The Selection book review

The Selection by Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection #1
Published by HarperTeen on April 24, 2012
Pages: 336
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.

Another reread for me and another that I wasn’t sure off when I originally read it, see my review of City of Bones for more on that. The Selection when I last read it had one major problem, America the main character, and it still does. She’s vapid and arrogant in that “I’m not really pretty kinda way”, she is also one of the most confusing characters ever. So I gave the book another go purely because I’m a little older and maybe I could relate a little better now, well that didn’t happen but I do think I’m going to carry on reading the series and see how it all ends. I think that’s an improvement on my previous “I’m never going to read this again” thought process.

I wanted to love America but I just don’t, she is probably one of the most selfish, self-centred characters I have ever read about. She thinks about nobody but herself, and the way she acts around the self-addressed love triangle makes me angry, she’s just leading them on. HOWEVER and this is huge because this is what save The Selection from being another book that I put down and didn’t pick up again, Mason. He was kind, and sharp minded, you can see throughout this book how much he loved his people and how badly he wanted to be a good king. I loved the way he conducted himself throughout the story and how he handles certain situations. I just wanted it to end with him being happy, screw America and her ridiculous life.

I think for me the best bits of The Selection were all the one-liners that Mason had and the different ways he talked and dated all of the girls. I loved reading about his life and what his beliefs were and how they will all work together into creating the kingdom that he wants for his people. Watching him grow in confidence and also hold his own against 30-odd girls was my favourite. I loved him. Seriously, we could have just had a book all about his life and him and I would have been way happier!

Complete 180 but anything with Aspen and America in it, I hated their relationship and also the way they worked. I think the entirety of it was a major manipulation and something that should be glorified in ANY way. Why would America think that giving him the time of day was a good move, let me tell you I think he’s a waste of space! Can we also just talk about the Caste system and how it seems to work in this book? You fall in love and if that person is lower than you then you move down but you can marry up as a girl to a higher number. It makes no sense. Not for the lads anyway.

As mentioned above I am carrying on with the series but I’m not sure that I can recommend it right now, maybe when I’ve read the other books I can make a more informed decision… hopefully, we see more of Mason and American decides to be a better human being.

What did you think of The Selection? Did you think America was a good character? Let me know in the comments!