Review: The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 327
Series: The Selection #1
Format: ARC
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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.
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 Favorite Line(s):

"I couldn't joke about the person who'd saved me from facing absolute heartbreak at home, who fed my family boxes of sweets, who ran to me worried that I was hurt if I asked for him."

"A month ago, I had looked at the TV and seen a stiff, distant, boring person-someone I couldn't imagine anyone loving.  And while he wasn't anything close to the person I did love, he was worthy of having someone to love in his life."

Why I Loved It:  *Sigh*  Ok I should say that I hate love triangles.  And I hate cliffhangers.  This book had both.  And I love the book.  Seriously.  I'm so ready for the next book, and this book isn't even out yet.  I'm incredibly sad.  I know there was a lot of drama about this book and the tv show.  I don't care.  I'm reviewing solely on the book.  And the book was incredible.

For me, I didn't really think the comparsions to Hunger Games fit.  For me it was more The Bachelor meets dystopian Cinderella.  The society around American Singer is based on a caste system (1-8) with one being the highest.  The Singer family is a five, the level of artists.  They are not dying from starvation, but making a living was still very tough.  Marrying down was not common, and really was not an option from America's mom's side.  That's a problem for America because she had just so happened to fall in love with a boy from six.  The heart is a tricky thing, and for America, the heart will lead her to many places.

I find that it is very important to mention the boy.  I've read a lot of books lately with swoon-worthy boys.  Maxon is one of them.  He was not your typical prince.  He was good, kind, compassionate, and a bit shy.  He also had an incredible sense of humor.  He hadn't had much experience with girls, and the whole dating for the first time in the eyes of the public seemed to lead to some awkward moments.  In reality, everything about him was very endearing.  He won my heart, and I have to say that I am very Team Maxon.  For me, Aspen was too much of a jerk to win my heart and had a very convenient way of putting America in very inconvenient situations that normally include a good heart crushing.

Placed in the castle, America learns about what it means to truly based your opinion on someone based on who they are and not her assumptions.  Each of the contestants brought their own something-something to the story.  I'm really interested to see what exactly Marlee was up to.  I want to see Celeste get what was coming to her.  And I want to know the result of the Selection.  Hopefully, we'll get more of a world in the second book.

Who Should Read It: Lovers of The Bachelor, fairy tales, and dystopian worlds.  Really, people who aren't really into dystopian should check it out.  It's really a very mild version without a whole lot of darkness.  You'd probably really enjoy it.