Scan barcode
cath_reads_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It’s safe to say this series has me absolutely hooked! It’s basically The Bachelor but with actually intelligent people, and the political status of an entire country hang in the balance of the outcome.
I thought I was Team Maxon before this book; now I’m definitely Team Maxon forever.It’s heartbreaking to read about what a difficult spot he’s in: trying to be compassionate and show mercy to people around him while dealing with a tyrannical and abusive father. Finding out that Maxon has been taking physical punishments and beatings from his father for years absolutely broke me. And it made me love Maxon so much more, because clearly those punishments had not broken him or turned him into a monster of a person.
America continues to be the upstanding, caring, thoughtful heroine I needed in my life. She is devoted to what is fair and good, even if it means giving up a little of her privilege for others. In every decision she’s making she’s weighing not only what would be good for herself, but good for the country and the citizens of Illéa. I know she’s got doubts, but I honestly think she would make a fantastic princess and an even more wonderful queen! As an aside: I absolutely adore the relationship she has with her maids. 💜 She truly values everyone regardless of caste.
It was clear from the end of this book that Maxon and America have an extremely tough time ahead.There’s still four girls left… cannot wait to see how The Selection ends!
I thought I was Team Maxon before this book; now I’m definitely Team Maxon forever.
America continues to be the upstanding, caring, thoughtful heroine I needed in my life. She is devoted to what is fair and good, even if it means giving up a little of her privilege for others. In every decision she’s making she’s weighing not only what would be good for herself, but good for the country and the citizens of Illéa. I know she’s got doubts, but I honestly think she would make a fantastic princess and an even more wonderful queen! As an aside: I absolutely adore the relationship she has with her maids. 💜 She truly values everyone regardless of caste.
It was clear from the end of this book that Maxon and America have an extremely tough time ahead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Genocide
ellionora's review against another edition
emotional
tense
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Torture, Death, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Gaslighting
Minor: War, Medical content, Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
luvlynk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Confinement, and War
siglerbooknook's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a reread for me that I remember really loving as a teenager.
I can definitely see why I liked this so much. It is funny and cute and light-hearted. As an adult some of the plot points for the lead characters a bit trivial, but the book isn't aimed at adults, so that doesn't effect the star rating.
While I enjoy a lot of the banter and adore the side characters immensely, I often found the reasons behind decisions, America's temper, and the miscommunication forced. She makes so many rediculous assumptions and often acts out. But I guess I was just as impulsive at 17.
I still find this story incredibly cute and one I look forward to keeping in my collection and sharing with friends in the future.
I can definitely see why I liked this so much. It is funny and cute and light-hearted. As an adult some of the plot points for the lead characters a bit trivial, but the book isn't aimed at adults, so that doesn't effect the star rating.
While I enjoy a lot of the banter and adore the side characters immensely, I often found the reasons behind decisions, America's temper, and the miscommunication forced. She makes so many rediculous assumptions and often acts out. But I guess I was just as impulsive at 17.
I still find this story incredibly cute and one I look forward to keeping in my collection and sharing with friends in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Classism, Domestic abuse, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Infertility, Grief, and Body shaming
musen_henning's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Physical abuse, Blood, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Miscarriage
ilaronicly's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Torture, Domestic abuse, and War
booksandstardust's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Gun violence, Sexual content, and Sexism
Minor: Infidelity, Child death, War, and Infertility
agiecummings's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Again, this is a book I have read literally countless times. But I am re-reading it in 2023 and actually taking the time to write my review out.
This is a 4.5⭐️ read for me, but it is SO CLOSE to a 5, and it only suffers from the fact that America starts to piss you off a little with her attitude towards Maxon and I think this book would really benefit from a dual POV so you could know what he was thinking. Because you start to think her reasoning is correct, even though in reality he fully loves her. And I think that probably is an accurate reflection of feelings of people in this situation (basically being cast on The Bachelor), but it’s so frustrating to have ONLY that perspective.
Similarly, I think we gloss over the king hurting his son too quickly. I just need to name that those actions make the king heinous and I’m glad he gets killed in Book 3, there I said it.
Finally, the scene in the safe house/hideaway is one of my fave scenes in a book ever. Only slightly topped by a scene in Book 3, which I’ll discuss once I’ve re-read. But I love how romantically Maxon is written and I love how much these two actually love each other.
Book 2 is still fab because you finally have America realizing that Aspen isn’t what she actually wants, and there’s nothing better than that: knowing that she’s here for Maxon and they’ve simply ✨got✨ to end up together. ❤️
This is a 4.5⭐️ read for me, but it is SO CLOSE to a 5, and it only suffers from the fact that America starts to piss you off a little with her attitude towards Maxon and I think this book would really benefit from a dual POV so you could know what he was thinking. Because you start to think her reasoning is correct, even though in reality he fully loves her. And I think that probably is an accurate reflection of feelings of people in this situation (basically being cast on The Bachelor), but it’s so frustrating to have ONLY that perspective.
Finally, the scene in the safe house/hideaway is one of my fave scenes in a book ever. Only slightly topped by a scene in Book 3, which I’ll discuss once I’ve re-read. But I love how romantically Maxon is written and I love how much these two actually love each other.
Book 2 is still fab because you finally have America realizing that Aspen isn’t what she actually wants, and there’s nothing better than that: knowing that she’s here for Maxon and they’ve simply ✨got✨ to end up together. ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse
kenzie_simone456's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, War, and Domestic abuse
wet_towlette's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
🖕😾🖕 that’s how America makes me feel. Anyway, it was fun 🤩 but so repetitive. It’s like so much happened but also nothing happened.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol and Bullying