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magikspells's review against another edition
2.0
Very few things annoy me more than when a book is intentionally written as a series. There was no conflict, nothing resolved, and really no plot to this book other than it being like a royal version of the Bachelor. And this is definitely not the sort of novel to look at too closely because there's no really definition why things happen. I mean why would China invade America because of the debt situation and yet all of these people are still living in the lap of luxury. It's very confusing.
The bad part is, I don't hate the characters, I just wish something actually happened. We'll see what happens with the next book, but honestly this is just background noise right now.
The bad part is, I don't hate the characters, I just wish something actually happened. We'll see what happens with the next book, but honestly this is just background noise right now.
protoman21's review against another edition
4.0
For years I didn't read this series because I assumed it was just a The Bachelor knock-off with women dressing up to look pretty and impress a man. Boy was I wrong! The premise is basically that, but it seems nobody told that to America. America has no interest in marrying the prince, nor did she even want to enter her name in the Selection, but once chosen, she sees that she can help her family by playing along. She doesn't try and trick Maxon into falling in love with her or play catty games with the other women, but instead she strikes a deal with Maxon himself and guarantees herself and her family a bigger payday. She has brains and she has moxie and she isn't afraid to speak her mind or go for what she wants. What I appreciate most is that she isn't just a smart aleck, but someone who has a voice and can make you laugh without just backtalking or insulting people.
Sometimes the love interest in these stories is unrealistically perfect, but Maxon comes across as a genuinely good man who is put in an uncomfortable, though envious position, where he is bound by tradition and responsibility to make a choice not just for himself, but for his entire nation.
I hesitate to question Cass before I finish the rest of the series, but in my opinion the weakest part of the book was the development of Aspen. Perhaps the love triangle isn't going to play out the way that I expect, but I'm afraid we weren't given enough of Aspen to have him be competition for Maxon. Yes, he has history with America, but we don't see that where we do see Maxon and America from the beginning. I hope that I am proven wrong, but at this point I'm not sure if too many people are Team Aspen.
Looking forward to reading the next book!
Sometimes the love interest in these stories is unrealistically perfect, but Maxon comes across as a genuinely good man who is put in an uncomfortable, though envious position, where he is bound by tradition and responsibility to make a choice not just for himself, but for his entire nation.
I hesitate to question Cass before I finish the rest of the series, but in my opinion the weakest part of the book was the development of Aspen. Perhaps the love triangle isn't going to play out the way that I expect, but I'm afraid we weren't given enough of Aspen to have him be competition for Maxon. Yes, he has history with America, but we don't see that where we do see Maxon and America from the beginning. I hope that I am proven wrong, but at this point I'm not sure if too many people are Team Aspen.
Looking forward to reading the next book!
tearbear418's review against another edition
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
naturenoble's review against another edition
4.0
Wanted to smack America the whole time and WHY THE FUCK ASPEN BECOME A GUARD LIKE BRO GO TF AWAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY but I still liked the book
panprincess's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
josworld96's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
abbypenn2003's review against another edition
3.0
This book has been quiet good in my opinion. I was a little nervous about starting bc of all the different opinions this book gets, but this book was pretty good. It's good enough to me that I will continue on with the series!
mariangmakiling's review against another edition
1.0
actual rating: half a star.
"Half a star, Cat?"
Yep.
The cover saved it from a 0-star rating.
Exhibit A:
America Singer lives in the dystopian monarchy of Iléa, which used to be--you guessed it--America.
Oh. She's also a gifted singer.
Exhibit B:
America's family falls under a low caste, and while hunger is said to be a huge problem of theirs, they eat pasta and chicken, apples, and popcorn.
It seems that in Kiera Cass's vision of a dystopian future, pasta is the poor-man's food.
Exhibit C:
Sexism: Aspen, America's ex-boyfriend (and, obviously, one of the points in this book's inevitable YA love triangle), breaks up with her because she's her family's breadwinner. Men can marry women in lower castes, but vice-versa is forbidden. The slut-shaming is constant and the concept of virginity is constantly enforced, and while I get this is a dystopia and readers are supposed to be uncomfortable, the author does nothing to fight this kind of culture besides throwing descriptions of beautiful dresses to distract readers from the flaws of the glittering Iléan society.
Exhibit D:
This, ladies and gentlemen, comes from the mouth of the man thirty-five girls are competing tooth and nail for: “You are all dear to me. It is simply a matter of discovering who shall be the dearest.”
If this isn't enough to make you cringe, here are some other memorable quotes:
"And of course he would love America! She’s so beautiful,” Mom swooned.
“Please, Mom. If anything, I’m average.”
“America, you must know you’re a very lovely girl.”
“If I’m so lovely, how come no one ever comes by to ask me out?"
“Please don’t call me gorgeous. First my mom, then May, now you. It’s getting on my nerves.”
By the way Aspen was looking at me, I could tell I wasn’t helping my “I’m not pretty” case.
He smiled.“I can’t help it. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. You can’t hold it against me for saying it the only time I’m allowed to."
He reached up and cupped my face, and I looked deep into his eyes.
“It's always the fear of looking stupid that stops you from being awesome.”
“I can’t help it." I sighed. "One can never help being born into perfection.”
Aspen was dressed in white. He looked angelic.
That was it. I slapped him. “You idiot!” I whisper-yelled at him. “I hate him! I loved you! I wanted you; all I ever wanted was you!”
"If you don't want me to be in love with you, you're going to have to stop looking so lovely."
All in all, I wanted a story as pretty as its cover and one worth my money. If I wanted trashy reality TV, I would've turned on the TV instead of walking to a bookstore and wasting a spot on my bookshelf.*
*EDIT: I don't regret keeping it this my shelf. Every once in a while, when I lose the motivation to write, I look up to where this book sits and I'm reminded that anyone can do much, much better.
"Half a star, Cat?"
Yep.
The cover saved it from a 0-star rating.
Exhibit A:
America Singer lives in the dystopian monarchy of Iléa, which used to be--you guessed it--America.
Oh. She's also a gifted singer.
Exhibit B:
America's family falls under a low caste, and while hunger is said to be a huge problem of theirs, they eat pasta and chicken, apples, and popcorn.
It seems that in Kiera Cass's vision of a dystopian future, pasta is the poor-man's food.
Exhibit C:
Sexism: Aspen, America's ex-boyfriend (and, obviously, one of the points in this book's inevitable YA love triangle), breaks up with her because she's her family's breadwinner. Men can marry women in lower castes, but vice-versa is forbidden. The slut-shaming is constant and the concept of virginity is constantly enforced, and while I get this is a dystopia and readers are supposed to be uncomfortable, the author does nothing to fight this kind of culture besides throwing descriptions of beautiful dresses to distract readers from the flaws of the glittering Iléan society.
Exhibit D:
This, ladies and gentlemen, comes from the mouth of the man thirty-five girls are competing tooth and nail for: “You are all dear to me. It is simply a matter of discovering who shall be the dearest.”
If this isn't enough to make you cringe, here are some other memorable quotes:
"And of course he would love America! She’s so beautiful,” Mom swooned.
“Please, Mom. If anything, I’m average.”
“America, you must know you’re a very lovely girl.”
“If I’m so lovely, how come no one ever comes by to ask me out?"
“Please don’t call me gorgeous. First my mom, then May, now you. It’s getting on my nerves.”
By the way Aspen was looking at me, I could tell I wasn’t helping my “I’m not pretty” case.
He smiled.“I can’t help it. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. You can’t hold it against me for saying it the only time I’m allowed to."
He reached up and cupped my face, and I looked deep into his eyes.
“It's always the fear of looking stupid that stops you from being awesome.”
“I can’t help it." I sighed. "One can never help being born into perfection.”
Aspen was dressed in white. He looked angelic.
That was it. I slapped him. “You idiot!” I whisper-yelled at him. “I hate him! I loved you! I wanted you; all I ever wanted was you!”
"If you don't want me to be in love with you, you're going to have to stop looking so lovely."
All in all, I wanted a story as pretty as its cover and one worth my money. If I wanted trashy reality TV, I would've turned on the TV instead of walking to a bookstore and wasting a spot on my bookshelf.*
*EDIT: I don't regret keeping it this my shelf. Every once in a while, when I lose the motivation to write, I look up to where this book sits and I'm reminded that anyone can do much, much better.
ritmanbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Relectura, 2020: Me ha gustado tanto como la primera vez que lo leí. Además, ahora conozco todos los detalles de la historia de antemano y puedo ver todos los guiños escondidos que incluye la autora. Lo estoy disfrutando muchísimo.
Primera lectura, 2015: Me leí este libro en dos días.
Es corto, ligero y entretenido. Tiene drama, romance, cotilleo y hasta algo de acción.
Se trata de una especie de reality show, donde una serie de candidatas intentan conquistar el corazón del futuro rey, mezclado con tintes de cuento de princesas, pero en versión moderna, con una protagonista con mucho carácter. No es un gran libro, de esos que te marcan, pero es muy fácil de leer y te hace pasar un buen rato.
Si os gusta el romance y los libros de los que no puedes despegarte, os lo recomiendo.
Primera lectura, 2015: Me leí este libro en dos días.
Es corto, ligero y entretenido. Tiene drama, romance, cotilleo y hasta algo de acción.
Se trata de una especie de reality show, donde una serie de candidatas intentan conquistar el corazón del futuro rey, mezclado con tintes de cuento de princesas, pero en versión moderna, con una protagonista con mucho carácter. No es un gran libro, de esos que te marcan, pero es muy fácil de leer y te hace pasar un buen rato.
Si os gusta el romance y los libros de los que no puedes despegarte, os lo recomiendo.