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.

I saw a lot of positive reviews for this book, so I decided to give it a try. (The cover is so pretty!) Worst mistake ever.

I had high hopes for this book at first. The first couple of chapters wre great, and then everything went downhill from there. The only reason why it got two stars was because of America's strong personality and the breathtaking cover.

First off:

Although I loved America's dislike for the fancy and care for her servants, I found myself frowning at her actions. Everything she did was awkward, and she always put herself down.

Example:

America thinks she is average-looking, yet she is pretty enough to be chosen.

"If you don't want me to be in love with you, you're going to have to stop looking so lovely."-Maxon

Maxon is a nice breath of fresh air- he's an awkwardly shy prince, but that's what makes him so lovable  he's not like those other asshole princes who expect every girl to be in love with them. The way he fell in love with America was quite realistic but I didn't like their interactions very much.

America knees him in the balls for trying to be nice, and the next day, they're BFFs.

How did this happen?

Maxon also appears to be very uptight, but is actually an unsure baby on the inside.

The world that Cass built was beautifully written, but had too many loopholes. She never explained how the world became that way, and did not elaborate enough on the caste system. 
WHY? I felt that if Cass had focused on the world-building a bit more, her novel could have been MUCH better.

95% of the novel was America struggling to sort out her feelings for Maxon and Aspen. HELLO? Does it really take THREE books for America to finally find the guy she loves? I HATED the love triangle. After Aspen crushed her love and hopes, America still was unsure of her feelings. "Hey, let's just kiss my ex-boyfriend when I just kissed this prince that I am supposed to make fall in love with me."
STOP KISSING PEOPLE ON A WHIM. AND DON'T STAY AT THE CASTLE IF YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU LOVE MAXON.
JUST STOP.

I am definitely not reading the next two books, and I have lost all interest in fantasy novels for now.

Thank you for ruining my whole month. I will now go back to reading dystopian novels and give up on romance-centered novels.

Two chocolates...

._.