“America Singer is one of THE ELITE and Prince Maxon only has eyes for her. If she wins the competition for his heart, she will leave her pre-destined life for a world of luxury. But the outcome is less than certain; the threat of rebel violence just beyond the palace walls is escalating into war and bitter rivals are ready to take her down. Yet as America’s feelings for Maxon grow stronger ex-lover Aspen waits for her in the shadows. Where do her loyalties truly lie?
What is the book about?
America Singer is one of the Elite, one of the six girls remaining in the competition to win Prince Maxon’s heart. She may be only a Five, the lowest caste remaining in the Selection, but she has the advantage because Maxon only has eyes for her. If she wins, she will leave behind the struggling life she always thought she would end up with for a luxurious world of gowns and jewels. However the outcome is still uncertain with the threat of rebels looming over the royal family and rivals ready to do anything to take her down and keep Maxon for themselves. America’s feelings for Maxon begin to grow but she remains as confused as ever with her ex-boyfriend Aspen waiting for her and wanting to fight for her heart. She had believed that the Selection was just the prince picking the girl he would spend the rest of his life with, but for America it has turned into a battle over her heart, a choice of which boy she wants more. America must choose: Aspen or Maxon? The life she always imagined or the life she never dreamed of? And above all she must decide if she is ready to become a princess, and later the queen, because the fate of the entire country depends on her choice…
What were your initial thoughts on the book?
Immediately after finishing The Selection I was already desperate to start the next book, wanting to know America’s, and Maxon’s, decision. The ending of the first book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, because I had believed that the Selection would end in that book, but I was glad that I was wrong because it would have been a very short and simple decision. Once I read the blurb, I was anxious to see what America would choose, but I also saw that this would put a lot of pressure on her and I was worried it would make her crack. The start of the book was perfect and I already felt myself slipping back into America’s world, ready to make a choice with her. However, there was one thing about the start that let me down a little, and that was the small explanations about things that had happened in the previous book. There wasn’t enough to annoy me but I was still a little irritated because if someone had read the first book they wouldn’t need that. As soon as I got over that, I knew the book was going to be as amazing as the first and I found myself nearing the end much quicker than I thought possible.
Who was your favourite character and why?
I think that America is my favourite character again just because she is so real. She had a life changing decision to make and she didn’t stay strong the whole time. She might have put up a wall when in public but as soon as she felt safe, as soon as she was alone; she broke down and did exactly what I would have done in her position: cry. This made her such a relatable character and also a lot more likable because I could understand her a lot more and see the pressure that was put on her by everyone. Another thing that made her really likable was her relationship with her maids. I know that she was a Five and that her maids were Sixes so she shouldn’t have been horrible to them, but she didn’t have to be as sweet and kind-hearted as she was. I really admired her for that because she was strong enough to make sure that being in the palace had no effect on her personality and she didn’t take advantage of everything that the palace provided for her. There was only one thing that put me off my choice of America as my favourite character and that was her indecisiveness. That seems a little hypocritical seeing as I am probably one of the most indecisive people alive, but it really bugged me how she changed her mind so much and she played with Aspen and Maxon’s hearts. I know that it wasn’t fair that America had to pick because she had feelings for both of them, but neither boy deserved to have her promise to be theirs forever and then have her change her mind within a few days. I understand how hard it must be for her but it wasn’t right for her to play around like that and when they got angry at her there was always an element of truth in their argument. Finally at the end she made her choice, but she hadn’t made either one aware of it, which still wasn’t fair to the one that would remain heartbroken. Apart from that America was a great character, and I am definitely rooting for her to win.
What was your favourite part of the book and why?
My favourite part was definitely when America made her choice at the end. I had no doubts about this decision because it was the part that left me the most excited. That could have just been because of the fact that it was the end of the book and that it was a cliff-hanger but I am pretty sure it is because America had finally made her choice and was going to do everything in her power to make share she didn’t lose the person she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. I wasn’t yet sure if I was happy about her choice or not because Aspen and Maxon both had qualities that made me think that she should chose them. However, I was sure that I would warm up to the idea and that in the end I would be as happy as her. This part showed me the true America, the one that would do anything for her friends and family, the one that would never stop fighting for them. There was also another part of the book that showed me America’s true personality and that she hadn’t changed during her time at the palace, but this was a much happier part of the book and didn’t leave me feeling shocked or sad. I enjoyed almost everything in the book but this one stood out to me because it was literally the answer to the main question I had on my mind during the whole book: Aspen or Maxon?
What was your overall impression of the book?
Overall, the book was unbelievably amazing and I loved it so much. There were so many good things about the book and I liked pretty much everything about it. The ending was another cliff-hanger which was a little annoying, but I have the next book right next to me so it wasn’t such a bad thing. I really liked how excited the ending left me and how much I wanted to start reading the next book so I could find out what happened next. Another thing that I really liked about the book was that the characters didn’t change much in the book. I was worried that the characters would change and I would end up disliking them but I was glad to see that they were still themselves and that they, America especially, didn’t let being in the palace competing change their personality. One thing I would have liked to make the book even better would be if there was more than just America’s point of view included in the book. I would have liked to hear from Maxon and Aspen to understand them a bit more and maybe have more reasons to pick one over the other, but not having their views didn’t ruin the book or make me dislike it, it would have just made the book even more perfect. I really enjoyed The Elite and loved every single second of it, I just can’t wait to read the next book and find out the final choice in the Selection.
Which book did you like better, the first or the second?
Both the first book, The Selection, and the second book, The Elite, were really wonderful books and I cannot begin to explain how much I loved reading them. However I think that I do have a favourite book out of the two of them: The Elite. There isn’t much that made it stand out to me next to the first book but there are a few things that made the book just a little better. One thing that made The Elite the better book was that it was a lot more connected to my emotions. There weren’t really that many sad and heart-breaking moments in The Selection but there were a few parts in The Elite that almost made me cry. I really liked this because it made the book seem a lot more real and also made the characters seem a lot more human, because they also showed that they had feelings and emotions that even they couldn’t cover up with a mask. They might have been sad parts but they made the book feel a lot more complete and without them everything would have been different. Another thing that made me choose the second book as my favourite one was because America finally made her choice. The shock of Aspens arrival in the first book had made me realise that America would have to choose and seeing how complicated it was and how she still managed to make a choice because she realised that she didn’t want to give one of them up. This made me really happy because in the next book America wouldn’t be that confused and would be spending her time fighting for the person she wants to spend the rest of her life with, which makes everything a lot more exciting. One last reason why I prefer The Elite to The Selection is because the second book is closer to the end of the competition and I am really, really impatient so I am desperately waiting to find out who Maxon chooses as his wife. The books in The Selection series have both been amazing so far and I cannot wait to read the third book: The One.
Would you recommend this book?
I absolutely recommend you read this book if you have already read the first one and are waiting for some answers. I you haven’t read The Selection then I suggest you do because you definitely don’t want to miss out. If you are 13 or over and love some drama and romance then I suggest you read it because I am sure you will love it.
Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)
Two amazing boys, bitter rivals and a choice that will change everything.
Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego
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