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.

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam Sons for an arc of Come & Get It by Kiley Reid. This book is about a visiting professor, an RA and a few college kids. The visiting professor is allowed by the RA to listen to students in her dorm for stories she is writing for a magazine. It’s based at University of Arkansas in 2017. Money, power, relationships, race, privilege and ethics are all shown and discussed in this book. Kiley has a great way of writing about all this. The story feels like it was a tv show and I’d probably watch that show.

Come and Get It is the type of book I always love- characters that are almost satirical except for the depth and humanity they’re given, and a slow burn of interwoven stories that come together in dramatic/shocking ways. Like her debut, Kiley Reid makes you care about messy and questionable people and builds curiosity and tension in ways that closely mirror reality, rather than the book-hyper-speed that gets the job done but doesn’t always work for me. I loved the campus setting- you can picture your own college characters filling the shoes of the book’s. Read this if you love messy people doing messy things, themes of ethics, privacy, and guilt across racial/gender/sexuality/socioeconomic divides, slippery slopes, and laugh out loud passages about internet search histories.

Thanks @putnambooks and @netgalley for the chance to read this one early!

Come and Get It by Kiley Reid is a propulsive and literary character-driven campus novel with a queer coming of age story at its heart. Our main character is Millie Cousins, a Black college senior at the University of Arkansas returning from a year away from campus caring for her aging mother and saving money to buy a house. She is fully on track to graduate and pursue her goals: she has a plan to save up for a down payment, a connection with a fixer-upper for sale in her budget, great new friends, and an offer to stay on as a residential life director after graduating. Her year is upended when she meets Agatha Paul, a compelling and worldly writer and researcher spending a year in Fayetteville. Agatha is older, in her late 30s, white, tall, and a lesbian. Millie invites Agatha into her dorm to observe the students for content in her writing and the two develop a bond that becomes sexual over time.

The perspective in the book shifts from Agatha to Millie to Kennedy, a transfer student in Millie's hall recovering from a trauma in her previous school. This book is light on plot, aside from a dispute between Kennedy's roommates and Millie that grows increasingly tense over the course of the semester. The engine behind the story is the morally complicated decisions the women in this book make in their relationships, their lives, and their careers. Kiley Reid delivers an excellent story that reflects race, gender, sexuality, and class in a southern university. It was a strong 5 stars for me!

This took me a bit to get into but wow. NO ONE does 20-something dialogue like Kiley Reid. Also reminds me of SAFA in that none of the characters are "bad people" but they all make really morally questionable/"bad" choices. No one is safe, no one is perfect. It's fascinating. Really enjoyed it especially the conversations between Millie and her co-RAs, just so fun to be a fly on the wall! 4.25!

I loved Such a Fun Age and this is an excellent follow-up! Reid's gift for capturing the current moment and bringing her characters to life is unmatched.

Dorm door decals…sorority lawn contests…uncomfortable icebreakers…this book took me straight back to the good, bad, and cringe moments of college life!

But, like so many late nights spent lounging in dorm rooms, not a whole lot happens. And depending on your reading style, this could either be a good or frustrating thing.

Personally, I LOVE character-driven novels that probe into the why and how behind decisions made. I also enjoy slice-of-life stories full of everyday details, from what’s in someone’s fridge (La Croix and string cheese) to how someone spends an evening in (watching “The Office” and making cookies in a mug).

So, for me, this novel checked some major boxes. There were also fun, cheeky, and satirical moments that got me thinking about the instability of transactional relationships among people you’re close to, like roommates or love interests. And I ADORED the RA characters, especially Colette and Ryland. For me, their friendship was the heart of the novel.

I do wish it had more plot, or a specific moment that jump-started the action, like the grocery store scene in Kiley Reid’s debut, Such a Fun Age. Instead, the book read like a reality TV show, giving me an inside look at the lives of each character, without much resolution.

But, if that’s your jam, then you’ll probably enjoy this novel. Despite the lack of structure, I found it to be a fast-paced and enjoyable read, with fully realized characters and several relatable moments.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advanced copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I'm so grateful I got a Netgalley E-Arc of this book, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I 100% would not have purchased this novel, because I really didn't like Such A Fun Age (which we read for Books & Brews a few years back.) This novel really opened my mind to Kiley Reid, who I had previously written off-- and I found I loved the subjects and characters in this novel so much more than her debut. I will definitely grab whatever her next book is, because I felt like this was so strong.

If you're not a fan of unlikable characters, this book probably isn't for you. Everyone is a mess, no one is making good decisions, and that can be a tough sell for some people, but I found myself so engrossed in what was happening I couldn't put the book down. The book is more character driven than plot driven, so know that going in as well.

Kiley Reid is such a great voice when it comes to discussing racism and classism. Both of her books have this as a central theme, and this novel, in particular, is much more nuanced in the discussion. I loved how the book resolved, and I was really hoping to get some backstories on some of the supporting characters more (Aimee and Josh in particular.) This book left me completely satisfied, and the pig on the cover makes a lot more sense now. I'd definitely recommend picking up a copy, I really enjoyed reading this.

Come and Get It is a character driven novel about dormitory residents at the University of Arkansas in which the plot is sparse and not a lot happens. The book gives each character backstory which, while slowing down the pace, matters to the end of the novel. The storyline is pretty much the same throughout the novel so it becomes increasingly difficult to keep the interest going. Maybe because the extent of my college dorm life experience came from Felicity, but this is one of those rare novels that would play out great as a tv show, but is less interesting as a novel.

It’s the Fall 2017 semester at the University of Arkansas. Agatha Paul is a visiting professor teaching and researching for a new book, potentially about young women getting married. Millie is an RA in the upperclassmen and transfer student dorm. Tyler, Jenna, Casey, Peyton, and Kennedy are some of Millie’s residents. All of their paths cross throughout the semester in interesting and complicated ways.

As someone who went to a state school in the south, I recognized all of these characters, and the dynamics between them felt incredibly real, if a bit uncomfortable for the reader. Reid did an incredible job of capturing that awkward feeling of being an acquaintance but not a friend to someone, but wanting that to change.

The pacing of the book is a little slow in the beginning, but each of the characters has an interesting and compelling story that kept me engrossed.

If you were captivated by the complex relationship between Alix Chamberlain and Emira in Such a Fun Age, you’ll enjoy Come and Get It!

Thanks to Kiley Reid, Penguin Random House, GP Putnam & Sons, and NetGalley for the ARC of Come and Get It!