It took me a while to get into the book and I will agree with what most people say, if you're looking for action packed plot, this book might not be for you. Having said that, I massively enjoyed the writing, the characters felt very real and the 'fly-on-the-wall' element was brilliant, once I managed to form a clear idea in my head of who is who (for some reason that took a while for me), it all came together and I felt that I wouldn't mind spending a little bit more time with the characters. Millie is very likable and I can definitely relate to the hunger and drive of wanting to stand on your own two feet and prove to yourself and the world that you can make it on your own. I found Agatha interesting to observe but wasn't 100% convinced about her decision-making. The Belgrave suitemates and observing their life was my favourite bit and it felt like watching a reality show, Tayler, Payton and Kennedy were all very distinct and well portrayed to me. this was overall a fun book to read but I'm not sure it will leave a long lasting impression.

thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

Having loved Such A Fun Age I was very interested to read the new Kiley Reid. The plot of Come and Get It is more diluted and dare-I-say there's a bit less pay-off but the writing is phenomenal and it was a masterclass in character. I really loved the build-up and all the detail that goes into fleshing out the young students, which is so brilliantly observed. Would definitely recommend and exciting to see what's next from Kiley Reid.

I find this such a hard book to rate, the characterisation was brilliant, I mean really next level. I felt like they were all people I could genuinely meet, I understood why they all did what they did. And the writing was brilliant too.
But I'm just not sure about the plot and the pacing, for me it didn't really work. I actually enjoyed the slow more mundane first half than the second half where more action happens.
All in all I have pretty mixed feelings but it's clear that Kiley Reid is an incredibly talented writer and I'll definitely be picking up future books!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book

I felt quite disappointed by this - it was okay, but I loved Such A Fun Age so this felt a little bit lackluster in comparison.
I think a lot of the complexity that was present in SAFA wasn't present here, so Come and Get It ended up feeling very simple and like it was written to be 'easy' to digest. This lead to it feeling quite directionless. Kiley Reid's character-work and satirical prose is still very strong, and I'd read anything else she wrote in the future, but this book just didn't do it for me.

Sadly, this was my biggest disappointment of the year.
While Reid remains a master in her character-work and still managed to deliver a quippy, easy to read story that never felt like it was sacrificing the "meat" of it for easy of reading, it ultimately felt like it lacked direction and much of a point, really, as far as I was concerned.
Not for me, but I'll still eagerly expect whatever Reid has in store next.

I had loved Kiley Reid's Such a Fun Age. Once again her writing was full of biting satire and irony.

It's a college tale largely and starts with Millie setting up interviews for visiting academic Agatha Paul. The first interviews are about weddings as Agatha has previously written about rites in life including mourning. However Agatha's interviews take a different direction.- her motivations are muddied.
This leaves Millie in an ambiguous position. As a Residence sort of supervisor for the dorms of young students Millie is doing the job for economic reasons and this is explored. The relationship between her and the students becomes complicated, as does the relationship between her and Agatha (some ambiguous ethical areas)

The students have their own individual "issues" to deal with too. It's a great take on campus politics, as well as exploring racism and social inequalities. I'm sure I didn't understand some of the cultural references and so missed more of the satire.

I was left with a question about the main plot twist too.

Reid is a skilled writer, although I probably preferred her first book. She's a sort of American Jane Austen in her take on society.

A little disappointing, especially given how much I loved Such a Fun Age. It was a real slow burn, and intensely character driven. I liked the idea of the student resident hall as a setting, and found the interpersonal relationships really dry and funny at times, but it took way too long to ‘get going’. I will still look forward to more of Kiley Reid’s books in the future cos I think she is a fabulously modern writer with a great sense of dark humour. But this one was a bit of a flop compared to her wonderful debut.

I still don't know how I feel about this book exactly.

I loved Such A Fun Age and was very excited to read Reid's sophomore novel, but it left me a little disappointed, unfortunately. The story primarily follows Millie Cousins, a University of Arkansas senior RA (Resident Assistant) whose sights are set on the future. Her plan is to graduate and buy a house, and she is willing to take on any opportunity to make money that will bring her closer to her goal. Her hustle is jeopardised, however, when three new students arrive in the dorm she supervises. They bring the drama, and Millie gets tangled up in it. And things are further complicated when visiting professor, Agatha Paul, offers Millie a paid - but unusual - opportunity she can't refuse.

Once we got into the story of the arriving students, I became somewhat invested in this story. I thought their dynamic was interesting, and Reid did a good job of bringing them and their Gen Z personalities to life. Their interactions and dialogue often made for amusing moments, but it does become a bit draining to read their inane utterances for a couple of hundred pages. I struggled to find the depth there.

Overall, this book was kind of plotless. While Such A Fun Age was a sharp consideration of race, class and privilege, I felt Come and Get It lacked direction and never really went anywhere. I didn't feel the tension I was promised in the blurb and, in the end, failed to care about any of the characters. With the exception of Kennedy, who had a very strong chapter that described her back story. When that part of the novel kicked off, I thought: "Okay, here we go". Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to redeem my reading experience, though.

It makes me sad to say it, but Come and Get It just didn't do it for me. Perhaps I am not the intended audience for this book, and it certainly won't stop me from reading Reid's future novels.

I loved Kiley Reid's first book and was keen to read this new one and she did not disappoint - another incisive culturally relevant take on modern life.

I thought following up Such A Fun Age would be tough but I really enjoyed Kiley Reid's Come and Get It, with its observations about young women and money, often subtle hints at privilege or otherwise, and how we often don't see the full picture. It also raised great questions about the ethics around journalism, as well as mother-daughter relationships and emotional reliance, as well as toxicity in friendships.

This book put me in a bit of a slump, to be fair. I actually ended up enjoying it enough, but you really need to go into it with the premise of a campus novel which is heavily character focused. If you enjoyed ‘The Idiot’ then you will also probably really like ‘Come and Get It’.

I do really enjoy the way Kiley Reid explores characters and she has a very meaningful way of developing individuals - everyone in this story feels very real, and it jumps seamlessly between the perspectives of Millie and Agatha. Unfortunately for me, the relationship that develops between Millie and Agatha did seem very surface level and for that I didn’t love it - I feel like a bit more consideration and exploration needed to be given to the fact that this was a difficult relationship dynamic, and whilst not directly illegal, was certainly non-traditional and perhaps taboo? I’d have liked to have seen Millie especially grapple with that power dynamic slightly more. I also feel that Agatha’s ‘journalism’ in this was applauded for the way it exposed certain individuals in these college dorms, however if you really look at what she was doing, and what Millie was inadvertently helping her with, it’s deeply uncomfortable - for me, I’d have liked to see the repercussions of that explored more in depth. I feel like Agatha, who was essentially spying on private conversations and embellishing them for publication, should have faced a backlash for what she was doing, but instead she could just pay someone off a little and leave town.

Not my favoruite read, but I really enjoyed the character and world building. Kiley Reid writes a very realistic college environment.

I read Simplexity which is a novella by this author and part of the Amazon original stories series. I really enjoyed this, ive heard amazing things about such a fun age so I requested this one without hesitati0n. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this.

I didnt hate the book but i didnt love it, it took me a while to get through it. I was a little bored if im honest. I'm sure some people would love it but it was a bit too character driven for me.

It pains me to say this but, excited as I was to read this after the incredible Such a Fun Age, this second book just didn’t do it for me. I enjoyed much of the writing, but the book lacked a cohesive story.

I had been excited to read this as had read many reviews however, I found the book a little disappointing. I didn't care about the main characters and found it contrived and didn't feel it flowed as a book.

I know it wasn't really supposed to be a story exactly but it felt disjointed at times. I did finish it but wouldn't rush to read more from the author.

Come and Get It is a book that requires concentration to pick up the stylistic nuances and subtle undertones of the author.

Predominantly set in the halls of residence of a university in Arkansas, the story follows the intertwining lives of several female characters who are at the cusp of change in their lives - embarking on life away from home for the first time; tentative steps into the realms of adulthood with house buying plans and an escape from relationship and academic pressures. These three generational stories are grounded by Millie and Agatha two loners who are striving for a purpose or new challenge in life, seduced by each other and the prospect of financial and professional gain.

The book is billed as humorous but for me this was lacking, with many of the characters being too generic and often unsympathetic.

This is the first book I’ve read by Kiley Reid and it’s a little different to my usual read. I enjoy a change though and this sounded ‘current’. The central characters are Agatha and Millie. Agatha is an academic, a writer in recovery and is researching material for a new book. Millie wants to graduate and is saving to buy a house. She has a job on campus and the two become unlikely friends.

This isn’t a plot driven story but overall I felt that didn’t matter because it’s very much about the characters and their attitudes and relationships. Kiley Reid has a keen observational eye for detail. She also has an ear for dialogue and that’s what makes this an interesting exploration of obsession, desire and money. The setting is very much American frat house and it’s filled with a range of snidey bitchy young women non of whom are particularly likeable. Very much like real life, I suspect and for that reason, I found it enjoyable and filled with insight.

Come and Get It by Kiley Reid, celebrated for her work in Such a Fun Age, unfolds a contemporary narrative set in the academic landscape of the University of Arkansas in 2017. The protagonist, Millie Cousins, a senior resident assistant, embarks on a journey fueled by aspirations of graduation, employment, and homeownership. However, her path takes a surprising turn when Agatha Paul, a visiting professor, offers an unconventional opportunity.


Reid weaves a tale that delves into the intricacies of desire, consumption, and reckless abandon, creating a tension-filled narrative rife with odd friendships, vengeful pranks, and illicit intrigue. While the premise is intriguing and the exploration of ambition is thought-provoking, the execution leaves room for improvement.
Character development, though engaging, falls short of providing a truly immersive experience. Deeper insights into the characters' motivations and complexities would have strengthened the emotional connection with readers.

The narrative, while promising, occasionally feels disjointed, impacting the overall flow of the story. Certain plotlines lack the depth and resolution needed to provide a truly satisfying conclusion.
Come and Get It serves as a contemporary commentary on the intersection of money, indiscretion, and bad behavior within an academic setting.

While Reid offers an interesting exploration of human relationships, the novel may not fully meet the heightened expectations set by her previous acclaimed work. It stands as a decent addition for those intrigued by modern complexities, yet it falls short of achieving the profound impact anticipated from an author of Reid's celebrated reputation.

Millie is a student paying her way through college by working as a residential aide in a dormitory building. She's older than the students, having taken time out, and she just wants to be able to afford the downpayment on a small house in Fayetteville. Agatha is a professor of English and a journalist. She has a commission to write about weddings but when she visits the dormitory she realises that the bigger story is the attitude of the students to money. Kennedy has come to Fayetteville for a fresh start. She is struggling to make friends and then she is rejected from the one course she really wants to take.
I liked Reid's first book but this is so much better! There is a lightness of writing which masks the really intense topics that are considered. Ostensibly about money, there is a lot about race that lurks under the surface as well as growing up and finding oneself and the pressures on college girls.

I appear to be one of the few people who didn’t read Kiley Reid’s debut novel ‘Such A Fun Age’ – which ended up being one of the books of 2020 and a Sunday Times bestseller. So when I heard she had a new book out – I requested an advance review copy from Net Galley. Here’s the blurb:

“Everything comes at a price. But not everything can be paid for.
Millie wants to graduate, get a job and buy a house. She’s slowly saving up from her job on campus, but when a visiting professor offers her an unusual opportunity to make some extra money, she jumps at the chance.
Agatha is a writer, recovering from a break-up while researching attitudes towards weddings and money for her new book. She strikes gold when interviewing the girls in Millie’s dorm, but her plans take a turn when she realises that the best material is unfolding behind closed doors.
As the two women form an unlikely relationship, they soon become embroiled in a world of roommate theatrics, vengeful pranks and illicit intrigue – and are forced to question just how much of themselves they are willing to trade to get what they want.
Sharp, intimate and provocative, Come and Get It takes a lens to our money-obsessed society in a tension-filled story about desire, consumption and bad behaviour.”

Before I started reading this I noticed that it had really mixed reviews on Net Galley – with some people questioning the lack of storyline – but I decided to not be deterred and started reading!

The book tells the story from the view points of various people based around a University dorm – Agatha and Millie as mentioned in the blurb – but also Kennedy, who is one of the students in the dorm around which the story is based. Whilst there is a ‘real time’ timeline – it also looks at the back story of each of the characters, and thus what has made them who they are today.

I can totally see where the reviews are coming from with the story not really going anywhere. Observationally it is brilliant, and you really get a feel for campus life – and the characters are very well described – but I just didn’t get the point of the book. I kept reading to see if something exciting happened – and it just never really did. 

It feels like after the acclaim given to the author’s first book – this ‘difficult second album’ didn’t really hit the spot.

Many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for my ARC. You can ‘Come and Get It’ right now, as it was published on Tuesday 30 January 2024.

reid's character-driven sophomore novel is set in 2017 at the university of arkansas. someone on goodreads described it as perfectly summed up by that tweet that said 'you’re not the worst person in the world, you’re just an undergraduate', and pretty much got it in one.

the book follows millie cousins, a twenty-four-year-old senior resident assistant who is determined to graduate, get a job, and buy her own little house. so when agatha paul, an alluring visiting professor interested in interviewing (and eventually eavesdropping on) girls in millie's residency for a book (and then a ethnographic microanalysis for teen vogue), offers her payment in exchange for frequent dorm visits, she eagerly accepts.

as we witness their relationship develop, we simultaneously get to know an unlikely group of girls living in the room beside millie's, and their economic, social, and race relations become the novel's catalyst for tension.

while conversations and moments shared by the girls are often unfeasible (particularly the novel's climax - a v far-fetched bloody dorm scene), i actually really enjoyed their pov slice-of-life narratives. my favourite, i think, was chapter ten.

this book took a while to grab me, and i almost dnf'd it at 30%, but i'm so glad i gave it a second chance. i really like reid's voice and writing style - i think her charisma shines on the page and she remains one of my favourite writers..

thank you so much for the arc!