A review by stellabyproxy
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

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

3.0

This is a book I thought I would absolutely love and I was slightly disappointed to find it merely okay. 

Something about the writing style just didn’t connect with me and made it difficult to build any sort of connection with the characters because it felt like I was being given sporadic fact-filled paragraphs instead of scenes that flowed. Overall, Such A Fun Age is a decent novel and very clear in its approach to racism, micro aggressions, fetishisation and other topics. The fact that most of the main characters are unlikeable is something I appreciated because it really showed how in these sort of discussions most people (especially white people) don’t always come across as the most knowledgeable, accommodating, or trustworthy, no matter how convinced they are of their moral standing. The white saviourism was heavily present yet introduced with a real life nuance that is to be valued. 

My favourite part of the book would probably be the relationship between Emira and Briar. Their moments were the most beautiful interactions in the book and truly a saving grace for me. Regardless, I would still recommend this book because it lays a good foundation for important conversations. 
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