Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection, Book One
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genre: YA Dystopian/Romance
Format: Hardcover, 327 pages
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Source:  Mid-Columbia Libraries

Synopsis from Goodreads:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My Review:

This book was so amazing. I really thought that I wouldn’t like it when I picked it up. I’ve heard people compare it to The Bachelor, which I absolutely detest, all those girls fighting over one guy. Come on, ladies, have some self-respect. But oh my gosh was this book good. Normally I like books with tons of action and a little romance and this was really the opposite, but Kiera Cass has written this love story/triangle so well that you can’t help but get sucked in.

Let’s talk about the love triangle first. Of course after the first chapter, I’m instantly on Team Aspen. He’s the underdog and I always root for the underdog. Quick explanation: The United States is now called Illea and is ruled by a King and Queen and organized into a caste system. Your caste determines what kind of job you can do, how much you get compensated, etc. Our main character, America Singer, is a five in this caste system, which is the caste for artists and musicians. Aspen is a six, the caste for servants. It is absolutely unheard of for a woman to marry down a caste. Naturally, most women try to move up. But love is a funny thing, isn’t it? Aspen is hard-working, determined, and loving. He works seven days a week just to provide for his family and often passes his meals onto his younger siblings and goes without. I mean, how can your heart not melt for him? He struggles with his relationship with America. He loves her, but doesn’t want her to give up what little she has right now for even less. Of course I’m on Team Aspen.

So then, America gets chosen to participate in The Selection where she will be competing against 34 other girls to marry Prince Maxon. Naturally, I already hate Maxon. Because obviously, America is supposed to be with Aspen. About that…… So as we get to know Maxon, it turns out he is actually a super sweet guy. He cares about the country and, more importantly, the people of Illea. He is kind, compassionate, and a perfect gentleman and slowly, I began to question whether I want America with him instead. And then he does something, I won’t say what, that completely turned me. I flipped teams. I have only flipped teams in one other book. (Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi: Team Warner!) I just couldn’t resist Maxon. He seems so lost in the romance department, but also so confident and sure of himself in the whole running a country business. And as expected, he’s gorgeous. The love story is so wonderful. I continued to be torn in two different directions throughout the entire book. I am still on Team Maxon, but it’s shaky and I know I could flip back at any time.

America was a great character. I love how fiery she is. She stands up for what she believes in no matter what and I admired that. She cares about people which made me root for her even more. I think that she would be a wonderful queen. We also see the teenage girl that is in her though. She is heartbroken over Aspen and confused over her feelings for Maxon. She goes through a lot of turmoil in this book and I felt it.

The competitors are interesting… only two really stood out for me. Marlee is a sweetheart. She is kind of quiet, but I really love her and she is a good friend to America. The other one, Celeste, is a beast of a girl. She has an air of entitlement and when Anna, another competitor, slapped her, it was probably one of the greatest moments in the whole book. She thinks that she is better than anyone else and is conniving and manipulative. She has Maxon and the entire royal family wrapped around her finger, but is god awful to the other girls when no one important is looking. I want her out so freaking bad. She is the epitome of Regina George from the movie Mean Girls.  

One other thing I loved was the history lesson that the girls get which gives us background on how the U.S. came to be Illea. China finally got tired of waiting for us to pay them back and they invaded. I joke about this all the time with my sisters and husband so I was delighted that someone put it in a book. All jokes aside, this could happen people. It made this story believable and I loved that.

Overall, this book was incredible. My emotions were all over the place and I literally got butterflies in my stomach at certain points as if I was the one dating Prince Maxon. Beautifully written, an exciting competition, and two men who are tearing my heart in two. I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to start reading the second one, The Elite! Happy reading all!  

Click here to purchase this book!