Reviews with content warning for Stalking - Such a Fun Age

The lesson I learned from this: white people need to stop meddling!! And they should also stop trying to outdo one another in an imaginary competition of "Who is the least racist" (unless it's for my personal amusement).
For real though, I LOVE the writing and the story and the characters. I feel like I was reading about real people, not made-up fictional characters. Emira has my heart. I enjoyed myself the whole time and I felt so satisfied with how everything came together. So glad I picked this book up :)
Part of me wants to recommend this to everyone I know, but the other part of me knows not everyone will get invested in a slice-of-life story with this type of writing. I also want to hear what other people took away from this book! I'm curious to see what other interpretations of the story might be, and what I may have missed!

Content Warnings

dominic_t's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is an incredibly pointed look at white liberal racism and the emptiness of feminist brands. The characters are very vivid and well-developed; they both had really distinct voices in the story.

It's not a comfortable read. The POV characters are Alix and Emira. Alix is a wealthy white woman who has a feminist brand that reminds me of Sheryl Sandberg's "Lean In." Emira is the Black woman who babysits for her and is trying to figure out her next step in life. Alix spends a lot of the book determined to become friends with Emira, and she ends up basically stalking her. It was so uncomfortable reading chapters from her perspective while she orchestrated and manipulated situations with Emira to foster a closeness that Emira didn't want. Kiley Reid did a great job of capturing Alix's neurotic performative mindset, and she manages to humanize her. Alix does some horrible shit throughout the book, but she is presented as a human making flawed choices rather than a monster. She also does a fantastic job showing the progression of Alix's behavior; we see her boundary-stomping, manipulative behavior grow over time, and it provides a foundation for her final horrible act.

I really loved Emira. The author does a great job of capturing the in-between phase she's stuck in. She's not sure what she wants to do next, and she feels trapped by the reality of her financial situation. Her relationship with Briar, the kid she babysits, is also beautifully portrayed. The author really captures the challenge of leaving a caregiving position when you love the person you care for. She experiences the most growth in the book, and I absolutely loved seeing it.

The writing is beautiful, and the social commentary is really incisive. It's not a comfortable read, but it is one that will stay with me.

Content Warnings

neb03's review against another edition

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challenging emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny informative reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A brilliant story that on the surface is about two people who can’t let go of the past but when you dig deeper is about their need to not be racist, no matter the cost. This book outlines the way that well-meaning white liberals (especially the women) make choices for and about the Black women in their lives, instead of treating those women like true equals and giving them the space to make their own choices. Reid highlights the way white people often think they know what is best or just for Black people without asking or trying to understand a different perspective while also telling a complex coming of age story filled with love and loss.

Content Warnings

marisa_n's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

basicbookstagrammer's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

cammiem8's review against another edition

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challenging reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Wow, were these characters frustrating! And I know that was the point, and their interactions were interesting and made me listen through it very quickly. Although what Alix/Alex did was objectively worse, I couldn’t help but despise Kelley more than any of the other characters, he just came off to me as so slimy and pretty much got off scotch free in the end. Also have to say the kid was really annoying. I find myself really wanting to talk about this book, and I’ll certainly be thinking about it for a while.

Content Warnings

jojo_'s review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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