The Selection series by Kiera Cass- A Reread Book Review

Note: This review is spoiler free (spoilers are all marked and have warnings)!
Book: The Selection series
Author: Kiera Cass
Genre: Dystopian
Age: For readers 13 and up 
Rating: 5/5

I hate all books that are solely focused on romance… butttttttt the Selection series is the only exception. 🥰  I don’t care how cringy this series is, I will never stop loving it lol. IT”S JUST SO FUN TO READ OK?! I know I’ve trashed on a lot of books throughout my blog that honestly are no worse than the Selection series in terms of cringiness, but YOU KNOW WHAT? I still love this series. 😌  It’s fine. I’m a hypocrite. I admit it. 😖   Actually, that’s funny for me to say because in two paragraphs I’m going to rant about how much of a hypocrite America is…. Oh whale 🐳 it takes one to know one I guess! 🤷‍♀️

Anyways, is it really a Bookconfessionssecrets’ book review if I don’t rant about a book?? So even if I love this series, I’m going to rant about it. Here we go:

What I disliked about this series:

1. America: I’ve read this series three times, and all those three times I have painfully read through pages upon pages of America being an idiot. 

• Exhibit A ( Spoilers for Book 1): How in the world could America get angry about Maxon hanging out with the other girls in the Selection when she was two timing Maxon with Aspen? It was very hypocritical. It’s worse because America knew from the beginning of the series that Maxon’s job is to hang out with all 35 of them. But Maxon has no idea about Aspen the entire series. I have no idea how America could get so angry at Maxon when she was cheating behind his back.

• Exhibit B: WHY DOES SHE RANDOMLY BURST OUT IN TEARS IN “THE ELITE”?! The first time was in the beginning of the book (chapter 3 I think???) and Maxon was holding her. Then America randomly bursts out crying because she pictured Maxon holding someone else in the same way. Like it’s fine to get jealous but what was the reason for a sudden crying session? 🤠
• Exhibit C: America was so petty and angry at Maxon for not saying “I love you” to her for the entire series. She claimed that if Maxon had just said those three little words, she would be sure of his love for her and choose him over Aspen. First of all, I don’t see America saying the three words either. Which is fine, but then you can’t just turn around and complain about how Maxon doesn’t love you back just because he didn’t say a few words (which America never said to him anyways). It’s like she’s expecting a lot but not ready to give anything in return. Anyways, I’ve never really understood the big deal about saying “I love you”. They both have acknowledged their love for each other in so many ways. How can three words suddenly mean more than all of their previous actions? They’re just words. Actions speak louder than them.
  2. Ahren (Spoilers for "The Heir" skip this paragraph): 
• Probably my least favorite character from the duology. I always cry at the end of the heir because Ahren left Eadlyn all alone. He’s horrible for eloping with Camille and leaving Eadlyn behind without a goodbye. He was only 18. Surely he could be patient and wait a little longer. Plus his parents approved everything. Was it really necessary to go behind their backs and run away? He excluded his twin, his parents and brothers from his wedding. For what, idk? They were all supportive and he had no reason to elope. Can’t believe he had the nerve to say this in his letter to Eadlyn: “I love you. Maybe not as deeply as you’d like. But still.” -334. Way to go Ahren! After betraying your sister and leaving without a goodbye, you said the worst thing possible; that you don’t love her as much as she thought you did.
• Also in “The Crown”, the officers are debating whether France purposely got Ahren and Camille married to debilitate Illea. Eadlyn was all: “Noooo they were in love.” But honestly, it was a mistake for Queen Daphne to get the two married without consent from his parents. It was just weird how they couldn’t have waited or invited his parents to the wedding. Maxon and America had nothing against Ahren and Camille being together, so I don’t get why Queen Daphne didn’t even invite them to their son’s own marriage. 
  
  3. Eikko and Eadlyn (Minor spoilers for "The Crown"): Eikko and Eadlyn was the stupidest thing ever. Every interaction was forced by Kiera Cass. That too, they only had about four conversations that went beyond surface level. This is how most of their convos went:

*Eadlyn wandering through the castle and Eikko sees her*
Eikko: Hello your Majesty. How are you feeling today?
Eadlyn: Not that great. The Selection is so stressful.
Eikko: I understand. I can’t imagine that amount of stress you’re feeling…
Eadlyn: Yah…
HOW DRY OF A CONVO IS THAT??? How did those two even fall for each other when almost all of their conversations were like this?! 💀

4. Queen Amberly: Why is Queen Amberly praised so much? She doesn’t seem confident nor poised. Instead, she seems cowardly and demure with no spine or self respect. She doesn’t really do much anyways. We just see glimpses of her in the Women’s room or in the dining hall. But every time she appears, everyone praises her queenly behavior. What queenly behavior? For what?? Eating dinner? 

What I was confused about:

1. Eadlyn’s Selection: I don’t get the purpose of Eadlyn’s selection. Uprising and unrest on the kingdom’s hand? Easy! The solution Maxon and America take is to deal with the issues and bolster their kingdom. JK. Instead they decide to marry off the future queen in hopes that they can distract the people of the country for three months before the unrest starts up again. So basically Maxon and America are just pushing their problems to another day. And I thought I had a procrastination issue…😂
2. The Constitutional Monarchy (Minor Spoilers for "The Crown"): At the end of “The Crown”, Eadlyn announces that the kingdom is now going to be a constitutional monarchy. She also claims that it will drive away Marid. But how does the constitutional monarch solve the Marid problem? With his popularity, he would be able to run for prime minister and win. In fact, Eadlyn should be more scared in anticipation that Marid will win a seat and rule in corruptness. 
3. The Rebels: The castle security needs to be fired immediately 🤡  Whoever it is, they’re not doing their job properly. HOW DID SO MANY REBEL ATTACKS OCCUR IN WHAT SHOULD BE THE MOST PROTECTED PLACE IN ALL OF ILLEA? ​

What I loved:

1. It’s Addicting: I don’t know what it is about this series but it’s SO addicting. I could literally start on any page from one of the three books, and the next thing I know I’ve been reading for three hours straight. The plot is just so entertaining and fun to read!
2. Maxon and America: I LOVE THEM. They’re so cute together 🥰
3. Kyle and Eadlyn: Kyle and Eadlyn are PERFECT for each other. Childhood enemies to lovers! What could be better than that?! In my mind they are endgame and the last 20 pages didn’t happen hehe. I lowkey ship Keadlyn more than Maxon and America… that’s how much I love them!
4. Maxon: He’s the BEST!! I want a Maxon in my life 😭
5. Eadlyn: I like Eadlyn a lot. Sure, she was a little rude here and there. But seriously, she’s a million times better than America. Sidenote: Why does everyone hate the duology? I found it fun to read. I liked Eadlyn as a main character much more than America. Yes, Eadlyn is spoiled but she did grow up in a palace and was raised to live in luxury. That obviously does affect people’s nature. But what’s important is that she did have character development in the end.
6. Celeste: She deserved better 😭 My favorite character from the original trilogy is her!

If you haven’t read this series yet, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! Drop whatever you’re reading and go read the Selection series NOW. Sure, it has it’s cringy moments but the addicting storyline more than makes up for it.

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