Book Review: Matched (Matched #1) by Allie Condie

Summary: 

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.

 
Review: 
I've been looking forward to Matched all year, and it was worth the wait and anticipation.  I love dystopia, and Matched took all of my favorite dystopian elements and wound them together to make a story that I just couldn't put down.

If I enjoy a story enough to sit and read while I'm having my restless leg syndrome (a wonderful pregnancy condition that happens every night at 8:00), then it's a testament to how good a book is.  I started Matched and knew I couldn't go to bed without knowing how the story ended.  I finished the book standing up, shaking my legs around so they wouldn't twitch.  Oh, to be able to sit and read at night: I didn't even know how good I had it before I got pregnant.

Anyway, back to Matched.  This was more of an emotional suspense novel than an action-packed dystopia like The Maze Runner or The Hunger Games.  There was not a lot of action, as much of the story was dedicated to world-building.  I suspect that we'll get more action in the sequel(s).  Condie does a great job building the world of the Society.  The principles reminded me a lot of Lois Lowry's The Giver, a fact which ultimately kept me from giving Matched more stars. 

What really stood out for me while reading Matched was the attention to detail and the writing style.  Condie writes with feeling, and those feelings transcend the page to work their way into your heart.  If you've never tried dystopia, Matched would be a great place to start.

Just One Gripe: 
The similarities to The Giver.  I think it's nearly impossible not to compare all dystopia with classics in that genre, but other dystopias I've read set themselves apart without being too close to their competitors. 

The Best Thing About This Book: 
The writing style.  I love the way Condie writes about emotions and her characters' growth.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 
Yes

Score: 

Characters: 4/5

Plot: 3/5

Setting/Imagery: 5/5

Originality: 3/5

Ending: 4/5

Total Score:  19/25