- Ronisha J.
- Thursday, February 18, 2021
"A biting tale of race and class." - Sunday Times
This novel starts in chaos, as babysitter Emira is asked to help her employers, as they deal with an issue that needs police attention. Emira has been out partying with her friends and discloses this to her employers. They need her, and so she goes - clad in her party clothes and high heels with her best friend in tow.
The next turn of events involves her being detained by a store security guard who assumes she has kidnapped the white child she babysits. This is set in motion by a white shopper who assumes the worst as the trio dances in the aisle of frozen food. Another shopper records the incident and encourages Emira to press charges, which she has no intention of doing. As the story progresses, Emira learns of a heated link between the shopper that did the recording and her employer.
The story follows Emira as she navigates coming into herself as a twenty-something year old, navigating friendships, love, and not so subtle race relations. We also see the perspective of Alix, her employer, who believes she is just trying to do the right thing, even when the “right thing” is wrong. It is a story full of transactional relationships and how they affect others.
This story is full of chaotic energy, yet I could not stop reading it! The importance of a group of good girlfriends can really be felt in this novel. The continuous struggle of race relations in America is brought to the surface as the characters process transactional relationships and their effect on others.
Such A Fun Age was such a fun read!
Such a Fun Age
Kiley Reid, author
GP Putnam's Sons [2019]
Format: Book, ebook, eaudiobook, audiobook on CD, large print
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