This was a tough read. I enjoyed Kiley Reid's last work and wanted to enjoy it but it's just not there. The story is set at the University of Arkansas, and follows some professors and students. There is some commentary about power struggles and power dynamics - I can sense what Kiley is trying to do but it all fails. I am looking forward to her next book and hope this was a fluke.

Come and Get It is the story of an RA and the consequences of her actions related to privacy and safety; the book dabbles in issues of race, class, sexual identity, and loyalty, yet I found myself wanting more of an exploration of each of these aspects.

In Kiley Reid's new novel Come and Get It, the author of Such a Fun Age offers a story set in 2017 at the University of Arkansas. Millie is an experienced RA coping with students' concerns large and small. She's got her sights set on graduating and settling down with a job and a house of her own.

She's a black young woman supporting residents who are largely white, and Reid shows widespread entitled behavior but sets them in contrast to situations in which students are struggling to get by.

Then Millie is offered an unusual opportunity to help a journalist and visiting professor by offering clandestine access to the private conversations of the students in her dorm.

Neither allowing such access nor the nominal payments she receives for her help seem questionable to Millie, although I have to think that the RA manual that she must be deeply familiar with--and likely also at least one aspect of one of her college courses?--must have outlined some basic ideas of privacy, responsibility, and culpability.

It seemed very odd that Millie--who is so focused on goals, doing her duty, behaving in a manner that's beyond reproach, and keeping her head down--didn't feel squirrelly about this setup, and that she didn't ever question the ethics or appropriateness of it.

I could imagine a story scenario in which Millie compromised her morals as the situation bloated into the complications that it does: of emotional and romantic concerns, minor class and race clashes, and worries about money and the security of her future. Or that her shift in feelings of responsibility could be part of her cutting loose in areas of her personal life. But instead, the increasingly questionable activities and compromises that Millie agrees to as the story progresses are just versions of what she was willing to go along with--without asking any questions--from the very first. Her character is presented as naïve, but I felt as though she would have paused for a moment during one of her many opportunities to do so and considered the way in which the scenario might impact her important plans.

Meanwhile the students under Millie's watch in the dorm are developing young-feeling (dirty dishes in the common area; spreading hurtful gossip; excluding others from invitations) yet impactful interpersonal conflicts, and Millie's growing interest in the professor distracts her so that she misses all of them, as well as their potential implications.

After an unlikely moment of tragedy upends everything, each character seems to misinterpret it and also to react in unintentionally unhelpful ways (meanwhile the truth of the situation is not revealed by the one person who could do so). Millie is in danger of losing everything, and this culminating situation of neglectful, inept damage that is ultimately inflicted by practically every character seems to embody the ignorance and incompetence displayed by almost everyone in the book.

The banter between Millie's two RA friends was a highlight, yet felt somewhat extraneous to the story. I was taken with how their friendship with Millie was ultimately threatened not by the realities of the secrets Millie was keeping, but by the fact that she kept secret her deepest desires and dreams from those she was meant to trust.

The title of the book sets a tone that feels fast-paced, or sassy, or spirited. The tone of the book felt more measured than this, and while Reid flirts with Big Issues (race, class, exploring sexuality) in the story Come and Get It, for me, the book never fully dives into exploring them, and I felt myself wanting more.

I received a prepublication edition of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam.

I saw that the author described this as a dorm novel instead of a college novel and I really liked that. Belgrade is the perfect residence hall setting for this satire. As someone who has worked on a college campus for almost twenty years, this novel gets so much of the details and “feel” right. This is definitely a character more than plot driven novel but things still happen and the story moved along at a good pace for me.

This was absolutely not for me. A true literary fiction that plays a 2 chapters of her to know you rather than come and get it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam books for the ARC of Come and Get It for an honest review.

In this 2017 story following the perspectives of three women whose lives intersect at the University of Arkansas, we truly get what is promised. What happens when people behave badly?

We follow Agatha, a college professor, Kennedy, a student in the college dorm, and Millie, a senior resident who is working ahead to achieve her goals of graduating and owning a house. Agatha is a writer interviewing students at the university about weddings, culture, and rituals. What transpires is not what she thought. The inner workings of these students is much more interesting: what they think about money, how they communicate, and how they treat each other. Excited about where this could go Agatha is not ethically transparent in how she gets her information or the consent required to use it. At the same time she’s forming a relationship with Millie, who she might be taking advantage of to have access to the dorm students.

This is a very witty story portraying racism, privilege, and money and the lengths people will go to, to get ahead. I loved the perspectives of each of the characters and how what they do, how they act, and how they say things tells us so much about who they are as people and their value systems.

This is a wonderfully developed and fast-paced read that will leave you with some gasps and jaw dropping reactions. I will be thinking of this book for quite some time.

3.5 ⭐️ for Come & Get It by Kiley Reid. This novel occurs primarily at the University of Arkansas and stars Millie (a 24-year old RA), Agatha (a 38-year old visiting professor), and a few of Millie’s dorm mates.

The book is very well written with thoroughly developed characters, although this is a slow paced plot.

Thank you to the author, Penguin Group Putnam, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my feedback.

The Novel Come and Get It by Kiley Reid is a novel that tackles the subjects of race and class in the collegiate world following a visiting professor, Dorm RA and dorm residents of a southern college.

I liked that Reid addresses dynamics such as racism, LGBTQ representation and attributes in socioeconomic differences and told by the perspective of one in a younger generation. There was great character development, I especially loved the character of Millie.

Where the book fell short for me was the plot. I felt like I was waiting a long time for anything to happen, and when it did it was a bit meh. There were also too many side characters to keep track of.

I loved Reid's previous novel Such a Fun Age, which had a great plot and story to tell. I look forward to future novels by Reid, unfortunately this one fell flat for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel.
3.5 stars

Such a Fun Age was one of my favorite books over the last few years so I was incredibly excited to read Reid's latest Come and Get It. Unfortunately, this one just did not do it for me. Multiple characters and plot lines were confusing for a majority of the book with some just downright unreasonalbe things happening throughout. Overall, I still love Reid's writing and this book was certainly different.

I had no idea where the story was going to go but in Kiley Reid fashion, things took a TURN! It felt like I was transported to being a camp counselor on my college campus, watching everything go down. I enjoyed Kiley's ability to write in the language of today's college students without being too cringe (loved the R29 and Teen Vogue references!), I loved Collette and Ryland's interactions especially. There were a whirlwind of emotions: I felt so sad for Kennedy's background but also laughed when we finally came to understand her trauma. It reminded me that so many things felt HUGE at that age and are so silly in hindsight. As a southerner, I felt that Kiley nailed the accents and the sayings! Finally, Millie and Agatha. Whew. A hot mess! I didn't find either particularly likable, but I think that's pretty consistent with Kiley's main character in "Such a Fun Age." They're very complicated humans making complicated choices, just like all of us. I really enjoyed this! Thanks to NetGalley for the copy.

Thank you to @netgalley and @putnambooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @prhaudio for a free download of the audiobook.

I had to sit with this book after I finished it. I wasn’t sure how I was feeling. I actually didn’t really care for the storyline between Millie and Agatha. It was anticlimactic for me. I was more invested in the dorm mates. There was so much devious potential, but even this ended up falling flat.

My favorite thing about the book was Kennedy’s past when she was at the University of Iowa. I’m a big Hawkeye fan, and always love watching the Golden Girl at football games. I hated the whole dog situation, but I also don’t feel we got the full story…and I really wanted it.

Overall, I feel let down after really enjoying Such a Fun Age. I know others who really enjoyed it though.

I listened to this book while following along. The audiobook performance by @nickelewis was well done. It was easy to follow even with the number of characters in the book. Lewis brings the different personalities alive with accents.

3 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #putnambooks #prhaudio #ltbreaderteam #comeandgetit #kileyreid

🐖🆂🅴🆅🅴🅽 🅻🅸🆃 🆃🅷🅸🅽🅶🆂 🐖
|| 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙄𝙩 by Kiley Reid ||

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲?
* Yes, of course, I read her debut novel 𝙎𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖 𝙁𝙪𝙣 𝘼𝙜𝙚 and her Audible short 𝙎𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙩𝙮.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿:
* There are no likable characters here. They are all bad. I wanted to like Millie, but even she lets me down because she cannot even stand up for herself when everybody around her keeps taking advantage of her. Let’s not even start on Agatha who throws her privilege and money around like a new, pink Stanley cup fresh out of Target.

𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆:
* The title says “come and get it” but what is “it?” It to me is success, ambition, and desire. College is a cesspool of where friendships go to die and innocence is stripped away from every fiber of one’s being. Everyone is cutthroat and trying to one up you because they want to succeed and get the lauded internship, scholarship, or top spot. It is a corporate America preview show. Unfortunately, what we see here is that more often than not, it is the marginalized and weak that don’t get a part of the bacon that is up for grabs.

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀/𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀:
* Ambition/Success
* Microagressions
* College life and dorm living
* Relationships & Sexuality

𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
* Yes, the title is indicative of the very nature of survival. If you don’t fight for what you want and desire, then it will be lost to you. You betta go out there and get what you want—because the next person ain’t gotta get ready because they “stay ready.”

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁/𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
* Plot, what plot! There is no plot. This is a character study. You are the plot. You must engage yourself in deep thought and reflection to figure out why do we continue to let these types of situations (in college, in workplace environments, at the grocery store) happen without repercussions. People only do what we allow them to do. This book educated me on making sure I call out my oppressive migroaggressors.

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗱?
* I didn’t enjoy waiting until 80% of the book to find some action and worthwhile plot to finally attach myself to, but Reid is still able to engage the reader because I did finish the book.

Thank you @putnambooks and @prhaudio for the gifted book and audio access.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨(3.75)

Kiley Reid’s character driven read, Come and Get It, brought me back to the early seventies when I was living in a dorm attending college. Surprisingly many of the same issues appeared, racism, sexuality, impact of family wealth, although the years in between have certainly changed the acceptance of some. The stereotypical characters of the students and their interactions brought memories flooding back and I couldn’t help but compare how different reactions to lifestyles has changed over my lifetime.
At times this read was very slow moving and although there does not seem to be a plot, much is taking place behind the scenes. My sophomore year my roommate had to take the second semester off and a freshman moved into the room, much like Kennedy with all her room decorations and insecurities. She even had purchased pants in a much smaller size and had maternity panels inserted. My friends were in awe of her extremely neat drawers with everything arranged just so. Unfortunately college life was not for her and she dropped out before the end of the semester.
I loved the descriptions and interactions of the RA’s, which also brought back memories. I actually had to research if tomato juice can actually damage knives…yes it is true.
Many thanks to Kiley Reid, G. P. Putman’s Sons, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to walk down memory lane while reading an arc of this book, to be published on January 30th.

*3.5 rounded up*
Overall I liked this book, I did not read Kiley Reid's first book so I went into this not knowing what to expect. The plot is not the main purpose of this novel, though I do feel like the end had much more action than the rest of the book. If the book was 100 fewer pages I think it could have a much higher rating but the ending felt so drug out, it was hard to get into the book when I felt like nothing happened for the first half. After I got to the last 100 pages, I devoured it and felt more satisfied than expected. I think it is a strong commentary on perceptions of money, age, and race in the modern south.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

Character driven novel with some laughs though out. Disappointed that it didn’t reach the heights of “Such A Fun Age”. I didn’t connect with any of the characters. Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, NetGalley and the author for the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

After the massive success of Kiley Reid’s first book, I was anxious to start reading the follow-up “Come and Get It”. Unlike its predecessor, this one didn’t seem to follow a real story arc, but seemed to just describe the profiles and interactions of Arkansas-based college students. While there were interesting character studies and an interplay of how money plays in their lives, the novel seemed rather random and with unrelated subplots. While the writing was solid, the story itself didn’t lead to much investment on my part. It was an okay read, but not one that particularly sticks out. 3 stars ⭐️. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy for review.

Kiley Reid doesn’t miss!! After loving Such a Fun Age in 2021, I had high hopes for her second novel, Come And Get It. And I’m so happy to report that it totally lives up to the hype and more.

The plot of this book is a bit tricky to pin down and succinctly summarize. At its core is an ensemble cast of characters living and working at the University of Arkansas; as the reader, you watch as their lives intertwine and intersect in pretty messy and unbelievable ways. While there *is* a propulsive, drama-filled plot, it’s definitely more character driven, more low plot, high vibes-leaning.

Just like in Reid’s first novel, I really fell hard for these characters in unexpected ways. I found myself thinking about them constantly when I had to put the book down for extended periods of time, wondering what they were getting up to and if they would be okay. Reid masterfully writes quippy and fun dialogue, and I think that goes such a long way in making the characters feel real and believable.

Also in true Kiley Reid fashion, the exploration of race, class, money, and where the three intersect was so nuanced and fascinating throughout the entire book. These themes were such a strong set up and backdrop for what ended up being a WILD climax and conclusion, and you’re left with a lot to think about, which is really fun. (Personally I’ve been pondering the idea of “fairness” in each character’s arc- what they ended up getting vs what they may or may not have “deserved.”)

I devoured this while I was on vacation, so I highly recommend it if you’ve got a trip coming up. But don’t get me wrong, it would absolutely make for a great read for any time of year. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! Come And Get It is out today, January 30th 2024.

Come and Get It is Kiley Reid's follow up to the hit novel Such a Fun Age. I didn't read that one, but based on how well it was received, I was excited to read this one...however, I don't think it was for me.

This was very much a character-driven novel, with a relatively large cast of characters. Generally, I enjoy a more plot-driven story, so this was a little out of my comfort zone. There are a lot of players in this, so if you have problems keeping track of people, then I definitely recommend writing them down. I didn't find that there was any kind of central plot, so I spent most of the time trying to figure out what the point was. It was set mainly on a college campus, and most of the characters interacted with each other at least a little bit, but for the most part it was different stories that didn't really converge into one main plot.

Agatha Paul is a professor and journalist who kind of inserts herself into the life of Millie, the RA of Belgrade dormitory, while attempting to write a book then a series of articles. We get a lot of backstory on Agatha's relationship with her (kind of) ex but (technically) spouse Robin, but I felt those chapters were unnecessary. Then we have the point of view of Millie herself, who appears to have her life together but things start to unravel after she befriends Agatha and a couple other RAs. Lastly, there's Kennedy, one of Millie's residents, who also gets her own tragic backstory and not-so-happy ending. But I feel like these stories weren't connected and there were extraneous chapters for all three of them.

All in all, if you enjoyed Such a Fun Age, then definitely give this one a try. If character studies and a kind of coming-of-age story is your thing, then you'll probably like this. There's not really much else I can say.

Thank you to @NetGalley for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

This book made me feel like Chidi from The Good Place with the stomach ache-inducing anxiety over the CHOICES the characters made and I also cannot recommend this enough.

Come and Get It follows Millie Cousins, a 24 year old RA; Agatha Paul, a mid career literary professor; and a host of other characters all at the University of Arkansas. Agatha initially meets Millie after interviewing her residents for a book on marriage, but ends up pivoting to how college students think about money. Through a series of less than ethical decisions and situations, Millie finds herself in some incredibly uncomfortable situations. This story is exactly what my anxiety is made of - just a bunch of small decisions that shouldn’t be problematic on their own, but lead to awful consequences.

Kiley Reid has written an incredible novel and if you enjoyed her first novel, Such a Fun Age, you should absolutely read Come and Get It.

I received a free advanced copy of Come and Get It from Putnam Books in exchange for my honest review.

One thing that I LOVE about Kiley Reid is the way she writes her characters. She has a way of perception that shows the reader who someone really is by their mannerisms and trivial habits. You know who is the one who hurts others because she wants them to be unhappy like she is and the one who pretends to be an idiot so she doesn’t have to take accountability. And she tells you so little that as the reader you feel like the most insightful person when you get what kind of people they are.

I loved Such A Fun Age. This one was not my fav. It’s like True Life: I’m In College. And going into it, I knew it was character-driven. And though the plot picked up at the end. I spent a chunk of the book kind of bored. The setting wasn’t my cup of tea and the plot was too plotless. I will still pick up a Kiley Reid next time because I loved her first one so so much.

Thank you Net Galley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Well done, Kiley Reid! I could not put this one down. Reid was able to hit themes such as social class, consumption, choices we make (and their impact), race, identity - all in a southern college town setting. I loved all the main characters, and found myself both pulling for them and cringing at the same time. A true coming of age that addresses large issues.