Review: The One by Kiera Cass

The One

Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: YA Dystopian
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: May 6, 2014
Source: Finished copy received at BEA
Rating: 2.5 Stars
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***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way changed my opinion of the book. The review below is my open and honest opinion.***  

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The highly anticipated conclusion to Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series, The One will captivate readers who love dystopian YA fiction and fairy tales. The One is the perfect finale for fans who have followed America's whirlwind romance since it began--and a swoon-worthy read for teens who have devoured Veronica Roth's Divergent, Ally Condie's Matched, or Lauren Oliver's Delirium.

The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen--and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.

Find out who America will choose in The One, the enchanting, beautifully romantic third book in the Selection series!

My Review:

I absolutely loved the first book in this series. I was completely sucked in. I loved the characters, the palace, the caste system, the hint of the rebels. Then I read the second book and was pretty disappointed. Mostly because of how much Maxon changed. But I was still invested in the series and I had to know how it was all going to end and most importantly, who she was going to choose!

I had read some pretty good reviews for The One before I started so I had high hopes. And honestly I can't tell you if I liked it or disliked it. It was so frustrating, but also so engrossing. I read it in one sitting, definitely stayed up way too late to finish it. So in that respect, I would say that I liked it, but at the same time, I really didn't. I'm not making sense am I?

Okay. Let's try for some more conciseness. There was so much angst. SO MUCH FREAKING ANGST. Oh my gosh, America, get it together and stop being so freaking annoying. She was all "I love [insert name], but what if I get hurt? What if I get my heart broken? What if it doesn't work out?" Shut up. If this thought had only crossed her mind once throughout the book, I could have dealt with it. But it's every five seconds. Every other page we are hearing all about stupid America's stupid insecurities. Gah!! I wanted to throw the book. And then she was honestly kind of awful to one of the guys in the sense that she was basically stringing one of them along the whole time. (I won't tell you who obviously.) But seriously. Why do you gotta be like that, America? That's so crappy.

And then certain things happened that I felt like were just put there to up the drama of the whole thing which was certainly dramatic enough already. There was no other purpose to them and that was very frustrating to me. One in particular that I was very upset about.

So I guess, in conclusion, I didn't like it. But it was enthralling and kept you glued to the pages because regardless of all the annoying things that were happening, I was hooked and I HAD to know how it was all going to end. I do think that the author tied things up nicely. We got resolution to everything which made me happy. And even though some of the explanations about the rebels didn't make complete sense, I still like that we kind of worked that out. There are a lot of people out there who LOVE this series. I'm just not one of them. My friend and trusted reviewer, Sabrina, loved it. So check out her review for a second opinion! Happy reading all!

Let's talk! Have you read this book or this series? What are your thoughts? I feel like it's very divided. People either hate it or love it. Which side are you on? Were you as frustrated with America as I was?