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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
ellabortion's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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
2.5
i just dont understand how this book is so much worse than reid's debut. kennedy didnt kill herself why did everyone act like it and she never told anyone?? why didnt we get closure on agatha?? why does every charactet make the wrong decisions at every point? why does agatha have robyn come back? why is everyone so upset about the age gap? so many unanswered questions . so many loose ends, so many questions left unanswered. the plot was lost completely multiple times. i think such a fun age was good bevause of the ways it set up the climax, foreshadowing and placing mini climaxes throughout. 2/3 of this book are boring asf until BAM everything happens at once. why would i want to read a book where all the characters are bad people and dont face any consequences for their actions?? i can understand how this is a character study and that its a subtle commentary on money, wealth, and power, but there are better ways to convey those themes. also, if youre going to write about college students, try and not generalize every student and then use weird slang that no one would ever say.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Suicide, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
bowen23brooke's review
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
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
mackenners's review
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
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
alexwasalinko's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Suicide attempt
megshrews's review
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
thecatmouse's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
it is a slow read that leads to an actual shit show - be prepared to sweat and have your heart rate do somersaults
i enjoyed how the different stories intertwined but also some characters lacked depth imo
the end kinda left me heartbroken
i enjoyed how the different stories intertwined but also some characters lacked depth imo
the end kinda left me heartbroken
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt
alexiscrocker's review
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
At times I felt myself thrown back into my college dorm reliving all of my cringiest moments. At other times, I scoffed in disbelief (and not in the good way). The premise and the characters are excellent - just like you and me and everyone else. I found myself thinking “I would never” a few times, but hand me a $20 bill and that morality might sway a tad - just as it did with the characters here. They all want things they can’t have - or can’t get yet. And it’s what drives them, as it does society.
I lowered my rating for the number of times I had to suspend my belief in order to continue. Between Kennedy and the dog, Agatha and the car, and Kennedy and the pizza cutter… what?
I lowered my rating for the number of times I had to suspend my belief in order to continue. Between Kennedy and the dog, Agatha and the car, and Kennedy and the pizza cutter… what?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts