Ah, the infamous book that launched a thousand drama llamas. We meet again.
Let's just jump right into it. I can sum up this entire book thus: the cover is deceiving. Yep, it's one of those super pretty ah-I-need-it books with a boring plot and awful writing. Pretty standard fare these days.
The characters are completely one-sided. The author made a few weak attempts at crafting diverse, multi-faceted people but that just made them seem forced. America's mom was super weird and excitable. She comes across like a former beauty pageant queen who tries to relive her glory days through her daughter. I kinda feel like I just ruined some secret in the coming books for myself. Anyways, she's annoying. Aspen is the tough guy in lurvvv but at some point he blows up at America because she spends her own money on food for him and this challenges traditional gender roles. HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE PROVIDER, AMERICA. What is this, the 1800s?? I thought this book took place way beyond present time. There's also a bit of girl hate - Celeste is the beautiful but cruel bitch that will do whatever it takes to win the crown/princess-ship (is that a word?). She also like, probably sleeps around to get ahead. She targets America by trying to swap dresses at the photoshoot, which obviously nobody would notice. She is a menace to us all.
The relationship(s) is/are completely one-sided. America goes on and on about how much she loves Aspen, but where is our evidence of this? Because they make-out a lot? Because he touched her hand while they helped her brother move? Why do they like each other?? And of course as soon as America's at the palace, we don't really hear anything about Aspen until he physically reappears in her life. Which, let me just say that the whole excuse of "catching" that other girl that "fell" at America's going-away party is probably the worst excuse I've ever heard. But America buys it and throws herself at Aspen until she remembers she's falling in love with Maxon. I guess the only time she likes him is when Maxon isn't around. Don't worry, he's never going to give up!!!1
The writing is just..ugh. Queen Amberly is just so amazing and smart and beautiful and everyone loves her but we never SEE that. We are told that by America and many other people. The King is strong and brave and protective but we never SEE that either. For rulers of the country (why did America become a monarchy?) they might as well just be paintings on the wall for all they contribute to the story. Those violent attacks by the rebels where they sack the place looking for something (THAT NOBODY IS CURIOUS ABOUT) are so out of place and unnecessary I'm not sure why they're included. So that Maxon can tell America state secrets? So that America can be speshul and caring because nobody else cares about their maids' lives? So that we stick with the series to uncover the mystery? Not likely.
The whole Selection process just read to me as a ripoff of The Hunger Games. The girls are selected from each state (?) through a random drawing. They have going away parties and their families are compensated for their involvement. They have interviews with a flamboyant character on the government-run TV channel. The people are updated with their progress throughout the process. I would almost bet my cat that the author read The Hunger Games and thought, "what if the competition was to marry a prince??"
Things That Fall Flat In The Selection
- America
- America's friendships with the other girls
- America's relationship with her family
- America's relationship with Maxon
- The characters
- The plot
- The writing
- Everything else
Summary
I distinctly remember liking this a lot more the first time I read it. For a hot second I thought about scanning this review for spoilers but then I remembered nothing happened for me to spoil. Good thing I have the sequel! :/ Why did I give this that extra half star? The cover.