Review: "Matched" by Ally Condie

"Matched"
Author: Ally Condie
Series: Matched #1
Genre: YA Dystopian Romance
Pages: 366
ISBN: 9780525423645
Source: Publisher in exchange for a honest review.
Published: November 30, 2010 by Dutton Juvenile
Author's Website: http://www.allysoncondie.com

Buy Links: Amazon

Goodreads Blurb:
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 Review:

A vividly told and interesting YA dystopian adventure, which has a mysterious twist to it and introduces us to a young girl’s experience of her matching and its ceremonial happenings. A matching is a very important part of a person’s life and happens when they turn the age of 17, that’s if they choose to be matched. The cover alone attracted me to the book, even before I read the description. (I know, I know never judge a book by its cover), but an attractive cover helps to GRAB at you and pull you into the pages.

Cassia is shocked with the outcome of her match and refuses to go gentle in what she wants for her choice(s) and now what was chosen for her. Not that she was unhappy with her match, she was very happy in fact, shocked actually. She’s discovered love in different forms and one is the forever kind that she craves most. She’s is strong, smart and adventurous. Her character grows and matures as we venture through the story and hold our breaths to see what the outcome of her choices will be.

Everything in Cassia’s world is fixed, all controlled and carefully monitored by the Society. The choices one can make are extremely limited. From the three meals they eat daily, the amount of exercise they partake on a daily basis, the clothing they wear, what they read, watch, and listen to in forms of music to the person they will have as a husband or wife if they have chosen not to be single. Cassia’s match was a very rare occurrence and unknown to all but herself and some Society members was that she was matched to not one, but two males. Both very handsome and both known to her; One is acceptable through the eyes of the Society and the other is not. But Cassia’s heart is taken by one whom she’s forbidden to have and she will stop at nothing to get what her heart and soul screams for.

I've just recently discovered this genre and find it very enjoyable. I will definitely read the rest of the books in this series. I find myself very curious how things end up for Cassia, her family, as well as Ky and Xander. Even though this is a YA read I believe many adults will enjoy Cassia’s story :)

Overall Rating: