The Selection - Book Review

The Selection (The Selection #1)
by Kiera Cass

What is it about:
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.

What did I think of it:
There's a lot of things in this book you could completely pick apart.

There's America: the 'too good to be true' fiery redhead, desired by two men.

Maxon: The crown prince of the country, who is being groomed to be a leader, but doesn't know why there are rebels and what they want.

Aspen: the most pathetic excuse for a love interest I saw in quite a while.

The way the country is set up: a caste system that is bound to fail.

From these points of critique you might think I didn't like this book, but I have a confession:

I found this book to be very entertaining.

Really: this book is like a Disney movie: overly sweet, predictable, but so enjoyable.

I was hooked from the start and even though America was sugarcoated perfection (with some dark chocolate added to the mix to add some bite), I rooted for her and the girls she befriended. Maxon, in all his ignorance, was a sweet love interest, and I was a bit bummed that Aspen was thrown in the mix. (After something Aspen complained about at the start of the book, he made it impossible for me to ever like him again, I will confess.)

The story is entertaining and a mix of The Prince and Me and America's Next Top Model (or another such reality show), complete with bitchy girls who try to steal other girls' thunder and get them kicked out of the Selection.

The inclusion of rebels was a bit unnecessary in my opinion, but I'm guessing there will be more about what they are for in the next book.

All in all this book was an enjoyable read. I will certainly read the next book in this series, because this sugar rush is addictive.

Why should you read it:
It's a very entertaining YA read.