The Selection by Kiera Cass

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 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. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I have been waiting so long to read The Selection and I'm glad I finally got the chance to. Seriously, I've wanted to read this since before it was published in April 2012! Now there's another book already out and I think it's been optioned for a tv show? Someone update me!

Anyway, I actually really enjoyed The Selection. If you look on GoodReads, there are a ton of reviews that list the flaws of this book. There are actually quite a few, including the ridiculous names of the characters (Aspen? Maxon? America??) The history behind the creation of Illea wasn't explained very well along with the reasoning behind our country returning to a monarchy. Is it possible to start a monarchy when you have no actual royal family? Wouldn't the royal family want to marry their son to girl from another country for an alliance instead of to a "commoner"?

However, if you suspend your disbelief, you can still be entertained by The Selection. It reminded me a lot of both The Bachelor and The Hunger Games, though it seemed like a ripoff of the latter. They even have all the girls go through interviews with a host who is identical to Caesar Flickerman. Seeing the girls interact with each other and the prince was very interesting, but I especially liked the relationship between Maxon and America. I was rooting for him to pick her obviously.

The conflict in the story is that America is in love with a boy from a caste below her so she can never marry him. Even though she's part of the Selection, she still pines for Aspen so naturally we have a love triangle. I personally prefer America with Maxon, but I can see why some people might like Aspen better.

I had trouble putting this book down because I wanted to see what happened with the contest and if America would ever develop feelings for Maxon. Unfortunately I have to wait until I read The Elite to figure out what happens!

Rating: 7 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2012/HarperTeen/339 pages.