Be sure to finish the series with Tales From the Cityverse: A Short Story Collection.
Molly Birch has everything a poor City girl could want: an apartment with her own bedroom, two living parents and a boyfriend. But none of it is stable when the anonymous Government dictates all aspects of citizens' lives, from food and medical care access to the number of children couples can have and who can marry.
Molly is sixteen and now old enough to apply for a Courtship with her boyfriend, Gavriel Kingsley, so they can legally date and get married. However, things don't go as planned following their application and medical tests on Clinic Day. The fallout leaves Molly's world shattered, and she makes a desperate and dangerous escape from the only life she's ever known.
On her journey, Molly makes new friends, discovers her dad's secret past, learns her heart's true feelings and finds out how to make a difference in the City for everyone.
From the back cover
Following a global climate catastrophe, the City grew out of Earth's remaining inhabitable land. Its all-powerful Government exerts control over all aspects of citizens' lives to keep people in line and curb overcrowding. Money buys comfort and privilege in the City and is one thing Molly Birch doesn't have in excess. But she is an average 16-year-old, content with her life, until the Government takes everything she treasures. Molly's boyfriend Gavriel (Gav) Kingsley gives her a choice: accept a Government controlled life or forge her own path. She chooses the latter. But escaping the Government's control isn't easy, and freedom comes at a steep price. Molly must take risks she never imagined she was capable of and address her heart's true feelings to succeed over an enemy threatening more than just herself.
Excerpt from the book
The screech of metal rose in volume until an alarm started to wail, and the combined noise was deafening. Red lights lining the top of the wall flashed against the dark sky, and dread settled in my stomach.
"Go!" Henry yelled in Gav's and my direction.
Gav yanked my arm and began to run toward the open Gate, tugging me with him. "Come on, Molly!" he shouted, his voice frantic. "We have to move!"
I felt my feet start to move, though it wasn't of my own volition. Something compelled me to watch the scene we fled from. So, as soon as we were on the other side, I broke free of Gav's grip and turned around.
Book 2: The Vanquisher is out now.