I’d heard lots of good things about Kiley Reid’s “Such a Fun Age” and have had it on my TBR for a while. When I saw that GMA had picked her latest as their February book club pick, and it was available on Aardvark, I snagged it, excited to see what the fuss was about. I’m not at all a fan of the cover, but I really enjoyed the story within. “Come & Get It” is a rollercoaster of a novel that had me laughing one minute and then cringing the next. In this book, Reid takes us on a wild ride through the halls of Belgrade Dormitory at the University of Arkansas. We follow an interesting cast of characters through a single college term where a seemingly innocuous agreement ends with serious consequences.

The main focus of the novel is Millie, a super-senior resident assistant who just can’t seem to catch a break. Always one step away from her dream of buying a house, she finds herself entangled in a series of hilarious and sometimes downright bizarre situations. From dealing with unruly residents to navigating the murky waters of academic politics, Millie’s journey is never dull. It all begins when she helps arrange an interview between visiting professor Agatha Paul and three of the residents at Belgrade. Agatha intends to interview the young women about weddings for a new piece she is working on, but after chatting with them, she decides to switch her focus to their views on money.

Millie allows Agatha to come and hang out in her room and eavesdrop on the young women who live next door, thinking it’s no big deal – Agatha is just getting ideas for her next book, but what starts as a simple exchange quickly spirals into a web of deceit, hidden agendas, and unexpected alliances. As the stakes get higher, both Millie and Agatha are forced to confront their own desires and motivations, leading to some surprising revelations along the way.

Reid’s writing is sharp, witty, and full of humor. Her characters are vivid and well-drawn, each with their own quirks and flaws that make them feel refreshingly real. There were times when I felt as though Reid had lived in my dorm when I was in college and had lifted some of these people’s personalities directly from folks I knew in my years at Oregon State. I adored Millie and her fellow RAs, Colette, and Ryland, but what really gave this book the extra oomph as far as characters go was the group of undergrads who lived next door to Millie. Taylor is the awful, bitchy sorority girl you love to hate, while Peyton is the chill Black girl who is serious about cleanliness, and we can’t forget about Casey – the clueless Christian girl with a heavy Southern accent who offered much comedic relief. Rounding out the girls is Kennedy – a young woman who transferred from an out-of-state university after an unfortunate accident led to her being pushed out of her friend group and shunned all over campus. She is anxiety-ridden and feels like an outsider. Besides Millie, I think Kennedy was probably my other favorite character.

As far as the story goes, we wouldn’t have gotten what we did had Millie not made a poor decision, and I loved that it was Millie who was basically at the root of all that goes down. It just proves that no matter how good your intentions are, you’re not always doing the right thing. I could see where she thought what she agreed to was no big deal – and I probably would have done the same as a 24-year-old, but as an adult with more experience under my belt, I could see where these decisions would likely come back and bite her in the ass – and they did.

At its core, “Come & Get It” is a story about the confusing, often messy journey of self-discovery and growth. College is a time when we are finally on our own, and this is when we really learn how to be adults. Some of us have to pinch and save and earn money to keep ourselves afloat – juggling several jobs along with our studies – while others have wealthy parents and scholarships, allowing them only to worry about studying and partying. I loved how Reid portrayed this in her book. She captured both sides of college life effortlessly.

Overall, I found this to be a witty, insightful, and thoroughly entertaining read that had me riveted from beginning to end. This is a gem of a novel that is as funny as it is thought-provoking, making it a must-read for anyone in need of a good laugh and a healthy dose of introspection. With its sharp wit and heartfelt moments, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers, and if you’re like me, you’ll likely see yourself – and people you knew in college – on these pages.