Book Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Title: Matched 

Author: Ally Condie
Series: Matched #1
Pages: 366
Publisher: Penguin
Date of Publication: 30th November 2010
Source: Publisher*
Synopsis from Goodreads: 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 with complete certainty that 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.

My Thoughts:
I had high hopes for this book. Being dystopian, I knew I was going to like it, so I was extremely excited to read it once it arrived. And I'm happy to say, I really enjoyed it.

The idea behind the story was good, and I enjoyed reading about and imagining what it would be like to live in a world where everything was decided for you. I'd hate it. Everything is chosen for you - who you'll marry, how many children you have, when you'll die, what you eat and how much you have, where you'll work... I can't imagine anything worse. The people living in the Boroughs built by Society are nothing but robots, doing what they're told and nothing else.

Cassia was a really good main character, and I loved how much she developed throughout the book. At the beginning she as just another one of the robots that the Society ruled, but by the end, because of certain 'mistakes' that had been made, and because of some of the things that people say to her, she became independent, strong and determined. I much preferred reading about this Cassia, she was a lot more interesting, and I felt I could relate to her a little bit, which always helps.

I also liked the dilemma that she had in choosing which boy she prefers - Xander or Ky. I know that this is not a new idea, and I know that I've read love triangles a lot before, but I think I will always love stories like these - ones that are a little bit different - where for her whole life the girl has grown up expecting to be with a particular person, only to find that when she finally gets what she's been waiting for, everything gets turned upside down.

I have to say, I'm on Team Ky. I did feel sorry for Xander, and I did want to like him more, but I couldn't help but fall a little bit in love with Ky. Xander has grown up with Cassia and has always day dreamed about being her Match, and when it finally happens, he's ecstatic. Then he finds out that Cassia does not return his feelings. How awful is that? I couldn't help but feel sorry for Xander, but I understand why Cassia chose Ky. He's so sweet and kind and he obviously cares for Cassia, and some of the things he does could win him any girl.

The plot was quite slow for the first three quarters of the book, but I still enjoyed reading about how Cassia had to live under the many rules of Society. The world that Cassia lives in is very well thought out and written, and even though (I hope) it will never happen, I could easily imagine how she had to live. Ally Condie's writing is excellent, and I absolutely loved every sentence.

Matched is a very good debut novel, and an awesome start to what is going to be an amazing series. I can't wait until November to get Crossed, book 2 in the series, as I'm sure it's going to be just as good, if not better than Matched. I would recommend this to all fans of young adult dystopian novels, as it definitely has the potential to become one of my favourite YA dystopian series :)

*Thank you to Penguin for sending me this review copy in exchange for an honest review. In no way has this affected my opinion of the book or the author. 

My Rating:

I give it 4 Feet!

Challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge #53