Scan barcode
michellemaas's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
* Beware of minor spoilers
2.5 - ⭐⭐💫
The first installment in The Selection series. Young Adult Dystopian novel with a The Bachelor-like concept and featuring the "he falls in love first", "fake dating", "forced proximity", and "love triangle" tropes.
The Selection was blissfully mediocre. I don't know what happened or when but up until 75% I was really enjoying it. Enjoying it so much that it was on the road to a strong 4 stars but then it somehow just fell apart.
"I hope you find someone you can't live without. I really do. And I hope you never have to know what it's like to have to try and live without them."
America Singer comes from a lower-class family, so when she gets picked to compete alongside 34 other girls for Prince Maxon's heart you think she'd be thrilled. You'd be wrong. Nursing a broken heart, the last thing on America's mind is impressing some boy, but the longer she stays there and the more dangerous the rebel attacks become, the more America starts to wonder if a future with Maxon would really be that bad . . .
"True love is usually the most inconvenient kind."
First and foremost, I think that America is quite annoying. She just has such "pick me" and "I'm not like other girls" energy that she's difficult to root for and I know that was very much the stuff that 2014 female main characters thrived on and I also realize that it is very likely a product of her age, but it's still tough to swallow. Maxon's a cutie though and I would for sure marry him if he asked. Then there are the rebel attacks (seriously though, name 1 dystopian novel that doesn't have some sort of rebel group) which could have been cool but were wholly underutilized. I'm assuming Cass is going to elaborate on them in the coming books but as for now, it was just a plot device to make Maxon and America forgive each other for losing their tempers without needing an actual apology.
"It's always the fear of looking stupid that stops you from being awesome."
Some points I enjoyed: I like that Maxon and America were real. They acted their age, in the sense that they were prone to impulsive emotional outbursts, but they are also mature enough to acknowledge that and apologize when they were in the wrong. Their relationship development also felt very natural. America mentioned how she couldn't just get over her relationship of 2 years simply because she was developing feelings for Maxon which is not something a lot of writers remember or care to admit. Maxon was also just so charming and cute and inexperienced in a way that made him endearing, but he was also emotionally intelligent and compassionate. He really is the perfect guy.
"No, I’m not choosing him or you. I’m choosing me."
Overall there was nothing really creative about the plot (I said this during every update but it is LITERALLY just The Bachelor with the worldbuilding of The Hunger Games. Seriously, everything from the concept to the girls getting jealous and the speed dating is exactly what happens every season on the show . . .) and the writing was average at best but I'd be damned if I said I wasn't entertained for the most part. This is not a book I will be jumping to reread by any means, but I wouldn't consider it a waste of time and I am happy to finally know what all the hype was about.
2.5 - ⭐⭐💫
The first installment in The Selection series. Young Adult Dystopian novel with a The Bachelor-like concept and featuring the "he falls in love first", "fake dating", "forced proximity", and "love triangle" tropes.
The Selection was blissfully mediocre. I don't know what happened or when but up until 75% I was really enjoying it. Enjoying it so much that it was on the road to a strong 4 stars but then it somehow just fell apart.
"I hope you find someone you can't live without. I really do. And I hope you never have to know what it's like to have to try and live without them."
America Singer comes from a lower-class family, so when she gets picked to compete alongside 34 other girls for Prince Maxon's heart you think she'd be thrilled. You'd be wrong. Nursing a broken heart, the last thing on America's mind is impressing some boy, but the longer she stays there and the more dangerous the rebel attacks become, the more America starts to wonder if a future with Maxon would really be that bad . . .
"True love is usually the most inconvenient kind."
First and foremost, I think that America is quite annoying. She just has such "pick me" and "I'm not like other girls" energy that she's difficult to root for and I know that was very much the stuff that 2014 female main characters thrived on and I also realize that it is very likely a product of her age, but it's still tough to swallow. Maxon's a cutie though and I would for sure marry him if he asked. Then there are the rebel attacks (seriously though, name 1 dystopian novel that doesn't have some sort of rebel group) which could have been cool but were wholly underutilized. I'm assuming Cass is going to elaborate on them in the coming books but as for now, it was just a plot device to make Maxon and America forgive each other for losing their tempers without needing an actual apology.
"It's always the fear of looking stupid that stops you from being awesome."
Some points I enjoyed: I like that Maxon and America were real. They acted their age, in the sense that they were prone to impulsive emotional outbursts, but they are also mature enough to acknowledge that and apologize when they were in the wrong. Their relationship development also felt very natural. America mentioned how she couldn't just get over her relationship of 2 years simply because she was developing feelings for Maxon which is not something a lot of writers remember or care to admit. Maxon was also just so charming and cute and inexperienced in a way that made him endearing, but he was also emotionally intelligent and compassionate. He really is the perfect guy.
"No, I’m not choosing him or you. I’m choosing me."
Overall there was nothing really creative about the plot (I said this during every update but it is LITERALLY just The Bachelor with the worldbuilding of The Hunger Games. Seriously, everything from the concept to the girls getting jealous and the speed dating is exactly what happens every season on the show . . .) and the writing was average at best but I'd be damned if I said I wasn't entertained for the most part. This is not a book I will be jumping to reread by any means, but I wouldn't consider it a waste of time and I am happy to finally know what all the hype was about.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Pregnancy, and Classism
mellysay's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I hate Aspen so much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
fruitiebabe's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Medical content
love this book so so muchthecourtofreading's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Miscarriage and Rape
elderflower's review against another edition
1.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexual assault and Vomit
More content warnings: mild ableist language, slut shaming, purity culturetrintrin's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
incredibly mediocre but addicting for some reason
Initially, I didn't understand what the hell was going on when people called the main character "America" and "Mer". Then I realised way too late that it must be her name -_-
This whole "Selection" thing is just a weird dystopian Cinderella (blue ball gown on the cover is not helping at all). Mer's "I'm only here for the food" was what kept me reading. I think I like Aspen more than Maxon in this one?? Maxon's first interaction with America gave me the ick, but I also think he might be an overall better fit for her.
The caste system, including its flaws, is pretty interesting. Not sure how accurate the world is politically (wdym China annexed a debt-ridden USA and renamed it The American State of China 💀 only for them to be invaded by Russia 💀 only for them to rebel against that and form a new nation of Illéa, named after the founder 💀) but whatever, it's a romance book anyways. Ended in a cliff-hanger, so might as well binge the next one ig
Initially, I didn't understand what the hell was going on when people called the main character "America" and "Mer". Then I realised way too late that it must be her name -_-
This whole "Selection" thing is just a weird dystopian Cinderella (blue ball gown on the cover is not helping at all). Mer's "I'm only here for the food" was what kept me reading. I think I like Aspen more than Maxon in this one?? Maxon's first interaction with America gave me the ick, but I also think he might be an overall better fit for her.
The caste system, including its flaws, is pretty interesting. Not sure how accurate the world is politically (wdym China annexed a debt-ridden USA and renamed it The American State of China 💀 only for them to be invaded by Russia 💀 only for them to rebel against that and form a new nation of Illéa, named after the founder 💀) but whatever, it's a romance book anyways. Ended in a cliff-hanger, so might as well binge the next one ig
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and War
aria_'s review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really hated America. She is one of the most awful and frustrating protagonists in any book I have ever read. She is selfish, a complete hypocrite, and really not that interesting a person.
But I still loved the book. If I were to give it ratings based on different aspects, it would go something like this:
10/5 for enjoyment
-10/5 for diversity
3/5 for writing
4/5 for plot
100000/5 for fluff
5/5 for cool worldbuilding/ dystopian society
My two biggest issues with the book?
1. Does this dystopian society have to be so misogynistic? I mean, it just got on my nerves, although I know it's kinda crucial to the plot
2. Where are the lesbian/bi/pan etc. girls who were selected and fell in love with each other? (I mean, statistically speaking, at least one affair like that would have happened, alright.)
What I loved about it?
The Selection has sort of brought me out of a reading slump because of how fun and entertaining it is to read. The second I finished it, I immediately jumped into the second book, which I flew through as well.
And for the characters...
Maxon: oh yes
Aspen: seriously no
Marley: my favorite character
America: why are you the protagonist?
Mai: we deserve more of you darling girl in the book
Queen Amberly: I want the story of your selection
King whatever his name is: you're a jerk and I hate you
But I still loved the book. If I were to give it ratings based on different aspects, it would go something like this:
10/5 for enjoyment
-10/5 for diversity
3/5 for writing
4/5 for plot
100000/5 for fluff
5/5 for cool worldbuilding/ dystopian society
My two biggest issues with the book?
1. Does this dystopian society have to be so misogynistic? I mean, it just got on my nerves, although I know it's kinda crucial to the plot
2. Where are the lesbian/bi/pan etc. girls who were selected and fell in love with each other? (I mean, statistically speaking, at least one affair like that would have happened, alright.)
What I loved about it?
The Selection has sort of brought me out of a reading slump because of how fun and entertaining it is to read. The second I finished it, I immediately jumped into the second book, which I flew through as well.
And for the characters...
Maxon: oh yes
Aspen: seriously no
Marley: my favorite character
America: why are you the protagonist?
Mai: we deserve more of you darling girl in the book
Queen Amberly: I want the story of your selection
King whatever his name is: you're a jerk and I hate you
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
More...