The Selection by Kiera Cass

Goodreads Summary:

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.


My Thoughts:

The first half of this book follows the dystopian genre formula to the T. Enough that I almost put the book down because I have read it all before and better. This being said, once the book got into its own groove, I warmed up to it quite a bit, enough that I intend on reading the follow up book which comes out next year sometime.

The second half, I feel like we, the readers, get to know each character a little better and by that process I started to like them more for the most part. I liked that America loves music, and can get lost in notes. I liked that Maxon admits that he doesn't know everything, which is hard for Prince types to do. I would say I am not a huge fan of Aspen. I never fully warmed to his character, or should I say, lack there of. He seems like the typical scared guy. I feel like I have seen versions of Aspen in a lot of books, and this book like the others doesn't really give me a reason to like him, unless you count the hotness factor (which I don't).

Also, can I just say I am a little tired of a female lead, who is so pretty she thinks she is ug-o. For once I would like someone to be plain, PLAIN JANE and be embraced or loved for who they are rather than the main character having to struggle with accepting outside beauty. This is my compliant with a lot of YA books. Not everyone is gorgeous, but everyone does have something gorgeous about them. I worry these books are just as destructive as magazines that don't show short girls, or heavy girls, or girls who aren't white. Most of us, if not all of us, have something about us that is imperfect. For once I would like to read about a character who struggles with the same things normal people struggle with. Rather than the struggle to accept they are hot. Seriously writers, come up with something else to focus on.

I would recommend this book to dystopian genre lovers, but watch out for that formula for the first half. Beyond dystopian fans I am not sure a lot of people would like this book. I do have hopes that the second is better and not so contrived.

While writing this review I was listening to the wind beat against my windows.