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any_direction's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Grief, and Gaslighting
thewordwitch's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Minor: Vomit
clairebartholomew549's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm not sure how to feel about this book. I should probably stop reading reviews before I read books, because I saw a review that said this book had no plot, and maybe it colored my view of this book. Or maybe it didn't, because honestly this book has no plot. It's more accurately described as a character or environment study, and the dorm atmosphere is fascinating to dive into. The tableau is really interesting, and I enjoyed seeing every character's perspective. But I would have liked some insight into Tyler, Jenna, and Casey - I realize it was part of the point to only see them through the other characters' eyes, but it certainly flattened them. And at the end of the book, I was confused what the point was. I found Such a Fun Age really interesting and dynamic, so this one was disappointing to me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Gore, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Classism
rayyann's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I just finished 3 minutes ago and spent some time reading other reviews - most of which confuse me. People didn't like this book?
I grabbed this book withiut reading what it was about. It had a review on the back by another author I liked and that was good enough for me. I dove in with zero expectations and no clue what it was about. Maybe this helped me stay floating at the story unfolded. Maybe I have an ease of trusting that an author, one with this beautiful writing style and unique ability to portray current vernacular without it sounding forced or painful, has a damn point. Things are going to happen. You will feel a certain way.
Maybe I related to every character too deeply and this is a unique experience. Maybe not everyone winces when they think of their post secondary experience. Maybe I loved this book because, without meaning to, I had to confront old wounds from my own past. The financially abusive and immature partner, it's complicated. The loneliness. The anxiety. The social confusion. Belonging. Hustling. Worrying. The sexual confusion and longing and daydreaming and forgetting who you are.
This isn't a book for someone hoping to read a love story. Or a thriller. Or a mystery. This is a story for someone who is interested in people. The weird intricacies of our complex personal stories that tangle us together.I will say that it hurt me deeply when the book ends with Kennedy accepting that she must have cut herself on purpose. And honestly Fuck Peyton for not saying anything. But these are the uncomfortable moments we have to accept sometimes. I like not loving how a book ended when it forces me to take a deep breath. It means I was invested in the story. It was well written. I had a good time.
I grabbed this book withiut reading what it was about. It had a review on the back by another author I liked and that was good enough for me. I dove in with zero expectations and no clue what it was about. Maybe this helped me stay floating at the story unfolded. Maybe I have an ease of trusting that an author, one with this beautiful writing style and unique ability to portray current vernacular without it sounding forced or painful, has a damn point. Things are going to happen. You will feel a certain way.
Maybe I related to every character too deeply and this is a unique experience. Maybe not everyone winces when they think of their post secondary experience. Maybe I loved this book because, without meaning to, I had to confront old wounds from my own past. The financially abusive and immature partner, it's complicated. The loneliness. The anxiety. The social confusion. Belonging. Hustling. Worrying. The sexual confusion and longing and daydreaming and forgetting who you are.
This isn't a book for someone hoping to read a love story. Or a thriller. Or a mystery. This is a story for someone who is interested in people. The weird intricacies of our complex personal stories that tangle us together.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Blood
Minor: Vomit
bookbook42's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
dfriend12's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
3⭐️
I wanted to enjoy this book but I’m not sure I liked any of the characters (which does not make for a bad book in my opinion) but if there’s not much moving the plot/not much plot to move… it doesn’t work for me. So sad this one fell flat for me.
I wanted to enjoy this book but I’m not sure I liked any of the characters (which does not make for a bad book in my opinion) but if there’s not much moving the plot/not much plot to move… it doesn’t work for me. So sad this one fell flat for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Drug use, Racism, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit
bellsdixon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
hiddenfallacies's review
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
elenaj15's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Many qualms with this one, starting with the unneeded mention of brand name everything. I don't care that the characters were eating Cheetos and Welch's fruit snacks.
Second, I did not like how this book approached suicide at all. It was a bit insensitive and the topic sprung up out of nowhere. One character seems upset then suddenly on the next page she's suicidal and everyone thinks she's harmed herself when that's not what happened. Just was not a fan of how this was approached, written about, and the lack of development.
I also wan't that big of a fan about how the topic of being gay vs. bisexual was approached by both the author and characters. It just sat with me weird and the book tried so hard to be nuanced but it did not achieve what the author was trying to do.
Finally, some of the characters fell flat. At the beginning everything seemed to be set up for great development but as the story progressed and the string of events muddle characters' dreams, they all seemed to get mushed into one big character.
I also wan't that big of a fan about how the topic of being gay vs. bisexual was approached by both the author and characters. It just sat with me weird and the book tried so hard to be nuanced but it did not achieve what the author was trying to do.
Finally, some of the characters fell flat. At the beginning everything seemed to be set up for great development but as the story progressed and the string of events muddle characters' dreams, they all seemed to get mushed into one big character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Vomit
madalynn_owens's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A bit of a slow start but so good! If I knew this was about an RA and some sorority girl-esque residents that are kind of jerks I probably wouldn’t have picked this up, but it’s incredibly well told and very unique.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Grief, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Vomit