Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow. ~from Goodreads


The first dystopian novel I read was Delirium, and I have a feeling I’ll be comparing the rest of the dystopians to it. Matched was a good read, but I suppose I expected a little more. Not that I didn’t enjoy it, or that the story wasn’t done right. I was engrossed in it. Sometimes when you read books that have complicated story lines, you can be a little irritated with the setbacks (like rules keeping people from doing what they want, or from doing the right thing).

Like in Matched, everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, is regulated. Controlled. There is little that a person can do of their own choice. The whole love triangle brewing between Cassia and her match Xander and Ky, causing you to wonder where it will lead. How can it even get to anywhere with all the restrictions? How annoying are all the restrictions? I felt so claustrophobic thinking about it. I cannot imagine how it would feel to have everything planned and carried out by officers to keep it properly done. Yet I couldn’t stop reading because I wanted to see what Cassia was going to do about her feelings, IF there was anything she was going to be able to do without getting caught.

A great and well written story that definitely made me want more. I think my only issues were with where it was going near the end, which I cannot divulge so as not to spoil. Not that it was a bad way to end the first book or anything, it's just, different. I do have high hopes for where it will continue in the next book.

Waiting On Wednesday #6

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly book meme where we get to let everyone know about what books we are eagerly anticipating the release of. WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. Want to participate? Grab the logo on her page, post your own WoW entry on your blog, and leave your link on her blog!

Here's what I'm waiting on...

Crossed by Ally Condie
(Matched #2)

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever. ~from Goodreads


After finishing Matched, I knew I needed to read the next book. I should have my review for Matched by the end of next week.

~Jessica