A review by probablyjenna
Come & Get It by Kiley Reid

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

4.0

My first through after finishing Come and Get It was that this won’t be a book for everyone, but the people who love it are REALLY going to love it. I fall into the love it category, and I’m super excited to discuss why.

Kiley Reid is incredible at building a clear  portrait with vivid, sometimes humorous, descriptions of characters. Come and Get It does not have a very clear plot; instead, it relies on the development of three main characters - and a handful of minor characters - to strong the novel along. Each of these characters are flawed, and some are straight up unlikable…yet each one fits into the ongoing narrative of life at college.

It almost felt like I was reading three separate vignettes that tied together through the minor characters they all interacted with and the shared setting, and it was a really effective way to tell a story where there isn’t really a central plot bringing everything together.

I love the way Reid writes; it’s at times quite funny and wry, while also having many moments of deeper reflection and complexity. The character focus made me feel intimately involved in the events of the story, even when the events were seemingly small or insignificant. 

There were some loose ends I wanted more closure on, and some moments that felt a bit over the top and/or unnecessary. For those reasons, this is more in the 4 star range for me than a 5 star.

Basically, if you’re a fan of character-driven stories that feel a bit meandering in terms of plot, this would be a great fit for you. If you need a bit more of a straight forward storyline, I could see this boring or frustrating you. Me personally, I am thrilled to be in the group of folks this was perfect for & I will be eagerly awaiting Reid’s next book!