SUCH A FUN AGE by KILEY REID

Booker Prize Longlist #1

I chose this book based on its popularity and not because I knew anything about it. Normally I’d caution against this - being a sheep and all, but this Bookstagram community is one that is rarely wrong and this book delivered!

A black babysitter, her three friends, her rich white boss who is desperate to prove that she is a black ally, an enchanting little girl, a white man who only befriends and dates black people... That’s the line-up. What could possibly go wrong?!

This book is not only completely readable thanks to Reid’s professionalism as a writer, it is also a powerful political piece.

It brings up issues of racism that may not initially seem to be acts of racism such as the fetishisation of black people. Or the selfish need to prove that you are a black ally because of the way it will make you look and feel and not because it’s simply the right thing to do.

***SPOILER***
Sometimes you don’t have to choose between the lesser of two evils. Sometimes you can walk away from both. I loved this idea because like a chump I was expecting this novel to follow that typical storyline - girl chooses boy and all is ok in the end. I’m embarrassed to even admit that, but again, I’ll blame it on Reid’s fantastic writing and assume she led me towards that idea on purpose 🤫
Well anyway, I was very chuffed with the fact that she didn’t have to choose either of them. They were both toxic people and she removed them from her life. Lovely. Much better ending.
SPOILER OVER.

I’ve never talked about the ending in a review before but I really felt like I had to. If anyone else has read this, let me know what you thought about it.

I don’t even feel like I’ve said everything I wanted to say but I thought this book was a real gem and that’s the main thing I want to convey.

Comments

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