The Selection - Keira Cass [Review]

Title: The Selection [The Selection #1]

Author: Keira Cass

Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Romance

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publishing date: April 24^th, 2012

Pages: 336

Rating

★★★☆☆

Hello! It’s been a while since my last review, this time I’m finally reviewing a book whose series has been widely popular these last years, The Selection, book one in The Selection Series.

America and Aspen.

The Selection takes place in a dystopian North America that after a war has turned into a Monarchy. The population has been divided into castes from 1 to 8, One being royalty and Eight being the poorest. When an heir of the throne is ready to get married, a Selection takes place, it consists in reunite 35 girls from all sectors to live in the castle and spend time with the Prince, so he will decide who he wants to choose.

The main character in the story is America Singer a five who comes from a family of Musicians. She is in love with Aspen, a lower caste boy, but he breaks up with her because he doesn’t want her to become caste Six (she would get the caste of her husband). America gets chosen for the Selection and, reluctantly accepts to participate because it will help her family financially. The Selection is a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. She has to live in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. There 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.

I must admit I didn’t expect to like this book due to the reviews I’ve read, it’s like there’s not between: you love it or hate it. I must say I actually liked it, but it’s not one of the best books I’ve read.

I don’t like the love triangle cliché, which is a trope used in this book, it could’ve been better if the author didn’t ruin Aspen first, making him seem kind of douche so America could start developing feelings for Maxon. The characters felt kind of flat, America was too perfect and kind of arrogant. The selection felt like a Royal Mean Girls doing stuff like ruining each other’s dresses, or talking ill of one another, copying style and similar things.

America and Maxon.
Picture from the coloring book. 

Actually the only character I liked was Maxon, everyone else felt flat or annoying, mainly America’s family; they were the most annoying characters. The only aspects I liked of America were her relationship with Maxon, they are good friends, confidents who trust each other. And from the Selection, America is the only one down to earth, although sometimes she is annoying because she seems to play with Aspen and Maxon’s feelings.

The writing style is pretty simple, not much dialogue or unnecessary descriptions, the book is short and fast paced. The story is focused on romance, thou it briefly touches more political topics, but I would’ve like to know more about the structure of the Monarchy or of the rebels in this book.

The Selection is an entertaining and enjoyable start of a series, a fast paced book with some cute moments. If you’re into romance and dystopias, like love triangles and want to swoon over an adorable prince, this book might be for you.