The Selection

Title: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection Series (#1)
Published: April 2012 by HarperTeen
Pages: 336 (hardcover)

Summary: 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 Thoughts: It is no secret that I'm quite a fan of the reality show, The Bachelor, so when I heard about a story that was very similar to this show but set in a dystopian world, I had to read it.  Initially, the protagonist, America Singer, got under my skin, though. She was so blindly in love with her boyfriend, Aspen, near the beginning, she was stubborn to a fault, and jumped to conclusions at the worst possible moments. This did not deter me from wanting to devour this book, however.

America proved to be a bit of a complicated mess sometimes, but so did her family and her family dynamic really interested me early on. Her mother reminded me of Lizzie Bennet's mom from Pride and Prejudice, as well as my own mother: a little nagging, obsessed with the futures of her children, but a truly caring and loving parent. 

But it wasn't just the characters' that drew me in. The background and world of Illea was very believable in terms of how this land came to be and how the world has ended up in this time period. Once again, I wish we could have read more about it and how the other parts of the world and country lived in this day and age.

I was a little confused near the beginning about how the caste system worked, thinking it was similar to how The Hunger Games society was set up, when it was nothing like that at all. And I loved the feeling of unspoken understanding and loyalty that the lower castes felt toward one another while the more opulent castes were ignorant towards the lower castes' lifestyles, very much how today's society works.

Now let's talk about this love triangle. They happen quite a bit in young adult literature, and many times it can be a little transparent and tired, but this one made me root for team Maxon all the way. I found it refreshing that there was no insta-love between America and Maxon and how they were attracted to each others personality and mind before physical attractions came into their relationship. This was not the case with America's and Aspen's relationship towards one another, though.

This made it very frustrating whenever America would still be hung up on Aspen when Maxon was trying so hard waiting patiently for America to grow to love him. But when she actually did show kindness and that her feelings for Maxon were growing more affectionate, let me tell you, it was so satisfying as a reader.

I really enjoyed this perfect for summer, quick read, but I just wish that the book hadn't ended so open endedly. I know that there are two more books to this series, but come one give me a little something to work with! With an ending like that I will definitely be reading the next book of this trilogy, The Elite, next. I need to know who Prince Maxon chooses and, more importantly, who America chooses!
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars