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.

Millie is an RA in a college dorm at UMissouri. Angela is a gay writer who has taken a temporary teaching position at the university. Their paths cross when Angela asks Millie for help in finding students to interview about weddings. As Angela listens to the students talking, her interviews take a new direction and she begins writing pieces about college students for Teen Vogue. She uses Millie’s room to eavesdrop on students’ conversations and over time she and Millie develop a relationship. I was a big fan of Kiley Reid’s first book and I had high hopes for this one. Though some of the aspects of dorm life were interesting, Angela’s “research methodology” was troubling. Her relationship with Millie bordered on inappropriate. The RAs seeking revenge on their students also was concerning. I finished this book but I cannot say I’d recommend it. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I absolutely adore Kiley Reid, her writing captivates me instantly and I want to hear everything she has to say. I loved Such A Fun Age, so I was very excited going into Come and Get It, and I'm happy to say that I enjoyed it a lot as well. I love that money is at the forefront of the conversation in this novel, and Reid brings her signature observational wit to a nuanced discussion about wealth, race, and power. There is just something about Kiley Reid's writing style that hooks me, I love her observational skills and how she really has her finger on the pulse of the culture, of the specific moment in time that she's writing about. This book takes place at a college in the year 2017, and maybe it's because I was in college at that time, but everything in here felt pitch-perfect.
Add on to that Reid's insightful commentary on race (as was the focus of her first novel Such A Fun Age), money (though that was always present as well), and even dicier interpersonal drama, and you've got another strong entry into the Contemporary/LitFic cannon.
All that being said though, I do think some people will have a problem with the pacing, the fact that nothing "happens" (I would disagree with this, but I see the argument). This isn't as propulsive as Such A Fun Age, and not as tightly written, but I still found a lot of really good stuff in here. Lastly, one small sticking point for me was that this is written from 3 perspectives, and I didn't fully understand the purpose of one of them. I was still engaged with that perspective, but I felt it wasn't as focused as the other 2.

This book was a slow burn character study on a group of women connected to a university either through being a student or faculty. There are a lot of bad choices that happen. And some appalling things said. But that was the point! Despite it being a slower paced character driven book I was motivated to keep reading just one more page so that I would see what choices were made or what was said next. Overall I enjoyed it but I did like her first book a bit better! I felt like it moved just a bit too slow at times.

COME AND GET IT by Kiley Reid is a contemporary, coming of age novel set in 2017 around a university dorm in Arkansas, USA. There are multiple POVs that tell the story from different women at the school: the RA (Millie), a student, (Kennedy) and a professor, (Agatha).
COME AND GET IT is a very quick read, and I wanted to keep up with the story, especially after the introduction of Agatha and her work. Agatha was the most compelling character to me, maybe because we are the same age and her frustrations with the students felt the easiest.

There are larger plot points as well that the women of COME AND GET IT touch on: feeling lonely when surrounded by people, budding sexuality, research ethics, not learning from mistakes, and racial micro aggressions. I’m sure there’s more to be said of the sorority girls’ interactions with each other and how they treat others, but it’s all Greek to me (ha ha).

The book felt like it was inspired by Alabama Rush TikTok and decided to turn the characters somewhat likeable. I didn’t think the college girls were fully annoying, just young. And I don’t think these young Americans in college are very interesting. And without giving away any any spoilers, I feel like that’s how the book ends as well.

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC of Come and Get It by Kiley Reid. #ComeandGetIt

Kilet Reid knows how to poke at our cultural and social dynamics like no one else. This story is ni exception. Set on college campus, this is and is not a “academic campus life novel.” It’s light on plot but rich in character and tone. Masterful detail too.

If I'm reading a character-driven book, it needs to WOW me, and this one just didn't. Could take it or leave it.

I wasn’t sure how to take this book. It seemed far fetched, but I wasn’t sure, so I called my daughter and ran a couple scenarios by her. After many years as associate director of residential life at her university, I knew she could set me straight. But she said it wasn’t far fetched at all. Roommates turn their backs on roommates, RAs have their own agendas, and dishes get left in the sink unwashed. In fact, she said, the dishes is one of the biggest problems between the students. And race in a school that’s mostly white is a confrontation waiting to happen. Well done Kiley Reid. Another book that finds and identifies touchy subjects.

The characters in Kiley Reid’s new novel jump off the page screaming. You will read a scene and think, “I know someone just like that and I HATE her” and then two pages later think, “ooops oh no it’s me.”

The dialogue is hilarious and spot on.

As with “such a fun age” I learned so much from these emotive characters as they worked through class and race and gender in their everyday lives.

Kiley Reid has been on my radar since Such A Fun Age, and her second novel is even better than the first. Reid writes her characters so well, and I couldn’t help but root for and be enraged by them at the same time.

Millie is an RA, still in college at 24 after taking a gap year and missing her senior year to care for her ill mother. When she returns to the University of Arkansas to finish out her studies, she has a singular goal of saving up to buy a house. When she is presented with an unconventional way to earn money towards her down payment upon meeting visiting professor Agatha Paul, she goes along willingly. As the semester goes on and Millie's priorities shift, her young and impressionable residents pay the price.

This was... okay. It was definitely character driven vs. plot driven, but that being said, none of the characters had much to offer or root for. I don't feel like we actually came away with any singular message or theme. Almost everyone in the book was unethical, especially Agatha Paul, the visiting professor, who was pretty caulous. The only character I sort of empathized with was Kennedy - she had been through a lot and was so insecure and just wanted to be liked, which I think anyone, especially millenial women, can relate to having those feelings during their college experience. There were also WAYYYY too many characters and it was very hard to keep track of who was who, who lived with who, etc. I did think the sense of place was done well and would be curious to hear how true it was to those from Fayetteville. Overall, not the worst book I've ever read and won't put me off Reid's writing in the future, but I don't think it's one that will stick with me.

TW: Mention of death of an animal, suicidal thoughts, mention of chronic illness, racism, homophobia

Kiley Reid is a total master of two things:
🏆100% true-to-life dialogue
🏆Making her reader feel completely uncomfortable in the most thought-provoking way

These two areas really shine in Come and Get It as Reid hones in on a fascinating microcosm of dorm life.

I loved Such a Fun Age, and it is a book that truly stuck with me, so I was very excited to get an eARC of her latest novel. This is a very different setting, but it still pushes the reader to go to that squeamish place and examine their own prejudices and preconceptions. While race is a huge part of this novel, it seems Reid is more focused on money and overall power dynamics. Race, gender, and sexuality are, of course, facets of all this, and Reid brings it all to life with the most vivid characters. And let's not forget the humor! Come and Get It has many laugh-out-loud moments.

I saw the NYT book review state that Reid never passes judgment in her books, and I think that is both true and wonderful. She truly does invite the reader to "come and get" what she is offering and then draw their own conclusions.

I've seen the criticism that this book feels more like a series of vignettes or small stories focusing on each character, and while I can see that I just don't agree. For me, everything was woven together nicely with the dorm itself as a central hub for all of the other narratives. I enjoyed that the book did not have one main character but instead gave us many dimensions through all of the women.

I think Kylie Reid is one to watch out for. Both of her novels have really pushed me to a thoughtful place and I definitely count myself as a fan.