A review by stellahadz
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

challenging reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This book does an excellent job of what many books struggle to do - capturing the insidious nature of racism and transactional relationships.

I wish Emira had been a little more developed as a character - I found myself wanting to know more about her, and while I know the book was a satire of well-meaning white liberalism, I thought it was a bit ironic that the story ended up focusing more on a petty conflict between Kelley and Alix than on Emira, the Black main character. I wasn't a fan of the flashback chapter at the end of the book; it made Alix seem more like a caricature than the well-developed character she had been up until then. I also wish the ending hadn't been as rushed, but to be fair, the pacing in the rest of the book was excellent.

Overall, I really enjoyed Such a Fun Age. The writing is sharp and straightforward, which makes it a quick read, but it still packs a real punch in terms of the themes it explores. While it's not the only book to explore these themes, the addition of Kelley's storyline adds an extra dimension to the satire of "woke" white people. Definitely recommend. 
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