We're all familiar with the phrases white privilege and race relations, but rarely has a book vivified these terms in such a lucid, absorbing, graceful, forceful, but unforced way.' - Library Journal 'In her debut novel, Reid illuminates difficult truths about race, society, and power with a fresh, light hand. Charming, challenging, and so interesting you can hardly put it down.' - Kirkus Reviews Her evenhandedness with her varied cast of characters is impressive. 'Reid's debut sparkles with sharp observations and perfect details-food, décor, clothes, social media, etc.-and she's a dialogue genius. With empathy and piercing social commentary, Such a Fun Age explores the stickiness of transactional relationships, what it means to make someone family, and the complicated reality of being a grown up. 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. At twenty-five, she is about to lose her health insurance and has no idea what to do with her life. Alix resolves to make things right.īut Emira herself is aimless, broke, and wary of Alix's desire to help. A small crowd gathers, a bystander films everything, and Emira is furious and humiliated. The store's security guard, seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, accuses Emira of kidnapping two-year-old Briar.

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.

A striking and surprising debut novel from an exhilarating new voice, Such a Fun Age is a page-turning and big-hearted story about race and privilege, set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both.Īlix 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.

Such a fun age novel