While I very much enjoyed Anya's story, I had a hard time liking Anya herself. There was some personality difference between what I read and what I wanted that turned me off a little. As she walked the line between the adult world of organized crime and family responsibility, and the teenagers world of budding romance and high school drama, I expected to see a lot more overlap and natural conflict between the two. Now don't get me wrong, there was plenty of conflict - especially when she started dating the assistant district attorney's son - a man whose political career is based on bringing her family's business to the ground. I also did not like the turn the story took with her mentally handicapped brother but I won't go too far into that and risk giving out spoilers.

The world of the story itself was fascinating. I thought I would have a hard time imagining a world without chocolate and caffeine, but Zevin was able to make it seem quite a realistic possibility. It was reminiscent of prohibition and the mafia business of selling alcohol on the black market.

Overall a very worthwhile read, especially for dystopia fans.