Overview of the Selection Trilogy

The Selection Trilogy

I have just finished reading all of the books in The Selection series and I decided that I would do a full spoiler "review" of the first three books and then do a separate "review" of the last two. This will just be an overview of the first three books because I don't want to spoil the entirety of the books.

The first three books in The Selection series are told by the point of view of America Singer, the main character in the first three books. The county in which America lives is divided into castes, 1-8, and America is a five. A five's specialty is music or art. America is in love with a Six, who is a caste lower than hers and is poorer. His name is Aspen. One day, actually this is where the book starts off, America gets a letter in the mail saying that she is eligible to participate in the Selection. The Selection is a lottery of sorts where the eligible women of Illéa enter to compete for the heart of the crowned prince of Illéa. America is persuaded to enter by Aspen and her mother in hopes for a better life. America's name is called and Aspen breaks up with her just before she leaves.

America meets a girl in the airport on her way to the palace by the name of Marlee Tames, which ends up being her most closest friend. The two immediately despise one of the other girls traveling with them, Celeste Newsome. Anyway, the girls arrive at the palace where they are given a makeover and a tour of the palace. Later that night, America feels stuck in a prison and tries to escape into the gardens when she accidentally meets Prince Maxon. Now, the girls aren't supposed to meet the girls until the next day at a formal gathering and then breakfast with the royal family, so the two keep their first meeting a secret. At their second meeting, which was supposed to be the first, America explains that she is at the palace by mistake and to not send her away because her family needs the money. Instead, America offers Maxon an ultimatum, if he keeps her at the palace, she will be his friend. He won't have to pursue her and she will help him find a suitable wife. Prince Maxon agrees and keeps America in the palace as a friend.

Now I said I wasn't going to be including everything so this review might seem a little jumbled or missing some plot points but that is how I meant this review to be. Please let me know if you would like a more in-depth review that explains everything in these books. I thought I would leave stuff out for people to perceive for themselves.

Anyway, back to the review. America eventually decides that she can develop feelings for Maxon and is kept on as one of the Elite. However, later in The Selection, Aspen, America's secret ex-boyfriend, arrives at the palace as a guard for the Royal Service. This complicates everything because America was just starting to get over him and move on with Maxon. America now has to choose between Maxon and Aspen all the while making sure one doesn't find out about the other.

America continues on with the competition, still juggling her feelings for both Maxon and Aspen, all the while having to complete tasks and participate in classes preparing her for becoming Queen. America faces loss and disappointment, as well as overwhelming joy and love while competing for the role as the Queen of Illéa.