Asheley Re-Reads: The Selection by Kiera Cass {Audiobook}

Posted March 18, 2013 by Asheley in Uncategorized / 8 Comments

The Selection by Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection #1
Published by HarperTeen
Publish Date: April 24, 2012
327 Pages
Source: Print – Bought, Audiobook – Library



For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.


Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself–and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined. -(from Goodreads) 



The Selection by Kiera Cass



My Thoughts:  I read The Selection last year without getting involved in any of the drama surrounding it and I loved the story. I loved it a ton. And when I finally bought my copy, I couldn’t stop touching it because it’s so pretty. Then, when I saw the cover for The Elite I almost fell over because it’s just as pretty, or maybe even prettier. Lovely cover aside, since this is a book that I loved so much, it was super easy for me to decide that I wanted to re-read it before I dove into the next part of the story. I was excited to be able to re-read this book via audiobook format through my library’s Overdrive system. Y’all know I go crazy over that sort of thing. 

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If you haven’t read The Selection yet, 
you can read my full review HERE
It’s a LIST review.

The first time I read this book, I LOVED IT LIKE CRAZY. I couldn’t get over how much the book felt like a fairy-tale to me with all of the palace-talk and the fancy dresses and the royal family. I had seen the blurbs comparing the story to The Bachelorette television show and The Hunger Games  book series – I could easily see how the book could be compared to The Bachelorette by way of The Selection process: 

  • 35 girls competing for the hand of Prince Maxon
  • they all live together under one roof while they’re in The Selection
  • girls are sent home every so often
  • they spend time individually on dates or outings with Prince Maxon 
  • and so on…


What I had a difficult time doing was visualizing how The Selection could compare to The Hunger GamesThis time, on the re-read, I was able to plainly see that there is an issue with the governing of the people in this book. I still don’t agree with the comparison to The Hunger Games, but I was able to see that there is a much larger plot besides just the girls, Prince Maxon, and the process of choosing a new wife, and I kind of loved it. It felt like I was re-reading The Selection with a new set of eyes. 

I remembered that there was rebel activity from the first time I read the book, but I honestly didn’t remember how much of a big deal the rebel groups were to the people of Illea and to the royal family. I had forgotten how much the discontent of part of the population can lead to things, and how these things can have consequences for the government or, in this case, the royal family. Since the ladies of The Selection are staying inside the palace while their selection process is taking place, they are in the same danger as the royal family. I’m glad I re-read the book before I read The Elite because this “rebel activity” part of the story becomes very important in the second book (not a spoiler, this is in the book summary for The Elite).

See, the lady that Prince Maxon chooses will be very important to the people of Illea. The people all are hoping that their next Princess (and eventually, their next Queen) will work to improve the situation outside of the palace walls – they are scrambling for food, to make ends meet. Main character America would make a wonderful choice because she comes from a pretty low caste – a Five. She has an empathetic eye and ear for the people she would represent. But she isn’t the only one that would make a good future Queen, and she isn’t really sure she wants to be the winner of The Selection. PLUS, she’s head-over-heels in love with someone else…


…which brings me to my other point: America has two love interests over the course of this book. There is Aspen, the boy she is in love with, her first love. There is also Prince Maxon, the guy every girl wants to end up with. America is fortunate to be a contestant in The Selection and to have the eye of Prince Maxon, and there are times when she returns his affections. But she also contends that Aspen is her first love, so he is a viable love interest as well. In my initial review, I mentioned that I wasn’t sure if this was a love triangle or not, and I gave reasons for making this statement. Good gracious, I shake my head at that! This is totally a love triangle. 


Also, I still cannot choose between Aspen and Maxon. I cannot. 


Ultimately, this re-read only served to make me love the book more AND it helped me remember details I had either forgotten or perhaps not paid enough attention to on the first read. I am 100% happy that I re-read this book, and I’m thrilled that I listened to it in audiobook format. 


Audiobook Notes: The audiobook format of The Selection by Kiera Cass is published by Harper Audio and is 8 hours, 7 minutes long, Unabridged. It is read by Amy Rubinate, who has a very nice voice for this particular book. I think that she does a great job with sounding young, like America, and also portraying the different emotions that America feels during different parts of the book. She also does a nice job reading the male characters in the book – sometimes readers overemphasize opposite-sex characters and sound a little cheesy, but I never felt this way during this book. I have no problems with recommending the audiobook format for readers of The Selection for both first-time readers and for re-reads. 


I recommend The Selection for fans of fairy-tales and YA dystopians with romance. The love interests (both of them) are indeed swoon-worthy and the competition for the crown Maxon’s heart is fierce. 

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The Selection will appeal to fans of:

YA Dystopian with Romance
Fairy-Tales
Romance: Slowly-Developing, Swoon-worthy. Love triangle. 
Fierce Competition for the Crown


The Selection by Kiera Cass
is currently available for purchase.

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Have you read THE SELECTION yet?
Asheley

About Asheley

Asheley is a Southern girl. She loves Carolina blue skies, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and NC craft beer. She loves all things history but prefers books over everything.

You can find her somewhere in North Carolina, daydreaming about the ocean.

Find Asheley on Litsy @intothehallofbooks!

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8 responses to “Asheley Re-Reads: The Selection by Kiera Cass {Audiobook}

  1. I honestly wasn't sure if I wanted to read this book before, but after reading your thoughts after your second time reading it – you've convinced me that I at least want to give it a shot! I do like a book that is sort of like a fairy tale 🙂

    • I really love this story. I know that there was a lot of drama last year when it came out, but I was able to stay out of it. I know that some people don't like it, but I just LOVE it. It's very different from other stories that I've read before.

    • I seem to be the only person out there that can't choose between these two guys! WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?? Haha. I loved it too! I hope you like The Elite when you read it. It's a little bit darker (not too much) and tons of stuff happens. 🙂

  2. For obvious reasons, I'm not sure that this series is for me. But I know that you love this one! I'm going to keep an open mind and wait until the series is complete and then get a judgement from you. This seems like one that could potentially be BAAADDDD in the final book when the character has to make her final choice. i.e. lots and lots of back and forth.

    • Ugh, I also can't stand The Bachelor or Bachelorette or any of the dating shows like that. I've actually never watched them for more than about five minutes and that was enough for me. BUT there is certainly a feeling to the book that feels like The Bachelorette – the girls living together, becoming friends yet still in competition with one another.

      I'm a little bit concerned about that final book with regard to the triangle. I mention this a little more in-depth in my thoughts on The Elite, but I hope it is done CAREFULLY because it could be disastrous if it isn't (after reading The Elite) – this coming from someone who enjoys triangles.

      I'm happy to feel this one out! I'm in it for the long haul. Love this series.

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