Review: Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The audiobook of this was great. I think listening to it adding just a little bit extra to the enjoyment of the book. The narrator did a wonderful job giving personality to each of the characters.

I won't go into the synopsis of this book because there are already a ton of those you can read. This book opens up such great conversation starters with regards to social issues. Emira's character is wonderful. I loved how relatable and real she was. I also loved how much she genuinely cared for Briar and always put her well being first. Like most of us in our twenties, she is figuring out what to do with her life while balancing time with friends and wanting to make her family proud. I felt that way about all of the characters, they feel like people you probably have met in your life or may have as friends. I'm sure we all know someone like Alix who seems to have it all together and loves to give advice about what you should eat or wear or how to parent your kids. Her personality was one of a person who seems to have good intentions, but doesn't actually care who she is hurting along the way and in Emira's case everything she does goes against everything she and her brand supposedly stand for.

There is a part towards the end of the book that talks about what really happened between Alix and Kelley. Her version of the truth, or at least the version she told herself is much different than the events that really happened because her version was easier to come to terms with. Emira says something similar when she chooses not to confront Alix about all of the offensive things she does to break down their relationship. Emira knows that Alix's version of the truth is the only one she'll believe so nothing she tells her will make a difference. I still wish she would have laid it all on the table for Alix, because Alix needed to hear it. Like Alix, so many people live in their privileged, oblivious bubbles where they tell people what they should and shouldn't do, but they have never experienced anything other than their own sphere of existence. The same is true for Kelley, while his intentions might have been good they weren't always what was best for Emira. I would have liked to see Reid put some of the commentary calling them out on the page to further the discussion. I think more people need educated on some of the things they are doing that they just don't know are not OK. In the end do I think it would have mattered to characters like Kelley and Alix, no they didn't want to hear it, but for someone reading or discussing this book it may have provided an "ah ha" moment.

Overall, really enjoyed this and understand why it has gotten so much hype.

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