Scan barcode
A review by thepetitepunk
The Selection by Kiera Cass
3.0
i never read this when i was a kid because the series featured GIRLS IN PRETTY DRESSES on the covers and i was NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS so i could never read a GIRL IN A PRETTY DRESS book obviously, but if 12 year old me knew that the main character also was NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS maybe i would have devoured this whole series lol.
exactly what i was expecting except somehow i enjoyed it slightly more than i thought i would? it is absolutely a cookie cutter example of the 2010s dystopian trend—society sectioned off into clear groups (labeled by numbers of course), a protagonist who is Not Like Other Girls (she doesn’t think she’s beautiful!!! but of course she is the most beautiful!!!!! also boooooo everyone who wears makeup is fake and ugly) + has a stellar name (america!), and an insufferable love triangle.
i wasn’t expecting to finish it in one sitting but i was here for the drama.
it’s a little misogynistic and one thing i thought was strange was the weird emphasis on the potentiality of sexual assault, where the girls are warned that they should never say no. naturally our protagonist gets a little scared which makes our love interest prince boy incredibly upset as if he’s the victim because how dare she be afraid of a very real power imbalance. also they do a lil virgin check before the contest begins omg i do not think that would fly in YA in this decade. semi-mixed messages but it is what it is. saying this is the hunger games x the bachelor is very accurate.
anyway, a note to me a decade ago: just read the fancy dress books. they probably will reflect your internalized misogyny. it’ll be fun i promise.
exactly what i was expecting except somehow i enjoyed it slightly more than i thought i would? it is absolutely a cookie cutter example of the 2010s dystopian trend—society sectioned off into clear groups (labeled by numbers of course), a protagonist who is Not Like Other Girls (she doesn’t think she’s beautiful!!! but of course she is the most beautiful!!!!! also boooooo everyone who wears makeup is fake and ugly) + has a stellar name (america!), and an insufferable love triangle.
i wasn’t expecting to finish it in one sitting but i was here for the drama.
it’s a little misogynistic and one thing i thought was strange was the weird emphasis on the potentiality of sexual assault, where the girls are warned that they should never say no. naturally our protagonist gets a little scared which makes our love interest prince boy incredibly upset as if he’s the victim because how dare she be afraid of a very real power imbalance. also they do a lil virgin check before the contest begins omg i do not think that would fly in YA in this decade. semi-mixed messages but it is what it is. saying this is the hunger games x the bachelor is very accurate.
anyway, a note to me a decade ago: just read the fancy dress books. they probably will reflect your internalized misogyny. it’ll be fun i promise.