Title: The Selection
Series: The Selection (Book 1)
Author: Kiera Cass
Published: April 24, 2012
Pages: 336 pages
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon
Summary (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.
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I’m so happy that I finally read The Selection! I’ve been meaning to read this book for AGES, but I was so nervous to start this series. What if I didn’t end up liking this book? What if I didn’t LIKE Prince Maxon?! I just didn’t want to end up disappointed after relying too much on all the hype. Thankfully, all my worries were for nothing because after I started reading The Selection, I just knew that I WOULD love it. Every reader out there who has raved about the amazingness of this book has got it right.
The Selection was such a fun read. I loved the idea of girls competing for the prince and the crown while living together in the palace. It’s a strange thing to do for sure just to get a wife for the prince, but who am I to judge the works of a new country like Illéa’s? The important thing here is that the competition was a blast to read about and it had me cheering for America right from the start.
Speaking of America, I really liked her as a character. She has a funny personality and I liked that she’s quite humble, despite her obvious beauty and talents. She at times acted a bit childish for my taste- specially when it came to dealing with her ex-boyfriend Aspen (a guy who I couldn’t have cared less btw)- but she overall exceeded my expectations.
What I can’t really wrap my head around is to WHY she’s taking so long to fall for Prince Maxon? The guy is a PRINCE for crying out loud! He’s quite a charming and handsome person. Aspen does sound like a good guy and he’s apparently good-looking, but in my opinion, he pales in comparison to Maxon. Prince Maxon deserves to be on the list of princes to love! I would definitely marry him in a heartbeat.
I had not noticed that this book is compared with The Hunger Games until a friend, who was reading it along with me, pointed that out, but yes, I can think of a few scenes that were somewhat similar to THG, specially when the selection happens. However, this book is not bloody, it’s just a nice competition about many girls doing what it takes to get the crown (although come to think of it, that does sound dangerous! 😉 ).
The only thing I didn’t particularly like in this little gem was the ending. I mean, I liked that it’s not a cliffy and that America made an excellent decision, but it was not an exciting way to end the book. Oh well, not everything had to be perfect.
Anyway, if you are still among the few people left who have not read The Selection by now, I highly encourage you to do so soon. It’s an entertaining read, and best of all, IT HAS A PRINCE. If that doesn’t convince you to pick this book up then I seriously don’t know what will.
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