Author: Kiera Cass
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
The Selection Book #1
ISBN: 0062059939
ISBN13: 9780062059932
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Review Copy Source: Publisher
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.America has absolutely zero desire to enter the selection. She has been in love with a boy in a lower class then her's for some time and Aspen is the only one she wants to be with for the rest of her life. To please not only Aspen who loves her and only wants the best for her but also her family she enters anyways thinking there is no way that she would ever make it in anyways. America not only makes it into the selection but she decides to give it a chance and her life is forever changed.
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.
America is not like most girls vying for the attention of the Prince Maxon. She is there for the money for her family and that is it. Once she is in the house and finds out Maxon is nothing like she imagined she cant help but feel drawn to him and want to spend time with him. Everything she felt coming into the situation is turned on its heels and she is just a bundle of confusion not knowing what she really wants. I have mixed feelings about Aspen. You could tell that he loves America but him pushing her into the selection then wanting her back kinda ticked me off. Maxon, I really like him. I am totally rooting for him and hope that Aspen doesn't mess up Maxon and America's chances. (but of course where would the drama be if that was how it went)
The whole Selection reminded me a lot of "The Bachelor" There are a bunch of girls from different situations vying for one guy that will change their lives. Some are in it to find love and others are in it to find status. There was a lot of predictability in THE SELECTION. I was able to see what was coming next on most occasions. I really enjoyed most of the characters. There are so many personalities thrown in it made for some great situations. The romance is chaotic like you would expect. Lots of cattiness and awkwardness. The world that the book is set in is well explained and easy to imagine. I'm sad that we didn't get farther along in the story before the book ended. Of course a lot happened, I'm just impatient lol. After getting through the book I'm way to invested in the story not to read book 2 when it comes out.
I gave it 3.5/5 stars.