Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Title: The Selection (The Selection #1)
Author: Kiera Cass
Pages: 327 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published on: April 24th 2012
Source: Bought from Fully Booked
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

(Summary from Goodreads)

Review:

I found this book to be incredibly intriguing. Although I can't say that I haven't heard of the same story plot before (Princess Academy, which I absolutely LOVED), it did have its own personality.

The story takes us to a girl named America Singer, who also, ironically (or not) sings. Living in a society ruled by castes, America is born in a not so well-off family. What I really like about America is that she's really steadfast, and is really determined. She's so sure of herself, you can't help but share the same emotions as she does, and I like those kinds of involvement in books. Where you don't feel like a meddling third party, but as an actual observer or friend of the character. She has this contentment that I can't help but envy in her. That while most of us want to rise from where we are now and want to attain a higher status, she's perfectly content being a Five as long as she's with the one she loves or A.K.A Aspen. So when things take a turn for the unexpected, she's thrown off the slow train ride of predicted bliss and catapulted to the realm of the unknown. While she didn't really plan on being a candidate to be the next princess, she enters the contest anyway and grows a fondness with Prince Maxon and things finally start to get sunny for her. But just as the sun shines through the clouds, she finds an old love and can't resist him, because after all, He's the one she really loves. Story wise, I really loved and adored how the book kept involving the reader in as the story unfolds. What I didn't like, though was how (slightly) cliche. The whole She-Doesn't-Want-To-But-She-Does-And-Falls-In-Love,-Past-Comes-Back-Who-Does-She-Choose bit. But all in all, its a real page turner. The only issue I have with this book was with the whole common storyline.

I'd recommend this to those chick-lit fanatics but not so much on the action gals. So if you're a romantic, go right ahead and check it out! :)

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