44 pages • 1 hour read
Kiley ReidSuch a Fun Age
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
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BetaPart 2: Chapters 11-12Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 2, Chapter 11 Summary
Though she is struggling with “plateauing eight pounds above her pre-baby weight” (137) and a simultaneous lack of intimacy with her husband, Alix feels excitement about her upcoming Thanksgiving. She is hosting her three closest friends: Rachel, Jodi, and Tamra. After Thanksgiving, Alix is excited to go with the women back to New York. As she thinks about her upcoming trip, Alix notices Emira’s phone light up from where it sits in the front hallway. On the screen is a notification that a flight’s cancelled due to the oncoming snowstorm.
Over the past week, Alix noticed her relationship with Emira take a turn for the worse. While Alix obsessed over things like “what time Emira went to bed” (138), Emira had rebuffed any friendly advances, which “haunted” (138) Alix. Alix continues to focus on Emira, trying to tailor her behavior and looks in ways that would get Emira to like her. Alix begins building a complete fantasy relationship with Emira in which Emira sees “what Alix saw as the truest version of herself” (139).
Alix’s preparations for Thanksgiving had become a joke with her friends, who teased her about creating a traditional, kitschy spread. To extend the joke further, Alix chooses to follow through on the idea, making her Thanksgiving table and decorations as cliché as possible. While Alix sets down her groceries, she greets Emira and Briar, who are watching the snow through the window.
Alix suggests that Emira check on the status of her flight using the computer; the thought of Emira having to spend Thanksgiving with the Chamberlain family makes Alix happy. With frustration, Emira reports that her flight’s cancelled and calls her parents; afterwards, Alix invites her to Thanksgiving. When Emira explains that her boyfriend will also be stuck in the city, Alix extends the invitation to him as well with excitement. As Briar figures out what is happening, Alix’s baby, Catherine, turns towards Emira and speaks her first word, “Hi” (144). Before sending Emira home for the night, Alix packs her a large tote bag of food because of the storm.
Part 2, Chapter 12 Summary
Kelley and Emira arrive at the Chamberlain’s for Thanksgiving with some awkwardness. Before they get into the house, Emira offers to have a code word in case Kelley wants to leave; he jokes back and then explains that he’s “happy to be here” (147). They ring the doorbell and Kelley asks for Emira’s boss’ name again. Emira can only remember Chamberlain, then tries to pronounce Alix: “Ellix […] uh-leeks” (148). The door opens, Mrs. Chamberlain goes “warfare” (149), and Kelley says, “Alex?” (149).
Part 2, Chapters 11-12 Analysis
Alix’s thinly structured veneer of personality begins to crack in these chapters as she panics about how other people see her. This is an important shift in Reid’s portrayal of Alix’s character: Until now, Alix has presented as a highly capable, self-motivated woman; at Thanksgiving, this will unravel both in visible and invisible ways. One of the most important revelations of Alix’s true self is how secretly conniving and self-serving she is. Though she purports to be a supportive, giving person, Alix stealthily arranges the world around her to her benefit. This is most clearly evidenced as she purposefully arranges for Emira to spend Thanksgiving at the Chamberlain household. In a desperate move to garner Emira’s favor, Alix both spies on Emira’s personal cellphone and then, when Emira’s flight gets cancelled, feigns sadness in order to offer a positive solution. This kind of behavior is insidious in its nature: Not only does Alix believe that her own purposes are most important, she does not value Emira’s feelings or desires enough to allow Emira to make her own choices or live a life that somehow detached from Alix. This is reflective of Alix’s past behaviors and a foreshadowing of what will come next as she continues to try to control the ways people see her.
