Thank you to @putnambooks for my #gifted review copy of this book & Happy Pub Day!
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (#121 in 2019) Emira, a young black woman in her mid-twenties, is a babysitter for a wealthy family of two little girls. When Alix, the mother of the two girls, calls Emira up to watch her three year old late one night, a security guard at the local grocery store accuses Emira of kidnapping the little girl. Alix, feeling second-hand embarrassment for Emira, makes a plan to right the wrongs that have been done to her sitter. At the same time, a handsome bystander from the grocery store also offers his help to Emira in the wake of the racially-fueled incident. I was shocked to learn that this is Kiley Reid's debut novel! Reid's writing style was quick and easy to read through while still packing a punch in the social-commentary department. Emira is young and super-inexperienced in terms of "adulting," and you can't help but love her as a character. Emira is struggling to decide what to do with her present and her future, and as much as she wants to move on from her babysitting lifestyle and get a "big girl job," she doesn't want to leave the little girl she loves behind as she feels that the parents don't provide the attention the child deserves. Emira's love life begins to develop as she connects with the handsome bystander who was present at the grocery store that unfortunate night, and her professional relationship takes flight when Alix tries to connect with Emira on a personal level. All of these challenges make Emira’s character easy to associate with. Without giving any spoilers... Because Emira, herself, is indecisive, the development of the conflict allows the reader to make his or her own opinions. Initially, I felt like the story left me on a cliffhanger, and I was a little upset by it. After giving myself a few days to think about it, I actually came to appreciate the ending. I recognize how Reid’s storytelling remained unbiased for the purpose of allowing the reader’s own interpretation to form. With that in mind, I really began to understand the resolution more. Once you give this book a read, you’ll see what I mean. 3.5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Comments