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Such a Fun Age

Narrated by: Nicole Lewis
Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
4.5 out of 5 stars (168 ratings)

Non-member price: $19.75

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Publisher's Summary

Bloomsbury presents Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, read by Nicole Lewis.  

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

When Emira is apprehended at a supermarket for ‘kidnapping’ the white child she’s actually babysitting, it sets off an explosive chain of events. Her employer Alix, a feminist blogger with a ‘personal brand’ and the best of intentions, resolves to make things right.  

But Emira herself is aimless, broke and wary of Alix’s desire to help. When she meets someone from Alix’s past, the two women find themselves on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know - about themselves, each other and the messy dynamics of privilege.

©2020 Kiley Reid (P)2020 Penguin Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

"The first time in a long time that I had a novel glued to my hands for two days." (Jessie Burton) 

"Sharp and observant and pacey. Will have the same impact as Sally Rooney." (Pandora Sykes)  

"A book that is clever, funny and shrewd, written by an author whose empathy can make you weep and smile, sometimes at the same time. A beautiful tale of how we live now." (Elizabeth Day) 

What members say

Average Customer Ratings

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Meh.

Really didn’t see what all the fuss was about. Characters layered, but story lacked any real punch or real feeling of narrative. Story was dull, quite pointless and while the social commentary was current and quite thoughtful, none of the characters inspired me to really care about them...

1 person found this helpful

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An indescribable story

An indescribable story. The narrative was so enjoyable that it’s powerful undertones crept up on me like a kick in the guts. I found myself feeling mortified, defiant, elated then horrified all within the space of a few pages. It’s not hard to see why this story is so highly recommended.

1 person found this helpful

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Hard to stop listening

Great story, i enjoyed the insights of duel characters and their perspectives, gasps you and keeps you wanting to find out what each thinks and whats going to happen next.

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So Much Yes!

I really enjoyed this! A storyline you dont normally come across and the narration was incredible. Each time i tuned in to listen it was like starting up a movie where i left off. This book frustrated me in the best way.

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Not what I was expecting

This was a beautiful book, not what I was expecting but still an amazing read

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three dimensional characters

Although the initial intrigue around the grocery store wanes a little, it really pulls together towards the end. The contrast in the dual character perspectives gives insight into the complexity of people's world views, as everyone always feels they are just trying to be a good person, "rightly" or "wrongly".

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great narration

loved it, it was fun to listen to. I enjoyed how it was written and the characters

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Loved everything about it

Loved this book, loved the voice of the narrator. About to listen to it for the second time.

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Such a fun book

I loved it! This story and the narrator pulled me right in. I’ve just finished a binge listen. Highly recommend.

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Interesting perspective and a good read

Took a while for me to get into the book, however once a few interesting twists happened I could not stop listening!

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  • H C FRASER-MACKENZIE
  • 23-02-2020

Why did I waste my time?

This took so long to get going/ kept hoping it would improve but now realise there are hours of my life I will never get back.
Themes were promising but it’s juvenile and a boring listen.

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  • Molooeee
  • 16-01-2020

Fun, light but filled with deep meaning!

I loved this; I found the black women familiar, and I love how Reid explored the beauty and complexities of black female friendships.
This storyline is so smart: the exploration of the white/black paid services dynamic was so powerful!
Finally, the dialogue is so funny and well written!

3 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Tsundoko and Tea
  • 10-01-2020

doesn't live up to the hype

Wow, I think I’m in the minority here having seen such good reviews! This was boring! I kept going expecting something to happen but it never really came!

Alix is a really intolerable woman! I ended thinking what an arsehole she was!!

Kelley was totally unbelievable as a 32-year-old man and if I ever met a man that acted and spoke like that when I was 25 I’d have been like ‘Thank you, next!’

The best thing about this book was the relationship between Emira and Briar and Emira and her fab girlfriends!

I totally get the intention of the book but it wasn’t entertaining as a novel

The narration was great though!

2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Lucy Bomford
  • 05-02-2020

Really quite dull!

This has such great reviews, but it is a very dull story, nothing much happens, I dont get why people love it so?

1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Judimaxx
  • 13-01-2020

Great read characters and story

Characters are not what you would expect and the story has a reasonabke voice. I got a little bored of the race comparisons and mummy /kid dialogue but simple story of coming of age and social expectation.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Marianne Thomson
  • 13-01-2020

Couldn’t put it down

Excellent and totally absorbing. I finished the whole thing in 3 days and couldn’t put it down

1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • L. Matthews
  • 11-01-2020

Superb listen

Intelligent and intuitive, completely engaging. Must read. Excellent performance. Great characters. Well paced. Incredible debut.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Sarah H
  • 09-01-2020

Brilliant

I started this book as soon as I received it and basically could not put it down. When I had to re-engage with my life I bought the Audible book so that I could continue reading when driving, working, cooking... you get the idea. It was harrowing and eye-opening at times, funny and warm, and shocking and thought-provoking.
The characters are likeable (most of the time) but at all times realistic and flawed. They all make poor decisions and all work from their own truth.
The main character, Emira needs all the help she can get in the adulting side of her life but her core is strong and likeable - you root for her and cheer for her.
Her relationship with the little Briar is testament to her warmth, she was born to be a teacher (my opinion).
Her relationship with Alix is odd from the start but that falls under Alix’s weirdness, not Emira - definite white privilege issues and it gets more and more apparent that Alix has big issues stemming from highschool.
Emira’s love interest Kelley plays into all the stereotypes and there are some moments of bliss and then the red flags come up. Honestly, I rooted for them, I am an idealist...
The summation is good and you get a neat and tidy ending after a tumultuous event filled book.
Side note: loved the flashback to Alix’s teenage days and her virginity story which included two of my favourite musical tracks by The Counting Crows - ’Colorblind’ and ’A Long December’ - such a great moment of nostalgia!

2 people found this helpful

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  • Rona Hunnisett
  • 26-02-2020

I stuck with it, but not sure why!

This rambled on relentlessly, and I guess I stuck with it to see what happened to the child, but it really didn't move me AT ALL!

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  • WR
  • 18-02-2020

The really was *very* good

This book was an absolute joy to read. So incredibly well written, and the narration was outstanding.

Would strongly recommend!
Thank you!

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  • Anonymous User
  • 14-02-2020

Brilliant listen

Loved this story. Well written, well told and just well done. 100% would recommend.