Book Review: The Selection

Title: The Selection 

Author: Kiera Cass

Genre: Young-adult, dystopia, romance  

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication date: April 24, 2012

Synopsis: 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. Read more ... 

Review: I fell in love with the cover, and unfortunately that is where my love for this novel ended. I had read that The Selection was a mix between The Hunger Games and The Bachelor. And, although I am not a fan of The Bachelor, the comparison to The Hunger Games was enough for me to want to read this latest dystopian novel.

A mix between The Hunger Games and The Bachelor captures perfectly what this novel is. Unfortunately, I felt that The Selection contained too many aspects that were similar to The Hunger Games and was full of the mindless drama that is present in any episode of The Bachelor. Additionally I feel that it's crime to even compare this novel to The Hunger Games as the writing was awkward, all the characters were predicable and underdeveloped, and the world building was almost nonexistent.

The Selection was boring and painful to read at times. The plot did not process much in this 327-page novel. The idea of the novel – a competition for the Prince’s hand in marriage – is additionally the central and (basically) only plotline. Additionally, as this first novel in the trilogy ends with no resolution to the competition, I can only assume the completion and love triangle, will continue to be the central aspect of the following two novels.  

The only aspect of this novel that slightly intrigued me was the brief parts in which it was explained how this society was created and the history of Illea. Unfortunately, not very much time was spent on this element of the novel. Additionally, I did not feel that how the society and government was an oppressive regime was adequately explained. The fact that the contestants were not even forced to enter the competition, but that it was voluntary, did not make be feel the same kind of fear or disgust as in The Hunger Games.

Overall The Selection is probably the worst novel I have yet to read in the wave of dystopian novels being published as of late. It was sadly predictable, and forgettable. If you are looking for a mindless beach read, I would be hesitant to even recommend this novel. Maybe a younger audience would enjoy it more? Even still, this novel lacked the interesting component of a dystopian novel as not much time was spent explaining the structure of the society, and the ways in which citizens are controlled - the girls are not even forced to enter the pageant! I was sadly disappointed with this novel.

Bottom Line: Skip this and move on to …

What you might enjoy, instead: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or Divergent by Veronica Roth

My Rating: 2.0/5.0