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Dystopian Book reviews

The Selection series by Kiera Cass- A Reread Book Review

9/12/2021

52 Comments

 
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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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Read Spoiler Free Review for "The Betrothed" by Kiera Cass
Read Spoiler Free Review for Shadow and Bone
Read Review for "The Shadows Between Us"
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52 Comments
Lalaland reads a book
9/12/2021 02:15:31 pm

I LOVED this review! All I could see was the truth! You're stating factsssss! Keep at it, girl! Terrific job!

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
9/13/2021 05:36:05 am

THANK YOU!! This means so much 🧡

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Reet.reads
1/28/2022 12:44:17 pm

Your review is absolute perfection!! I agree with it in like 90% of places and it’s so well written.

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Kingly Reads
9/13/2021 07:02:14 pm

I have to read this series!

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Bookconfessionsssecrets (Creator)
9/16/2021 03:49:50 pm

YESSS! It’s so good

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Medha
9/14/2021 08:52:55 am

I love love love this series and your review just made me want to read it again 😂 i didn't like The Heir as much, i just read it bcoz i wanted to read more about Maxon and America 😬

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
9/16/2021 03:50:45 pm

Haha yesss you need to reread 😂 it’s so fun to reread this series! Yah I wish we got a bit more Maxmerica in the Heir

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Holly
9/14/2021 06:59:18 pm

Love this review! So spot on

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
9/16/2021 03:51:11 pm

Thank you so so much 🧡🧡

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Laiba
9/16/2021 12:54:41 am

It's such a nice, original and detailed review!
I probably would've read this series had I seen your review 5 years ago. But now cringe makes me want to puke real bad 😂. So I'll keep this series away for now, at least.

Keep up the good job!

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
9/16/2021 03:52:25 pm

Thank you so much!! This comment makes me so happy ☺️
Haha actually this book is a good kind of cringe! Trust me, I’m a very picky reader and even I liked this series a lot! I think it’s worth a try :)

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Kittendor.reads
9/16/2021 04:01:16 pm

I agree! This series is very addicting!

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
9/22/2021 01:21:06 pm

It’s AMAZING!! Yes you have to read it :)

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Lily
9/18/2021 07:40:04 am

I love this review and agree with so much of what you said with what I've read of the series so far! It's such a fun and addictive book!

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creatot)
9/22/2021 01:21:46 pm

Haha thank you so much!! Glad you agree 🧡

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ya_books_are_life
9/19/2021 06:41:55 am

All of this is so true ❤
KYLE AND EADLYN WOULD HAVE MADE SUCH A GOOD COUPLE HRBSJNSNRVJSJD WHY DID EIKKO HAVE TO COME AND INTERFERE 😭😭😭😭

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
9/22/2021 01:22:17 pm

SO TRUE!! Keadlyn for life 😭😭 IKR WHY DID EIKKO HAVE TO INTERFERE

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Bookqueenhm
9/20/2021 11:47:57 am

Such a fun review to read. The books are addictive for sure. 😁

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
9/22/2021 01:22:43 pm

Thank you so much!! Agreed :)

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NAIR
9/21/2021 05:49:32 pm

I loved your review, it is just what happened to me. it is addictive but it has flaws and therefore it is a reading for teenagers. the rebels is something that always leaves me in doubt about the safety of the kingdom.

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
9/22/2021 01:23:41 pm

Thank you!!!! Lol yah the safety of Illea must be at a really low point if the rebels were able to penetrate into the castle that often 😂😂

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the_bookish_palss
9/21/2021 11:29:16 pm

Loved the honesty in your review! I started this serie years ago tbh but i stopped after the second book bc i didn’t like the way America acted, seriously does anyone like this girl??
Also it actually is a bit cringe even though i had started it bc i like the idea of a contest to become queen and also i kinda liked the world building.
Btw in the last days i kept on seeing posts or tiktoks about the seletion saga, so i was thinking about buying “The One” to finally catch up!
P.S. your review helped with this choice!!

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
9/22/2021 01:25:17 pm

Thank you!! UGH YES AMERICA IS SO ANNOYING FR FR
Haha yah even if the series is cringe, the storyline does have an appeal!!

I’m so glad my review was able to help you decide whether or not to continue the series ☺️

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Moonandwritings
9/22/2021 05:56:22 am

I love this review😍❤Wow!!!

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
9/22/2021 01:25:36 pm

Omg thank you!!!! 🧡🧡

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Daphne
9/23/2021 10:19:06 am

THIS REVIEW IS AMAZING
You literally said anything that would’ve come up in me! UGH YES MAXON AND AMERICA!

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
9/26/2021 11:49:47 am

THANK YOU!!!! I'm so glad you agree :) YESSS Maxon and America are goalssss

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Haya
9/24/2021 06:02:42 am

Okaybyes I SO agree with America being annoying....I mean...what an idiot!!!!! I ONLY love Aspen in the entire series!!!

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
9/26/2021 11:50:48 am

LOLLL America is an idiot haha! Aspen is really sweet. He is overhated on in my opinion

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Cashley
9/27/2021 07:24:13 am

I confess I didn’t end up finishing… I didn’t care for The Heir and then didn’t read The Crown lol 🤣. For me it stopped after Book 3. The Selection was AMAZING!!! I can read that again and again. It’s like The Hunger Games meets Miss Congeniality lol. I loved it so much! The Elite was good and the The One was ok. I also didn’t love America. The constant back and forth with her grated on my nerves as each book went on. I loved Maxim but I was also totally an Aspen fan! Very happy who he ended up with 😁. Marlee was great! Liked her love story.
This is a great escape from reality series though and overall I really enjoyed it (books 1-3 and the random side stories lol). Maybe someday I’ll read The Crown to finish it all off 😂.

Have you tried The Desolation series by Kortney Keisel? It has some Selection vibes going on. I’ve read the first couple and they were pretty good!

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
10/1/2021 07:50:23 am

Haha the og trilogy is better anyways sooooo... I love the og trilogy too! For me, however, the Selection didn't resemble the Hunger Games at all. Idk who came up with that one sentence summary lol! I love Marlee too!!!

I haven't read that series yet but I just added it to my tbr! Can't wait to read it :)

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Mary
9/30/2021 06:14:13 am

I couldn’t agree with you more. America gets mad with Maxon with no reason and Eadlyn and Eikko were such a horrible couple. She should have ended up with Kyle. I love the review btw❤️

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Bookconfessionssecrets
10/1/2021 07:51:35 am

YESS! America got mad at Maxon for the littlest things and I was so frustrated with her. Eadlyn and Kyle deserved so much better omg. And thank you!!!!

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Angana premarathne
10/2/2021 08:56:17 am

This is one of the best reviews I have ever seen so far.. It is soo beautiful.. so true.. I was taken back to the story.. really amazing..

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Bookconfesionssecrets (Creator)
10/22/2021 04:32:19 pm

WAIT REALLY??? THANK YOUUUUU! And yea! This series is amazing haha!

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Angelica Meade
10/2/2021 12:24:44 pm

Fyi, I skipped all the parts about the last 2 books because I haven't read those, I'll come back and reread your thoughts when I finish them.

We have the same opinions on America's hypocrisy. She was being a childish brat a lot of the time for the sake of plot, but it definitely drove me nuts too. Excellent review! Loved your format!! :)

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
10/22/2021 04:34:02 pm

YAY! Finally someone else who also agrees about America's hypocrisy! She was realllyyyyyyy annoying at times ughhh. And thank youuuuu! :)

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erinlikeslikingthings
10/7/2021 04:50:52 pm

Right in the middle of a reread if this, and YOURE SO RIGHT. America drives me up the way with running around with Aspen while angry about Maxon. 😒 I couldn’t remember the latter duology, and it’s a good refresher.

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
10/22/2021 04:38:07 pm

UGH RIGHT?! America is so annoying! She's so blindsided about her hypocrisy and is SUCH a brat ugh

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Niral
10/11/2021 06:00:58 am

Amazing review on the Selection, I love the series but it just isn't my favourite..... please follow me on Instagram @emerald_reads4

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
10/22/2021 04:43:32 pm

Thank you so much!!!! Just followed :)

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Helenreadss
10/11/2021 10:19:06 am

Loved this review!! I agree that this series is so cringy, but like you I can’t help but love it! Everything you said about is so true, it’s so frustrating how hypocritical America can be! Well now I’m gonna go reread the series for the 100th time!

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Bookconfessionssecrets (Creator)
10/22/2021 04:45:27 pm

YES I fully support the decision of a reread!!! I love this series no matter what... even if it is cringy and I get easily agitated by America's actions... For some reason I keep coming back to this series!

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mellas.reading.habits
11/24/2021 10:45:54 am

You and I have SO much in common about our opinions on this series! Some things we agree on: America is a hypocrite and Eadlyn was SO much better as a character. I did also enjoy the duology of her Selection. It was really good!

I think the only thing we didn’t agree on is Eadlyn/Kyle/Eikko. I actually reread the Heir before the Crown came out and was about 80% sure Cass was going to put her with Eikko. I truly think that Eadlyn needs someone who is willing to give her 100% and Kyle just couldn’t do that. He had his own dreams.

That being said, I do not think he would have been a bad choice. I would have welcomed either outcome!

Now, what are your feelings about Aspen? You didn’t mention him much and I’m curious whether you hate him as much as I do. Hahaha.

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Muni link
11/24/2021 10:47:08 am

Hey! I your review means a lot to me because after reading The Selection book, I wanted to stop because I genuinely hated America. She is a hypocrite like you said, which made me want to stop reading the series. Thank you for sending a review on these book series and more!

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Brenda
11/26/2021 11:35:06 am

I completely agree with you about the fact that America did not have a reason to be mad at Maxon while she was running around with Aspen. That was infuriating. But the review was great and you had a lot of good points. (:

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Booksofmagicandmadness
11/28/2021 04:18:30 pm

This review!! Omg I loved it so much❤️ Even with the things I didn’t wholly agree with before I read this, I started to see what you meant when you gave your opinions on them and your reasons for your opinions. And the duology!!! It is the best!!! I definitely loved it way more than the trilogy.

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Liz
12/1/2021 08:59:23 am

I have never related more to a review! It is all straight facts about how I felt about it as well. Amazing review thanks for sharing keep it up!!

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Savannah Raye
12/2/2021 06:24:02 am

*Small spoilers for book one*
LITERALLY HOW THE HECK WERE THERE SO MANY ATTACKS. LIKE WHAT?!?! Just finnished reread of book one and I genuinely don't understand how they can run a country, when Maxon's room is broken into like 3 times a year. Like how do they keep anything secret omg

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devin.reads
1/27/2022 07:10:48 am

Excellent review! It’s like you took my exact thoughts and put them in your review. I just reread the selection and can’t wait to start book 2!

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Aaliyah
1/28/2022 02:01:00 am

I love your review, and I agree with each of your thoughts! The Selection Series was both annoying and entertaining for me. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your reviews in the future!

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Sammy
2/2/2022 04:01:49 am

I completely agree with you about America being a hypocrite! This is my first read of the series but I'm cringing at how often she changed her mind about Maxon and Aspen. I felt that her moods and "love" changed like the wind. One minute she was in love with Aspen and wanted to leave the Selection to be with him, the next minute she's ready to take on the crown.

Love your review!

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