Review: The Selection - Kiera Cass

Release Date: April 24th, 2012
Hardcover: 327 Pages
Publisher: HarperTeen

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.

An enjoyable read with many faults that couldn't be ignored and yet I couldn't not finish to read The Selection. The Selection, besides having many aspects from The Bachelor, really is like a reality show because even though you don't enjoy it that much, you can't stop watching it. 

The plot is actually really simple: a prince must choose one in thirty-five girls to be his future wife. For many of them to be chosen to participate is like a dream come true but for America that's far from it. The idea is actually pretty good but I didn't like how it was developped. I mean, American didn't want to participate but her secret boyfriend convinced to try to be someobody else's wife?! I understand the why but somehow it sounded a bit unbelievable. Furthermore I can't believe that Maxon would wait around for her when he has other 20 girls to be his wife, who would be for the best interest of the country.


The characters were actually pretty ok. America was a bit confusing because she never knew who she wanted. Her relationship with Aspen almost certainly didn't have a future and still she chose to trick herself into believing that everything was perfect. Maxon was a great character and I was rooting for them to be together but the love triangle was inevitable. Nevertheless I really liked how Maxon and America's relationship developped from dislike to friends and maybe even more. 


The Selection was a light, funny and sometimes unbelievable read. The cliffhanger wasn't in any way horrible and yet I can't wait for the next one. It really is true that such reality shows (and now novel) are an addiction!
If you enjoy shows like The Bachelor and romance novels with love triangles, this one is a novel you just can't miss.

Kiera Cass is a graduate of Radford University and currently lives in Blacksburg, Virginia, with her family. Her fantasy novel the siren was self-published in 2009. Kiera has kissed approximately fourteen boys in her life. None of them were princes. Website / Twitter