This book could have been far worse, with its conceit of a runaway version of Survivor that has to play out on top of the most implausible love story, but it turns out to be a competent story which hits all the marks it's supposed to in the proper sequence, setting things up for the other books in the series as well. The main character seemed kind of obtuse when it comes to the motivations of Peeta, but this unsophistication is probably intended to appeal to the younger market. Similarly, the dystopian rulers of the society are depicted with a pretty broad brush throughout.