Review: The Selection

    
    

Title: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection #1
Pages: 327

Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: June 7th (UK)
Source: For Review
Rating: 4 Stars
100 Book challenge: #50

Thirty-five beautiful girls. Thirty-five beautiful rivals…

It’s the chance of a lifetime and 17-year-old America Singer should feel lucky. She has been chosen for The Selection, a reality TV lottery in which the special few compete for gorgeous Prince Maxon's love.

Swept up in a world of elaborate gowns, glittering jewels and decadent feasts, America is living a new and glamorous life. And the prince takes a special interest in her, much to the outrage of the others.

Rivalry within The Selection is fierce and not all of the girls are prepared to play by the rules. But what they don’t know is that America has a secret – one which could throw the whole competition… and change her life forever.

I had been a bit sceptical about reading 'The Selection' after hearing so many mixed things about it but when it finally arrived I was dying to read it. I have never seen the bachelor but I kind of watched a dating thing with Poison and I did watch a couple of episodes of Playing It Straight (a woman trying to find out which guys were gay and which were straight). That being said the whole concept sounded fun and who doesn't want to be a princess? Oh yeah...that would be America! Anyway, I digress. I enjoyed it so much more than I thought. It was so fun, and whilst it felt a little familiar, I was dying to find out what happened and now I cannot wait for the next book.

 We shall start slightly negative so I can finish on a really high note! It has been compared to 'The Hunger Games' and it did feel a little same-y at times. There were the castes, similar to the districts, where their jobs were defined by their caste. It wasn't that huge of any issue for me though. Just be warned, it is not at all like The Hunger Games in terms of violence of female protagonists. America does not have the fight that Katniss has, not that I wanted her to.

Fun is really the best word to describe it. It is like watching a Disney movie; I couldn't get enough. I was thinking about it and wanting more and it just made my heart sigh a little. It is fairy juvenile in the writing style and the romance is sweet but there are some things that prevent it from being suitable for, say 10-12 year olds, in my opinion.

I really like Maxon. I thought I would find him a little annoying but I thought he was sweet and kind and a really genuine character. Sometimes, I didn't agree with his actions but to be perfectly honest the whole dating 35 girls at once thing bothers me a little but it was destined in terms of the plot.

This will not be everyone's cup of tea. The writing is a little basic, the romance fairly clichéd but god I had so much fun! I kind of want to reread it again. Take it for what it is: a light-hearted, softer side of dystopian fiction with a touch of fairytale-esque qualities. Loved it!