Conform by Ariel Sullivan is a dystopian romance that will immediately appeal to readers who loved The Selection by Kiera Cass. With its strict class system, the looming threat of rebellion, and a very romance heavy plot, this book follows a familiar formula, one that is entertaining and fast-paced, but not particularly groundbreaking.
Conform introduces a dystopian society divided by particular segments of people based on whether or not they have certain flaws, and (obviously) a lot of the “defects” have a major problem with that. They are treated differently, shoved to the side, used primarily for breeding or labor, and not given the opportunities or luxuries of high society, who the book calls The Elite. However, the political tension and the threat of a rebellion exist largely in the background while the story tends to focus on the romance or the main character’s ignorance.
The writing in Conform is simple and highly readable, which helps move the book move along at a pretty fast speed. However, the writing could sometimes be considered overly simplistic and dramatic at the same time, which makes some of the interactions between characters feel a bit cringey.
Worldbuilding is one of the weakest aspects of Conform. Outside of the class system, the dystopian setting lacks depth and backstory. Key concepts are introduced without sufficient explanation, leaving noticeable gaps in the overall plot. The main character quickly realizes how out of the loop she has been when it comes how the world works, but then becomes mad at it and takes it upon herself to be the sole change the world needs, still without total understanding of what’s happening.
Conform attempts to introduce larger plot twists and reveals, but many of them feel underdeveloped. It does seem like there is some planned complexity to the overarching story, but without proper buildup, the plot just kind of feels a bit messy.
Another worry of mine is that I saw that the author mentioning Conform will be the first book in three separate trilogies taking place in the same world. With the first book barely touching on worldbuilding, I’m concerned whether future installments will expand upon the world or just stretch out the story.
So Why Does Conform Remind Me Of The Selection?
- Strict class divisions in a dystopian setting
- Romance that overshadows political conflict and worldbuilding
- It’s the first installment in a planned multi-trilogy series
- A very similar love triangle setup
- Simplistic and easy to read writing that helps the story along
- Dialogue can be a bit cringey
Final Thoughts
Conform by Ariel Sullivan is a fast and entertaining dystopian romance that closely mirrors The Selection in tone and structure. While it’s easy to read and fairly engaging, it struggles with weak worldbuilding, odd plot twists, and an overreliance on tropes.