This book is not as shallow as one may perceive, but there were a few things that irked me about the world-building. First, even though it's in the backstory, wars with Russia are cliche, especially in dystopians. Second, the name Aspen is stupid, unless there's some hidden symbolism in it. I happened to have met a girl named Aspen, so for a boy.... you get the idea. Third, symbolic love triangles with two different kinds of boys. Fourth, the characters are a bit cliche as well and what kind of name is Illea? On the other hand, the world -building, where the government is not totally evil like most dystopians, but not all good is a nice balance and there is a good attempt to work in some sort of substantive social issues, but class-crossed romances are almost more cliche than love triangles. 
 I used the word cliche in this review way too much. I think that's a bad sign. However, I finished it and read the next two books, so I liked it better than about half the things I've shelved, especially in the recent past.