When you're a book blogger, reader and writer it's hard not to want to conform to the hype of books. You can fight it for as long as you want but eventually you'll read the book and it'll either be as good as everyone said, or worse than a trip to hell.
Blurb:
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 realises that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.
Review:
If you enjoy match maker television shows you’re going to enjoy this book. Firstly the book’s cover is absolutely stunning. As you’re probably aware by now I am OBSESSED with book covers, and I judge the book solely on them before I even pick something up of the shelf. I love that the focus is on one girl but there are fragments of her behind, and the blue is just beautiful. I have to admit that because this book got so much hype I was trying to ignore it completely. However, when I was searching for my next holiday book through NetGalley I saw this book, the cover drew me in and the blurb made me need to know what was going to happen. So I took my chances with it and requested a copy. Thankfully Harper Collins liked me and now I have purchased the entire series, keep an eye out for more reviews.
Overall I was incredibly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Looking around I can see many people who didn’t have the same experience I did while reading the book, but when I got to the end there was nothing my heart wanted more than to hug America. The conflict she must’ve felt between being torn away from a forbidden love to then be competing for a prince’s heart must’ve been awful. What I loved is that Kiera makes you feel those emotions too. As soon as I finished this I went out a bought the rest of the series so you know I LOVED IT.
This book is not the usual genre I would pick up, as a sucker for fantasy and magic but there was something in this book that truly captured me and gave me a great reader experience. The characters were absolutely wonderful. America Singer is introduced wonderfully, she’s got this forbidden romance with the boy next door who’s a lower caste than she is, and she want’s nothing more than to marry him. Until her mother, and the boy in question, have other plans for her and convince her to enter into Prince Maxon’s Selection. She’s so reluctant at first and it really brings out her character through the whole process.
As soon as America met Marlee I knew they were going to be the best of friends. Their meeting was brilliant and bonding over how nervous you are is instant best friend status. This grows through the book and the selection. Throughout the book I always had this notion that as America was the main character she’d be the one to win the Selection. However, while Maxon’s first meeting with America is so bittersweet, this first meeting definitely makes you think that both of them have no idea what they are doing in this situation.
There are just as many shocking moments, as there are emotional and this book definitely turned my mind from the usual fantasy reads that I grab. I’m super pleased this book forced its way into my heart (and even inspired some elements of my own stories) and made me love a different genre. I would definitely recommend it and it gets 5/5 stars!
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