Such a Fun Age

By: Kiley Reid

Narrated by: Nicole Lewis

A Best Book of the Year:
The Washington Post • Chicago Tribune • NPR • Vogue • Elle • Real Simple • InStyle • Good Housekeeping • Parade • Slate • Vox • Kirkus Reviews • Library Journal • BookPage

Longlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize

An Instant New York Times Bestseller

A Reese's Book Club Pick

"The most provocative page-turner of the year." --Entertainment Weekly

"I urge you to read Such a Fun Age." --NPR

A striking and surprising debut novel from an exhilarating new voice, Such a Fun Age is a page-turning and big-hearted story about race and privilege, set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both.

Alix Chamberlain is a woman who gets what she wants and has made a living, with her confidence-driven brand, showing other women how to do the same. So she is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains' toddler one night, walking the aisles of their local high-end supermarket. The store's security guard, seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, 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 things right.

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

With empathy and piercing social commentary, Such a Fun Age explores the stickiness of transactional relationships, what it means to make someone "family," and the complicated reality of being a grown up. It is a searing debut for our times.

The end was disappointing

The narrator was very good- the book was thoroughly entertaining however I was disappointed by the ending. The main character seemed to still be immature in terms of figuring out her goals. The dismissal of her love interest made no sense since she was at fault and chose to do nothing to rectify the situation

Surprisingly enjoyed the story

I wasn't sure what ti expect but really enjoyed the book. Mrs. Chamberlain needed to put more focus on her marriage rather than focus on the nanny's life or past boyfriends that have no interest in her.

Where's my Emira?

I was hard pressed to stop listening to this book once I started! It takes you down one path and then...just like that, you realize you took the wrong fork. I loved Emira - so much so, I wish I was in her circle of friends. (Although, in all honesty, I'm a 64-year-old white woman and am certain I couldn't keep up with her and her friends nor would they want me hanging around.) They're exactly the kind of friends every young woman needs - they tell you what you need to hear whether or not you wish to hear it. And, when you need them to back you up, they have your back. This book also gently addresses race issues that plague our country, but that need so badly to be addressed.

Unexpected pleasure

Not sure what I was expecting, but this book is a fun light hearted gem. I really enjoyed it. Suggest you reward yourself and use a credit on this one.

Great book with great narration

First, I loved the narrator. This book has so many twists and turns it kept me riveted and also gave me a lot to think about in terms of race and racism in the U.S.