REVIEW: Such A Fun Age

Why Did I Read This Book?

Earlier this year when I vowed to kickstart my love for reading and blogging again, I was on the lookout for great books that everyone was raving about. Such A Fun Age was one of them that was everywhere I looked and I soon bought a gorgeous floppy hardback version.

Since purchasing it, I have been determined to read it but other books have taken priority. It featured on my May TBR list but I never got round to reading it so when I was a little bit lost on what to read next, I thought it was about time to tick it off.

What Did I Think?

It is honestly so disheartening when you read a book that has been so hyped up and then when you get round to reading it, you don’t enjoy it. Sadly, this was the case for me with Such A Fun Age. 

I think I have read so many inspiring and heartbreaking books written by POC authors this year that no matter what book I read next, it undoubtedly has to live up to the expectations and the incredible experiences of reading some other great books. For me, Such A Fun Age did neither.

I disliked the majority of the characters, which normally wouldn’t be a problem, but in my opinion, I thought the story was lacking real substance. The first scene is incredible and so eye-opening to the casual and systemic racism that exists in our society today, and from the very first scene, I was hooked. Yet from there, I thought the story fizzled away and it came across like the author was struggling to string a story together.

Now I acknowledge that is INCREDIBLY harsh to say but that’s how I felt. I was disappointed in the two-dimensional characters and the unstimulating storyline that I found myself struggling to find the motivation to sit down and read it, as well as rushing through the book so I could finish it and move onto the next book; determined not to DNF.

Don’t get me wrong, there were certainly moments that I loved, for example, the first scene and the depiction of Alix Chamberlain being this rich, white woman who doesn’t realise 1) her privilege and 2) how her ‘thoughtful’ and ‘kind’ actions were racist and derogatory.

It really does breaks my heart when the hype ruins books and I fully understand that this is just my opinion but for me, this book wasn’t one I enjoyed or one I took anything away from. I hate to disapprove of books but I’ve got to be honest and unfortunately, Such A Fun Age has been loved by many but I am not one of them.

Please don’t let me discourage you from reading it because I’ve seen a lot of bloggers and bookstagrammers loving the story, so there is no reason why you won’t love it either. If you have read it and loved it, please feel free to disagree with my opinion!

Such A Fun Age

⭐⭐

Rating: 2 out of 5.

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