Matched (Matched, #1)

by Ally Condie

Matched was unable to win me over because I enjoy well written plots and a whole load of emotions and feelings over romance.

Cassia, the main character, is easy to relate to. She is smart enough to put a bunch of pieces together, but she also isn't good at everything. She makes plenty of mistakes and she's willing to learn from them. I was cheering for her to succeed! I also love that she has a strong bond with her family, which is a gem in YA novels.

So what irked me? It is the romance that dominates Matched. I don't mind love triangles in stories, if they are done really well .i.e wwhen I feel a whole load of emotions and indecisiveness over whose team I want to be on. Unfortunately, the love triangle in Matched fails to impress.
-First contender for Cassia's affection: Xander. He is Cassia's best friend who is cool, calm and collected and is willing to take risks for the people he loves.
-Second contender for Cassia's affection: Ky. He is the mysterious guy from the wrong social class and Cassia is not meant to be with him in the first place.
This YA love triangle trope has been severely overdone! I also have a problem with the way the romance between Cassia and Ky developed. Their romance developes at a hare's pace. After a few meetings and hikes, they start falling for and proclaiming their love for each other. It's a teeny bit insta-lovey.

What did I enjoy if I disliked the main aspect of the book? I enjoyed the interesting dystopian plot. The govenment in Matched, plays an extremely paternalistic role. They decide what a person eats, wears, where they work and who they marry. When Cassia starts to trust her instincts and realizes that something is going wrong, she gains a whole load of strength. I also can't wait for the rebellion take over that is bound to happen!

I'm one of those people who are used to reading novels with enough action to explode my brains and Matched, although different, isn't boring or slow-paced.