Reid’s sophomore book was just as good as her debut! I wasn’t sure exactly where it was all going to go, but loved getting wrapped up in this world and these characters. I could’ve easily read 50-100 more pages of this!

I devoured Come and Get It by Kiley Reid.

The story starts with Millie Cousins, a senior and RA at the University of Arkansas. Nothing comes easy for Millie and she has to work hard to get ahead but she knows what she wants and how to get it. But when Millie meets writer and professor Agatha, her straight path ahead into her future goes a little off course. Agatha is researching and writing about college students and through her, we meet several residents, some wild and others struggling to simply exist.

What I found so entrancing about this story was that every sentence felt lived in. There was no grand plot, no shocking twists. It was a portrait of real, complicated young women experiencing life in a college dorm. Like Agatha, I felt like I was sitting just behind a dorm room door, cracked open just enough for me to peer into their lives.

Reid writes with purity. The text oozes with tension and desire. We experience budding friendships, painful exclusion, racial microaggressions and the fallout from all three. The dialogue is messy, emulating almost precisely the way conversations go.

I have rarely, if ever, found a book that so acutely expressed the pain and wonder of real, everyday lives.

I enjoyed "Such a Fun Age" so was excited to try out Reid's latest novel which follows a cast of 8 main characters on a college campus (students, RA, faculty). Unfortunately, I found nearly all the characters fairly unlikeable for one reason or another and was not invested in any one story given the amount of characters. The first 60% of the book has no real plot which made it hard to want to continue to pickup. I don't mind a character driven novel, but something was lacking. It seemed like this book was either giving me anger or anxiety - which may have been the very point. I suspect this will be a very polarizing book upon release.

After reading this and Kiley Reid's first book. I can say that Kiley Reid writes about relevant social topics (class, racism, micro-aggressions), in a way that comes together in a fun story that does not feel overly cartoonish or in your face. I particularly like the discussion's we had about money in this book, both with the college girls and the professor and her girlfriend. I wish this had actually played more into driving the central conflict scene of the plot. Though for a book about a scholarship dorm I felt there were far too many girls getting large sums of money from there parents, even Millie was more well off then most college age people I personally know/knew (and I am middle class).

However this book I think fell flat from her debut mostly because of the pacing. I agree with many reviewer that nothing much seems to happen for the first good chunk of the book and I think it will cause many people to give up on it. I was toughly pull in for about 50 pages around the central event but then the ending also fell a bit flat. (Kennedy's story in particular). Also while for the most part I think Reid writes realistic characters I have a hard time believing that a professor, would be as un-ethical in modern times as to sit in a dorm room and spy on students and for a teen vouge article? I think making her just a journalist would have sold the story better.

This was a witty, insightful read with complicated characters and great tales about class, privilege, mental health, university and academic life, and relationships. Plot driven but also issue driven - I loved it!

"Come and Get It" by Kiley Reid offers an intriguing glimpse into the world of desire, consumption, and recklessness amidst the backdrop of the University of Arkansas. The story centers around Millie Cousins, a senior resident assistant with big dreams for her future. The plot takes an unusual turn when Agatha Paul, a visiting professor and writer, presents Millie with an easy yet peculiar opportunity. This leads to a starry-eyed hustle that quickly becomes jeopardized by new friends, dorm pranks, and illicit intrigue.

Reid's portrayal of desire and consumption is fresh and intimate, pulling readers into a world where ambition and temptation collide. The tension-filled narrative keeps you turning the pages, wondering what shocking turn of events will happen next. However, while the story has its moments of intrigue, it often feels weighed down by certain aspects.

The character development, unfortunately, falls short of expectations. Millie Cousins starts off as a promising protagonist, but her motivations and choices become increasingly difficult to relate to as the story unfolds. The odd new friends she encounters feel somewhat one-dimensional and fail to elicit a strong emotional connection.

Additionally, the premise of vengeful dorm pranks and illicit intrigue has great potential, but it lacks the depth and complexity needed to leave a lasting impact. The tension occasionally feels forced, leaving readers longing for more intricacy and sophistication in the plot.

On a positive note, Reid's writing style remains captivating and engrossing, making the novel an easy read. The exploration of money, indiscretion, and bad behavior is well-handled, painting a realistic picture of the challenges young adults face in today's world.

Overall, "Come and Get It" is a solid offering with some areas for improvement. While it delivers a tension-filled story with glimpses of brilliance, it falls short in terms of character development and plot intricacy. Nonetheless, it remains a decent choice for readers seeking a quick and engaging read that delves into the complexities of desire and ambition. Kiley Reid's talent as an acclaimed and award-winning author is evident, and I'm hopeful to see her future works reach even greater heights.

Y'all, any book that takes place on a college campus is a draw for me. I was excited to see that this upcoming release was set at the University of Arkansas in 2017. As far as this particular college-based story, I have to note this author is a masterful storyteller when it comes to characters. The ones in this story had such unique complexities and backgrounds. That said, this is a book where characters "drive the bus" of what's happening more so than a plot connecting all the things - I wouldn't say that's a good or bad thing as it's a matter of what you like to read, but definitely worth noting. The true action and plot is a slow burn, and it doesn't really kick in until 75% of the way in. I wish that would have happened sooner. I also wish there would have been more after. things went down as I was even more invested in the characters as their secrets and truths were revealed. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this January 2024 release.

This book was very different from what I expected. The way the book reads reminds me of Love Actually/He’s Just Not That Into You in that it focuses on a few interconnected characters while exploring a common theme. Similarly to Such A Fun Age, I feel that that dialogue was a bit lacking, but Kiley Reid makes up for it with her storytelling and descriptive abilities. Kiley Reid is very good at making readers think about what she’s writing.

I’m really not sure how to review this book. I can’t tell you what it was about. There really was no discernible plot. There are multiple characters with their own storylines that very loosely interweave but not in a cohesive way that makes for a good book. Most of the characters were not even particularly likeable. .

I’m really quite disappointed because I loved Such a Fun Age and have been waiting for Kiley Reid to write another novel! Unfortunately this book just really missed the mark. I also felt as though the ending fell flat and was really missing something. There was no satisfying wrap up.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Penguin Group for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review. Publication date Jan 29, 2024.

This book has very mixed and polarizing reviews. I found myself on the side of enjoyment actually. I feel as if this book is a lot like our authors prior book Such a Fun Age in terms of moral and ethical situations and thoughts. I’m wondering how this comes into play for those that read that prior novel. Did they like both, dislike both, one of each. Was just something I was curious about, I liked both and as I mentioned thought it had a similar feel. This one was more on the academia side with a younger group of characters. That being said there we an awful lot of characters in my opinion, somehow I did manage to keep them straight but initially I was wondering if it might be a deal breaker for me. I found the characters very interesting off the get go. The accuracy of their conversations verbatim was super interesting to me. There were times and chapters where it felt slow and if maybe it wasn’t going anywhere. Overall I just think it was a slower paced book. It for sure makes you ponder moral issues and rights and wrongs. I considered wishes and regrets, shame and remorse. I thought about courage, and feelings of guilt. It packs a lot into the story overall.

Thank you to our author, Netgalley and Putnam Books for providing me with an advanced eGalley copy of the book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This will be available on January 9th, 2024. I hope if you choose to read it you enjoy it also.

I could have tuned into a show about nothing, and I would have relished it because it was the vibrant nineties, and witnessing the daily escapades of intriguing characters in NYC was a rare and captivating experience for that era. Yes, I'm referring to Seinfeld.

This book, set three decades later, follows a similar concept. It stands as a prime example of character development with its meticulous, authentic portrayals that foster a connection between the reader and the main characters, Millie and Agatha. Both are formidable individuals striving to construct lives, prioritizing others' needs above their own. They are intelligent, resolute, and idealistic women of different ages (Millie: 24 years old, a college student and RA; Agatha: in her late thirties, a professor, journalist, and author).

While Millie cares for her mother, who is afflicted with glaucoma, by juggling various jobs, including managing at Barnes & Noble Cafe (not Starbucks) and a bed & breakfast, Agatha grapples with her relationship with a young, free-spirited dancer who marries her for insurance benefits. Agatha is a giver, focusing on peculiar, often vexing, and awkward aspects of life, and she explores diverse subjects for her latest novels.

Their paths intersect at the University of Arkansas, where Agatha visits as a guest professor to gather material for her new book on wedding traditions. This encounter opens up an opportunity for Millie that she can't resist. However, a tragic incident involving vengeful student pranks and illicit intrigue threatens to upend everything she has worked tirelessly for.

The narrative also introduces us to intriguing student profiles: Tyler, whose father is incarcerated and is determined to get a dog despite his mother's objections; Kennedy, a socially insecure girl with unique dorm decor (including a chandelier); Casey, a Southern belle; and Peyton, who spends more time in the kitchen than outside.

The book delves into significant dynamics between different socioeconomic classes, addresses racism, and includes LGBTQ representation. Notably, there's a wealth of information about being an RA, a role that entails substantial workload and responsibilities. It seems the author might have been an RA during her college years, which lends an air of authenticity to the portrayal.

Upon starting the book, I realized that not much of note unfolds within its pages. This pattern persists even as I progress through the latter half. The book could almost be likened to a college documentary or an unscripted reality series, as if the author has placed cameras inside dorm rooms to capture scenes from college life. While not tedious, it does become somewhat exasperating to read a book devoid of a discernible plotline. Curiously, the characters intrigued me enough to keep reading, holding onto the hope that something significant would transpire by the end. Regrettably, no such shift occurs.

For me, it remained an acceptable read, yet in comparison to "Such A Fun Age," I had anticipated more from the author. I've settled on a rating of three solid stars. I still look forward to delving into the author's future works, hoping to find a bit more enjoyment.

I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP PUTNAM / G. P. Putnam’s Sons for graciously providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my candid thoughts.

Thank you so much to G.P. Putnam for the Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!

I was super stoked to see that I had been approved for COME AND GET IT-- I really enjoyed Kiley Reid's first book, SUCH A FUN AGE, and I would've definitely been eager to read this one when it came out in any case. COME AND GET IT toes the line of several different genres and avenues, dipping into quite a few different themes and topics, which contributes to a slightly disjointed and frantic tone. However, I believe this works in the novel's favor, as all the plotlines seem to come together under a major theme. COME AND GET IT focuses on twenty-four-year old college senior Millie, who works as a Resident Advisor at the University of Arkansas. Millie struggles to take care of her ailing mother, scrape together enough money to finish school and hopefully buy a house, deal with the troublemaker girls on her floor, and find her place as a black student at the predominantly white institution. She crosses paths with Agatha, a researcher, journalist, and professor at the university, when she comes to her dorm in search of students to interview for her newest nonfiction book. Conflicts ensue between the girls on the floor, between Millie and the girls, and further when Agatha goes down some less-than-ethical avenues to get the content she needs for her research.

First of all, I have to commend Ms. Reid on the excellent portrayal of Res Life and the RA job! I was an RA in college, and this book perfectly encapsulated both what it was like and why I hated it. The feeling of monotony, frustration with administration, and the care for struggling students comes through in the little details. I have to wonder if she was an RA herself, because if not, she's certainly done her research. The setting feels very fleshed out, rich, and immersive-- again, those little details of college life really shine through to create compelling imagery.

The characterization also resonated strongly with me. Ms. Reid is very skilled in weaving together specific images and descriptions that work to quickly create an image of the character in one's mind, and I enjoyed the opportunity to delve deeper into all of the POV character's backstories and headspaces. There were quite a few foreground characters featured in this book, which I can see being frustrating to some readers, but I feel that the alternating POVs were used efficiently and effectively in order to provide new perspectives and challenge certain beliefs. While no character is totally innocent, I felt such sympathy for Millie and Kennedy, a lonely resident struggling to adjust to college life, especially. Tyler and Peyton, fellow girls in the dorm, were a little harder to redeem for me, but still sparked my curiosity.

I enjoy Ms. Reid's work because she delves into modern-day, real-world societal issues with grace and an appropriate dose of levity. SUCH A FUN AGE painted a fascinating image of upstairs-downstairs life with the young black nanny and the upper-class white mother, and called attention towards current events through its narrative. I do feel that COME AND GET IT approached the issues of racism and class contentions at PWIs with a bit more subtlety, which I appreciated, as it felt a bit less forced. I do feel that this theme could have been woven in a bit more into a few of the subplots, as some of them felt a little out of the blue or unrelated.

Before I read the reviews, I knew what some of them were going to complain about: the apparent lack of a plot line. I'd agree in a certain sense, but also would contest that the characters are so dynamic and the prose and dialogue so witty that the pace goes by quickly nonetheless. I did wish at certain points that an inciting event would appear a bit earlier, or that a certain issue a character was dwelling on would progress a bit faster. The ending felt slightly anticlimactic to me, to the point where I was actually surprised that Ms. Reid chose to end the book on the scene that she did. For these reasons, I'd take off points, but I still found myself glued to the story in a way that was hard to explain.

To make a long review short, I'm extremely pleased and grateful to have been able to review a book by a big-name author and one whom I personally admire! I'd recommend COME AND GET IT to fans of character-driven literary fiction, snappy, Gen-Z-approved dialogue, and anyone who's worked for Res Life and lived to tell the tale. ;)

Something that I've always loved about the TV show "Seinfeld" is that it's about nothing. It just features the small moments in the lives of pretty regular people, and how their conversations and seemingly insignificant actions can cause a colossal misunderstanding or event that will impact the characters' lives in a significant way.

Like "Seinfeld," this book was mostly about nothing. An RA, her residents, and a visiting professor make up the major cast of characters. The way the residents treat each other, the way the RA gives them advice, and the way all of their relationships form greatly affect what happens before, during, and after a major event in their semester. It was crazy and, like a season finale of "Seinfeld," the reader is shown how a bunch of snippets of conversations and brief encounters in the hallway have actually led to this moment. I loved it; it was a wild ride.

I also feel the need to point out that this book was so very relatable. I was an RA in college and Kiley Reid did not miss the mark. Millie and her RA friends talk about their residents in private (yup, we did that). RA Colette hates the duty phone with a passion (oh yeah, that dreaded thing's ringtone still pops up in my nightmares). Even the roommate disagreements over tiny problems building up to a blow-up were accurate!

As I read, I felt like all of this could have happened to me or in my residence hall and that I'm glad I made it out okay.

Overall, I highly enjoyed this book. My only issue was that it took quite awhile to get to the good stuff. I can see why some other reviewers quit (right before it amps up!), but I'm glad I stuck with it.

I am very torn on this book. On one hand, it is perhaps the most fabulous and in-depth experiment in character that I have ever seen. Reid places you so vividly in these characters lives that it becomes hard to extricate yourself. Her dialogue is unbelievably realistic, as is her depiction of the day-to-day lives of college students. There are times I found it hard to believe this WASN'T a direct transcription of college student interactions, a fascinating meta-experience given that one of the main characters, a professor, is quite literally doing just that (transcribing/recording college students lives). On the other hand, this book made me incredibly stressed. There is a point about 80% into the novel where I nearly couldn't continue. Some of the characters become deeply unlikeable, and the likable characters are put in such impossible situations that the secondary anxiety I felt was palpable. However, I do feel like this visceral sense of distress is representative of Kiley Reid's incredible skill as a writer, and feel that it is reflective of this novel as a seminal work of fiction and character work.

Wow! What starts as an interesting look into college dorm life (for residents and staff) and getting to know the characters well…… suddenly takes a serious turn that had me deeply engrossed. Many timely and timeless topics can be found within the pages: racism, sexuality, recreational edibles use, disparate age couples and more.

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

Unfortunately I seem to be on a string of novels that just don't fit what I'm looking for. While I like character driven, I feel as though character without any discernible plot for a quarter or more at the beginning of a novel is simply not enough to keep my attention. I'm struggling at getting myself into these types of books, and this was, unfortunately, yet another example. I hate to rate books like this because for me it's more about style and preference than "quality." Thus, take this review with a grain of salt as ymmv depending on what you're looking for.

This is my independent review.

It must be an an author's nightmare when your first book does so well and then your second book is just okay. I do like the author's writing style and she has very sharp observations. I agree with other people who said that there were a million characters (but then again that's how it is when you're a RA and trying to remember everyone). I liked Millie's POV, I felt like there were too many unnecessary details with Agatha's past, and for some reason I wanted to skim over Kennedy's chapters (also the "thing" that happened at her other school felt like it could have been left out). It took a long time for things to get exciting and then I felt like everything was wrapped up really quickly and was just...done. Overall it was okay but people are going to be disappointed if they're expecting the same caliber as [book:Such a Fun Age|43923951].

2.5 stars, rounded up.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"come and get it" is a novel about... well,
about nothing. the plot is very loose, and most of the novel is completely pointless.

millie is an RA at bellgrade dorm in the university of alabama. she's one of the few black students and experiences racism at the hands of the freshman, the administration, colleagues, and just about everyone else.

agatha is a black professor at the university who starts a research project interviewing students in the dorms about weddings, but then it switches to students' financial situations. she immediately connects with millie after one of her residents calls her "ghetto." as they build a relationship that borders on romantic, millie stops being the best RA she can be.

while this novel wants to say something about racism in predominantly white universities, it really falls short. while this novel wants to say something about lesbophobia and biphobia, it doesn't. at the end of this novel, i just felt it was all pointless prattling.

however, it was very atmospheric. it reminded me of my freshman year in a dorm to such an extent that i felt a sense of homesickness and nostalgia.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, there wasn't much of a plot. On the other, the author is adept at creating characters that are multilayered and compelling. Entwined are issues of race, sexuality and abuse of power.

I absolutely loved "Such a Fun Age" so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this advance ARC. This novel was a bit slower-paced for me but there were many thematic similarities. Kiley Reid is talented at creating complex characters and I really like her writing style.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book but it didn't quite have the impact Such a Fun Age did.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!