The Selection by Kiera Cass – Book Review

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Title: The Selection (you can Buy on Amazon here)

Author: Kiera Cass

Published: 24th April 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense

Pages: 336

Format: E-Book

Rating: *** (3/5 Stars)

About: 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 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.

Review: Okay so don’t hate me for this review.

But……. I didn’t really like the idea of what this book was about.

At least it was a really easy read though – that’s a positive.

The issue I have with it is that there was such promise.

I know so many people who love this book though, that it probably is a worthwhile read. I think you just have to decide for yourself if this is the right book for you.

This book series is hugely popular so I thought that it should have been good.

But it just got to a point where I wasn’t really reading it properly. You know when you can still take the story in, but you’re just skim reading…. yeah that was me.

I first started to have doubts when it came to simple things like the characters’ names. I mean I know that names don’t make or break a book, but I mean come on… America Singer was – wait, it’s too good – a singer. Honestly, why did the author think that was a good idea?

I can excuse this though, as like I said, names don’t make or break a book.

But let’s talk about what this book is actually like.

I’ll make it nice and simple for you. This book is basically like The Bachelor and nothing else. Well, that’s probably a bit harsh but basically, a beautiful girl enters The Selection – a contest of sorts where the poor competitors volunteer to compete for the heart of a handsome prince…

Sound familiar?

Now the reason I gave this book three stars is that it’s a nice easy read. But there’s nothing new about it. I’ve seen it all before and it doesn’t excite me (you know that feeling you have when you just don’t want to put a book down?).

I was so ready to enjoy this book and that’s what’s annoying me so much! I mean 35 girls all competing for one crown and the heart of one handsome prince? Sign me up and bring on the popcorn!

I was ready for the drama, I was ready for all the love triangles and petty fights that were going to occur. But it just didn’t live up to what I hoped 😦

Maybe that’s why I’m so disappointed. Maybe I expected too much from this book.

That was probably my biggest mistake. You should never go into something expecting it to be brilliant, you’ll just be disappointed most of the time.

On a positive note (because I feel like I’ve been far too negative), I don’t think that this was a waste of time having read it. That’s a good thing at least because I hate when you read a book and you’re just like well there goes several hours of my life.

I was able to read this in one sitting and to be honest, I’m willing to give the next books in the series a go as well. There has to be some reason why this series was so popular.

I’m always up for giving things a go, particularly as it wasn’t the worst book I’ve read.

As a side note, can I just add that I’m kind of in love with the cover though – I mean that dress is just wow. I’d love to be able to wear something like that. I just wish she wasn’t standing in a pose where she’s like look I can smell my armpits?

One of my friends actually brought that point up and now I can’t not see it, unfortunately.

Oh well, that point is beside the original point I intended to make. The point I was planning on making though, was that I’m willing to give the other books in the series a go.

I’ll let you know in the future if I think it’s worth it.

Anyway, sending you much love! xoxo