PREMISE
"In a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels, The Selection is the chance of a lifetime: to compete for Prince Maxon's heart. But for America Singer it means turning her back on her secret love, and leaving home for a prize she doesn't want.
Then America meets Maxon and all her plans start to crumble. Can the life she's always dreamed of compare to a future she never imagined?..."
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Okay, here we have another dystopian novel emerging from the huge "Hunger Games" aftermath.
In this particular post-apocalyptic world, society is made up of eight different classes, 'One' (being royalty) to 'Eight' (being homeless and a slave).
America is a 'Five'. She's poor and hates the Royals who govern them and 'make up the rules'. She's also going out with Aspen who is one of the Sevens and, by default, a servant. It's against the law to go out with anyone outside your class, so here we introduce the first real excitement - FORBIDDEN LOVE!
However, obviously The Selection happens, Aspen gets all mean and broody about it, and America has to move away to the Palace. Here she starts to fall in love with Prince Maxon instead......
*gasps in shock*
That about sums up the whole thing. It feels like the book cut off in the middle of the story for me. Sure, something important plot-wise happens in the end, but the book just finishes there and there's no real cliffhanger. I wish the author had taken more time with this book, to fully understand what it was, exactly she was writing about. Was it the story of how a forbidden love survives in a controlling world? Or the tale of two opposites in society falling for each other? I'm not sure. Nothing really gets resolved in this book, and I don't particularly want to buy the next one.
WHAT I DID LIKE:
- Okay, I'll admit it. It was the cover that sucked me in. Really, who doesn't want that dress? It's freaking gorgeous! Sadly, it raised my expectations too much. The lesson learned: don't judge a book by it's cover. No doubt I'll forget that again soon though.
- Aspen. Though a complete asshat in one part, still made me swoon a little. The chemistry between America and him was scrumptious. Mmmm. :)
- I liked how it wasn't Insta-Love between Maxon and America. It was nice to see a relationship actually developing instead of the whole "I just met you but we're going to have beautiful babies and I know you feel the same way" once in a while.
NO. JUST NO:
- Love triangles. Why? Do authors not realize that in order for them to work, our heroine - who is usually trying to be independant - has to be indecisive and make stupid decisions at key moments? Aggh! This is a source of constant frustration for me and I just want throttle the heroine when I read the telltale "Eh. But I don't know what I want! Why is it so hard?!" that appears in someway, shape or form in every single YA book I've read recently.
Granted, it wasn't so bad in this book, because Aspen was being pretty awful. But still!
- There was a small problem with the continuity. America was always portrayed as the strong, keep-it-together character (except for the bits about the love triangle...), but in one particular scene, she completely breaks down because she couldn't get outside. Then, what's even worse is that her apparent claustrophobia is never mentioned again. WTF?
- There was NO chemistry between Maxon and America. None whatsoever! If your going to make someone a love interest, we have to feel the attraction!
Anyway, it's a good book if your a procrastinator like me and want to avoid talking to people, but try not to get your hopes up if you look at the cover and are like "Oh my God! I want me one of them dresses!"
I give it two magic hats. It wasn't magical enough for me.
