Published: March 26, 2013 by HarperTeen
Series: #1 (The Selection)
Length: 352 pages
Source: bought (at Barnes & Noble)
“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.”
This was such an amazing read! I felt like I was part of its world. It is told in first person point of view from our main character, America Singer. She lives in a dystopian world where they are numbered with ONE being the richest, and as the number goes down, so does your status. Once the girls turn 18 years old, they will be sent a letter to sign up for the The Selection and 35 of them will be selected, and one of them will become the princess.
I loved all the characters. You could tell them apart, and were realistic. I love Prince Maxon’s awkwardness and silliness , and I could see his point of how being a prince means your life isn’t automatically perfect. America was a great heroine. She’s confident, smart, and funny. Their personalities and the other supporting characters’ is one of the reasons why it made The Selection an amazing read. I also like how I could picture the palace and other settings that were in the book.
The only part that I was kind of disappointed to was the ending. I thought the author could’ve done a better job. There is also a love triangle which really made the story more interesting and it’s one of the reasons why I kept on reading. I love both of them (Prince Maxon & Aspen, America’s boyfriend) and I can’t wait to read The Elite! There were also a few twists in the book. I highly recommend this book. It is a light and fun dystopian novel that you could finish in one sitting.