Kiley Reid > Quotes

“I don't need you to be mad that it happened. I need you to be mad that it just like... happens.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“I think it best we went our separate ways, and that those paths never crossed again.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“Emira realized that Briar probably didn't know how to say good-bye because she never had to do it before. But whether she said good-bye or not, Briar was about to become a person who existed without Emira. She'd go to sleepovers with girls she met at school, and she'd have certain words that she'd always forget how to spell. She'd be a person who sometimes said things like, "Seriously?" or "That's so funny" and she'd ask a friend if this was her water or theirs. Briar would say good-bye in yearbook signatures and through heartbroken tears and through emails and over the phone. But she'd never say good-bye to Emira, which made it seem that Emira would never be completely free from her. For the rest of her life and for zero dollars an hour, Emira would always be Briar's sitter.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“Alex was alone, and the one thing she still had was the freedom to follow the narrative that suited her best.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“And some days, Emira would carry the dread that if Briar ever struggled to find herself, she’d probably just hire someone to do it for her.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“You’re not better than anyone,' she said, 'when you hang up your own coat and take your plate to the trash. I’ve been those girls helping out tonight. I fucking am those girls helping out tonight, and you’re not making anything easier by giving them less to do. It’s like eating everything on your plate ’cause you think someone else won’t go hungry if you don’t. You’re not helping anyone but yourself.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“Emira didn’t love doing anything, but she didn’t terribly mind doing anything either.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“One day, Emira when Emira would say good-bye to Briar, she'd also leave the joy of having somewhere to be, the satisfaction of understanding the rules, the comfort of knowing what's coming next, and the privilege of finding a home within yourself.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“Good bosses shouldn't make you happy in a job that they wouldn't want to do themselves," she said. "It's my job to make you so miserable that you're forced into finding something that brings you joy, and then I help you seal the deal.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“There were moments like this that Alix tried to breeze over, but they got stuck somewhere between her heart and ears. She knew Emira had gone to college. She knew Emira had majored in English. But sometimes, after seeing her paused songs with titles like "Dope Bitch" and "Y'all Already Know," then hearing her use words like connoisseur, Alix was filled with feelings that went from confused and highly impressed to low and guilty in response to the first reaction. There was no reason for Emira to be unfamiliar with this word. And there was no reason for Alix to be impressed.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“New York was like an ex who had worked out all summer.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“The number of things she could ask her own mother were shrinking at an alarming rate.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“I think it would be best if we went our separate ways, and that those paths never again connected.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“Any mom who misses a chance to dress her kid up like a hotdog sounds like a psychopath to me.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“but Emira came to know the rare relief of having a boss who was so consumed with her assistant’s success that she was never derailed by the idea of being Emira’s friend.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“Emira had met several "Mrs. Chamberlains" before. They were all rich and overly nice and particularly lovely to the people that served them. Emira knew that Mrs. Chamberlain wanted a friendship, but she also knew that Mrs. Chamberlain would never display the same efforts of kindness with her friends as she did with Emira: "accidentally" ordering two salads and offering one to Emira, or sending her home with a bag filled with frozen dinners and soups.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“You're not the first black woman Alex has hired to work for her family, and you probably won't be the last.'

'Okay...?' Emira sat down. She didn't mean to sound flippant, but she doubted that Kelley could really tell her anything she didn't already know. Emira had met several 'Mrs. Chamberlains' before...It wasn't that Emira didn't understand the racially charged history that Kelley was alluding to, but she couldn't help but think that if she weren't working for this Mrs. Chamberlain, she'd probably be working for another one.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“But...I don't know. I know it's weird" - she tried to explain - "but people do pay other people to act like part of the family. That doesn't mean it's not a transaction.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“That boy likes to talk.” Kelley definitely did that thing where he asked her questions with the intention of explaining his own answer afterward.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“I'm probably gonna start looking for a one-bedroom or a studio."

"Oh, for real?" Emira was shocked, and then she was jealous, and then she wondered, Is that what we're supposed to be doing right now? Cause if it is, I ain't there.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“The messages between Emira and this new person were of that cool and careful variety that only exists at the beginning of something, as you try to exude spontaneity and effortless humor, and space out responses to appear busy and even-keeled.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“Quite possibly the saddest sensation Millie had ever known was this: that someone cared for you but not like you cared for them.”
― Kiley Reid, Come and Get It

“Deep into her thirties, Emira would wrestle with what to take from her time at the Chamberlain house. Some days she carried the sweet relief that Briar would learn to become a self-sufficient person. And some days, Emira would carry the dread that if Briar ever struggled to find herself, she’d probably just hire someone to do it for her.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“Huh." Kelley wiped his face with his napkin and set his hands on the table. "So you haven't had like, a long, serious relationship?"
Emira smiled as she chewed. "Well, I haven't had a long, serious life, so no.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“Or that when white people compliment her (“She’s so professional. She’s always on time”), it doesn’t always feel good, because sometimes people are gonna be surprised by the fact that she showed up, rather than the fact that she had something to say when she did.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“Agatha said, “I see.” She wrote down the word Tacky. It was something her late mother would have said about someone using a gift card at a lunch they’d invited you to.”
― Kiley Reid, Come and Get It

“Family means no favorites.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“In the elevator up to Kelley's apartment, Emira checked her phone. OH OKAY BYE BITCH, Zara texted. TRAP TRAP TRAP TRAP GET THAT L.L.BEAN DICK GUR.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age

“One of the more frequent arguments that Agatha and Robin partook in, especially near the end, was what Agatha considered an unfair assertion: that Agatha didn’t like anything. And sure, there were many things that she did not enjoy. Like zoos. And musicals. And photo booths at weddings. Burlesque was another one. Any type of parade. She hated Little Free Libraries in wealthy neighborhoods. (Just use your public library? Which is also free because that’s the point?) She hated when restaurants and stores offered human food to dogs.”
― Kiley Reid, Come and Get It

“She knew Emira had gone to college. She knew Emira had majored in English. But sometimes, after seeing her paused songs with titles like "Dope Bitch" and "Y'all Already Know," and then hearing her use words like connoisseur, Alix was filled with feelings that went from confused and highly impressed to low and guilty in response to the first reaction.”
― Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age