The Selection - Kiera Cass

The thing about teen reads is that once you pick them up, it's so fun and quick to read them. This one was finished in 6 hours. Not 6 hours flat, there was an overnight break in the middle. It got put down very reluctantly at 2 in the morning. Anyway...

The Selection is a countrywide competition full of beautiful girls vying for the love/crown of Prince Maxon, the heir to the throne. America Singer is one of those girls. The problem? She's already in love with someone else. And it's about to get even more complicated.

The story is great, if a little obvious for an adult reader. But that's what makes it a great. It's light-hearted, funny and lovely. You don't have to think too much about it, you just read and it whizzes by.

This book is very reminiscent of Wither, by Lauren DeStefano, in the way that both main characters feel trapped in a 'gilded cage' and have extremely mixed feelings. The closeness of other women vying for the same young man and the sense of sisterhood the reader gets is also very like it.

It also picks up on the recent dystopian idea of reality television - a world where you are chosen for something, and people watch your every move. However, this is nothing like The Hunger Games.
This book is a delight to read. The characters are lively and likeable. Their conversations are hilarious; you find yourself laughing out loud. And America, the protagonist, is relateable. We've all been through what she's going through, only on a less grand stage.

This is a pretty short review, because saying much more will ruin the plot for those of you who are interested in reading it. So without further ado it gets 5 out of 5 stars and applause. I can't wait to get started on the next in the series, The Elite, which comes out in April. But in the meantime I'll settle with the kindle short story that's coming out in February (The Prince).