A Review for The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass

Posted by Donna

Release Date: June 7th, 2012

Finished Date: May 27th, 2012

Publishers: HarperCollins UK

Source: For Review

Format: Paperback

Pages: 327
Buy : Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

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.

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The Review: The Selection is an intriguing, beautiful and charming novel – one that honestly, really surprised me. Kiera Cass captivated me from start to finish with her exciting and lovable story and I loved every single minute of it.
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America Singer lives in a world where everything is ranked by numbers. With her and her family being a five, they struggle sometimes when it comes to providing food and have to work for a living. So when the opportunity to become the next future Queen arises, America’s family are quick to suggest she try out. America is luckily picked and is now amongst thirty-five girls who have been selected to try and win Prince Maxon’s heart. But how can America try to win the Prince’s heart when her heart belongs to Aspen; a six, who she can never have a future with, because of his low ranking? And when America meets Prince Maxon, he isn’t what she expected and soon starts to fall for him.
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The Selection – wow, where do I even start with this review, yeah – I loved it! It’s full of magical and lovable scenes that really make you want to keep reading. I was expecting a complicated world because generally, with dystopian books they tend to have a lot of details, but the author did a great job giving you the right amount of information at the right time and not once, did I feel overwhelmed.
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I loved the whole story in general. I have never watched the Bachelor – which I know this book is being compared too, so for me, it was a whole new world and it really worked well within the story. But not only that but I feel that this book has so much more to offer than just any old book. It’s full of hope, love and drama and it’s even pretty heart-breaking at times too, because of what the characters go through. America, is a really likeable girl, she’s stubborn, fiery and honest. You really feel for her when things don’t work out with Aspen but then of course, Prince Maxon comes into the picture – who by the way, I’m totally rooting for. He opens her up to a world she never thought she could ever experience and I just absolutely adore him. He’s everything you want from a guy and he’s sweet and loyal. So yes I am Team Maxon! And that ending – wow, I still can’t decide if I loved or hated it…but I’m thinking I’m leaning towards loved! I do wish the book was longer because I would have loved to see the outcome of the Selection but I think the author did the right thing ending it were it did. I can see big things happening for book two because of the selection, the love triangle and the attacks on the palace and I’m very eager to find out where the story goes next.
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Now as I said before, this book really surprised me and the reason for that is because of the drama surrounding the author, her publicist and a reviewer. Now I don’t like to get involved with things like this but I couldn’t help notice the drama and honestly, it really did put me off reading this book. The only reason I picked it up was because of the ever so wonderful HarperCollins UK offered me a review copy and as you can see, I’m so, so glad I read it. So, I urge reader’s who – like me have been put of from reading this book, to read it and I promise you won’t be disappointed.
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Overall, The Selection was a fantastic novel and one I’d highly recommend. Kiera Cass has convinced me she deserves a place in the YA community and I cannot wait to see more work from her.
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A huge thank you HarperCollins UK for giving me the opportunity to review this book.