Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid | Book Review

[@theodoreg]

I enjoyed it. I thought Reid did interesting job at taking a less overt yet still radicalized event and making it thought provoking. It makes you question your own beliefs. And I heard the book is becoming a movie - screenwriter, producer, and actress Lena Waithe acquired the film and television rights. I think it would be make a great film.

[@vamps_rock]

I'm conflicted about the book. I 'enjoyed' it and thought it was incredibly clever in the easy way it dealt with some really sensitive topics. But I also think Alix is unhinged (and had some BFF's who were enabling her bad behavior) and the way I read it, it seemed to me that she did some of what she did for no other reasons than self-satisfaction and I'm not sure that I was supposed to think that about her. It also seemed that it was an indictment of the toxicity of social media and I've not seen anyone else mentioned that part of it. I can see that it would make a fantastic movie with further study of some of the characters with a slightly more thriller-type vibe. TFS :)

[@mamajenkins1981]

Vamps Rock I think that’s where the “white privilege” part of Alix comes in because I think everything she did was to make herself feel better about not only the events of the beginning of the book, the events from when she was in high school which she, to this day, continued to blame on someone else even though we learn, not only the truth about, but we learn that SHE knew the truth about all along.

[@Tory8679]

I was SOOOO disappointed. This is the review I left on Goodreads: ** spoiler alert ** This book left me wondering if there had been a last minute decision to change the trajectory of the story. Going in I thought that there was going to be thoughtful and pointed insight on the ever so tricky matter of unlearning bias and being held accountable for the first time. Kelly is your basically fetishizing white guy that surrounds himself with Black people in order to absolve himself of white guilt. The way the other Black women were written felt like caricatures instead of characters. Lastly, and most importantly, Alix is horrible. She’s invasive and predatory and a whole host of micro and macro aggressive racist and classist things that would have made a WONDERFUL statement about #GirlBoss types whose feminism is predicated on being better than other women, those of whom are often fatter, poorer, and darker. This could have been so much more. I hope that Reid is able to use her writing skills for something more lighthearted because she doesn't yet have a handle on the heavy topics.

[@LittlePrairieLibrary]

I keep hearing such good things about this book and I am so interested. Hopefully my library will get it in soon (my local library is a bit smaller so they don't get every buzzy book, but they do well with getting books the patrons request).

[@librarianfanmail]

I’ve been seeing this one all over and have ordered it for my library, definitely interested in reading it now!

[@UKLeonie]

I'll be doing the library borrow also.

[@pagesandpurls]

Totally agree with you re the readability of this book! I felt it was quite interesting that the social commentary on structural racism in this book is in such stark contrast to the style - which makes it more approachable, I guess. I think it's super relevant though, that also these issues are highlighted and written about, so I was very glad to have picked up this book.

[@shreyabooked9309]

I loved the book but I wished it had ended a bit differently. Things tie up a little too neatly in the end, making the characters seem that much more unreal because real life rarely gives one ALL the answers. SPOILER ALERT: We didn't need to know that Alix had discovered that Kelly was telling the truth about the letters. It takes away from the complexity of her decisions and makes her a stereotypical villain.

[@ericaramirez8135]

Totally agree. Just got around to it. Liked the book and the ending was a let down.

[@teresamedeiros7312]

I've watched you on Book Riot for so long, didn't know you had your own channel! I was looking for a review of Such a Fun Age and there you were. Im reading it right now and have mixed feelings at this point. You've put a different perspective on it and thank you for that. New subbie btw🙂

[@rinceyreads]

Thanks for joining me here :D

[@katherinestill1520]

I just started reading this today. I value your opinion and was glad to see you reviewed it!

[@rinceyreads]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy it

[@TheeKookyWildflower]

Absolutely loved this book! Thanks for reviewing it.

[@thebeautygirl79]

thank you for another great review! 😊

[@AceHardy]

📙💯

[@acwilson4714]

I didn't care for the book. It sounded like a good premise, but Emira had zero personality and I didn't see why Alix would want to be friends with her or even care what she thought.

[@rinceyreads]

Well I can understand not enjoying it, but it is satirical and Alix becoming obsessed with Emira is supposed to be seen as absurd.

[@MyMamasChild2]

This book was overrated and fell flat for me...unfortunately.

[@rinceyreads]

I'd love to know why you felt that way!

[@pennyf9886]

This is a book about the Karen's and the Beckys of the world.