I absolutely loved Such a Fun Age. It was biting and insightful and sharp. When I saw that Reid had another novel I was over the moon excited to read it, and the blurb seemed to offer lots of potential - as did the opening scenes. They seemed like the perfect setup for another look at racism and sexism and the hot mess that is the world. Unfortunately the unflinching commentary of the first novel seems to be missing here and that absence made it a very different read for me.

This one felt like it was written by a different author... The tone and tenor were completely different. There's nothing wrong with an author mixing things up of course, but it just didn't resonate with me at all. Perhaps if I hadn't loved the style and voice of the first so much I might have approached this one differently, but I found myself disappointed and irritated by the banality of the college students rather than slapped across the face by it as I was with the treatment of race in Fun Age. I didn't enjoy reading this one the way I did the earlier book, and found myself struggling from very early on.

Phenomenal second novel by Kiley Reid! I absolutely loved Such a Fun Age and I wasn’t sure if anything could top that but this sure did. I loved the changing perspectives and all the intricacies in each of their personalities. I cannot wait to see what comes next from this author.

this was SO GOOD. I didn't think that Kiley Reid would be able to follow up Such a Fun Age with a book I loved nearly as much and then... this.
I saw the criticism for this story that there is no plot, and I was like, no worries, I don't mind a book that's more character driven.
look into my eyes. come closer. there is absolutely no plot in this book. zero. so prepare for that.
the characters are so outstanding and real-feeling that of course there's no plot. this is just the documentation of the lives of real people. literally the realest people. the dialogue and the mannerisms and everything in this book feels plucked from a college campus. Kiley Reid has such a firm grasp on people and life and i just LOVED this book

I jumped at the chance to read "Come and Get It" given how much I'd thoroughly enjoyed Reid's debut novel "Such a Fun Age" but... this was not it.

The entire novel reads like an entire different author wrote it, from the overflow of surface-level characters, the overdone Southern dialogue, and the lack of a central plot or focus. Even the primary characters like Millie Cousins, the RA at the University of Arkansas, and Agatha Paul, the writer and professor who she meets, feel so poorly fleshed out over the course of the story. The opening pages were far from promising, starting with Agatha interviewing a handful of female college students at the Belgrade dorm Millie works at about their perspectives on weddings, and failed to recover from there. The ensuing events and backstories feel uncentered and haphazardly put together, with no real conclusion or purpose.

This is such a disappointing review to write given how strong of an author Kiley Reid has previously shown herself to be.

Come and Get It is a great slice-of-life book that follows a couple of different characters. We have Millie, an RA dedicated to her job and dedicated to making money and achieving specific goals. We also have Agatha who is an author and meets Millie when she arrives at the dorm where Millie is an RA to interview some students for her next book. Adjacent to Millie and Agatha we have college students, lovers, friends, and family. While the book follows around these characters, there is a low level dread that creeps throughout the book which kept me hooked to the story.

I spent some time in Fayetteville Arkansas where this book takes place and it was like being back there. The characters visit spots I've been like Puritan and Onyx and Agatha even tells someone that the sushi in Arkansas is not as bad as you think -- which is something I've always said!

If you like reading stories about complicated characters in complicated situations, then this book is for you. I will say that some of the characters sounded similar in they way they spoke, but there are still distinct traits to each person.

I hate to say this because I enjoyed her last book, but I was unable to finish this. It was well written and there was a plot but the paragraphs of unnecessary details made me uninterested in finishing the book.

I love Kiley Reid’s writing style- she knows how to make you say “what the…?!” on many pages and Come & Get It did not disappoint. This book really captured the different ways people are raised and what they find socially acceptable. I really enjoyed reading the character perspectives! Somebody explain to me how Colette became my favorite character with the funniest line in the book, LOL! I could have kept reading about these people for days. Where did they end up?! That’s how I know I liked the book. My only gripe is there was way too much left to read “between the lines” Too many ways to interpret each conversation for me. BUT still very intriguing, interesting and definitely worth a read. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! ❤️

In Kiley Reid’s highly anticipated new novel, Come and Get It, readers are introduced to Mille Cousins, a senior resident assistant at the University of Arkansas. Millie is focused and organized, determined to graduate, land a great job, and buy a house. But when visiting professor and writer Agatha Paul offers Millie a unique opportunity to earn some extra cash, she jumps at the chance. Millie’s hustle, optimistic and naïve in its execution, puts her future in jeopardy.
A unique cast of characters fill out a tension-filled story about consumption, money, and questionable choices. The authors use of alternating perspectives convincingly brings the reader into the intimate journey of these varied and diverse characters as they battle with insecurity, self-doubt, and all the consequences they encounter – including rancorous dorm pranks. Reid’s nuanced portrait of these characters depict real and true illustrations of white privilege and power, and questions how money can tilt the scales. True to form, Reid continues to bring subtle, astutely accurate illustrations of race and power in a way that feels achingly true. A delightful, contemplative read.

Kiley Reid is back with the long-awaited follow-up to her popular debut, Such a Fun Age. Come and Get It employs the same impressive character work as Reid's first novel, but this one is a bit more meandering and character-driven in structure as it follows a larger group of young and not-quite-as-young women living in and around the dorms at the University of Arkansas. While some readers may be initially turned off by the longer and less plot-driven work, I found the storytelling exquisite and Reid's eye for detail absolutely astounding. (And this coming from a reader who loves herself a plotty book.) An easy five-star read for me, though I see how it may be polarizing, especially to big fans of Such a Fun Age who are anticipating a similar experience.

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.