Review: The Selection (Selection #1) By: Kiera Cass

Title: The Selection (The Selection #1)

Author: Kiera Cass

Published: April 24th, 2012

My Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

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 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 imagine.

My Thoughts:

As I am sure many of you know there has been so much talk surrounding this book, I have seen good and bad reviews of it but, I have to tell you guys that I absolutely love this book! I was so excited because I actually won this book from goodreads first reads and I could not wait to read it. I first of all absolutely loved the cover of this book, her dress was gorgeous and I love red heads (I secretly have always wished I had red hair) lol 

We first meet our main character America Singer, who is a ironically enough (or maybe not) a singer, she lives in a future world that has  came about from the destruction of the United States called Ilea, this new world has a society system that is based out of castes, which I am still a little confused about I think there is 8 castes designated by the numbers 1-8 ( 1 is the wealthiest and 8 is the poorest) you are born into your caste based on what your ancestors were Ex: a musician, servant, etc.) The country is run by a monarchy, the selection is a competition for 35 girls to become the wife of the Prince named Maxon and can take a girl and her family from nothing to everything. Every single girl in each part of the country who is between the ages of 16-20 if I recall right is sent a letter, saying they are able to submit a resume I guess you could say and they will be chosen at random. America's whole family is a buzz and so excited about this opportunity except for her. She has a secret love named Aspen, who she has been dating for more than 2 years and she wants to marry more than anything else. But, he convinces her to join the selection saying that if he didn't give her a chance at a better life he would wonder about it forever so, thinking there is a slim to none chance she will be chosen she enters to make everyone happy and then surprisingly enough she is chosen and thrown into a Bachelor like scenario that changes everything.

Ok, so like I said before I loved this book, America I thought was an awesome  character and I loved her from the very start. She was strong and opinionated and she didn't want to be like every girl from her country pining away after Prince Maxon. She didn't want any of it not the selection or to even be there. She didn't change who she was because of this competition and she didn't let the prince change her into someone she wasn't. I loved Prince Maxon, I picture him like this dreamy man that any girl would be lucky to have and whenever him and America interacted I found myself smiling and sometimes even laughing out loud, I loved him way more than  Aspen!

I don't want to say too much more because I don't want to totally ruin the book, but I definitely recommend it I thought it was fun read, I read it in about 4 hours I was so into it. The only thing that really disappointed me was that I didn't get to learn more about the dystopian world that was the background for the whole story, I was a little confused about it sometimes and wanted a little bit more clarification, I loved the ending but I hated it because I just wanted to keep reading and find out more and what was going to happen. Check It out!

Happy Reading!

Kristin