Review of The Selection by Keira Cass

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 the palace and compete for the heart of the 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.


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I love the cover actually makes sense when you've read the read. I loved the story. I loved the characters. I loved Prince Maxon. I loved America's world. In short, I absolutely adored this book. Well, apart from a couple of small things.

I found the world building in The Selection fascinating. All great Dystopias have split their people into groups and this is no exception - the highest of the world is a One and the lowest, an Eight. Twos to Fours don't do too shabbily, the Fives through Sevens struggle with hunger and getting enough work and the Eights are the lowest, I don't even know what happens to them in their day to day life as this isn't mentioned in this book. We get glimpses of what life is like from America but nothing to help create an entire picture of the world easily, so I'm hoping this is explored better in future books.

The story hooked me from the beginning, despite Aspen trying his upmost best to irritate me with his gigantic ego. When a girl has saved up her money to make you nice picnic, don't have a bitch fit and then dump her. You won't become a favourite of mine. My brain was too preoccupied with The Selection to care too much for Aspen - I was excited about America getting Selected and meeting the other girls and going to Palace and meeting Prince Maxon - who I loved so, so much. It's hard not to love a guy who goes to pieces when a girl cries! He did have one asshole moment but I think I can forgive him.

The only truly disappointing thing in this book was the ending. I was so disappointed with it as it did stereotypical things that weren't needed and finished really weirdly. Literally, America gets out of bed, comments on it being a shiny new day and then the book ends. Finished. Poof. It wasn't much of an ending than a ending-somewhere-in-the-middle-of-the-story.

4/5

Received free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

Comments

  1. Wow you're still generous to give it a 4. I gave it a three. But I agree with your highlights especially the ending. My problem with this is the character development.

    America was heartbroken when she joined The Selection and I wanted to see that. That would've been a good point for her character to grow. Prince Maxon too, he's under a lot of pressure but we didn't see much of that.

    Well this is a good review, at least I'm not the only one who thinks it needed work.

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    1. I gave it a four because for the most part, I absolutely loved this story - I stayed up until 3am to read it!

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  3. I loved this book so much! I loved both of the guys and this is a rare instance where I actually cannot choose who I want the girl to end up with. It's funny because as I read around to different reviews of this book, everyone has made their choice. Me - I love them both dearly. And that dress...

    ...I would never wear it. But it is very, very Southern US. Like, I can see people that I went to school with picking this out for their formal dances or proms. Seriously. It reminds me of the area that I'm thinking America is supposed to be from.

    I WISH the ending wouldn't have been so abrupt, but oh well. I am SO IMPATIENT for the next book, though, because I'm DYING to know what happens. For me, I just think this is one of my favorites so far. It felt like a fairytale to me and I practically devoured it.

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  4. I am so with you about the guys. Down with Aspen, yay for Prince Maxon! America's continued obsession with Aspen really dragged down the end of the book for me.

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  5. Ooh - glad you liked it! Feeling a bit wary of starting it due to all of the drama surrounding the author but I'm just going to try and cast that to one side. Looking forward to it!

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