And it's over:( I'm always a little sad when I finish a book series because my journey with these characters is done. We can reread them but it's not the same as reading them for the first time. Reached closes the Matched trilogy and the journey of Cassia, Ky, and Xander. I've enjoyed this series. Action wise, it's slower than some of the other dystopians I've read and it focuses a lot more on the romance and love triangle, but it still has the controlling government, a growing rebellion, and a society with some disturbing elements. A world where no one knows how to create, no new ideas, no real progress? Not a world I'd like to live in. Reached is told from the POVs of Cassia, Ky, and Xander, and I really appreciated the chance to get to know Xander. Even with the first two books focusing more on Cassia and Ky, I really enjoyed reading Xander's growth and he quickly became my favorite character. And I also enjoyed that Xander and Ky, though both in love with the same girl, were still friends and looked out for each other instead of turning into enemies and fighting each other. I also liked that the big rebellion wasn't a big physical battle where the main three characters suddenly developed insanely amazing fighting skills. Each character was given a role that suited them and it was more about outsmarting The Society than beating them down. Xander was definitely my favorite character but my favorite part was when (view spoiler) Series wise, I would have liked to have been able to get to know more about Xander earlier than this last book. The love triangle is played up but with Cassia and Ky spending so much time together, it never felt like Xander had a chance. And the more I got to know and like Xander, the more I wanted him to be happy. The series is less action-packed than some might expect considering a rebellion against a controlling government plot and there are some slow moments but I enjoyed the build-up to the rebellion and, Spoiler [ as a TV medical junkie, I liked the rebellion being more germ warfare with them introducing the plague so they can save the people from it and it getting away from them.

The Good Stuff Nice hopeful realistic ending Condie has a gift for the prose, very poetic Fascinating world building Characters develop maturely Loved how the two boys didn't try to one up each other or fight each other for Cassia - very refreshing I'm sorry I really, really wanted to love this book but I just basically found it meh - like she had to flesh out a two story book into three due to a contract - but her writing is truly beautiful and she is fabulous at character development The Not So Good Stuff I expected better - but after finishing I felt that this series might have been far better as only a two book series Now its been a long time since I read Crossed, but found myself on many occasions being a little bit confused by what was going on (maybe should have reread series again) Many things happen way too conveniently Favorite Quote/Passages "So don't worry if you don't hear from me as often. I'll find my way to you as soon as I can. I have a plan. Ky, I know that you 're going to want to come find me, that you're going to want to save me. But I need you to trust me to save myself." "She tries to explain. "What I'm trying to say is that you've found your way home. You were born to help people, and you'll find a way to do that, no matter where you are. Just like the redfish are born to find their way back from the ocean." "They are in all of us. I believe this. That every person might have a way to fly, a line of poetry to put down for others to see, a hand to heal." Who Should/Shouldn't Read Strictly for those who have read the first two books 3.75 Dewey's I purchased this at Chapters Shawnessy as I had read the first two books in the trilogy and NEEDED to know what happened