So this is one of those books where some readers might say "not much happened", but in my opinion, that wouldn't be a fair assessment.

This is a VERY character driven novel where we gradually get to know these characters now and uncover things that happened in their past that made them who they are now - flaws and all, and there's a lot of flaws....

This was a very well-written book with a campus setting and characters that you grow to know but not necessarily grow to love as you get to know them better. There are themes of class and race and education and family and love weaved throughout the novel.

I do think that it was a tad long and maybe could have been edited and buttoned up a bit and that may have helped the feeling of not a lot happening. Overall for me, this was a very well-written, character driven novel that I am glad I read, but also have a feeling will become a tad forgettable to me as time goes on. I need to go back and read Reid's novel Such a Fun Age as I have heard great things about that one. The level of writing of this novel definitely makes me want to read more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I thought, Come and Get It, was an interesting character driven book. I didn’t enjoy all the characters, but I think that makes the book more interesting.

I really wanted to love Come & Get It since I loved Such A Fun Age but I can honestly just say it was an ok read.

The main focus was 3 women of different ages and backgrounds. All had their issues which we learned about throughout the story. Many secondary characters were featured but I feel like they were more or less placeholders and lacked development.

The climax definitely picked up but it left for me many unanswered questions and an unclear explanation as to the actions of the characters.

(3.5 rounded down) i love a book where every character is unlikable (beyond normal human flaws)! kiley reid does a pretty good job at capturing university life and conversations realistic for people that age. the book could be slow at time given there were so many perspectives to show of the same events but really picked up in the last quarter!

gay people can be bad people too :)<3

thank you netgalley and putnam for the eARC!

Come And Get It is set in 2017 at The University of Arkansas and follows Millie, an RA, a handful of her charges in the transfer dorm where she lives and works, other RAs and university personnel, and Agatha, a visiting professor and writer. Their lives intersect in ordinary and unexpected ways, as each person tries to adjust to their current stage in life and their living environment. When Millie is offered an easy and unique opportunity by Agatha, she can’t resist, thinking about her own future and potential gains. ⁣
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I didn’t always like the characters but as a whole, I was rooting for Millie. I could also understand the dorm residents’ desire to be socially accepted by others. There were multiple instances of side conversations or dialogue that I thought didn’t further the story, but it still felt fitting of the time and place for a college dorm. ⁣
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I couldn’t stop reading Come and Get It, intrigued yet remaining unsure where the story was headed for the majority of the book. Money, impulsive behavior, class, and race are themes in this character driven story that’s uncomfortable but hard to look away from.

I really enjoyed this book and felt entertained the whole time. "This is coming-of-age story about a group of women living in and around a college campus and the micro- and macro-aggressions that inform their relationships and conflicts." While I don't always love character driven books, this was done nicely as there were some different plot lines. I also love a book on a college campus and found the RA life SOOO interesting. I definitely want to read the authors other book, Such a Fun Age! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Character driven story with chapters alternating between Agatha (an author and visiting professor), Millie (a resident advisor) and Kennedy (a student) with multiple supporting characters. For many chapters I was unclear who the main character was or where the story was going. Throughout the novel I was rooting for Millie but felt like the shoe was going to drop with either Tyler or Agatha ruining her life plans for her.
The author held my attention and I wanted to know how this ended but it would not be in my top recommendations. If you’ve read Such a Fun Age, I liked that novel better.

SUCH A FUN AGE (Reid’s debut) was one of my favorite books of the past several years, so this definitely had big shoes to fill. Luckily, I loved it just as much. I am a campus novel super fan, and have read TONS of books in this sub-genre over the years, and this was truly a unique take on this setting, that felt fresh, sharp, and relevant.

I loved the fascinating, complex cast of characters, whose interior lives were perfectly captured. And Reid has a real talent for depicting the nuances of complicated (at times cringey) relationships. Amidst the top notch character studies, Reid interweaves sharp social commentary on money, class, race, and power dynamics. This all felt compelling, true-to-life, and thought-provoking.

There’s a slowly building tension throughout the story, culminating in a truly unforgettable ending. It’s definitely an uncomfortable read at times— the ick factor builds along with the tension, and I know there are some content warnings readers may want to avoid. For me, though, this was a total winner of a book: a sharp, insightful, layered look at human nature and relationships. If you also love immersive, excellent writing, character-driven stories that still feel propulsive, and a campus setting ✅✅✅ absolutely move this to the top of your TBR!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Thank you to @putnambooks and @netgalley for the ARC! Available now!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. It is definitely an adult book with adult and literary themes. The plot is intricately woven by Reid and it's not an easy read but definitely worth sticking it out.

Kiley Reid's Come and Get It is a captivating tale set at the University of Arkansas. It follows Millie Cousins' venture into a risky opportunity with visiting professor Agatha Paul. This journey through ambition and ethical dilemmas deepens into human complexities and moral gray areas. Reid excels in crafting characters with rich backstories and motivations, making the narrative not just a plot-driven story but a nuanced exploration of human nature and societal issues.

As a follow-up to Such a Fun Age, this novel showcases Reid's growth, adeptly weaving themes of desire, misconduct, and the intricate dynamics of race and identity. It's a thought-provoking piece that doesn't simplify the conversation on race but enriches it by highlighting its characters' layered experiences and choices.

Come and Get It stands out for its intense storytelling and insightful look into the entangled lives of its characters. It is a compelling read for those who seek literature that challenges and entertains.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. for providing an e-Arc of Come and Get It by Kiley Reid for my review.

In Kiley Reid's sophomore novel, “Come and Get It,” Millie Cousins is a super-senior at the University of Arkansas who is trying to save for a house; she's working as an RA to save the money. And when she gets an unusual opportunity from a visiting professor and journalist Agatha Paul to make some money on the side to help her with research for her book, it's a no brainer — of course she can help set up some interviews about weddings with the residents in her dorm.

Agatha sits in Millie’s dorm room on Thursday nights and eavesdrops on her residents as a “follow up” to the interviews they agreed to do with her. Agatha’s research topic has changed from weddings to money. Sure, it blurs the lines of research ethics, but it's not like she's actually doing anything wrong, Millie reasons. It's just a formality –– plus, Millie offered. She’s allowed to have guests. The situation escalates as Agatha writes articles for Teen Vogue based on these “interviews,” revealing and sometimes embellishing personal details about the girls and their lifestyles.

It’s hard to sum up the rest of the novel. It’s set during the 2017-2018 school year, and there’s a group of three suitemates who don’t get along. One of whom, Kennedy, is having a particularly difficult time adjusting as a transfer student. She moved to Arkansas to get away from her past, but it’s not going as planned. Similarly, Agatha left her long term partner, a dancer named Robin, in Illinois, and has some baggage of her own.

But none of this is really the point. Contrary to Reid’s award-winning debut novel, this book isn’t as plot driven. With “Come and Get It,” Reid captures the feeling of being a messy, new adult and the uneven starting places we all come to that milestone with. Some people have generational wealth, others rely on their partners, still others have to make their own way, and regardless of what support you do have, being an adult is hard and full of things you can’t control.

The book shines through its characters, even when they are a little ridiculous. Jenna, one of the girls who is interviewed and then eavesdropped upon, nonchalantly talks about the “practice paycheck'' (read: allowance) she gets from her father’s orthodontics business. If you think that sounds like fraud, so does Agatha.

As the story progresses, Reid’s otherwise reasonably realistic set-up takes a turn for the absurd. It can feel a little abrupt, but it’s not unpleasant. For lovers of campus novels with a sardonic tone like “Disorientation,” “Come and Get It” is a propulsive novel where the author reveals backstory at just the right time, giving readers the opportunity to change their first impressions of the characters.

At first, Kennedy seems like a spoiled girl whose mom pampers her with so many things, they can’t be stuffed into her assigned dorm room. But after seeing her struggle with her past and have a hard time making friends, readers will feel for this character who is “never sure about what she should be doing, how she should do it, or exactly when.”

The college roommate drama plays out in a way that is so petty that it feels realistic — until it goes off the rails. Dishes left in the sink and differences in lifestyle leading to aggressively passive stand downs and pranks are the exact kind of thing that feels so ‘high school’ (or whatever period of life feels so young to you these days that you should be above it), but you also just can’t let go.

“Come and Get It” also represents a burgeoning trend of writing about people of color in Arkansas. In recent years, we’ve had “Minari,” (part of) “The Bestiary,” and last year, the New York Theatre scene saw not one but two plays about people of color in the state.

Arkansas is often shorthand for talking about a place where there isn't anything, especially for people of color. “Come and Get It” complicates that in an interesting way. Reid has clearly done her research and incorporated names and details based on actual businesses in the area, and the novel captures a tension about the place that was true in 2017 and is even more salient now. Northwest Arkansas is changing, and the place it’s becoming might not be what outsiders expect. It’s picturesque –– think expensive bike trails and hipster cafes –– but it’s also complicated.

With rent increases in Northwest Arkansas tripling the national average last year and home prices jumping by 26%, it feels nostalgic to think of a time that one could buy a house by the university with only 10% down on $102,000 –– even if someone had died in it –– as Millie attempts to. It would have been a stretch in 2017, but it’d be completely impossible now given the housing crisis in the region. Setting the book pre-pandemic might be practical for a lot of reasons, but for a novel so focused on exploring the way wealth impacts people in their early 20s, it feels like a missed opportunity not to talk about the pandemic and how different people weathered the economic downturn associated with it.

Still “Come and Get It,” brings readers to contemplate money, early adulthood and relationships in an interesting way. Behind it all, Reid reminds us about the complex lives people are living, often without us noticing.

thank you to the publisher for my arc!

I went into this with fairly high expectations due to how popular Such a Fun Age was but I'm beginning to think I should've read that first due to how bored i was reading this. I was expecting a book that discusses how toxic colleges can be, discussions on race, lgbt and i feel like it barely touched the surface. this could've been so much more than it was.

In 2017 Millie is a second year senior working as a RA, and lining up a post-grad job. Agatha is a visiting professor interviewing students for a book and trying to heal from a breakup. This is a very character-driven novel with well-developed distinctive and engaging voices and tackles social commentary, ethical dilemmas, race and power dynamics, and exploitation. I also really enjoyed the look into dorm and campus life in a southern college town.

My biggest disappointment was Come & Get It by Kiley Reid. I loved her debut, Such a Fun Age, but she really hit a sophomore slump. It was boring and dragged on for so long. It should have narrowed its focus to only having one or two points of view. I felt like I was following 10 different storylines that didn't connect well.

Kiley Reid's "Come and Get It" introduces readers to a campus dorm where a diverse cast of characters are just trying to get by. Despite many different viewpoints, Reid creates her characters so distinctly that it's easy to tell them apart, resulting in an honest and provoking story.

This book isn't afraid to get into the nitty-gritty of everyday life, from roommate squabbles over dirty dishes to more complex issues like race and sexuality. Reid's portrayal of these challenges is brutally honest, making it easy for readers to identify with one or more of her characters.

But here's the twist: "Come and Get It" is more about the characters than the plot. If I had known that beforehand, I might have enjoyed it even more. The characters are compelling, but the plot's purpose isn't made clear until the very end. And even when I finished, I wondered if the conclusion was intended to justify the rest of the story or simply end it.

On a positive note, Kiley Reid's writing style is a standout feature of the book. Her characters are refreshingly genuine, almost as if you're reading about individuals you could know in real life. "Come and Get It" is my first taste of Reid's work, and I'm already eager to read more.

In the grand scheme of things, "Come and Get It" provides a deep dive into the messy and everyday lives of ordinary people. While the plot might leave you hanging, Reid's unique storytelling and honest character portrayals make it worthwhile.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.

I wanted to enjoy this book, as I did like Such a Fun Age by this author, but the unlikable characters and slow plot line barely kept me interested. It could just be me since the story takes place on a college campus and the characters are unlikable. I do not have fond memories of my college years, so I may not be the best judge of a book with this setting. I give it 3 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

I know this book had a lot of hype because the previous one, "Such a Fun Age", was highly reviewed and raved about, so I went in with an expectation (despite not reading the first book). The book opened well, but as the dialogue between the characters continued, I just couldn't get into it. Maybe, it just isn't a story for me or, perhaps, I've come to expect my fiction to have a mystery and no one gets killed in this one (that I know of). Overall, a good book for someone else.

i could barely make it 15% of the way through, nothing about the characters or setting held my attention in any meaningful way. Not sure if it’s a me/timing thing, but for now I will set this one aside. Unclear if i’ll return to this.

I would describe reading Come and Get It as a full-body cringe moment, but in a good way. It’s fantastic writing, and it puts you in a place where you can really know and feel the characters in all of their humanity and poor decision-making. The tension is high on every single page, you know what I mean?

Come and Get It is about Millie, an RA in the dorms at the University of Arkansas, where Agatha, a writer and professor, comes to observe student behaviors for a book she’s working on. What happens between them and the rest of the characters is not super fast-paced or salacious. It’s more reminiscent of real life, and although the story unfolds slowly, it’s still incredibly compelling.

I’m a professor now, and I’m always concerned about how we’re portrayed in books, but you know a trope is a trope for a reason, I guess. To clarify, not me. I’m not the reason. But what I loved about this book is that I identified with both of the main characters, and even though I’m *cough cough* 20-something years removed from student life, the writing put me right back in that headspace.

If you like character studies that are less plot-driven (although the ending for me was very satisfying), I recommend checking this one out.

There are so many things I loved about SUCH A FUN AGE that it goes without saying, I was eagerly waiting for Kiley Reid to release a new book. So far it seems to be getting mixed reviews, but personally I thoroughly enjoyed it!

In her follow-up novel COME AND GET IT, Reid once again sheds light on how money, privilege, ethics and race intersect. This time she explores collegiate life through the lens of a university professor, a dedicated RA and a resident of the dorm - as well as many other side characters - and the connection they share.

My initial thoughts were this book had all the vibes but barely a discernible plot. Upon finishing, I know that's not true. Yes, the book was VERY character driven, meandering at times into character backstories that seem irrelevant, but by the climax, all these perspectives ended up mattering. Instead of using a central plot to move the story along, Reid cleverly uses her characters. She has a knack for portraying the hidden layers of people, how they think and feel that sometimes makes you cringe but also makes you nod your head in agreement, and most certainly makes you laugh. Her characters are morally grey, complex and flawed, but so so real. For this, I found the book very readable.

As long as you go in with the expectation that this is a character-driven novel, you won't be disappointed.