Reached (Matched, #3) in Addicted to YA

Jan 26, 2015 Kristie rated it did not like it

Shelves: ya-lit-dystopia

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. First of all, I want to say that this series had so much promise. Matched was fairly well written, interesting, and showed potential for an interesting love story/triangle. The soapy "Dawson's Dystopian Creek" elements are actually what made it worth reading. Unfortunately, Ally Condie killed that potential with Crossed, and mutilated the corpse with Reached. Reached was one of the most muddled, boring books I've ever read. The "Rising" that we were introduced to in Crossed, was thrust to the ce First of all, I want to say that this series had so much promise. Matched was fairly well written, interesting, and showed potential for an interesting love story/triangle. The soapy "Dawson's Dystopian Creek" elements are actually what made it worth reading. Unfortunately, Ally Condie killed that potential with Crossed, and mutilated the corpse with Reached. Reached was one of the most muddled, boring books I've ever read. The "Rising" that we were introduced to in Crossed, was thrust to the center of the (non)action without any clear agenda or definition. Who was the Pilot? Who cares? Then a plague started, and Xander (Dawson), Cassia (Joey), and Ky (Pacey) have to all find a cure before it's too late and everyone dies or becomes living statues. And they're fighting for freedom, except not really because the Rising was already in the Society, and blah blah blah.

There's a few other characters thrown in: Indie (Jen) who we met in Crossed, and Lei (I don't know, Andie? Gretchen Whitter? Sure, Gretchen Whitter, we'll go with that), and a few other people who are never fleshed out in any way Where the hell is the Jack character I want to know?

Anyway so the story is told from all three main characters' points of view, but there is absolutely no voice distinction as to who is who. You have to remember whose POV you're reading by looking at the heading on each chapter. And, since none of these characters really feel any sort of realistic emotion, you end up not caring about them anyway. It's a shame because I really enjoyed them in Matched. It would have been better if there had been more internal drama (hello? Dawson/Joey/Pacey triangle over here?) as opposed to the dull external drama. It was just sort of vague resolutions from one to the next. There were no genuine emotions from anyone in the entire book. I want some teen angst, dammit!!

Nope, they just sort of all sat back and said, ok this is what happening.

Spoiler alert: if you know anything about the end of Dawson's Creek, you should know who Cassia/Joey ends up with (Xander/Dawson or Ky/Pacey?).

OMG! IS GRAMS THE PILOT?! ...more

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Mar 12, 2016 Nicki rated it really liked it

The "Matched" trilogy is awesome! The first book is still my favorite, but "Reached" was also very good. I loved the twists and turns thrown into the mix. I loved meeting the new people and getting to see the different villages. I think Condie did an excellent job of showing that the Society is not all good and not all bad. The Rising is not all good or all bad. Also, no matter how much a new leader wants to appear different than the previous one, there will always be similarities and necessitie ...more

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Jan 28, 2015 Cheryl rated it liked it

Okay not only did we go from Cassia in Matched, to Cassia & Ky in Crossed, but now we have 3 people Cassia, Ky, and Xander but also the books are partitioned in phases, which I hated.
I felt like the book could have ended without the whole mutation, and in a million different ways, like all of them going off to the otherlands, etc. I am not sure I like or even appreciate what happened in this book. UGh.I guess I would suggest reading it, but not before other trilogies that I have adored.

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Feb 27, 2013 Kim rated it liked it

Shelves: series-i-ve-finished, dystopia, teen-romance, young-adult

This was a good trilogy. I felt this particular book was a lot longer than it needed to be. In the first chunk of the story, not much happens. There was a lot of prose and technical jargon in this one which might attract or deter some ppl. I like how the ending gives you closure but still leaves it somewhat open ended. Not all wrapped up with a bow kind of ending. The romance on one side was decent although I kind of had a hard time finding the why. For him it was more understandable but on her ...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Susan rated it really liked it

I loved the whole series, characters, plot and themes. This has to rank highly as a dystopian set for discussion. When the future society controls your life too much you rebel. But then what? Do you keep some controls that worked well for people or completely return to the free world that brought about total destruction? And why would a government ever play around with germ warfare? I wish this series could continue even with the repetitive "love triangle!" ...more

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