ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review

Synopsis: 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 the palace and compete for the heart of the 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. -Goodreads

Review: I wasn’t expecting to like this book. I had read some reviews that made the book out to be cheesy and an embodiment of some of the worst features of YA literature. None of those opinions was entirely wrong, but I loved this book! Yes, the names are usually too prettified to take seriously, and this book has so many things in common with The Bachelor not to notice, but it was still a great read and one I will be recommending to my Mom & sister who aren’t big YA readers but would both love this book even more than I did.

I thought I knew exactly how this story would go (I’m sure a lot of you could make some pretty good guesses) and in some ways, it was fairly predictable but still enjoyable, but it also threw me for a few loops. The love triangle was interesting (which is hard to find in a love triangle) and America’s relationship with the price was actually a lot of fun and I’m curious to see how it will play out. I’m not even sure who I’m rooting for her to end up with!

I enjoyed the dystopian society this story is set in, but found it a little simplistic. Naming the castes by number kind of took me away from the story for awhile but I do want to know more. Some elements seemed a little Panem-esk to the point where it was an obvious influence, but it didn’t take it far enough that it took away from the story or seemed like a rip-off.

Between the Hunger Games comparison and The Bachelor storyline, there aren’t a lot of unique ideas here, but everything came together really well and criticism aside, I would really recommend this book for anyone looking for a great YA escape from reality.

Buy the book @Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN)

Rating:

Second Opinions:
@For Those About To Read
@Bloggeries
@Katie’s Book Blog