Book Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks (7 Jun 2012)
• Language: Unknown
• ISBN-10: 0007466692
• ISBN-13: 978-0007466696

Thirty-five beautiful girls. Thirty-five beautiful rivals…

It’s the chance of a lifetime and 17-year-old America Singer should feel lucky. She has been chosen for The Selection, a reality TV lottery in which the special few compete for gorgeous Prince Maxon’s love.

Swept up in a world of elaborate gowns, glittering jewels and decadent feasts, America is living a new and glamorous life. And the prince takes a special interest in her, much to the outrage of the others.

Rivalry within The Selection is fierce and not all of the girls are prepared to play by the rules. But what they don’t know is that America has a secret – one which could throw the whole competition… and change her life forever.

The Selection had a little bit of everything. Part dystopian. Part reality show. Part romance. Part love triangle. 

For any girl, getting to be a part of the Selection is a chance in a lifetime. Prince Maxon needs a wife, and must choose between thirty five girls whilst the nation watches.

But getting chosen isn’t America Singer’s dream. In fact it’s her worst nightmare. By being chosen she must leave Aspen, the boy she really loves. Aspen refuses to be selfish, and urges America to go through with it, for he is a lower caste of society than America, and can’t give her the future she deserves.

America thought Prince Aspen was a weakling, a wimp who was spoiled and shallow. The reality was something quite different, and despite her preconceived notions, the pair embark on an easy friendship. And as the number of girls dwindle and America remains at the palace, her heart begins to soften to Maxon. 

The Selection is a book you can’t help but fall for. It was a very easy read, but only in the sense of it was achingly easy to fall into. I found myself hating having to put it down to take care of mundane things like...life. 

America herself was a likable character, and Maxon was the epitome of dream prince. I slipped into this world so easily I didn’t want it to be over. The author wrote herself such a good book that the wait for the sequel is sure to be agonising.