The Selection
by Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection #1
Genre: YA, dystopian, romance
Published March 26th 2013 by HarperTeen
Source: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Book Depository
Local purchase: Fullybooked * National Bookstore
Blurb (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 Thoughts:
The Selection is like a guilty pleasure to me. I don't want to read it but I want to--because there's part of me that tells I could love it but I could also end up hating it and I don't have any space left for stress right now. But the part of me that wants to read this book won. Thankfully, the publisher says they can send me a copy of this book even if it's published more than a year ago.
Excitement was all I felt when I received my package containing The Selection and The Elite together with other books. I pictured a romantic fairytale-ish from this book that I'm missing a lot now. Oh, I surely want to talk about ball gowns, Princes and happily-ever-afters. *sigh*
The story started with America Singer living as a Five (a caste wherein One represents the royal family, and Seven as the last and is the least fortunate family) with her Six boyfriend, Aspen Leger. To be honest, I didn't swooned over their relationship even if they're really sweet and in love with each other. I guess it's because I didn't liked Aspen. I think there's something going on about him and I found him weird and annoying. I saw him as an unfaithful type of boyfriend and I got confused and didn't believed him on the later part of the story on revealing the 'truth' about what happened earlier. I don't know if I've set what I should feel about him on the first few chapters or the author made a confusing scene and inconsistent actions on Aspen's character.
Prince Maxon however, is a boring guy, like princes should be. But as America learned to know him better, I began liking him and their connection. They're friendly but when they're together, sparks fly. I cannot contain the butterflies in my stomach. That's when I knew I am Team Maxon. ;)
I liked America on the first half of the book. But when something happened--or should I say, someone showed up--I began to doubt her and her feelings. She's torn, and I still like her, but I wish she'd be on with what she's really feeling because it starts to make me annoyed. My heart leaps everytime there's a scene that America should be careful about. It makes me crazy!
Overall, The Selection was definitely the kind of book I was looking right now. A sweet romance. The feelings of the characters were developed the way I just like and now my feelings were developed to this book, I'm in love with the story. There were scenes, though, where it concerns the castle that I feel awkward about (I'm like, How the heck those things happen??) yet I'm still interested on learning the why's. I like the flow of the story except the part where Aspen exists (sorry Team Aspens). I like the formality of the castle, Selection program, the informality yet fun and I'm-just-being-me attitude of America and the cute way Maxon reveals himself. I'm really looking forward in finishing this trilogy and hug all three books.
If you'd ask me, I'd definitely recommend this to you especially if you're like me who wants to read a light, fairytale-like and non-action dystopian (doesn't even look like dystopian at all!). You'll also enjoy this if you like reality TV shows such as The Bachelor. The Selection was worthy of the decision I made about wanting to read it. Read it and let's find out what team are you on!
Excitement was all I felt when I received my package containing The Selection and The Elite together with other books. I pictured a romantic fairytale-ish from this book that I'm missing a lot now. Oh, I surely want to talk about ball gowns, Princes and happily-ever-afters. *sigh*
The story started with America Singer living as a Five (a caste wherein One represents the royal family, and Seven as the last and is the least fortunate family) with her Six boyfriend, Aspen Leger. To be honest, I didn't swooned over their relationship even if they're really sweet and in love with each other. I guess it's because I didn't liked Aspen. I think there's something going on about him and I found him weird and annoying. I saw him as an unfaithful type of boyfriend and I got confused and didn't believed him on the later part of the story on revealing the 'truth' about what happened earlier. I don't know if I've set what I should feel about him on the first few chapters or the author made a confusing scene and inconsistent actions on Aspen's character.
Prince Maxon however, is a boring guy, like princes should be. But as America learned to know him better, I began liking him and their connection. They're friendly but when they're together, sparks fly. I cannot contain the butterflies in my stomach. That's when I knew I am Team Maxon. ;)
I liked America on the first half of the book. But when something happened--or should I say, someone showed up--I began to doubt her and her feelings. She's torn, and I still like her, but I wish she'd be on with what she's really feeling because it starts to make me annoyed. My heart leaps everytime there's a scene that America should be careful about. It makes me crazy!
Overall, The Selection was definitely the kind of book I was looking right now. A sweet romance. The feelings of the characters were developed the way I just like and now my feelings were developed to this book, I'm in love with the story. There were scenes, though, where it concerns the castle that I feel awkward about (I'm like, How the heck those things happen??) yet I'm still interested on learning the why's. I like the flow of the story except the part where Aspen exists (sorry Team Aspens). I like the formality of the castle, Selection program, the informality yet fun and I'm-just-being-me attitude of America and the cute way Maxon reveals himself. I'm really looking forward in finishing this trilogy and hug all three books.
If you'd ask me, I'd definitely recommend this to you especially if you're like me who wants to read a light, fairytale-like and non-action dystopian (doesn't even look like dystopian at all!). You'll also enjoy this if you like reality TV shows such as The Bachelor. The Selection was worthy of the decision I made about wanting to read it. Read it and let's find out what team are you on!
* Thank you so much Megan and Harper Collins International for providing a paperback copy of this book in exchange of honest review!
Rating:
Glad you enjoyed this one! The first paragraph of your review is definitely how I feel about reading this until now. I mean, I'm a romance fanatic, but I also love a bit of action when I read.
ReplyDeleteChristie @ Read by the Undead
I was scared reading this with the rumors spreading about the author and all before but I ended up reading and liking this.
DeleteGreat review! I still haven't read this one, but I too am torn about doing so. I've heard so many good things.... But quite a few bad ones too.
ReplyDeleteIt's for you to find out. Read it! ;)
DeleteGood review! I love this book and this series. I heard they may turn it into a movie. ;)
ReplyDelete