The Selection by Kiera Cass: Book Review & Annotations

I absolutely adore The Selection series. I have been rereading this series for roughly seven years now and I don't intend on stopping anytime soon. I actually found this series all those years ago, not knowing it was a series, but rather thinking The Elite (the second book in the series) was its only instalment. I was very pleased to know that there were more books to keep me engaged in this series. I'm going to go through my initial thoughts on reading the first book in this lovely series, as well as the annotations I made and some pros and cons of this book! (P.S. This review involves spoilers!! You have been warned!)

Pros of The Selection by Kiera Cass Love Triangle I really do enjoy a spicy, complicated love triangle in a romance novel. The story starts off immediately with complicated characters America and Aspen and their relationship with each other already being on the rocks when America is drafted as one of The Selected to participate in a royal competition reminiscent of The Bachelor to win Prince Maxon's heart. America leaves Aspen in anger after a lover's quarrel, and she heads to the palace where she meets Prince Maxon. You can only imagine what kind of mess America finds herself in when Aspen shows up at the palace as a guard! Men Written By Women There's something about when a romance novel includes male characters written by a woman; the character becomes more desirable as he tends to be more emotionally available and vulnerable, generous, kind, patient and the overall perfect man. Kiera Cass does an amazing job at writing the male characters in this book - even when they're rude or upset - so intriguing and expressive, I just love it. She makes the relationship between a man and a woman more believable than most, and she does it through a delicate gaze that isn't forced, but really makes you believe the chemistry between the characters is palpable. Humour Although it's a dystopian teen romance, there is a lot of humour in this book. Right off the bat, what comes to mind is the first meeting of Prince Maxon and America, where he claims he doesn't know what to do when women around him cry. It's so funny to me because it's so true, that most young men - especially those who have spent their nose in a book for the past nineteen years like Maxon - would have the same reaction. Then there's another situation where America knees Maxon right in the...groin. That whole scene plays out hilariously, mainly because of Maxon's shock at America's action - nobody has treated him like that before. Cons of The Selection by Kiera Cass Slow Burn The majority of this book is basically just America and Aspen's story, which although necessary to the plot, had me bored after a little while and really just craving the excitement that was hinted at (America going to the palace). Nevertheless, the love story between America and Aspen is very sweet and really hits home to those who reminisce about a first love, or rather one in secret as America and Aspen experience both together. It takes a while for America to meet Prince Maxon, and maybe it's because I read book two first, but I just couldn't wait to see more from them two rather than America and Aspen. #TeamMaxon #SorryNotSorry I'm not going to lie, there wasn't much about this book that I didn't like. I truly did find it entertaining, and I looked forward all day to reading it in my bed and going into the fictional world of Illéa. Book two, however, I am MUCH more passionate about.

Thank you so much everyone for reading my review and annotations of The Selection by Kiera Cass, I really do appreciate it. Have you ever read this series? If so, what's your take on it? Are you Team Maxon or Team Aspen? Leave a comment, let's chat! A presto, Melissa