The Selection by Kiera Cass (♥♥♥)This book is Cass' debut novel. (As a side note, this author, slightly adorable. I highly recommend you go watch some of her YouTube videos if you're interested in her work, just an entertaining vlogger, or a behind-the-scenes peek at becoming a new author with a large company.) As a debut novel, The Selection has two large strong points, and then a few weaknesses to balance it out.
- First, this book has nicely done true-to-life relationships. America--it did take me a while to swallow this name, but I got used to it--and her family seem real. The biggest highlight though, is a love triangle that doesn't feel utterly out of place and fake. America's conflicted feelings regarding Aspen (awesome name), and later the prince, seem true. I particularly liked the movement of allowing for America to feel conflicted because of her suitability for the role queen. This hasn't been fully explored but the hints gave me hope for a multifaceted set of feelings and desires.
- As far as fearing this book would be nothing more than a dystopian port of The Bachelor: well, it kind of is and it kind of isn't. The slow creeping tensions regarding the rebels and the fear associated with invasions of the palace, all point to a stronger plot taking center stage in the second book. So, the first book's frivolous and gimmicky tagline could very easily be forgiven considering the expert handling of a slow burning fire taking place at the same time. This forgiveness, of course, is hinged on the fact that Cass carries this potential to its fullest extent in subsequent books. The Selection had enough romance (maybe 80% romance to 20% plot) to start the series off, if two more books are planned, I would, as a reader, enjoy toning that down to 40:60 in the second book, and then bringing it back up to 65:35 in the last.
- A few things were lacking in this book for me. I would have enjoyed much more world-building. The first book in the series sets the stage and presents the context. This book was focused much more on the context and cultural history of the selection and the caste system, but less so on the context of the immediate world these characters live in. I would have liked to see America's life outside of her home and her interludes with Aspen. Just taking us to one of her and her mother's jobs would have been a nice eye-opener. I want to see the markets where her family sells their goods, how they get in contact with their patrons. I want to meet America's friends, although there is a hint she doesn't have any. That in itself is bothersome; how could America not have any friends outside of Aspen?
- I'm also really interested in what life is like for the royal family: what are their actual duties, are they an actual monarchy or is there a semi-republic/democratic system also in place, how many advisors are there and what do they do, etc. I would also like to know about more of the other girls in the selection. Granted there are a ton of them, but hopefully as they have been narrowed down to six the author can explore the individuals a bit more.
- At the end of all things, this book was a quick easy read that I didn't want to put down. I'm excited by the prospect of a more powerful political plot, and getting know the other girls in the selection better. A possible change of POV to showcase the context around the royal family, and maybe America's family so we can know more about their day-to-day lives, is exciting. Hearing Aspen's point of view would also be nice. I could easily be happy with American realizing her potential as queen and joining with Prince Maxon, or re-establishing her love for Aspen and joining with him on an adventure to save the country showing everyone that you don't have to be a 1 or 2 to be a catalyst for a better world. OR, though I don't think this route will be taken, America can realize her potential as a powerful self-motivated figure who can bring about change, she joins the Northern rebel colonies to try and assist with their plight, and leaves behind the idea of marriage after finding fulfillment in striving to provide for those without provisions.
- Okay, okay, bottom line: this book had potential. Oodles of it. Never quite hit the bar for me, but it kept me reading and I'll be picking up the second book.
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