Come and Get It

Come and Get It follows Millie Cousins, a resident advisor at the University of Arkansas, as she manages her dormitory duties while pursuing her financial goals. She oversees freshman students while maintaining strict budgeting practices and dreaming of saving enough to buy a house. The narrative centers on Millie's interactions with a visiting professor, Agatha Paul, who begins research on students' eating habits and spending patterns. Their professional relationship becomes complicated as Agatha's presence affects both Millie's work environment and the dynamics among the students she supervises. The story encompasses themes of class, consumption, and power dynamics within academic settings. Through multiple perspectives and interweaving relationships, Reid examines how money influences behavior, decision-making, and interpersonal connections. The novel builds on Reid's established focus on workplace dynamics and social hierarchies, presenting a sharp commentary on millennial economics and the commodification of personal relationships in modern America.

Readers describe the book as a sharp examination of academia, class, and power dynamics. Many note Reid's talent for realistic dialogue and capturing awkward social interactions. Readers appreciated: - Accurate portrayal of university culture and student-professor relationships - Dark humor and social commentary - Complex character development - Natural-feeling conversations - Details about food and dining culture Common criticisms: - Slow pacing, especially in the first half - Multiple storylines that don't fully connect - Characters some found unlikeable or hard to relate to - Ending that left questions unanswered Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (1,000+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (300+ ratings) Several reviewers compared it unfavorably to Reid's previous novel "Such a Fun Age," calling it less focused. Others praised its deeper themes and social commentary, with one Goodreads reviewer noting it "perfectly captures the contradictions of modern academia."

Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin A story of young professionals navigating relationships and class dynamics in a privileged academic setting combines social observation with interpersonal complexity.

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid A transactional relationship between a wealthy white family and their Black babysitter exposes racial tensions and power dynamics in contemporary America.

The Idiot by Elif Batuman A freshman at Harvard in the 1990s experiences the peculiarities of academia, class differences, and romantic relationships through a lens of cultural examination.

Trust Exercise by Susan Choi Students at a competitive performing arts high school become entangled in relationships that reveal power imbalances and institutional dynamics.

Writers & Lovers by Lily King A young waitress pursuing her writing career while managing debt and relationships provides commentary on class, creativity, and survival in contemporary society.

🎓 Though "Come and Get It" is set in a university, author Kiley Reid never worked in academia - she purposely avoided teaching jobs to focus on writing, supporting herself through nannying instead. 💰 The novel explores the complex dynamics of money and class through student meal plans, with Reid conducting extensive research on university dining systems and food service operations. 📚 The book was partly inspired by Reid's observation of how young people navigate financial decisions, particularly after receiving large sums of money like student loans. 🏆 Reid's debut novel, "Such a Fun Age," was longlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize and became a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, establishing her as a prominent voice in contemporary fiction. 🎯 The character of Millie was developed after Reid noticed how many young people were participating in paid research studies, which sparked her interest in the ethics of academic research and consent.