Happily Ever After - Book Review

Happily Ever After (The Selection)
by Kiera Cass

What is it about:
A companion volume to the bestselling The Selection series - extra stories and never-before-seen extras. Fans should prepare to swoon! The achingly romantic and stylish four The Selection enovellas - The Prince, The Guard, The Queen and The Favorite - together in one irresistible volume. Plus exclusive extra content - Art for each of the novellas, a new intro for each of the novellas and 3 brand new scenes from each of the first 3 novels.

Contains:
-The Queen, Amberly’s novella
-The Prince (with the two bonus chapters), Maxon’s novella
-The Guard, Aspen’s novella
-The Favorite, Marlee’s novella
-Lucy’s scene (bonus scene from The One)
-Three scenes from Celeste’s POV
-The bonus epilogue
-Where are they now?
-A map
-Various illustrations

What did I think of it:
Although I was disappointed by The Heir, I liked the original Selection trilogy, so I was very happy when I got this collection of novellas and bonus scenes.

And this is a fun addition to the trilogy.

I loved The Queen. Queen Amberly is such a nice character in the books. It was great to get to learn more about her and how she got to be picked in her own selection. I think Cass did a good job in showing how easy it can be to make wrong choices out of (misguided) love or devotion.

The Prince and The Favorite were both really enjoyable as well. It was The Guard that was my least favorite. I didn't like Aspen in the books, and in this novella he once more confirmed he's a selfish, petty jerk, in my opinion.

The other scenes and 'Where are they now' bits were a nice extra addition to the novellas. I'd advice this book to fans of the series only. If you haven't read The Selection series you won't get much out of it. I will confess that it's been so long since I read the books that I had no clue who one of the 'Where are they now' girls was, so if you haven't read the books you'll be even more lost than I.

All in all this is an enjoyable and entertaining read, and I will keep it with the other books of the series for possible rereading. And knowing myself I will most possibly cave and buy the next book in the series as well, even though I had serious issues with The Heir. Who knows: maybe The Crown will be just as much fun again as the first three books.

Why should you read it:
If you liked the original trilogy you'll enjoy this book.

The Heir - Book Rant

The Heir (The Selection #4)
by Kiera Cass

What is it about:
Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

What did I think of it:
As you might have noticed I didn't call this a review. I also am going to get spoilery a bit.

I liked the first three books: they're sugary, but fun. So when I picked this book up I was expecting to like it.

But there was one major thing in this book that bugged me: the message it gives.

What this book tells us is that a woman can't be strong and independent. Eadlyn keeps getting told she's not acting girly and soft enough to be liked. She needs to fall in love with a boy and act gooey with him to have people like her.

This book tells us that having people like you, is needed to rule a country as a woman. It tells that ruling a country is about being popular, instead of being capable and strong enough to make hard decisions.

This message that is flowing through the story as an undercurrent made that I could't care about the rest of the story. So there are a bunch of guys Aedlyn has to chose from. Some are nice, some are jerks. The boy who will win Aedlyn's heart in book five was clear to me from the first sentence about him (if I'm wrong, I will be really surprised).

I did finish the book, but I doubt I will pick up the next book. I will keep the original trilogy though and reread that when i'm in the mood for sugary Dystopia.

Why should you read it:
Maybe I'm being too harsh on the book, and you might not mind the message it gives.

The One - Book Review

The One (The Selection #3)
by Kiera Cass

What is it about:
The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

What did I think of it:
After two sugary Disney-flavored books ,this one turns a bit darker.

I will confess I enjoyed this book much more than the second book in this trilogy. This is for large part because Aspen plays a smaller role again and isn't as annoying as he was in The Elite. America and Maxon made me want to kick them at times, but overall they too were less annoying.

The rebels play a larger role and finally some things become clear, while others are still kept in the dark and made no sense.

There were some things that you could see coming from miles away. It was clear to me for example, why suddenly the bitchy girl was painted in a more positive light. I also had a feeling about some of the big events in this book. Other events came as a surprise, I will confess.

Overall this is a very enjoyable book, and I was satisfied with how it ended.

This whole trilogy is entertaining and I will certainly reread it when I'm in the mood for something light and sweet. I might even try other books by Cass in the future.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable Dystopian YA fairytale.

The Elite - Book Review

The Elite (The Selection #2)
by Kiera Cass

What is it about:
Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

What did I think of it:
I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, so I just had to get my trotters on The Elite.

And although I still enjoyed many elements of this flawed Disney-flavored Dystopian fairytale, I was also seriously annoyed.

I mentioned in my review of The Selection how I thought Aspen was the most pathetic excuse for a love interest I encountered in quite a while. In this book he plays a much bigger role and he managed to get me even more pissed off than he did in book 1. Really: I can't understand why America likes him. Any sane girl would run for the hills instead of throwing herself in his arms.

And if Aspen isn't annoying enough: both America and Maxon are changing their feelings about things more often than a chameleon changes its colors during a firework show.

But even with all those annoyances this story has something addictive. I read this book in almost one sitting, totally captured by the sugary, disastrous love triangle.

There's more about the rebels in this book, as I predicted, but still its vague what they want and why. There's also some new characters introduced, and even though they had small parts in this book, I really liked some of them, and hope to see more of them in the next book.

Overall I enjoyed this book, although not as much as the first. Still I'm very curious what will happen next, so I will be reading the last book once it releases for sure.

Why should you read it:
Despite the most annoying love interest ever this is an enjoyable and entertaining read.

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.