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erica_reads_things's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
An alright and entertaining play on dystopian era YA novels meets the Bachelor. Wasn't the best thing I've ever read but I want to finish the series to know what happens, so that's something! The characters are interesting and I like seeing the development.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Classism
Moderate: War
Minor: Death, Violence, and Sexual content
isabelleroyall's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, War, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Blood, Classism, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Violence, and Child abuse
mrsalexisrjones's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This book is a dystopian telling of the bachelor. A prince in search for a wife, why not gather random women from different classes and let him date them all?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Classism, and Death
Minor: Sexual content
mrsalexisrjones's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This book is a dystopian telling of the bachelor. A prince in search for a wife, why not gather random women from different classes and let him date them all?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Classism, Death, and War
Minor: Sexual content and Rape
ellawatwat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual assault and Slavery
becca_w_'s review against another edition
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Classism, Bullying, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Violence, Sexism, Grief, Colonisation, and Infidelity
Minor: Death
ilovegilmoregirls's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Violence, Bullying, Classism, War, and Trafficking
Content warnings more about - rape (past) War- mentionedviviette's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Well… this series is a rollercoaster. Read the whole 3 book series in 3 days though—but—I don’t think I liked it…? I mean, yes it was interesting, but my obsession was just me aching for more romance; like, I just wanted them to have eye contact! It’s such a slow burn, but the satisfaction at the end of the series is real. The thing is, I didn’t continue on to the 5th book—read the 4th—but then realized Maxon and Americas daughter doesn’t end up with who I wanted her too so I stopped at around page 100 of the 5th bookDefinitely recommend the first 3, just not the last 2. Have fun being tortured!
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny, Death, and Confinement
dayniw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Classism, Bullying, and Child death
itsmeyseniab's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
2nd read: April 2022 - 4.5 stars
This was so much fun the second time around! The plot was the perfect amount of lightheartedness that I needed, and it truly reads like a reality television show at times. Although I find the plot to be interesting, it was lacking at times, it just felt very repetitive and lacked substance at times (ie. the "dates" weren't unique to each other, and a lot of the same conversations were had between our main characters). I did notice that Kiera Cass borrowed a LOT from Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games: from the caste system to the love triangle to the Selection itself. I don't think it's a bad thing to be inspired by another story for your own, but it just felt as though I were reading the same story at times (minus the murder lol). It got a little distracting at times. I also felt like the ending was incredibly rushed, which contributed to me not giving it another five star rating.
I thought our two main characters America and Maxon were good, but like I just stated I felt as though they were clones of Katniss and Peeta. America was very abrasive, self-sufficient and opinionated (much like Katniss) and I loved to see it! Prince Maxon started as being very soft-spoken, gentle and romantic in a shy way (hello, Peeta??) which gave me butterflies. I just loved how they complemented each other, and how they put a lot of emphasis on their friendship: it was refreshing, especially in the YA romance genre. I did enjoy the supporting characters as well, I just wish America developed more relationships with the other girls in the Selection (aside from Marlee and Celeste) so their departures would hold more weight. I cannot STAND Aspen, and I am not invested in the love triangle whatsoever. I will say, the reason why I docked it half a star on my re-read was due to the characterization - I felt as though Kiera Cass struggled with this at times, specifically at the end. There was a particular conflict with Maxon that felt incredibly out of character, and was obviously put in place to push the plot forward to book 2, which took me out of the story.
I am excited to continue on with this series though!
1st read: July 2018 - 5 stars
This was so much fun the second time around! The plot was the perfect amount of lightheartedness that I needed, and it truly reads like a reality television show at times. Although I find the plot to be interesting, it was lacking at times, it just felt very repetitive and lacked substance at times (ie. the "dates" weren't unique to each other, and a lot of the same conversations were had between our main characters). I did notice that Kiera Cass borrowed a LOT from Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games: from the caste system to the love triangle to the Selection itself. I don't think it's a bad thing to be inspired by another story for your own, but it just felt as though I were reading the same story at times (minus the murder lol). It got a little distracting at times. I also felt like the ending was incredibly rushed, which contributed to me not giving it another five star rating.
I thought our two main characters America and Maxon were good, but like I just stated I felt as though they were clones of Katniss and Peeta. America was very abrasive, self-sufficient and opinionated (much like Katniss) and I loved to see it! Prince Maxon started as being very soft-spoken, gentle and romantic in a shy way (hello, Peeta??) which gave me butterflies. I just loved how they complemented each other, and how they put a lot of emphasis on their friendship: it was refreshing, especially in the YA romance genre. I did enjoy the supporting characters as well, I just wish America developed more relationships with the other girls in the Selection (aside from Marlee and Celeste) so their departures would hold more weight. I cannot STAND Aspen, and I am not invested in the love triangle whatsoever. I will say, the reason why I docked it half a star on my re-read was due to the characterization - I felt as though Kiera Cass struggled with this at times, specifically at the end. There was a particular conflict with Maxon that felt incredibly out of character, and was obviously put in place to push the plot forward to book 2, which took me out of the story.
I am excited to continue on with this series though!
1st read: July 2018 - 5 stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Bullying
Minor: Death and Miscarriage