

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funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

good stuff content-wise, but the writing style wasn’t my fav which brings it down a bit for me.
Ried puts white privilege on blast with this book (as they should). the biggest takeaway for me, that I haven’t seen in other novels centred around race, was how white people always find a way to centre themselves in situations that aren’t even about them.

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slimepuppy's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I almost DNF'd this book twice, but I decided to finish it just so I could give it a 1 star rating.

God, what a drag.

Awful dialogue, boring prose, flat characters and the absence of anything that could resemble a plot for half of the book. Other than the market incident, nothing major happens till past the halfway mark of the book, at yet another boring scene that doesn't really convey any of the tension it was supposed to.

Not a single character was interesting or sympathetic - and I love books with awful characters, don't get me wrong. But they have to be charming, or interesting or at least deliver something of substance. Emira and Alix were both annoying, whiny and flat, and the supporting cast was not any better.

One moment really bothered me - Emira realizing that she loved child caring while helping Briar, only to end up working at an office. I get that it's realistic etc etc, but this book was such a downer, I really hoped that she would at least get that slimmer of positivity. Nope, dreary, passionless job it is.

I'm just so relieved I'm done with this book, and I'm never touching another Kiley Reid book again.

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