Review: Matched by Allie Condie

So the entire internet has already read this, but in case you too have been living under a rock ( or in my case, on the side of rock... haha get it? rock climbing joke)  I finally got my hands on Matched by Ally Condie.

BECAUSE I believe Good Reads is offering a bit of a spoiler here, I made it really tiny- If you are that 1 person who hasn't read this yet- skip over the tiny part! I wish I could have!

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.

I crushed this book.  And here is why:

1. Originality - 8- Looking aside any similarities to Brave New World and The Giver (especially The Giver), the Society was a nice change of pace- all organized, yet deceptive.  Like onions and Shrek, it has layers that Cassia began to peel away.   I especially liked the idea of the 100 poems and works of art and songs, very unique.  Though Grad Student was annoyed by the names of the characters for trying too hard, eh, didnt bother me.
2. Absurdity -6, ok, beyond the Society, I thought that Cassia was a bit absurd herself.  Lots of emoting going on here, which induced some serious eye rolls from me.
3. Level of Paranormal Romance  Futuristic- 7- Romance abounds, in glances and maybe touches which is o-so-YA.  But Xander, SWOON.  Allie Condie really made you believe in the romance, which considering it started with a match.com-esq connection, really came into its own.
4. Level of Harry Potter-ness - 8.  I must admit, the best part of this for me was the power of the words of the poem.  I loved how they changed everything, and how the ability to read and know words that others didn't changed Cassia's life.  Sure there was quite a bit left unexplained about what was going on in Society, and that bit at the end where they say it was all part of the plan- FOR SERIOUS? Terrible plot twist, Grad Student and I discussed it.

I do see what all the fuss was about- now GS says it is not worth it to read book two, and that alot of nothing  happens and I should skip to book 3-- anyone have an opinion on that? Should I take GS's recap and go for book 3 or is book 2 worth it!?  Cause I obvi have to know what happens in the end.....