weekend read: Reached

I found it.

I finally found the desire to read again. And it came back with a venegance: staying up too late, reading with my students at school, and on the bus to and from games. When I read, it consumes me. And I chose a good book to ease back into my obsession.

Reachedby Ally Condie is the third, and final, book in the Matched series. (see reviews for the first two, Matched and Crossed, here). If you’ve not heard of this series before, think The Hunger Games but with more romance and less violence.

And I’m a sucker for romance so I enjoyed these books.

Reached follows Cassia, Xander, and Ky as they all struggle to help the Rising revolt against the Society as well as find each other. It’s pure love triangle: Xander and Ky still love Cassia and both long to find her, be with her, and run away with her.

This novel centers on the Rising trying to take over, how their plans go wrong, and how the three of them (Cassia, Xander, and Ky) contribute to the uprising.

There are twists and turns, there is death and chaos, and, in the end, there are answers, understanding, and hope.

I enjoyed this series. I had lost some hope after reading the second book as I felt it was a little long and unfocused, but the third book redeemed all the second book couldn’t do. I’m a little sad that Cassia, Xander, and Ky are finished. I wanted the love triangle to end differently than it did. I understand the decision, but that doesn’t make me accepting of Cassia’s choice. I think she chose wrong.

That’s what’s so great about good books–we feel attached to the characters and their lives. We think we know what’s best for them and still love them when they make a different choice. Maybe that’s why it took me so long to start this last book, I knew who Cassia was going to choose and if I put off reading the truth, I could still hope she’d change her mind.  

What do you think? Have you read this one yet? How did you feel about the ending?

DISCLOSURE: AFFILIATE LINKS USED.