I enjoyed Such a Fun Age and was excited to get to Come and Get It, and was blown away by how fun and compelling this book was! Reid shows off her superb ability to render characters in such believable, relatable ways. The dialogue was a real strength in this book, it felt very natural and like it was coming from real, distinct people. It’s one thing to get me to cry while reading a book, but a completely different thing altogether to get me to laugh, and this book did that consistently. So many little quips and situations in this novel made me laugh, Reid reveals something so silly and petty about the undergrad dorm experience while also showing how quickly these things can escalate into very real problems. This is a great book for people who love character driven stories, funny dialogue, and books that subtly pick apart the complexities of class privilege.

Okay, let me start with the obvious: this is a character-driven book. If you’re looking for a plot-heavy book, this may not be the right read for you. What’s left off the page is almost as important as what’s on the page. Reid does an excellent job of crafting these characters who feel incredibly real, flaws and all. I really enjoyed watching the pieces come together as the characters’ lives became more and more intertwined, and I couldn’t stop reading because I wanted to know what they would do next. It’s like a reality show on a college campus. Plus, as a former RA, I enjoyed reading a book that featured a protagonist working as an RA.

This is the kind of book that makes you think a lot after you finish reading it. I feel like I need some time to process what I read and reflect on everything that happened because there were so many morally gray areas.

Definitely read if: you enjoy character-heavy literary fiction, you loved Such A Fun Age, and/or you want a book that makes you question what makes someone a good person

Probably skip if: you want a book that’s plot-driven, you’re looking for fun escapism, and/or you don’t want to follow a lot of characters

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing me with an ARC!

Assumptions , appearances and adolescence are the themes that most stuck out to me in this book. While it was kind of a humdrum plot, it was still interesting to see how these young (and not so young) women present themselves to the world.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Millie is the RA to an eclectic group of residents in the dorms at the University of Arkansas. When Agatha Paul wants to interview students for a new piece, she finds some students through Millie. The project turns into more that Agatha or Millie ever expected, but Agatha follows where the story leads her.

If you have been around a while, you know I am not big on character driven books. They generally don’t work for me, but with this book that was not the case! For most of it, I wasn’t really sure where this book was going, but that did not stop me from fully enjoying every minute of it! This seriously felt like my college experience. I think each character had something I went through during my college years, especially living in a dorm room and with roommates! You legit could not pay me enough to going back to living with another girl in a single room, and this book was a good reminder why! I truly loved every second of this book and highly recommend it!

This book was very character driven and not quite plot driven making me realize I need something happening plot-wise. Set in a dorm at the University of Arkansas, it followed students (residents and RAs) as well as a visiting professor along with some of their backstories. I think Reid covered a lot of social issues with this book and younger readers may be able to get more from this than I did. There were definitely a few thought provoking moments while reading this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books (Penguin Group) for a chance to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s always a thrill to get a NetGalley ARC, and I was extra excited to receive this new one by Such a Fun Age author, Kiley Reid. She is a writer pushing the boundaries of modern discourse, and in some cases, her work reads satirical.

By happenstance, this one also takes in a college setting, mostly in a scholarship hall. A visiting professor, Agatha Paul, late 30s, visits the University of Arkansas (I’m assuming the book cover is partly in reference to this) to do research about marriage. Once she arrives on campus, her story takes a different angle as the topic organically switches to money - who has it, who wants it, and what it means to different people.

Since this book doesn’t come out until early January, I don't want to say too much about where the story goes. But what I will say is Reid nails the setting and description, maybe too much for those looking for an actual beginning, middle, and end type of book.

And though I pictured my own college days, which were quite a while ago, I was quickly assured this is a contemporary story, as there was Gen Z language I had to look up. Ex. I was not aware of “lampshading” as a clothing term. It’s when you wear a baggy shirt with tight, short shorts, making you look akin to a lampshade.

Nearly every character is deplorable (and that’s not all negative; I don’t watch Real Housewives because the women are saints): Millie, the senior RA, who wants to get her ducks in a row but has a weird way of showing it; Casey and her distracting Southern accent; if you’ve ever watched Yellowstone, I pictured it the way Teeter talks; and Kennedy, one of the dorm girls, who I was most drawn to with her strange ways and her close relationship with her mother, because authentic strangeness beats vapid cool girls any day.

That’s only a fraction of the characters the reader is introduced to, which made the storytelling feel a little like a social experiment or mockumentary, but the “subjects” were fascinating, and I like where it went in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I tried really hard to get into this book but I just couldn't. The timeline of the story and the characters left me confused and wanting to skip thru the book.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

I dnf'd at a little over 50%. I was unconnected with the book. The plot was just lost for me. Yes, it is a heavily character driven story but I just felt something was lacking. There was no real *intrigue* to keep me connected to the story.

It took me a while to get into this one. The beginning background chapters had some confusing timline shifts. I love a book that swaps characters, perspectives and timelines, but was a little confusing at times without chapter headers. After the initial meeting between Agatha and Millie, their story lines didn't converge again until halfway through so that had me wondering where it was all going. Once I got halfway, I was hooked. Kennedy's "backstory" was a little too disturbing for me though. Overall, I was entertained, but not my favorite.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Come and Get it by Kiley Reid is funny, approachable, and utterly lacking in plot. She has a good eye a la Anne Patchett for exploring relationships between one another that exposes the sheer vulnerability of it all. Yet, this book until 80% through was utterly lacking in pace and plot.

“Come and Get It” is by Kiley Reid. I’ve decided that, unfortunately, Ms. Reid’s books aren’t my cup of tea. The characters are interesting and the storyline also interesting, but something never seems to quite grip me - or I see a huge error in the plot that makes me wonder about the entire story. In this book, we meet a cast of characters. Ms. Reid delves deeply into those characters but there’s not a lot of plot. If you want a character driven book, this would be great. This was too much character driven - without a lot happening other than backgrounds being provided for a number of characters who, while connected, aren’t really doing much more than existing or providing background information.

i found reading this quite pointless.

as a character driven story, i expected it to be slower paced, yet there was little to no intrigue and even less excitement. true that college life can be boring, but it is actually lifeless here! where is the soul? also, i found the plot to be aimless and without proper direction or structure.

this needs more edit

It was probably lack of critical thinking on my part, but I didn’t really get this book. I felt as if there was not plot and it took so long to get anywhere with any of the many characters that the ending felt like a let down. I didn’t buy in to anyone’s character arc because did anyone have one? Again, it’s extremely likely that I just missed the post entirely.

I did like the writing/language style and I thought the book was very funny in some parts. I’m southern and some of the women were portrayed really accurately! I haven’t read Reid’s first novel, but this one wont turn me off from it.

I don’t know, it just didn’t do it for me. It was a quick read, but not satisfying. 2.5/5 stars from me. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I enjoyed Kiley Reid’s debut novel, Such a Fun Age, and was delighted to realize that her latest contemporary fiction, Come and Get It, has a similar tone and many of the same themes.

I love a realistic campus setting (primarily dorm) and a coming-of-age story. Make it super character-driven and I’m even happier; if you throw in some sex, status, and very nuanced race issues, I’m all set!

What I like about Reid’s writing, which may be the very reason others don’t care for it, is how she allows the reader to decide what it all means, these characters and their thoughts and motivations, and how they’re interacting and the choices they’re making. There’s a lot of food for thought if you allow yourself to sit with it all.

Icing on the cake: there are a lot of very funny and relatable elements.

Steer clear if character-driven is not your cup of tea or plot is essential to you. Otherwise, I recommend!

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I had high hopes for this book. After reading until about 50%, I had to relegate it to my DNF shelf. It seems a bit redundant and honestly, boring. There seems to be 3-4 separate stories and they just seem to be circling, but never landing on anything in particular. It reminded me more of an anthology script just watching in on peoples lives instead of a fiction story taking you on a journey.

Unfortunately, I would not recommend.

Come and Get It was a DNF for me. I gave it the good college try, but after 30% in with no discernible plot I just couldn't force myself to continue reading, say nothing of the unlikeable characters. At age 40, maybe I am past the target demographic for this book, but I just couldn't get myself interested in any of the 8 or so main characters. It's a jumbled mess with no standout characters. In need of a good, judicious edit and maybe some reorganization of thoughts before this book is ready for prime time. Sorry, Kiley Reid - loved Such a Fun Age, was so hopeful for your sophomore effort and excited to receive an ARC!

I am dyyyying to talk to people about this book. The reviews on Goodreads and Storygraph are so mixed; you either love it or hate it.

Come and Get It is NOT Such a Fun Age. Yes, they both center around race and racism/micro-aggressions. However, Come and Get It has zero plot… it’s purely character development. It’s not boring though, because Kiley Reid is a good author and she has you waiting for the other shoe to drop. You don’t know what’s going to happen, or who it’s going to happen to, but you know something is going to happen and you’re on the edge of your seat waiting. It reminded a lot me of the way The Guest by Emma Cline was written.

I loved Such a Fun Age (clearly) and also really enjoyed Come and Get It. I found the characters to be interesting, but I know that won’t be the case for all readers. The main characters are mostly college students, so the language and slang are spot-on (I say this as a 32-year-old, like I have any idea what college kids say these days). IE; “an Aerosmith song came on from the overhead speakers, the one where he doesn’t want to miss a thing”.. this made me laugh out loud. Honestly, I think the dynamics between the characters were my favorite parts. The author really made it feel like you were in the college dorms, observing and understanding them, getting in their head.

Even without a plot, there are a lot of uncomfortable situations to unpack. I don’t want to spoil anything, but it’s a heavy book at times.

Highly recommend going and getting Come and Get It when it comes out on January 30, 2024 (and then coming to get me so we can discuss it)! Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for this eARC.

The story of Millie Cousins was so touching and heartfelt. Her return to the University of Arkansas after spending a year at home to help out with family members started off with the best of intentions. After meeting a visiting professor, Agatha Paul, her world turns a bit upside down. Decisions she would not have made in the past have consequences that might have been avoided. The supporting characters in the novel were tragic, maddening and also young, decisions were made without a lot of thought to the potential outcomes. At times, I wanted to yell out WHY....and had to stop reading for a bit.

If you read the book description and it doesn't make you want to start reading immediately then there is something wrong with you. This book was stunning. I loved every word of it.
I just reviewed Come and Get It by Kiley Reid. #ComeandGetIt #NetGalley
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For most of the book, I was not sure where this story was going, but I was totally enthralled anyway. Reid's character development is flawless and sucks you in even with little plot.