I can't compare this to the other teen dystopian books I've read because audio is such a different experience. The first half of the book felt slow, but I think it was because listening just takes so long. 
 Because of the lack of love and exposure to boys in Lena's world, this is truly first love at its most pure and unexpected. No 5th-grade crushes or inklings of romance for her - just "wham." I thought her feelings were very realistic. 
 I also liked the world-building, Lena's love of running, her feelings of ordinariness, and her friendships. She was realistically freaked out and emotional when she learned some of the realities of her society and family's secrets - I'm annoyed when characters in other books take things so in stride. 
 Narrator Sarah Drew really nails Lena when she's at her prissiest.