Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Happy Pub Day to Kiley Reid! Such a Fun Age's blurb promised a page turner, and it delivered. The novel tells parallel coming of age stories: the evolution of Alix Chamberlain, an affluent influencer and mom of two with a clear direction, and that of her babysitter Emira, who's as directionless as they come. Both women grapple with identity and confidence, with the partners they have chosen for themselves, and with the path they find themselves on. It is, as the synopsis suggests, a story about privilege and race, but it's more than that. The first two thirds of the book flew for me. The last third seemed to lose its hold on the plot a bit, but not so much that I wanted to stop reading. What it lacks in this area it makes up for in characterization: I loved the complexity Reid lent to each character. As a former babysitter/nanny, the interactions between Emira and Briar tugged at my heart. Briar, who could have been a plot device, stole every scene she was in. The fact that this book is a debut makes it that much more impressive. I can't wait to get my hands on whatever Reid writes next. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the review copy.