Matched by Allie Condie Review

Title:  Matched
Genre:  YA
Pages:  366
Source:  ARC (Publisher)

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.

Must I say it?  This one will be up there with "Hunger Games" trilogy. But then there will be too high of expectations so I shouldn't say that.

Imagine never having to question whether or not you married the right person.  He is predetermined for you by the government.  You never have to worry about birth defects or personality quirks because the DNA you contribute to your children has already been pre-screened and green lighted to procreate.  

Except for a few.  Maybe they just have really bad genes or they've been in the WILD (no flushing toilets?  Diet Coke?) or their parents did something to really tick off the government.  They will not be allowed to dirty up the gene pool with their DNA.

But there could be a glitch and someone shows up as your match but then the government changes its mind.  

Cassie is a strong and likeable protagonist.  Ky is the mysterious stranger but not in a brooding, weird way.  Xander is Cassie's "chosen one" and you can't help but like him, too.  It's a doomed love triangle, obviously, but all of the players are interesting and different.  

Story and conflict are excellent and original.

Loved it.