The Selection (The Selection, #1)

by Kiera Cass

[Joséphine]

Initial thoughts: It's no mean feat to avoid spoilers for years. Before finally reading my copy, which after all that time on my shelves has yellowed edges, all I knew was to expect The Bachelor, royalty-style. I've never watched a full episode but I suppose ANTM cuts pretty close too. Contestants are catty, some however do forge friendships and impressing the powers that be is tantamount.

Given how little I care for reality TV, I'm surprised how much I did enjoy The Selection. Perhaps I picked it up at the right time: when I was looking for a light-hearted quick read. Bonus for being amusing. I liked the straight talk and the real self that America sought to display and her vehemence against anything that requires her to put on a front for the sake of appearances.

While this isn't a book I'd re-read or push onto anyone as a must-read, I'm glad I did read it after all. It's a fun one and I'm continuing with The Elite next, if only to reduce the proportion of unread books on my bookshelf. I might even watch it on screen when it comes out. I do believe in the entertainment value, despite the evident regression of humanity. That that should be the future post World War 4 is implausible but that hardly seems to be the intent in the first place.