The Selection is my selection

So i am incredibly late to the ball game, but i just read the selection but WOW! 

As far as dystopian novels go, i loved the fact that this was loosely based on our world. With 'Swedenway', 'New Asia', and 'Carolina' a few examples of how this world is loosely based around our real one. 

I loved how the author created castes, and sections of people were regaled to these essentially 'areas of society'. Eights were considered homeless, earning little if not no wage at all, Sevens worked mostly jobs that required labour such as building roads, builds etc. As the castes kept moving further up, the living conditions and wages were better and consequently this meant the way of life was also better. This was a part of the book i really really loved, not only because America was a five and she was chosen to enter in the selection, but because it really reflected well in modern life, it describes how not everyone has the privileges others may or may not have grown up with. America, initially stayed in the competition because she was given food every day, even though this is a dystopian fictional reality, the truth is there are people living in the real world who experience this, and it was for this reason i felt really connected to America. I loved that so many important world issues were touched on in this book (Albite in a fictional format) that made me really respect this book. 

So back to the plot. America is a five, her family are musically inclined, she often sings or plays the violin for twos or three when they host parties. She is in love with Aspen a six, who is of lower caste and her family would not like it for she would move herself lower in society if she married for love. 

Prince Maxon, has come of age and as part of Illéa law he must select a wife from one of his subject, thus the selection exists. America is one of 35 girls selected to compete for prince Maxon's hand. When she finally arrives at the castle she is caught up in the opulence of this new world. Even though her heart is left torn after Aspen breaks off their relationship before she leaves, she feels less than inclined to try to compete for the princes hand. 

As the rebel attacks become more and more frequent, some less destructive and others more. America realises there is more to ruling than just entertaining other royals and making public appearances. Like that there were two different rebel groups the Northerns and Southerns, and each were fighting for different causes - which before the selection began only a select few within castle walls knew how fragile the monarchy was.

I loved loved loved this book, as a self professed bachelor hater, i loved the twist of competing to become a princess. It's almost like a new version of the princess diaries (Which is one of my all time favourite movies- I'm still waiting for the day my grandma tells me i have been a princess this whole time)  but i loved Americas honesty, how true she was to herself. The whole time she was no one but herself. In saying all this, i have to tip my hat off to her, because i think i would have been a complete mess being trapped with 34 other girls vying for one guy, the cattiness, the bitchyness all would have been way too much. 

This book was packed full of unexpected curves, and i was literally jumping out of my skin when Aspen turned up as a guard at the very end of the book. 

It was a slow start this book, but the more i got into it, the more i couldn't put it down, and i actually cant wait to watch how Netflix are going to adapt it. This is #bookeaterapproved