The Selection by Kiera Cass

Synopsis:
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

Review:
Wow. I really liked this one. I think the reason I liked it so much was because I just totally loved America. She was an awesome heroine. I know in most of my reviews I always say I like the heroine, and I always mean it. But in this case, America is someone I would actually like to be friends with. I liked how she carried herself and how she treated everyone, including her maids. She was easy to relate to and was just fun to read about.

I liked the plot too. It’s set in the future after a few wars where the America as we know it no longer exists. There is now a caste system in place, of eight different levels. America is a level five, a musician. Prince Maxon must marry and in order to do so they have a dating tournament of sorts. 35 women are chosen to come live at the palace and date the prince. America meets the criteria and her boyfriend, Aspen (a level six), encourages her to apply. America is chosen, Aspen dumps her, and America goes with a broken heart to meet the prince.

This is kind of like dystopian Bachelor tv show. They all are competing to meet the prince, they do interviews and there are cameras following them around all the time. The prince narrows things down and is dismissing girls (although there is no rose ceremony…lol). Maxon and America hit it off right from the start. I really liked Maxon and thought America was good for him, and vise versa. I actually thought their relationship was more mature. They build from a friendship. I could see a lot of potential between them.   

So, why didn’t I give this five stars? I’m still wavering to be honest. I guess it comes down to the love-triangle. It was actually written pretty well (and I’m praying it doesn’t become a soap opera in future books). I already know whose team I’m on and towards the end America does something that just rubbed me the wrong way. I don’t want to give spoilers, but I’ll just say it’s hard to write a love-triangle that doesn’t make the girl look bad. While she’s trying to decide how she feels the two guys are expected to wait around for her decision. I guess in Maxon’s case he does have a dozen other girls to date, but still. I just hope she decides EARLY in the next book and it’s not a storyline that is dragged out for three books. There is so much more going on and I don’t want to read two more books of America going back and forth.

Overall, I really did love the book. It was well written, paced nicely and full of likable characters. I’m a bit bummed that I now have to wait a year for the next book. I thought I promised myself not to start another series unless the whole thing was done! Owell, it was well worth the read and I look forward to reading what happens next with America, Maxon and Aspen.

Content: A few make-out scenes, a little steamy. A handful of swear words. Otherwise, pretty clean.