Such a Fun Age

5/5 stars

I may have just found my new favorite book!

Emira is a 25-year-old black woman who is still figuring life out. She’s currently the babysitter of a quirky toddler. The toddler’s mother, Alix Chamberlain, is a privileged, white woman who encourages being a confident, independent woman. In fact, she has created an entire brand and career out of those values. The women’s dynamic changes when Emira is out babysitting and is accused of kidnapping the child. The incident brings to light a shared connection with someone who could change everything… 

Where do I begin? This was such a great read. I was drawn in from chapter one (where the accused kidnapping incident occurred) and could not put it down. The story follows the perspectives of Emira, Alix, and their shared connection. The story was incredibly witty and clever. It delves into the concept of white feminism and trying to be inclusive while really committing microaggressions instead. The characters were complex and well developed. They were perfect depictions of having good intentions but still having a less-than-positive impact on someone.

I think much of why I loved this book was because Emira was such a strong character. She may still be figuring out what she wants in life, but she’s proud of who she is and where she came from. As a woman of color, I related strongly to her and could point out the sub-plots that I had experienced in my own life.

This was an outstanding debut novel that explored family, friendships, race, and privilege. It forces you to consider where you stand in society and how you may be impacting others in ways you were not aware.