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laura_lin's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I really like the way this author writes authentic flawed characters. Their internal monologues gave words to feelings I previously couldn’t name or describe. I couldn’t help but reflect on my college experience.
This book ended up being unexpectedly triggering to me which I did not anticipate after the lightness of Such a Fun Age but I am glad to have read it.
This book ended up being unexpectedly triggering to me which I did not anticipate after the lightness of Such a Fun Age but I am glad to have read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Self harm
achristinething's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really liked this one. Way more than such a fun age! I just wish the ending was more satisfying but I really got invested in all the characters. I also think it would make a good miniseries
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
madybreadz's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
happybookday's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
laurenbisignano's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really loved Reid's first book (Such A Fun Age), but this one fell a bit flat for me. I found it a bit hard to follow at the start. and the direction didn’t seem incredibly clear. I ended up disliking pretty much every main character too. I still couldn’t stop turning the pages though! I find Reid’s writing very addictive..
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
hiddenfallacies's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This novel is hard to describe. Even harder to sell to other people as a recommendation when all you can think to say is "it's really good." So I'll try my best to do so here.
Come and Get It follows three perspectives over the course of an undergraduate fall semester, with glimpses into the past added as necessary to explain how they got into their current situation. Agatha, a mid-30s journalist working a year of residency at the University of Arkansas. Millie, a super senior RA looking to finish her degree, land a job, and buy a house. And Kennedy, a junior looking for a fresh start as a transfer student. As the innocuous moments of their lives intertwine, a descent towards their ruin begins. Its arrival is sudden and swift, the kind of downfall that makes all too much sense in hindsight.
The greatest strength of this narrative lies in these characters, who are written so realistically that they feel as if they walked out of your life rather than the mind of Reid. Crafting this kind of realism is supremely difficult, so the fact that even minute dialogue and quirks feel true-to-life is an accomplishment. This makes you, as the reader, feel as if you've truly participated in the scene rather than acted as an observer.
Rather than construct the plot around traditional forms of conflict, Come and Get It is propelled forward through the interpersonal lives of its characters. At no point does it feel like a scene is wasted, even if it only serves to capture simple moments of life such as dorm conversations or a trip to Target. Although this structure might not work for everyone, I found it a natural extension of its focus on the inner lives and decisions of its main characters.
Themes of class, race, sexuality, and gender are all on display within this novel, engaged with in the same way you'd talk about the subjects with friends - without formality and with a certain level of disdain towards the world. What it has to say is layered and worth discussing.
If none of this interests you, I urge you to at least give the first chapter or two a go. The writing pulled me in before I realized it - it might do the same for you.
Come and Get It follows three perspectives over the course of an undergraduate fall semester, with glimpses into the past added as necessary to explain how they got into their current situation. Agatha, a mid-30s journalist working a year of residency at the University of Arkansas. Millie, a super senior RA looking to finish her degree, land a job, and buy a house. And Kennedy, a junior looking for a fresh start as a transfer student. As the innocuous moments of their lives intertwine, a descent towards their ruin begins. Its arrival is sudden and swift, the kind of downfall that makes all too much sense in hindsight.
The greatest strength of this narrative lies in these characters, who are written so realistically that they feel as if they walked out of your life rather than the mind of Reid. Crafting this kind of realism is supremely difficult, so the fact that even minute dialogue and quirks feel true-to-life is an accomplishment. This makes you, as the reader, feel as if you've truly participated in the scene rather than acted as an observer.
Rather than construct the plot around traditional forms of conflict, Come and Get It is propelled forward through the interpersonal lives of its characters. At no point does it feel like a scene is wasted, even if it only serves to capture simple moments of life such as dorm conversations or a trip to Target. Although this structure might not work for everyone, I found it a natural extension of its focus on the inner lives and decisions of its main characters.
Themes of class, race, sexuality, and gender are all on display within this novel, engaged with in the same way you'd talk about the subjects with friends - without formality and with a certain level of disdain towards the world. What it has to say is layered and worth discussing.
If none of this interests you, I urge you to at least give the first chapter or two a go. The writing pulled me in before I realized it - it might do the same for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Self harm, Medical content, and Religious bigotry
pam_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I adored this book. Kiley Reid’s writing style and deep dive character studies just really work for me. I did not fully understand where the plot was going for a long time, but I was unbothered because that’s how much I enjoy Kiley Reid’s writing style. I will read anything she writes at this point. A queer main character was an added bonus. I found Millie and Kennedy’s chapters to be the most interesting. This book was also extremely funny (in particular chapter 13). I do think that this book will likely work better for younger adults (20 to 30 ish range) who are closer in age to the protagonists (most of whom are undergraduate students).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Alcohol
bowen23brooke's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death
adearajean's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Quick read with intriguing characters but as someone who works on a college campus this book made me anxious. The characters are not likable and make terrible professional choices. It's hard to root for anyone in this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Infidelity, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Classism
megshrews's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Self harm