The Selection (The Selection, 1)

I borrowed this book for free using Kindle Unlimited. The first thing I did when I had finished reading was buy this book and then the next in the series. I then binge read all five books in a day. I couldn't help myself. I should admit that I am slightly (...) older than the target audience, but I loved the way the book made me feel like a teenager again. I laughed, cried and experienced crippling secondhand embarrassment. I had definite favourites and, as I read through the series, I realised that the characters were not stereotypically 'good' or 'bad' but flawed human beings who sometimes made epic mistakes and had to deal with the consequences. I give the entire series five stars and highly recommend it for young adults and the young at heart.

Good grief, I don't even know where to start. America has been selected to compete against 34 other girls vying for the affections of Prince Maxon based upon the fact she's attractive. She doesn't want him, she's in love with Aspen, but her family needs the money so she applies anyway. That's the plot: 35 pretty girls are hateful to each other for the sake of winning the affections of an entitled, pretentious and borderline creepy prince who clearly has no respect or understanding of what a disgusting situation that even is: “You are all dear to me. It is simply a matter of discovering who shall be the dearest.” ---- get over yourself. If you didn't roll your eyeballs I don't even know what's wrong with you. My biggest problem with this book is not the competition but rather America's obsession with prettiness and the fundamentally messed up portrayal of women hating on other women; I don't enjoy reading about it and I think it's totally unnecessary. This book could easily have had 35 girls rebel against the system and have each others backs and I'm certain it would have had a way bigger impact on me if it had done! America is entirely hung up on people thinking she's pretty, but constantly comments on how unattractive, overweight or aged other women are - this even extends to her mother who she frequently judges! I abhor the way she flippantly discusses her mother to be perfectly honest. America also often complains that people comment on her looks, that she's sick of being called pretty, but speaks about her looks in the same way I imagine beautiful people do when they secretly love that they're beautiful because they're actually arrogant AND beautiful: "Please don't call me gorgeous. First my mom, then May, now you. It's getting on my nerves." ..... "By the way Aspen was looking at me, I could tell I wasn't helping my "I'm not pretty" case." If you want some more eyeball-rolling-worthy moments let me tell you this: America Singer is also a singer. I wonder how Keira Cass came up with her name? I just don't get it; I don't find that a clever move if it's meant to be. On top of this America thinks she's some sort of saint for lowering herself to the level of the commoners by indulging them with the pleasure of a conversation with her, despite the fact she's entirely dismissive of her maids initially and was once in their very shoes; she also complains about having been poor whilst evaluating the number of dresses she has that are not in keeping with "the latest fashion". I wish this book had been a clever attempt to challenge shows like, "The Bachelor" which broadcast women fighting tooth and nail for a man who doesn't value them, pushing each other down in order to bring themselves up. I just despise the idea of a man getting to essentially choose his favourite woman from a group of adoring ...

Rating: 4.5/5.0 This book is really a popular one and I had to pick it up as many of my friends read it. Some really enjoyed it and others did not like it at all. One thing I have noticed that most people who did not like it were actually disappointed more about the atmosphere of the book and the era it was set. Their main purpose of reading this book must have been "to enjoy another dystopian book". I can't blame them because in that area the book was not very deep to focus on the dystopian times. Actually many times I have been imagining this was set in the classical era of dancing ballrooms etc. Of course mince the jeans and other stuff. Disregarding the era that the story takes place in I have throughly enjoyed reading this book and felt the style of writing is very easy to grasp. The story even though it is a simple one but written in a beautiful way. A girl (America) loves a guy (Aspen) who is lower than her in class. They break up, the girl enters into a competiton with 35 girls from different classes to marry a prince (Maxon). I liked several characters in the book and would love to know more how they will act in the sequel. I highly recommend the book for the fans of young adult and romance genres. If you are only looking for a dystopian book then you might be disappointed but still I would say give it a chance.

Everything was super predictable. It was fine while you were reading it, but left a really bad flavor behind when you stopped. It was like watching a really bad movie, but you can't stop because you just need to get it over with and see how it ends so you can be done with it.

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. I love dystopian novels, and have read all the usual suspects - Hunger Games, Divergent, Matched, Delirium, etc. I loved some, not so much others. When this kept showing up in my recommendations, I just assumed it was because it was so popular, and not necessarily for me. I figured I would read the first one and be done - I was so wrong!! I can't read them fast enough! It's an interesting world they live in, and that's what makes a great dystopian book - when the main characters are just doing something so simple, like falling in love, and yet it impacts the entire political and social scheme. There are really great characters, well developed and believable - sweet, conniving, funny, bitchy. I find myself rooting for girls that are not America, and still being unable to decide who I want America to end up with. It's a riveting story and I can't wait to read more!