The Selection ~ Kiera Cass

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.

☆☆☆☆

This book for me was an interesting mix – it almost felt like a mix between the bachelor and (I’m probably going to get a lot of comments for this) the Hunger Games. An odd mix, I know … but surprisingly it kinda worked. The whole premise of this book is for Prince Maxon to find his future bride from 35 girls from around the country.

I found that the characters were rather predictable however. You have America who is an independent, free-spirit who doesn’t really fit in with her role in society and who wants to live her life the way she wants to regardless of society’s rules or expectations. America is definitely different from the rest of the girls in the Selection – first of all, she really didn’t want to be a part of this whole thing and only entered to help out her family. She does not find Maxon attractive and really does not want to become his wife but is rather simply content to remain his friend, only problem is that I see Maxon falling for her and she will probably end up being his choice and will become his princess.

Ok so like I said, I found that there were quite a few similarities between The Selection and The Hunger Games. They both feature a competition to reign supreme in the country oh and they are both televised for the public to enjoy. They both have strong, independent female heroines who have been dealt a crappy hand in life but who are then given the opportunity to bring fame and fortune to their impoverished families therefore dramatically changing their lives forever – sure Katniss is fighting to literally survive whereas America is simply fighting to remain in the competition for the prince. They both have a class system – the rigid caste system in The Selection and the districts in The Hunger Games.

This was a quick, easy read … and definitely not something that I would normally pick up but it was still enjoyable despite the cliff-hanger ending that annoys me to no end . . . I hate having to wait for the next installment!