Matched by Ally Condie

Normally my friends never read the style of books I read. My books are slightly different, a little more girly. So I was really surprised when they all wanted to read this book, my book. Not only that, but they actually begged me for it and tried to steal it from me. Yup, Matched is just that good. 4 out of 5 matching stars.

Matched by Ally Condie
Out and out and out
4 out of 5 stars
Summary 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.

First off. Just look at the cover. Yup, just look at it. Don't you love it and absolutely want to gush over it? Don't you just want to cut it out and take it for yourself? I do. It's so amazing and heartstopping and pretty and unique. Yet it's still so much more. I absolutely will die if they get a different cover.

Anyways, aside from the cover, I loved a lot more than just that. There was the whole plot that needs to be gushed over. Ally really knows her plots. The surprises and twists had me flipping through the book and all. I loved how it began as a simple love story and expanded into a lot more. Something deeper, like with the Society. I like how the events weaved into eachother so it eventually made sense. I didn't have to wait for the next book to at least get some of the puzzle.
Then the twists. I was so surprised by them that I had to tell one of my friends. Of course, that kind of ruined the book for her, but it was just so unexpected! (Sorry, friend.)

I absolutely loved the love triangle. It was choosing between someone who loved you and someone you loved. Not to mention you knew who you wanted to choose, but you still couldn't bring yourself to say no. Cassia chooses in the first book, but still, I absolutely love this love triangle! Who cares if it's an underdog kind of triangle? It still needs to be gushed and swooned over!

Then there was Cassia. I really liked the development of her. Throughout the book you watch her become stronger and stronger. You watch her question the Society, her life and the rules. You watched her eventually form her own opinion and challenge the odds. I absolutely loved it! Plus, she liked poetry and running, so it kind of made me bond with her. She's really relatable because everyone faces the whole conflict between what you should do and what you want to do.

I absolutely loved Xander! He was so loyal to Cassia, and even to the end, he loved her. He loved her even when she made mistakes and all. He was so nice and charming too. I loved him even more than I loved Ky. Ky may be Ky, but Xander is one of a kind. (Of course there's the whole blond hair and blue eyes thing too, but not as much.) I will love him to the end as he has loved Cassia.

Of course there was the whole dystopian aspect to it. I have this obsession with all things dystopian, so I really enjoyed this book. There's this part about the author creating a whole world that I really, really love. This was no exception. As much as I hated the Society, I couldn't help but realize how well Ally crafted it. She really put her time into the dystopia, and it really paid off.

Overall: Loved the book, cover, and I really need to read Crossed.