Book Review: The One (Selection #3) by Kiera Cass

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads):   The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen—and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.

Find out who America will choose in The One, the enchanting, beautifully romantic third book in the Selection series!

My Thoughts:  I've loved this series since book one and I wasn't disappointed with The One.  I am very happy with the way it ended and I'm happy with the choice that America made.  

America finally grew up and dealt with things with a little more maturity.  She doesn't spend her time whining about how unfair things are and she finally makes a decision as to what she wants and decides to fight for that choice.  

I am glad that America was able to put aside her bad feelings for Celeste and they started to become somewhat friends.  It was refreshing to see Celeste as a decent human being instead of the horrible one that she was in the first two books.  She still has issues but at least she is tolerable now.

I do think that America could have handled her relationship with Aspen so much better, especially when it came to telling Maxon about him.  There were many opportunities when she could have spoken to Maxon about the relationship and America was never brave enough to do it.  In the end, it (of course) causes a lot of unnecessary heartache.  

I thought there was a good amount of action in the book and I liked how America tied all the pieces together about who was involved with the Northern Rebels and how the Northern Rebels were so different from the Southern Rebels.  I enjoyed the new characters that were from the Northern Rebel gang.

I thought the book ended on the right note.  America gets to fight for her man (whether she gets him or not is another question) and the trouble with the Rebel groups keeps things interesting and action packed.  If you have enjoyed the other two books in the series, I think you will be happy with this one as well.

Book Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  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.

My Thoughts:  I did like this book but not nearly as much as I liked The Selection.  I think one of the reasons why I didn't like it as much is because American really annoyed me in this one.  She is so wishy-washy that I wanted to smack her.  

We left off with only 6 girls remaining in the selection.  They were America, Celeste, Marley, Elise, Natalie and Kriss.  Celeste is still a major brat and I cannot stand her.  Elise and Natalie are okay but it is clear that they are only there because they are easy to manipulate and Elise has an "in" with the country she is from.  Celeste is obviously only there because she is a Two so she is already "a lady" and she's beautiful.  Marley and Kriss are the peoples' favorites so that leaves America at the bottom of the list.  However, Maxon has continued to assure her that she is the one for him.

America still has feelings for Aspen though and since he is a guard at the palace, she sees him frequently.  This means that she is unable to let him go.  It is also one of the reasons that America really annoys me in this book.  When something serious happens, America pushes Maxon away and it seems to me that she goes back to Aspen as a "back-up" plan yet she gets upset with Maxon for suddenly spending more time with Kriss.  I completely understand why she was upset with Maxon.  Heck, I wanted to beat him up too but she doesn't give him a chance to really explain himself.  I admire America's morals and ethics and the fact that she isn't sure she could become a princess but she is always talking about changing things and what better way to change things than to become princess and then eventually queen?  

I like Aspen and he is always there for America but I am fully Team Maxon.  Especially when you discover a little more about Maxon's relationship with his father.  The king is a total and complete jerk and you really can't help but admire Maxon for finally (somewhat) standing up to him.  Aspen is a great friend to America but he is someone from her past and she has changed now so I think it is time for her to let Aspen go.  

America was a very strong character in the first book.  However in this book, I felt that she lost her edge.  She was constantly whining about who to chose, Maxon or Aspen.  Then, if Maxon made her angry or she didn't agree with something going on in the palace, she would demand that Maxon send her home and then she would change her mind and cry that she wanted to stay.  It was so frustrating!  Then there were the times when she was just reckless and didn't think before acting or speaking.  

I did like the idea of the selection (because I secretly love The Bachelor and this is very similar) and I liked Maxon.  I enjoyed reading about the riots because it brought a little danger and excitement to the book but America really needs to get her act together for the last book!

 

Book Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

**Received this book from Around the World ARC Tours for review**

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  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.

My Thoughts:  I'll let you guys in on a little secret here...I LOVE The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.  Yep, it's slightly embarrassing but my DVR is set to record every Monday night.  It is my guilty pleasure.  So, when I read about this book I immediately signed up to read it and I am so glad I did!

America Singer  is the third child is a family of five children.  She is also a 5.  In this (very light) dystopian novel, people are divided into castes with 8 being the worst of the worst (homeless, no education, no food, etc). and 1 being celebrity status (super wealthy, well educated, etc).  America and her family are artists.  Her father and brother paint and sculpt, America and her mother sing and play musical instruments.  

Castes females are not suppose to "marry down".  An upper caste male can choose a lower caste female and then she becomes the higher caste.  However, if the female is upper caste and choses to marry below her, she becomes part of the lower caste.  This is important to know because American is in love with Aspen and Aspen is a 6.  They keep their relationship a secret a meet once a week secretly.  

Then the letter comes.  It is from the palace and invites America to take part in The Selection.  Girls from all castes fill out an application, take their picture and then enter into what is suppose to be a lottery.  35 girls get picked to live at the palace and vie for Prince Maxon's love and attention.  Aspen begs America to enter so he won't feel like he has held her back.  America finally agrees because she is sure she won't get picked.  Surprisingly though, she does get picked and after a fight with Aspen, American must decide if she is going to play the game or go back to Aspen.

I loved this book more than I can say!  America was an awesome character.  She was strong and independent and really very nice even when some of the other girls were being catty.  She is completely thinking of her family when she goes into the palace and wants to stay to help them out (they get money for her being at the palace).  She loves her siblings and is so sweet to her maids.  America is not perfect by any means but then....who is?  I like that that she was shown as imperfect.

Aspen is sweet and really wants what is best for American as well.  He doesn't want to bring her down (which is what he would do if he married her) but loves her so much.  He has a lot of pride though and that hurts their relationship.  

I simply loved Prince Maxon!  He is the perfect bachelor!  He is unsure of himself as he hasn't really had any chance to date...you know, between ruling a country that is riddled with wars and trying to keep a budget up, there isn't a lot of spare time.  He is so nice and totally understanding.  He tries not to lead any of the girls on, therefore dismissing them as soon as he feels there is no connection.  Unlike The Bachelor, there are no rose ceremonies here.  Maxon just dismisses as he wishes.  

If I were in the Selection, I would really want  a friend like Marlee!  She is sweet, bubbly and always cheerful.  She is super nice and (as far as I know) wants what is best for Prince Maxon.  She appears to be hiding some sort of secret though so I will be really interested in seeing what this is all about.  Her relationship with America is sweet and I like how quickly they bonded.  

Celeste is horrible!  She is the girl that everyone wants kicked off the show but for some reason (I personally think it is for ratings) they keep her on to the very end.  Yep...this is Celeste.  Celeste is a 2 (I think) and very spoiled.  At one point in the book she tells America she wants something that America has and just expects America to hand it over.  Total conniving brat!  

The story was great.  I enjoyed watching American and Maxon as their relationship grew.  I really liked that America treated her maids so kindly and actually became more of friends to them, playing cards and gossiping with them.  

Besides romance there is some suspense in this book as well. The world is full of wars and the king and queen are constantly under attack.  There are several tense moments when the girls experience this.  It really kept things fast paced and interesting.

This was a very fun, fast paced and fluffy read.  I enjoyed every minute of it and will be buying it as soon as it is released!