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helenafaustina's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Disclaimer: I did not find anything to like about this book so I'm going to be brutally honest with this review. If you loved the book, you may not want to continue reading. 😂
Perhaps the title, The One, was a hint to how I would give it one star. Perhaps I should not have picked up a series because it was popular and continued reading to say that I finished a story so that people couldn't tell me I don't deserve an opinion unless I know the end. (Actually, that's not a perhaps. Don't waste your time with books you don't like, even if they are quick.) I've seen this series described as mental junk food, and that is a perfect description. But it never gave me the pleasure that junk food does, BUT it did make me really appreciate other actual pieces of literature.
First off, we have America. The ultimate cliche girl who prefers pants, doesn't like makeup, thinks she's ugly, and all that jazz. She's "brave", "unique", (even though I only recall a few examples of when she was reckless with good intentions) and "has a good moral compass and love of doing the right thing" even though she has abundantly shown herself to do the wrong thing way more, such cheating on a guy she's dating (with zero remorse or conscience pricks), jumping to whatever conclusion her brain reaches first, and being impure. And no, I don't care if that's "the norm" for the series, immodesty still isn't right and I'm not going to adjust my opinion on this for a character's trashy standards.
Then we have the boys, the 2/3 of the love triangle. Maxon, the prince, who in the first book, actually seems pretty decent! He keeps his distance, he has standards, I had expectations for him! Expectations WHICH HE SLAUGHTERED when he (probably catching on from America) dates and flirts with the other girls and keeps one especially for backup. He hangs out with one of the most hated girls just because, oh woe is me oh poor little neglected boy, he wants the experience. BAH. Aspen doesn't get much better. He definitely never treated America like a lady, not that she gave him any reason to. But in this book, he doesn't show up much unless it's to give a hurt look to America or whatever. But then his problem is quickly done away withwhen all of a sudden we find out that he's in love with someone else! Now everyone can live happily ever after, hooray!🎉 I'm sorry, but that's a cheap plot.
Then, the one character I liked, Marlee, ends up destroying my faith in humanity as well whenshe cheats on Maxon. And everyone's like, aw poor Marlee, she doesn't deserve that! First of all, she could have gotten way worse. Secondly, she literally broke an oath and the law AND was impure, why should she have any special kind of sympathy? I liked the maids too, until they conspired with America to design a dress to attract Maxon. 🙄 That, by the way, is the only time America takes the time to think of something with a plan. The only character I ended up remotely liking was the queen, who turned out to be a bit spineless and she died, not only in a lackluster ending but it seriously wasn't fun. Then there's the tyrannical bully of a king who-ah, what's this? Another weak plotpoint? HE DIES! Also, can we talk about how when something interesting starts to happen America gets locked up so we don't get to see it??
I could go on (especially about how the whole politics and war subplot makes no sense), but I'll leave with this: This book teaches that if you are attracted to someone and have feelings for them, you can do a whole bunch of horrible things and it's fine because it's meant to be, and therefore beautiful, because all's fair in love and war or whatnot, and you'll end up together in the end! It shows that a lack of self control or ability to stop and think is just fine and dandy if you have good intentions. It's false romance.
Perhaps the title, The One, was a hint to how I would give it one star. Perhaps I should not have picked up a series because it was popular and continued reading to say that I finished a story so that people couldn't tell me I don't deserve an opinion unless I know the end. (Actually, that's not a perhaps. Don't waste your time with books you don't like, even if they are quick.) I've seen this series described as mental junk food, and that is a perfect description. But it never gave me the pleasure that junk food does, BUT it did make me really appreciate other actual pieces of literature.
First off, we have America. The ultimate cliche girl who prefers pants, doesn't like makeup, thinks she's ugly, and all that jazz. She's "brave", "unique", (even though I only recall a few examples of when she was reckless with good intentions) and "has a good moral compass and love of doing the right thing" even though she has abundantly shown herself to do the wrong thing way more, such cheating on a guy she's dating (with zero remorse or conscience pricks), jumping to whatever conclusion her brain reaches first, and being impure. And no, I don't care if that's "the norm" for the series, immodesty still isn't right and I'm not going to adjust my opinion on this for a character's trashy standards.
Then we have the boys, the 2/3 of the love triangle. Maxon, the prince, who in the first book, actually seems pretty decent! He keeps his distance, he has standards, I had expectations for him! Expectations WHICH HE SLAUGHTERED when he (probably catching on from America) dates and flirts with the other girls and keeps one especially for backup. He hangs out with one of the most hated girls just because, oh woe is me oh poor little neglected boy, he wants the experience. BAH. Aspen doesn't get much better. He definitely never treated America like a lady, not that she gave him any reason to. But in this book, he doesn't show up much unless it's to give a hurt look to America or whatever. But then his problem is quickly done away with
Then, the one character I liked, Marlee, ends up destroying my faith in humanity as well when
I could go on (especially about how the whole politics and war subplot makes no sense), but I'll leave with this: This book teaches that if you are attracted to someone and have feelings for them, you can do a whole bunch of horrible things and it's fine because it's meant to be, and therefore beautiful, because all's fair in love and war or whatnot, and you'll end up together in the end! It shows that a lack of self control or ability to stop and think is just fine and dandy if you have good intentions. It's false romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, Violence, Medical content, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Murder, Sexual content, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and War
Minor: Confinement, Bullying, and Classism
Chapter 2 can be skipped. After an announcement happens in Chapter 27, the rest of that can be skipped too. There's mid-level language in the book.prashiie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
“Not wanting the crown means you're probably the best person to have it.”
The Selection is coming to an end and it’s finally time for Maxon to decide who is going to be the One. Even when she decides to let go of Aspen, America still doesn’t understand Maxon and makes it unnecessarily complicated. As if the king not liking America didn’t make it complicated enough for her. The king finds new ways to hurt America’s image, but her reaction to it only inspires the public and makes them love her more. And it was so good to see that the four remaining girls started to bond more, very wholesome. We even find out that Celeste has a heart, can you imagine!
The Northern rebels had a slightly bigger part in this book and we learn more about their motives and their allies. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I have to admit the ending felt very abrupt. It just felt very anti-climatic.
Very close to the end, Maxon finds out about America and Aspen. He had his doubts before, but trusted her too much to let it influence him. But when he finds out his gut feeling was right all along, he is heartbroken. Then, the southern rebels attack and kill Celeste, just when she starts acting like a human being. At the same time, Maxon gets wounded and this near-dead experience makes him realise how much America meant to him. This makes him forgive her. No need to talk about it, no need to even know if the affair is still going on. The king also died during the attack, very convenient as that also solved a big problem. They were now free to marry each other and to change the country, just like that… The book ends with their marriage and we only get a glimpse of the changes that are waiting for Illéa.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent and Violence
Minor: Grief, Blood, and Vomit
becca_w_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Infertility, Medical content, Torture, War, Blood, Body horror, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Child abuse, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Confinement, Miscarriage, Murder, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Terminal illness
haleybre's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, War, Classism, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol, Confinement, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Grief, and Bullying
embla_v's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
4.25
Jag fortsätter att förvånas av att the Selection är så bra. Jag trodde inte det här när jag började läsa.
I den tredje och sista delen i the Selection serien med America som huvudperson. Det finns två till böcker med en annan huvudperson.
Urvalet är snart över och America är kvar. Kan kronan och Maxon bli hennes? Vill hon det, kan hon det? Ja och America ska ge allt för ett sista försök att vinna. Samtidigt som urvalet pågår är rebellerna aktiva och attackerna blir värre. Men vad gör man om man tycker de har rätt? Kan hon kanske förändra världen som prinsessa?
I den utvalda får man veta vem som Maxon väljer, frågan är bara om det är America eller någon av de andra tjejerna?
Detta är en fantasy och dystopisk bok. Den fokuserar på kärlek, vänskap och intriger samtidigt som de befinner sig i en värld som är allt annat än perfekt. Skulle rekommendera boken till unga tjejer (och andra) som är 12+.
I den tredje och sista delen i the Selection serien med America som huvudperson. Det finns två till böcker med en annan huvudperson.
Urvalet är snart över och America är kvar. Kan kronan och Maxon bli hennes? Vill hon det, kan hon det? Ja och America ska ge allt för ett sista försök att vinna. Samtidigt som urvalet pågår är rebellerna aktiva och attackerna blir värre. Men vad gör man om man tycker de har rätt? Kan hon kanske förändra världen som prinsessa?
I den utvalda får man veta vem som Maxon väljer, frågan är bara om det är America eller någon av de andra tjejerna?
Detta är en fantasy och dystopisk bok. Den fokuserar på kärlek, vänskap och intriger samtidigt som de befinner sig i en värld som är allt annat än perfekt. Skulle rekommendera boken till unga tjejer (och andra) som är 12+.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Bullying, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Sexism, Violence, and War
asthxte's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Gun violence, and Bullying
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Cursing
bailey1196's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Death of parent
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