BOOK REVIEW: The Selection (The Selection #1) By Kiera Cass

Summary:
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 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

Rate: 4 out of 5 stars

My Thoughts:
     The Selection was described as The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor - and if you know me a bit, you know that I love The Hunger Games! (BUT COME ON, WHO DOESN'T) They weren't that much alike, though. But I still loved The Selection. ALOT
    I'm gonna be honest with y'all. The only reason I first bought this book was because of the cover. Just look at it! That dress is Beautiful! Whoever made that dress is a genius. i wouldn't mind wearing that for a day!
    Okay, enough with the cover! This book was great! Kiera Cass wrote a book that was both entertaining and romantic. The whole setting was nice. What really got me clinging to this book, was Maxon! Don't get me wrong! i loved all the characters.....except Aspen (I'll explain later on)
      I loved the story in The Selection so much. It was just a ton of fun – and dystopians aren’t usually fun, per say. (ya know. It's usually blood and guts and WAR WAR WAR) I liked idea of the caste system a lot. And the idea of competing for the Prince’s attention. It was a combination of The Bachelor and Cinderella. And bonus heaviness with the war going on and what not.
      As for the characters in The Selection – I’m usually team original boy, but I honestly really only liked Aspen in the beginning. The other side of the triangle is Aspen. I don't like him. The little slime-ball dumped America because she gave him some food then had the balls to come crying back to her. NO! I hope she ends up with Maxon. When Prince Maxon entered the picture, I was like "Aspen who?"I love Maxon. He is totally misunderstood. He isn't stiff, aloof, mean. He's actually really sweet and CUTE. As for America herself, I was rooting for her the whole time and I liked her. I liked her independence and determination, and I think she’ll end up with Maxon (my opinion).
    All in all, I BETTER GET THE SECOND BOOK ASAP OR I WILL EXPLODE!! DO YOU FEEL MY PAIN, KIERA???
    The ending wasn't necessarily a cliffhanger. You weren't going "GASP! WHAT? DID THAT JUST HAPPEN??". It was more of a "Wow. I need the next book NOW!". Which reminds me.......I need the next book now!

Quotes:

“Do you think the ability to sleep in
counts as a special skill?” I asked Dad, trying to sound torn over the decision.
“Yes, list that. And don’t forget to write that you can eat an entire meal in under five minutes,” he replied. I laughed. It was true; I did tend to inhale my food.
“Oh, the both of you! Why don’t you just
write down that you’re an absolute heathen!” My mother went storming from the room.”
― Kiera Cass, The Selection


“...Maxon lowered his lips to mine and gave me the faintest whisper of a kiss.

Something about the tentativeness of it made me feel beautiful. Without a word, I could understand how excited he was to have this moment, but then afraid at the same time. And deeper than any of that, I sensed that he adored me.

So this is what it felt like to be a lady.”
― Kiera Cass, The Selection


“Mom was bossy. Even in print I could hear her tone, smugly congratulating me on already earning the prince's affections and telling me firmly to keep up whatever I was doing.
Yeah, Mom, I'll just keep telling the prince that he has absolutely no shot with me and offend him as often as I can. Great plan.”
― Kiera Cass, The Selection

“- Just that. Your family must be very different from mine.
- I’d say so. - I laughed. - For one, no one wears their tiaras to breakfast.
- Maxon smiled. - More of a dinner thing at the Singer house?”
- “Of course.”
― Kiera Cass, The Selection