I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. When it first started I wasn't too keen on the writer's style, particularly as she introduced Alix, but grew to really appreciate it. It started a bit klunky, but worked its way into a well crafted plot.

I didn't like all the characters, but came to understand their perspectives by the end (though truthfully, Alix was a puzzle even at the end).

Kiley Reid's debut novel is a delight to read, from start to finish. She tricks you into thinking it's standard 'women's fiction' fare (which it can be, if that's what you want), but then dishes up a story that deals with a number of very topical issues in an entertaining and thought-provoking way.

When Alix Chamberlain moves her family back to Philadelphia, she hires Emira Tucker to look after her two young children three times per week while she works on writing her book. The main reason she hires Emira is that Emira is a bright, personable woman who has not heard of her business. Alix doesn't take much notice of Emira until a nasty incident occurs at a grocery store, but from then on, she makes it her mission to befriend Emira and help to make her life better. That is until Emira brings her new boyfriend to Thanksgiving lunch, and then Alix's mission becomes a crusade!

There's a lot to love about this novel, but the two things I enjoyed the most were Emira's friendship group, and Alix's older child, Briar. Initially I assumed the title was a reference to the kids Emira was looking after (Briar turning 3yo and Catherine a fairly newborn), but as the story progressed I actually thought it was more about Emira and her mid-20s gal pals. It was refreshing to read about millenials with actual personality and not just stereotypes. I loved the way they spoke with each other, and what they did together, but mostly how they supported each other. As for Briar, my heart swelled for that little girl, trying so hard to be what her mother wanted and recognising that she wasn't quite it at such a young age. I was so glad she had Emira in her life.

Highly recommended.

I've been sitting on this review for a few days trying to formulate the best way to articulate my feelings for this novel. This book is written from two alternating narratives, Emira and Alix. Emira is a 25 year old African-American college graduate who is trying to figure life out. Alix is the mom of two year old, Blair, whom Emira babysits for. One night, Alix reaches out to Emira for an emergency favor. What happens that night changes the course of their future.

Reid highlights many important topics such as self-worth, betrayal, racism, and privilege in this truly fantastic novel. This book is written with a multitude of complexities to dissect, and yet is written in a way that is realistic as it is respectful. With such a sensitive subject-matter, it can be difficult to write in a way that doesn't point fingers, but Reid has found the way. Reid writes in such an eloquent manner that makes this novel enjoyable and yet sheds light on the bigger issue at hand without making it preachy and pointing fingers at anyone.

At this point, I'm honestly just rambling about this book. All that to say that this is a book I'd highly recommend. The interaction between the characters and the dialogue are phenomenal. It is an enjoyable and emphatic read with an important message that everyone must read at some point. This would make for an excellent book club discussion.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. I loved the psychological aspect and the “who done it.” What I really loved was Emira. The main character learns who she is and finds, and takes, the opportunity to stand up for herself when it really mattered. I loved this book and will be recommending it forever

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid is a full length, stand alone contemporary novel. The debut of a new to me author, page turning, a story about race and privilege, set around Emira.
Emira Tuckeris a 25 year old college graduate who loves her friends, her life and her job as babysitter.
After graduation she works odd jobs, til she meets Alix and Peter Chamberlain, the parents who hire her as babysitter for her two small girls. She has no clue what she wants to do and while her friends forge on, Emira does not.
Alix is the privileged mother, blogger, writer, and soon she discovers what a price she has on her hands.
The book is written with a light hand, easy to read and later on unputdownable and pageturning, a nailbiting read. I loved the storyline and the beautiful writing, 4 stars.

This was so good. It comes across as such a light and easy read that you sometimes forget how serious the topics at hand are. This is such a great debut novel for Kiley Reid diving into racism, privilege (both white and financial) and betrayal in a way that is easy to read and digest.

The story flips between two points of view, Emira and Alix Chamberlin. Emira is a 25, African American babysitter trying to find her place in life while her friends solidify their relationships and careers around her at a much quicker pace. Alix, a wealthy, white woman and somewhat of a social media celebrity employs Emira as a part-time babysitter for her eldest daughter, Briar. Both women have their quirks and challenges and it's interesting to see their lives intersecting. After an 'incident' at a local, predominately white customer based, grocery store in which Emira deals with a blatant case of racism the relationship between both women takes an interesting turn.

Such a Fun Age takes an interesting look at the way white people can often think they are being allies or advocates to other races when in reality they're hindering or making things even more difficult for them. Throughout the story I felt like Alix always had the best intentions though not always the best approach (save for one thing, which I didn't love as a plot twist but I won't spoil that. You'll know what I mean when you read it). This debut novel covers such relevant topics that everyone should be reading about. If you're looking for a book for your bookclub in 2020 I highly recommend picking this one.

Thank you to Putnam books and netgalley for the copy to read and review. So this is definitely not my normal read but I'd seen it around IG and plus I loved the cover! The narrator of this book was awesome! The story and dual perspectives was informative. I think this book is great for this day and age and the problems we face regarding racial issues and beyond that it's a struggle a lot of 20 something's have, trying to find a career and way in life. A very interesting and enlightening read!

A powerful and thought provoking book that looks at issues of race, gender and social class, Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid was a book that I found both fascinating and frustrating. The book follows the story of two women, successful career driven Alix Chamberlain and her regular babysitter, Emira. Alix seems to have it all together, she has a happy marriage, two beautiful children and is taking time off to write a book. Emira on the other hand is more aimless, she doesn't know what she wants from life, she is broke and her rent is about to go up. One fateful night when Emira was at a party, she gets a call from Alix, their house has been egged and she wants Emira to take her daughter to avoid all the fuss. Unfortunately their impromptu trip to the grocery store becomes a drama when a woman there is worried by how Emira is dressed and why as a black woman she is accompanied by a little white girl. When she calls security things get out of hand, and a fellow customer records the whole thing. Alix is horrified by what has happened and goes overboard in trying to make things right, but when her efforts to help become overbearing , Emira is forced to reevaluate her life and where she wants to be.
Sharp, current and engaging this was a great read, with wonderfully drawn characters and an interesting set up. If I had to pick a flaw its that some of Alix's back story is a little unbelievable, most notably how much it still impacts on her so much, but that is a minor grip with what was a very good book. The way it deals with racially charged issues is fresh and definitely challenging to preconceptions,
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This is going to be one of the best books I've read this year, for a few different reasons. When I read a book that really makes me think, one that I ponder for a long time, it is often one that has taken me quite a while to read because of the complexity of the story and the characters. Kiley Reid's novel is so readable. I read it in less than 24 hours. The story moves fluidly, and the connections in the story make sense! Unlike some stories where the readers find themselves questioning how far we can let our imaginations run, this story just makes perfect sense. Reid has created an example of realistic fiction so powerful that I often felt uncomfortable reading, something for me that is a true sign of author genius.

The story begins with Emira, a hired baby-sitter to Briar, being questioned by security after being seen at an upscale grocery store with the little girl later in the night when Briar's parents, the Chamberlains, frantically begged Emira to come take Briar out of the house because of an emergency. The confrontation begins an exploration of racial bias and expectation, but in the most natural way. It's difficult to describe, but the story flows effortlessly, and the characters, who seem so simply described, are nothing but simple. Alix Chamberlain, Briar's mother, is one of the most round characters I feel like I've ever read (ok, that is probably an exaggeration, but I was so impressed by the depth of her character!). We learn about her past, how it shaped her present, and who she really is as Emira's employer (and friend?). Emira also meets Kelley, another pretty complex character, who helps to represent another dynamic in this tangled relationship web.

Without saying much more, I strongly encourage you to read this debut. The confrontation at the grocery store starts the book, and confrontation controls the rest of the book, but what happens throughout is so intriguing and enjoyable. Emira's relationship with Briar is so fun to read, yet so heartbreakingly beautiful. Alix's opinion of Emira is so confusing and so complex--Alix was like a riddle I was trying to crack throughout the text.

If this is Kiley Reid's first novel, I can't imagine what she will bring us next. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

First of all this book is an extremely easy read. I read it in one sitting. The story is great because it has not been done before. You get to hear narratives from both sides. While this book touches on race and microagressions I wish I delved in a bit more. The main character Emira was very relatable to me because what mod 20s woman actually knows what they’re doing. This book also teaches there’s 3 sides to every story: yours, theirs, and the truth.

Your mid-20s! College is behind you, you are an officially an adult, with a solid group of friends, and a whole life ahead of you! - SUCH A FUN AGE! It's the best years of your life, if you believe those in their 30s and 40s, but once you are in the middle of it, there is a lot that remains desired.

This is where we find our main character, Emira. She's a 25 year old, English major, from Temple University. She's college educated, and yet she has no idea what she'd like to do with her life. While she figures it out she decides to start being a sitter for a wealthy white couple in Philadelphia. And while she adores, 3 year old Briar, she's still not a nanny, so she has no benefits, healthcare, or a career.

The book starts out with racially charged incident in a grocery store late in the evening, and while Emira would like to forget it ever happened, the event continues to come back throughout the story.

It's a quick and enjoyable read, despite the fact that all of the characters (other than the precocious three year old), are pretty awful, deeply flawed people. There are many racially themed substories throughout, and no one really comes out looking very well in the end. The story still feels a bit unsettled to me, and I was hoping for a better ending. Everyone simply seems to settle into their lives, continuing on with their biases, opinions, and preferences. But it does go to remind us, that at least for Emira, her mid-20s weren't such a fun age afterall.

*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley.

This didn’t really live up to the hype for me. Although there’s some good stuff going on here about race and privilege, I thought the writing and the pacing were very uneven. I felt irritated several times by plot points that felt unrealistic but were shoehorned into the narrative for the sake of moving the story in a certain direction.

Ambitious novel that tackles class, race, generation, and gender. Not completely successful in untangling the intersectionality of identities, but nevertheless definitely worth reading for the questions it poses, particularly around white women's relationships with black women and the fetishization of blackness by well-meaning white people.

I have spent 6 months reviewing on NetGalley. I have had brilliant reads and I have had ones which failed to hit the notch but this is probably the one read that was one mind-blowing!

Official Description: 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.

When I got approved of this arc, I didn't expect it to be such a great, compelling and thought-provoking read. In fact, I don't know what I expected this book to be like. Slowly, as my Instagram feed started to fill up with this book's reviews and as recommendations by the other bookstagrammers due to which this book started invading every nook and cranny of my mind for the past couple of weeks. And when I started reading, the book completely transported me within its pages with Reid's ethereal writing style! This book is so enrapturing and empowering that as a reader, I was both amazed and terrified of how this book is such a work of art! There are so many scenes in this book which made me often think that I shouldn't be enjoying all of these this much... but I did! I couldn't resist falling in love with this book... The characters are so perfectly constructed and so is the plot which touches the issue of racism in a light yet so brutal way. Emira and Alix are both so empowering and most of their traits are something I aspire to achieve. Some of the chapters will be imprinted in me for a long time. Reid is going to be one of the best debutante authors of 2019. Her writing style is alluring and will bring her laurels of fame in the literary world!

I absolutely cannot wait to read her future works and this book will be so memorable to me as it turned out to be one of the best books to end the decade with and begin a new one with!

Recommended: Duh, I thought it is obvious. This is a must-read masterpiece!

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for providing me with an e-arc.

This is the story of Alex, a mildly famous, wealthy, white, blogger and Emira, her college student, poor, black, babysitter. This story focuses on the dynamic when white families employ black employees, and when their "help" actually only does more harm. There are so many layers here.

The best aspect of this was how the author can write is a light, airy, fashion - while still exposing such heavy topics throughout. In the beginning, I thought I was simply reading a chick-lit type story. However, as I read on, it became clear how many layers there are here. I also liked how much of a Pennsylvania-centric book this is - it takes place in Philadelphia, characters attend Penn State and Temple, and my hometown (Allentown) is featured.

The biggest issue I had with this book was that I found it difficult to connect with the characters. Many of the characters (Alix, Kelley, in particular) were mean to be awful characters. However, even Emira, arguably the most liable character, was still not completely executed to her potential. A bit more connection and character development with her would have taken this to a 5-star rating.

I recommend this book - it will be a book 2020 release and I think it will be discussed at length. I also think this is a great commentary on race from a perspective that is not often seen in fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid is an ambitious debut, and while there are many thought-provoking elements to this novel, I felt that I never truly connected with the story itself in any significant way. For me, the execution lacked the flow to keep me fully engaged, although I did appreciate the author's exploration of many relevant and topical issues.

Emira, a woman of colour, is babysitting for two year old Briar when she is questioned at a grocery store late one night as to the nature of her relationship with the child. A bystander films the awkward and humiliating encounter, and Emira is forced to evaluate not only her own ambitions, but the relationship she has with the family who employ her.

This is an interesting story of race, class, friendship, and self-identity that will provide much food for thought.

Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN-GROUP Putnam for the opportunity to read this ARC,

Although I think this is a great debut novel for Kiley Reid, it wasn't really my cup of tea. I was happy to find out this wasn't another "white saviour" novel, but I just couldn't get drawn into any of the characters and the dialogue was sometimes cringey. I found both Emira and Alix kind of annoying. The best character in the whole book with Briar by far.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a Fun Age is one of the best books I've read this year. It was compulsively readable while also being deeply discomforting, and it's given me a lot to think about.

Alix Chamberlain is an influencer. Using her social media accounts and the guest-speaker circuit, she earns a living by empowering women to stand up for themselves. She's white, wealthy, and privileged but wants to see herself (and be seen by others) as a protector of marginalized classes. Emira Tucker is underemployed. She's graduated from college but hasn't found a career that resonates with her. Instead, she's working multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet. She's black, living paycheck-to-paycheck, and facing the imminent loss of her parent-sponsored health insurance, but she is good at looking beyond these problems to live her best life. Alix hires Emira to routinely babysit her daughter, Briar. After a racist incident occurs while Emira's on the clock for the Chamberlains, Alix plots a course to befriend and protect Emira regardless of Emira's feelings.

Reid's main characters are some of the most nuanced, well-drawn ones I've read in quite a while. The pace of the story is slow but steady, and it kept me reading. The novel feels self-aware in a way that's hard to explain. Or maybe it's that it makes the reader more self-aware. Reid successfully addresses hard questions about race and class while weaving an interesting plot with vivid characters. I highly recommend Such a Fun Age.

better than most first novel getting lots of press, I read it for the joy of page turning storytelling and plot line. I like the mother child nanny complexity which was perhaps glossed over. The women all were unique and relatable in real time. Not sure how I feel about the humorous writing, it was on the edge of too much. . So good to have an IWW novel to start the year and the acknowledgements got me Interested in the writing/teaching of Jess Walters. Excited to read the next Kiley Reid and looking forward to seeing if Such a Fun Age sticks in my thoughts over time.

Such a Fun Age was a pleasure to read. The writing was light and easy, and the plot of the story was engaging and fun to ready. However, this book is not meant to be just, as I call it, “a fluff read”, it is meant to be serious, controversial, and thought provoking.

It took me a while to decide how to rate and review this novel. At first, I thought of this book as just another story amongst so many others that deal with the issues such as racism, privilege, relationships, and feminism. However, this book is quite different from all the other books in this category. What I really liked about this novel, and what makes it stand out from the crowd, is the author’s clever way of presenting and exploring all the issues mentioned above in a very approachable and assertive way. Because of this, the reader does not quite realizes the heaviness and importance of the story until the end of the book, at which point the true significance and message of this novel surfaces and the reader is forced to rethink everything he/she just read.

Emotionally charged, thought-provoking, and at times funny, this debut novel is a perfect Book Club choice. I am looking forward to reading more books from this author in the future.

Thank you NetGalley, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, and the author, Kiley Reid, for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.