Review: Matched by Ally Condie

I’m trying something new with my review today, I decided to make a model type thing for the “my thoughts area” so that I can use it for all my reviews to keep myself consistent (hopefully it works). J


Today I am reviewing Ally Condie’s most recent release Matched, which is the first in the “Matched” trilogy.  The cover art and description are from Goodreads.

Title: Matched

Series: Matched #1

Pages: 384

ISBN: 9780525423645

Author: Ally Condie

Description: 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: 
- The cover: I love the symbolism of the cover, being that Cassia is trapped in the bubble that the Society has kept her, and the rest of the citizens, in for their whole lives.  I also love how the coloring matches the dress Cassia wore to her Match banquet.
- The characters: Cassia’s character is strong, and this is actually mentioned several times in the story because she is strong enough not to have to take her green tablet (the calming tablet), no matter what is going on in her life.  She starts out being perfectly normal in the Society’s eyes, not one to cause trouble or anything.  After her Match banquet it starts becoming different, Cassia starts breaking rules and I like her for that, I think it makes her stronger.  As for the boys in the story, Xander definitely sounds awesome, and he is very protective of Cassia, which makes sense since they’ve been best friends since they were children.  But then there’s Ky.  He’s mysterious, possibly dangerous, and totally off limits, so naturally he’s an interest of Cassia’s.  Ky has a dark past which makes him strong but cautious to the Society, he knows how things work and where he should be in the system at all times.  I am definitely rooting for Cassia & Ky to get together in Crossed, but I think Xander will put up a fight for her which will be good.

- The story:  This is the first in the trilogy, so I think the fact that it was mostly informational, about the Society, and the characters and how they interacted with each other was normal, and a good set up.  I can’t pinpoint the exact spot where it changed, but it felt like all of the sudden the book became intense, the last four chapters were probably the most intense part of the whole story.  I loved that the story is going along as any story would and then something happens to all of them and life is completely different.
- Overall: I think the book is great, I love the characters, and the struggle they are put through. I look forward to reading Ally’s next book in the trilogy, Crossed (releasing November 1, 2011).

Overall Rating:

Look for my next review on Abandon by Meg Cabot, next weekend.