Mood Readers Unite. discussion

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

Alix Chamberlain is a woman who gets what she wants and has made a living, with her confidence-driven brand, showing other women how to do the same. So she is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains' toddler one night, walking the aisles of their local high-end supermarket. The store's security guard, seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, accuses Emira of kidnapping two-year-old Briar. A small crowd gathers, a bystander films everything, and Emira is furious and humiliated. Alix resolves to make things right.

But Emira herself is aimless, broke, and wary of Alix's desire to help. At twenty-five, she is about to lose her health insurance and has no idea what to do with her life. When the video of Emira unearths someone from Alix's past, both women find themselves on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know about themselves, and each other.

With empathy and piercing social commentary, Such a Fun Age explores the stickiness of transactional relationships, what it means to make someone family, and the complicated reality of being a grown up. It is a searing debut for our times.

Initial thoughts (only 8 pages in) I really like the relationship between Emira and Briar. So bloody adorable!

Up to pg 17 - still in ch 1 (view spoiler)[Things escalate so quickly all because of Jane and Johnny do good. Ugh. Idk what to feel about the guy filming it just yet. (hide spoiler)]

Don't much care about Alix and Peter's relationship just yet, but I'm waiting to see if that changes. However, (view spoiler)[the thought process Alix had when she first meets Emira is really disappointing. Why can't someone who looks like her be as qualified as she is??? (hide spoiler)]

Pg 44 - ch 4 (view spoiler)[so your babysitter goes through something so traumatic and the only thing you can think is that you don't want to lose her? Girl! Make sure she's okay first before you make that leap. Tuh! (hide spoiler)]

Pg 65 - ch 5 (view spoiler)[does someone wanna tell me why all his friends are black? <-- girl, I wanna know too. A lil sus but not unforgivable. (hide spoiler)]

But then we add his favourite music on top of that and it seems a little bit on the almost crossing a line side of things.

Part 2

At pg 76 - ch 6(view spoiler)[we learn that Alix snoops on Emira's messages and is more than a little infatuated with her and it's creeping me out. Ew. (hide spoiler)]

Pg 92 - (view spoiler)[casual dropping of the n-word. Great...But ofc he thinks it's okay because he's only talking about what someone else did and how he knew better than them (hide spoiler)]

pg 107 - I don't like how she's playing the victim in this story...because it isn't reading as that to me at all

Up to ch 11 - (view spoiler)[The lack of empathy is killing me. So self-centred and self-righteous. Ugh (hide spoiler)]

Part 3

I really don't like these people.

Pg 188 - ch 18 (view spoiler)[This convo between Kelley and Emira is frustrating to me. Kelley is both right and wrong in trying to get Emira to see the light, but buddy that's not your battle. Drop it.
Emira on the other hand, use your eyes, ears and brain. Please. These are all red flags. You didn't choose your people well at all. Because you are being used and you refuse to see it. (hide spoiler)]

Part 4

Pg 224 - ch 21 - The confrontation. Oof. I am cringing so hard

pg 231 (view spoiler)[She left the baby at home by HERSELF?! Because she's so obsessed with Emira and Kelley???? Ma'am! (hide spoiler)]

Buckle up folks, it's manipulation time.

Finished - Everyone is flawed and I didn't enjoy this journey even though I can objectively say that the writing is well done.