The Selection

This is a great book! The author does a great job with your main characters America, Maxon, and Aspen. Even the supporting characters are great and with the witty banter that goes all throughout...this book makes you smile. I would recommend getting this book. **SPOILERS AHEAD! Do not read if you don't want to know too much about the books plot!** I will say this--I know any good romance YA book needs to have a love triangle and this one is no different. Like with books like Twilight and Hunger Games...both leads Aspen from where she lives who is a caste that is regarded as one worse then her's and Prince Maxon of Ilea who are both genuinely good guys and really care about America. The book starts off with that adorable romance with Aspen & America in their hometown and you can't help but fall in love with their love story! They both come from being in a "poor caste" and despite all the circumstances...you believe in the first few chapters they have a love story that is going to beat all out! Then as usual, like most men, Aspen goes and ruins it leaving America heartbroken because he feel he needs to do what is best for her (think Superman/Lois Lane or Spider-Man/Mary Jane here) So of course America get's "selected" into the Prince's "selection" of 35 to find a wife. Of course she is heartbroken and doesn't want to do it...but the ability to help her family wins out and she goes off to meet the Prince. From the first interaction with these two I was like, "Aspen who?" That's a lot considering I just said I thought America and Aspen had a love story that you felt could beat the odds. Now I found myself as I read on through...smile at America and Maxon's laughter, tenderness, fights, and battle of their feelings. So why the mention of Twilight & Hunger Games? For me, even though both Jacob (Twilight) & Gale (Hunger Games) were both good guys that would have done anything for Bella (Twilight) & Katniss (Hunger Games) I never once thought or felt that either of those two leads belonged with her. I always felt that Bella & Katniss belonged with their forever afters (Edward & Peeta). Don't get me wrong, I will say this now--I am rooting for Prince Maxton, but I genuinely feel sorry for Aspen. As I get towards the end of the book and he returns and I find myself a bit irritated that after all Maxon has done she makes out with Aspen but she's loved him for two years and you just can't turn that off. Bottom line, this is the first YA book where I feel the author gets it right when you can be so in love with someone and they break your heart...and even though you still feel for them you can show that your heart can be big enough to move on. Even though I hope in the end that Maxon wins out because I believe they compliment each other...I like the opportunity to actually read what feels like an honest story of what it is like to be in love with two people and how to come to the decision on who is best for you and not because of money or status! The next two books will prove to be an excellent read! I say to readers of this post...I know it may seem a little frustrating for her to flip flop her feelings but hang in there....this is really a good read! I would recommend to read! I've never done this next statement before in any YA series I've read but here goes: Team Maxon all the way!!

The Selection was one of those books that I just couldn't get enough of. I made the mistake of starting it later in the evening say around 10-ish leading to an all-nighter reading session which ended around 3:30 a.m. I even had to be up at 7 a.m. the next morning. However it was totally worth it!!! I was hooked from the beginning. True to it's tagline The Selection is "Hungers Games meets the Bachelor". Many might be aggravated over the blatant similarities between The Selection and The Hunger Games (there's a lot) but I didn't really care. I enjoyed The Selection for what it was and what it accomplished. The plot was captivating, keeping you enticed the whole way through. And the characters - wow! Every single one was buzzing with personality and detail. Although our main characters were America and Prince Maxon the rest i.e. supporting characters truly did their job and supported the story. Except for the one or ones we're meant to hate (I'm looking at you Celeste...) I loved every single character and the part they played. Oh and Ms. Cass thank you! This is the first time that I've ever loved and full-heartedly rooted for the sweet, kind "good" boy vs. the rebellious "bad" boy. As you can probably gain there's a love triangle and I'm totally team Maxon. Sorry Aspen -- move along buddy So lets talk a little about the setting. Through America Singer's view were introduced to a world literally "of the future". After the U.S. was ruined by attacks and such from other countries, Illea rose above the rubble bringing along an 8-caste system. Each caste is responsible and required to work a specific job. For instance, America's family is in the 5th caste where the trade is of "the arts", painters, musicians, singers etc. I should also mention that the further up in the system the poorer the individual. Aspen a boy that we learn America has loved for a while now, is in the caste above America and therefore not permitted to well canoodle (LOL) with anyone from another caste unless married. However, if they were to marry America would have to leave her family and caste and settle for an even more poverty-ridden caste. At the tippity top or rather bottom (1) is the royal family. When a princess or prince come of age, a princess is married off to a prince from another country while the prince holds a competition where 35 girls, picked throughout Illea, compete to become princess. Although some may have true intentions, the majority of girls are pretty much in it for the rise of fame and wealth. Pressured by both Aspen and her family and believing that she truly doesn't have a shot, America enters only to be completely shell-shocked when she gets chosen to compete. Her whole world is turned upside down when she arrives at the palace. Not only does she start living the life of the upper caste (beautiful gowns, surplus amounts of food) she realizes that first impressions can be completely wrong. She's turned off from prince Maxon at the beginning believing him to be pompous and shallow. Early on though she realizes that he is extremely thoughtful, sweet and quite nervous just about all the time. Throw in conniving and downright bitchy frenemies that make the groups of rebels constantly attacking the palace look like fluffy bunnies and you've got one hell of an addicting story. What I loved most about this book was our heroine America. She's so caring and considerate in a world where girls are ready to yank your hair out just to get a better chance at being Illea's princess. America is also extremely strong and witty. She's not afraid to say what she feels, a quality that I truly believe prince Maxon admires. I love the dynamic between these two. Early on America promises to give Maxon the inside scoop in order to make sure he picks a good princess. However, it's plain to see that the princess he's got his eye on is the last one America expects... I truly loved this book it was intriguing and interesting. The writing was clean, engaging and fast-paced. One of the reasons I gave it a 4 as opposed to a 5 stake rating is because the role that the "rebels" play. All we know is that some group or groups of rebels regularly attack the castle but that's all we really know about them. I really would have liked to know more in order to fully get into the story.

Loved the book went through it so fast. Great for easy reading

This book is still one of my favourites to reread even years later. I loved the story and caste system that Kierra Cass created and the character depth and growth that America Singer went through in this series. If you like books like The Hunger games and books that have trials I would definitely recommend you try out this series. For parents looking to get their teens books for Christmas this book is YA friendly with very minimal spice and mainly focuses on the trial with little bits of romance mixed in. I'll always hold America's and Maxon's story close to my heart.

Amo os livros de A Seleção, especialmente os 3 primeiros sobre a América. Já li 3 vezes, foi com ele que decidi tentar voltar ao hábito de ler, para quem quer se acostumar a ler em inglês é uma ótima escolha pois tem uma linguagem bem simples.

I wish I've never read this...SO THAT I COULD READ IT AGAIN !!! I pulled an allnighter reading this book, and I literally couldn't put it down!!! I finish reading all 3 books in less than 2 days. Its the PERFECT mix of romance and actions.

J'aime énormément la saga de Kiera Cass. La Selection est une belle histoire d'amour sous fond de monarchie dystopique. Je l'ai acheté en anglais car je veux apprendre cette langue.