Come and Get it follows a group of individuals for a semester at the University of Arkansas. Millie Cousins is a 24 year old Resident Advisor in the Belgrade Dormitory, home to transfer students, people with a housing grant and one of the least popular places to live on campus although it is near the sorority houses. She arranges for a writer, Agatha Paul, to meet with students from her floor about weddings. Several of them, including two of the three suite mates who live next door to Millie signed up and Agatha is amused by their take on life. Overall, this is, as others have said, a character driven book about ways that the lives of the women in the suite, Millie and Agatha intersect, sometimes in ways that cross boundaries and also how some college settings can include "mean girls" redolent of middle school. My problem with it is not that people did disturbing things or acted against their better judgment or were downright creepy. I can really enjoy that in a story. It's that I never really got the point. Yet, this was a beautifully written book. Great vignettes, great dialogue, good concepts strung together. It just didn't end up being the whole package for me. I think this book has an audience out there and I did finish it due to the writing, to see if something would draw it all together for me to make sense of it as a story. Nothing really did.

I liked this one a lot. Kiley Reid is giving a character study with all the details you could ever need. This is social commentary and a good ass time.

Come and Get It

By: Kiley Reid

Publish date: 30 January 2024

Publisher: Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Son’s

General fiction(adult)/ Literary fiction/ women’s fiction

#ComeandGetIt#NetGalley

100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Book Review:

I gave this book 3 stars. This book was just ok for me. I did think it was better than her first book. I came really close to dnfing this book at the beginning because I was having a hard time following one of the girl’s and how she talked. I know she was from the south but oh my that was a rough section.

This book is about an older lady, Agatha, who is preparing to write a book about weddings. She is asked to teach at a college in Fayetteville for a semester. While she is there, she is able to interview some of the students in a dorm about her topic. During the interviews she discover she doesn’t really want to write about weddings.

One of the dorm RA’s, Millie, helps sets up these interviews with three of her charges.

Both of these ladies discover some things as they go forward with different areas of their lives and eventually end up together for a while.

This book goes into some of the students and how they ended up at this certain dorm and what they are going through. It goes into the background of both Millie and Agatha.

Like I said it was just ok for me. I had a really hard time even trying to review this book. I struggled picking it up, but once I did, I was able to read and enjoy it. I think part of the problem is that I think the book read too young for me and I couldn’t connect to the characters.

Sorry. Didn’t finish this one. Just not the quality I was expecting. I enjoyed her first book, but this one fell flat.

this is a 3.5 ⭐️ rounded down for me — mainly because a majority of the characters are absolutely vile, and there really wasn’t a plot here. there were several key characters, all with well developed back stories, but really no connection between them outside of time and place. Kennedy’s storyline was really emotional and sad, and mostly I just wished the whole thing could have been about her experience and resolution. it’s very slice of life, but with a super minor beginning and an ending with no emotional resolution or closure.

also, i kept on hearing that this was about money. money money money money — and yes, there’s a lot of money talk but it’s so surface level. the way i walked into this expecting there to be some kind of dramatic heist or scheme and then there was none was kind of disappointing. it was very college though!

i also saw someone else call the characters unlikeable but compelling and agree — it was like not being able to look away from a car crash.

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a DRC in exchange for my honest review!!

Loved how the perspectives were split 3 ways. Found all three narrators incredibly interesting. The way the whole big scene happened felt a bit confusing for me but overall good book.

Unfortunately this book was a miss for me. I got about 35% of the way through and was so bored. This is a character driven novel with little to no plot and there are quite a few characters introduced right away. I think the author did a good job of developing the characters but overall it just couldn’t keep my interest. I do tend to love character driven books but still need at least something of a plot to keep the story moving, which this was lacking.

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC for review*

Come and Get It is a nuanced character study, reveals dribbled out in slowly peeled away layers. There's more to each of the individuals than we first perceive, and Reid's sneaky buildup shows a lot more empathy for most her subjects than that first impression. She pokes fun and ridicules, showing both the ridiculously inane musings of young college women, their biases, their (mostly) sheltered upbringing and their vulnerabilities. She makes you care. Conversely, those you think reliable may not be so trustworthy.

There's a gradual increase in tension as the paths of the students, residents, admins and professor all merge into a very unpredictable mess. I was vested.

My thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC.

Kiley Reid is so talented at writing characters that feel like real people I’ve encountered, and this book made me so nostalgic for being in college in 2017 🥺

the book alternates between the perspectives of college student Kennedy, her RA Millie, and journalist/visiting professor Agatha Paul. What begins with an innocent interview for a piece on weddings and what college students think of them becomes an unhealthy obsession with the lives of a group of college girls, unethical journalism, and very messy interpersonal relationships. I also really appreciate Kiley Reid’s ability to demonstrate how seemingly minor and insignificant moments can alter the trajectory of your life and that every small choice you make matters and contributes to the big picture of what makes a person whole.

I saw a lot of mixed reviews of this book and I think it’s because a lot happens in seemingly innocuous exchanges between characters and overall it is more of a slower-paced character study. I really appreciate how this book touched on sexuality, racism, classism, and the socioeconomics of academia without feeling forced. Millie’s character development in particular was so heartwarming and relatable to me—she is a flawed human that makes frustrating decisions but ultimately I want to be best friends with her. I would’ve liked a little more resolution of some minor layers of the story in the ending, but overall this was such a strong second book from Kiley Reid and I’m so excited to read whatever she puts out next!!

If you liked Such a Fun Age, I feel really confident that you’ll love this book. Thank you @netgalley and @putnambooks for the eARC of this book 🤍

I loved Kiley Reid’s first novel SUCH A FUN AGE, but her new book was a huge miss for me. I’m DNFing at 14% after trying to book both digitally and on audiobook. I’ve seen lots of reviews saying that nothing happens in this book and unfortunately I have to agree. I wasn’t invested in the characters, nor did I care about any of their decisions. I’m really confused about what the book was supposed to be about anyway and don’t have any interest in continuing. Thanks for the ARC.

Hot take, but I think I liked this better than Such a Fun Age. This book is a smart and observant social satire of wealth, class, and power at a midwestern university. It follows several students (and one very sketchy professor) over one semester, as their stories gradually build toward a disastrous convergence.

I know some people have critiqued the lack of plot, but honestly I would have read 200 more pages of plotless observations about these college girls (cringing through my fingers all the while), much the way people watch reality TV. Reid is so observant, her dialogue feels so real, and she manages to simultaneously mock every character while (usually, though not always) giving you enough to root for in them. To me, what worked least well was actually the climactic turn of events — it felt too dramatic, too soon, and then dealt with too quickly. But overall, a very fun and quick read.

It took me awhile to gather my thoughts on this one because the book was really meh from beginning to end and took me forever to get through even with audio. I still don’t get or understand the point that the author intended to make here. My rating was rounded up based off the last few chapters. The conflict and drama between the characters was entertaining but this was definitely something I could’ve DNF’d. I thought the situation between Millie and Agatha was rather odd. There were also too many characters and not enough plot for readers to grasp the concept of what was happening. I really felt as though we were just going in circles with these characters which lacked depth by the way. I don’t necessarily recommend this but say to read at your own will. If you’re a fan of the author you might enjoy it.

I have some mixed feelings about this unique story that follows two main characters through one questionable decision after the next on a college campus and slow-burns its way to an unsettling ending that is all too reminiscent of something that could happen in real life.

The narrative follows Millie, a college RA with big dreams of finding her way in the world beyond the small town she grew up in and just making ends meet on her way to buying her own house, and Agatha, a professor, journalist and writer with her own fair share of struggles. Millie and Agatha first cross paths at the University of Arkansas and eventually find themselves in the middle of a tragic accident that changes their visions of their own lives possibly forever. Between our main characters and a number of side characters, the author deep dives into micro-aggressions and macro-aggressions alike, taking on themes of race, socioeconomic class, LGBTQ representation, morality in general, and so much more.

While I enjoyed reflecting on all of the themes and dilemmas the characters face, the overall pacing was off for me. The story felt really meandering for at least the first half without much happening, and I found myself constantly wondering how this story was eventually going to come together. But once I got to about 75% of the way through and we hit a big turning point, I was IN and it became unputdownable in sort of a cringey/”train wreck that you can’t look away from” type of way. The ending itself was interesting to me as well, in that there wasn’t a ton of resolution and I’m not sure if the characters really grew or learned much from everything that happened, but was ultimately satisfying enough at the same time (although maybe I was just satisfied to be done reading an anxiety-producing story).

I really appreciate how the author was able to craft a story that evoked such feeling from me as I read through the pages, but at the same time, I just didn’t love what those feelings actually were. Although it didn’t feel like much was happening plot-wise, there was still something about the writing that kept me coming back to it, which is a great testament to the author. Even though this particular book wasn’t the best fit for me, I’d certainly be willing to read her work again.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is my first read from Kiley Reid as I haven’t yet read her other book. Being from the South, I loved the setting for the book and thought she did a great job of taking the reader to the space. The book itself was a great in-depth character study in particular of Millie, Agatha and Kennedy. She did a great job of making them multi-dimensional people with lots of flaws that helped to propel the story forward.

My main issue with the book was that the action really focused in the last third of the book, which made reading the beginning slow. It’s a credit to her writing that I was as engaged as I was because she is such a great writer. I felt a little bit of whiplash from everything happening all at once but was pretty happy in the end with where it leaves us. I was not expecting where we landed with Kennedy and was a little sad with Millie’s story arch and hoping her character learned from this experience.

Loved every page! I loved it even more than Reid’s first book… the characters are totally engrossing. 5 stars!

(Actual: 4.5⭐, rounded up) Loved this book for how surprisingly unexpected yet bitingly REAL it was when it comes to the themes of greed, excess, power, privilege, and overall consumption in a capitalist society. As someone who also has a... complicated relationship with money/finances (to say the least), it was refreshing for me as a reader to not only see these same struggles and related complexities being dealt with by the MCs featured here, but also in how each character approached and dealt with said issues. This is a very character-driven story until about the back third or so (which is when the overarching plot/drama really picks up); and, even though the characters aren't always the most likeable, they are all most definitely relatable and compelling in their own ways. Lastly, I appreciated the sprinkles of dark humor woven throughout this book - it may not be for everyone, but it worked for me! Highly recommend.

3.75 Stars
This book is one that sucks you in and you have to keep reading to figure out what the heck is going to happen. While I did like this it was a little young for me but I knew that going in. It was like an interesting study of human behavior. The characters were so well written that you feel like you really know them. I think that is why it was hard to put down. They were like your new friends or friends of your daughter if you are not in your 20's. I think my daughter who is in her 20's would absolutely love this book. It is so obvious that Kiley Reid is a very talented writer and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read this book.

Kiley Reid knows how to write characters. From the opening scene of this novel, I was fascinated by the collection of people Reid placed in this (very realistic) dorm environment. The strength of these characters-- especially Millie, who I felt for in a way that seemed to physically hurt later on-- kept me going through this lightly plotted, ultimately not particularly believable novel. It's not one I'd necessarily recommend, but I enjoyed the read very much.

Thank you for the digital advanced reading copy!

2017 Fayetteville, Arkansas

Millie Cousins is a 24 year old Resident Advisor (RA) in the dorm with a few challenging residents on her floor. When Millie is on duty, she tries to do all things right. However, she made some bad decisions and got caught up in some messy stuff. She gets caught up in a relationship she shouldn't, has some gray areas with money, and dabbles in some prescription meds. Okay, so maybe she doesn't do ALL things right, but her heart is in a good place, and she wants to do her job well. Of all the RA's, Millie worked hard, meant well, and had a heart of gold. I was rooting for her!

Who I wasn't rooting for was Collette, Millie's coworker and friend. I thought she was judge-y and conniving something you wouldn't want in a friend. She was portrayed as an ally, but the whole time I was reading, she was getting the side eye from me. I just didn't trust her. I think at some point, we've all had a friend or shall I say an acquaintance like this.

Kiley Reid sure knows how to weave meaningful themes into her books. There's plenty to uncover here with this one depending on the lens you read it with. There are valuable takeaways from Come & Get It that resonated with me. I look forward to more from Kiley Reid!

If you love college dorm settings, or are a University of Arkansas Razorback fan (loving that book cover), you will love this book by Kiley Reid.

This whole book is an misconduct case waiting to happen, and not a single character would recognize a good decision if it tap danced on their desk.

This is one of those books where I'm having a bit of hard time separating my appreciation for the quality of the writing from my general dislike for all of the characters. They were messy by design, but in a way that felt less "I live for the drama" and more "oh honey, don't do that". I also wasn't enamored of the collegiate setting—it felt like a bit of a regression from Such a Fun Age, even if the MCs were around the same age. I was left with all sorts of questions (mostly in the space of like....really? these are the consequences??) but I also don't know if I would have wanted to read more to achieve a tidier ending.

Overall, I think I will stick with recommending Kiley Reid's debut, but I will still definitely keep my eyes open for her next release.