Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection (The Selection #1)
by Kiera Cass 

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 realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

 "The Selection was no longer something that was simply happening to me, but something I was actively a part of. I was an Elite." 

I read a lot of mixed reviews of this book, so I wasn't sure if I would pick it up or not. But I'm really glad I did. I saw a few people compared this book to The Hunger Games, I did see a bit of similarities, for instance The caste system is numbered from one to eight. One being the highest and Eight being the lowest, It did confuse me a bit in the beginning, I didn't understand what the number's meant, and if the numbers weren't capitalized I would have been wonder why there were numbers thrown into the sentences! lol, But it didn't really bother me at all, after I knew what it meant, I got used to it! I really liked the idea of the story, a competition between 34 girls who compete to be Prince Maxon’s wife and the princess.

I liked most of the characters... except Celeste. Marlee, I liked her in the beginning but towards the end of the story she turned a bit strange, although I am looking forward to finding out her secret in the next book. Besides the exception for Marlee, the girls wasn't at all what I was expecting, which was good. I thought they were all going to vindictive, so I was surprisingly happy to find most of the girl were nice.

The romance between America and Aspen, I really liked. I would be happy if they did end up together, though I don't think they will. ;)
They just had so much chemistry between them, I loved reading parts of the book they interacted. I also liked America and Maxon, they were adorable together, and he was sweet, but overall in the romance department, I preferred Aspen!

The thing I didn't like about this book was the ending, as soon as I was really getting into it, it ended! I do wish this book was a bit longer, but overall I really liked this book, and I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series! ★★★★☆