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helenafaustina's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Disclaimer: I did not find anything to like about this book so I'm going to be brutally honest with this review. If you loved the book, you may not want to continue reading. š
Perhaps the title, The One, was a hint to how I would give it one star. Perhaps I should not have picked up a series because it was popular and continued reading to say that I finished a story so that people couldn't tell me I don't deserve an opinion unless I know the end. (Actually, that's not a perhaps. Don't waste your time with books you don't like, even if they are quick.) I've seen this series described as mental junk food, and that is a perfect description. But it never gave me the pleasure that junk food does, BUT it did make me really appreciate other actual pieces of literature.
First off, we have America. The ultimate cliche girl who prefers pants, doesn't like makeup, thinks she's ugly, and all that jazz. She's "brave", "unique", (even though I only recall a few examples of when she was reckless with good intentions) and "has a good moral compass and love of doing the right thing" even though she has abundantly shown herself to do the wrong thing way more, such cheating on a guy she's dating (with zero remorse or conscience pricks), jumping to whatever conclusion her brain reaches first, and being impure. And no, I don't care if that's "the norm" for the series, immodesty still isn't right and I'm not going to adjust my opinion on this for a character's trashy standards.
Then we have the boys, the 2/3 of the love triangle. Maxon, the prince, who in the first book, actually seems pretty decent! He keeps his distance, he has standards, I had expectations for him! Expectations WHICH HE SLAUGHTERED when he (probably catching on from America) dates and flirts with the other girls and keeps one especially for backup. He hangs out with one of the most hated girls just because, oh woe is me oh poor little neglected boy, he wants the experience. BAH. Aspen doesn't get much better. He definitely never treated America like a lady, not that she gave him any reason to. But in this book, he doesn't show up much unless it's to give a hurt look to America or whatever. But then his problem is quickly done away withwhen all of a sudden we find out that he's in love with someone else! Now everyone can live happily ever after, hooray!š I'm sorry, but that's a cheap plot.
Then, the one character I liked, Marlee, ends up destroying my faith in humanity as well whenshe cheats on Maxon. And everyone's like, aw poor Marlee, she doesn't deserve that! First of all, she could have gotten way worse. Secondly, she literally broke an oath and the law AND was impure, why should she have any special kind of sympathy? I liked the maids too, until they conspired with America to design a dress to attract Maxon. š That, by the way, is the only time America takes the time to think of something with a plan. The only character I ended up remotely liking was the queen, who turned out to be a bit spineless and she died, not only in a lackluster ending but it seriously wasn't fun. Then there's the tyrannical bully of a king who-ah, what's this? Another weak plotpoint? HE DIES! Also, can we talk about how when something interesting starts to happen America gets locked up so we don't get to see it??
I could go on (especially about how the whole politics and war subplot makes no sense), but I'll leave with this: This book teaches that if you are attracted to someone and have feelings for them, you can do a whole bunch of horrible things and it's fine because it's meant to be, and therefore beautiful, because all's fair in love and war or whatnot, and you'll end up together in the end! It shows that a lack of self control or ability to stop and think is just fine and dandy if you have good intentions. It's false romance.
Perhaps the title, The One, was a hint to how I would give it one star. Perhaps I should not have picked up a series because it was popular and continued reading to say that I finished a story so that people couldn't tell me I don't deserve an opinion unless I know the end. (Actually, that's not a perhaps. Don't waste your time with books you don't like, even if they are quick.) I've seen this series described as mental junk food, and that is a perfect description. But it never gave me the pleasure that junk food does, BUT it did make me really appreciate other actual pieces of literature.
First off, we have America. The ultimate cliche girl who prefers pants, doesn't like makeup, thinks she's ugly, and all that jazz. She's "brave", "unique", (even though I only recall a few examples of when she was reckless with good intentions) and "has a good moral compass and love of doing the right thing" even though she has abundantly shown herself to do the wrong thing way more, such cheating on a guy she's dating (with zero remorse or conscience pricks), jumping to whatever conclusion her brain reaches first, and being impure. And no, I don't care if that's "the norm" for the series, immodesty still isn't right and I'm not going to adjust my opinion on this for a character's trashy standards.
Then we have the boys, the 2/3 of the love triangle. Maxon, the prince, who in the first book, actually seems pretty decent! He keeps his distance, he has standards, I had expectations for him! Expectations WHICH HE SLAUGHTERED when he (probably catching on from America) dates and flirts with the other girls and keeps one especially for backup. He hangs out with one of the most hated girls just because, oh woe is me oh poor little neglected boy, he wants the experience. BAH. Aspen doesn't get much better. He definitely never treated America like a lady, not that she gave him any reason to. But in this book, he doesn't show up much unless it's to give a hurt look to America or whatever. But then his problem is quickly done away with
Then, the one character I liked, Marlee, ends up destroying my faith in humanity as well when
I could go on (especially about how the whole politics and war subplot makes no sense), but I'll leave with this: This book teaches that if you are attracted to someone and have feelings for them, you can do a whole bunch of horrible things and it's fine because it's meant to be, and therefore beautiful, because all's fair in love and war or whatnot, and you'll end up together in the end! It shows that a lack of self control or ability to stop and think is just fine and dandy if you have good intentions. It's false romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, Violence, Medical content, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Murder, Sexual content, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and War
Minor: Confinement, Bullying, and Classism
Chapter 2 can be skipped. After an announcement happens in Chapter 27, the rest of that can be skipped too. There's mid-level language in the book.isabelleroyall's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Medical content, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Misogyny, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol
caroline_peacock's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Death of parent, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Physical abuse, and Cursing
Minor: Sexual content
reesespuff6's review
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Gore, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Murder, Violence, Death, and War
becca_w_'s review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Infertility, Medical content, Torture, War, Blood, Body horror, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Child abuse, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Confinement, Miscarriage, Murder, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Terminal illness
bookswstella's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved it!!
I hate Kiera Cass for killing Americaās father, the Queen, Anne, I never thought in the beginning of the series that I would be upset that Celeste got killed but I am because in the end, I kind of liked her.
I cried during the whole epilogue but the books was so good and I didnāt want it to endšš Just when I had stopped crying I starterās crying again over something. I cried when everyone but Celeste were there, but the thing that made me cry the most was when Aspen was escorting her to the alteršš
I still love the characters, I did get very angry at both Maxon and America several times because both of them has such a temperament, especially in the end were Maxon was really really cold to America just because she had talked with Aspen (maybe a little bit more intimate that normal but not so much that Maxon should not marry America) and then three seconds later when he was about to die and all of that he told her he couldnāt live without her and that he loved her. But I know, moodswings.
I was never worried āfor realā because the book is about America and Maxon so it is obvious that they will end up together<3
I hate Kiera Cass for killing Americaās father, the Queen, Anne, I never thought in the beginning of the series that I would be upset that Celeste got killed but I am because in the end, I kind of liked her.
I cried during the whole epilogue but the books was so good and I didnāt want it to endšš Just when I had stopped crying I starterās crying again over something. I cried when everyone but Celeste were there, but the thing that made me cry the most was when Aspen was escorting her to the alteršš
I still love the characters, I did get very angry at both Maxon and America several times because both of them has such a temperament, especially in the end were Maxon was really really cold to America just because she had talked with Aspen (maybe a little bit more intimate that normal but not so much that Maxon should not marry America) and then three seconds later when he was about to die and all of that he told her he couldnāt live without her and that he loved her. But I know, moodswings.
I was never worried āfor realā because the book is about America and Maxon so it is obvious that they will end up together<3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Violence, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, and Medical trauma
braelynm_22's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Maxon is legit what I want in a guy. I have mixed emotions about Aspen, but I'm happy with the way that it worked out in the end. Definitely a HUGE plot twist towards the end and it became very tense for a few chapters. "I'll love you until my very last breath. Every beat of my heart is yours. I don't want to die without you knowing that." Omg sooo cute!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual content, and Classism
Minor: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and War
Don't read if fighting and blood causes uncomforted. Some parts can be graphic, but it's not too bad.lisa_m's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I did it! I finished the Selection Series!
Yes, I know that there are even more books about before the Selection and after the Selection and who knows.. maybe I will read them one day but right now I think I'm done with this series. In a good way though!
I enjoyed the ending and I liked it even though I still believe that this series could have been way shorter and it obviously has many flaws. The world building was weak and there are many plot holes. Many things are never really explained and some parts if the story are not well thought through.
It's definitely not a masterpiece but that did not make me enjoy it less. It felt old and made me feel kind of nostalgic even though I have never read it before. I liked it and it was a cute enough romance.
My rating is 4 stars even though rationally it is not as good as most other books I have rated 4 stars but since I did enjoy it I don't want to give it less.
I still don't particularly care about all the characters and I thought it was really strange how the author just killed so many off for plot convenience in the end.
Maxon needed to be king so obviously his parents die, Anne had a crush on Aspen but he chose Mary so obviously she dies and Celeste was a bad person and even though she is now redeemed she still has to pay for what she did and dies.
I guess I just wish America was a bit more independent and not so much a 'not-like-other-girls' girl.
Yes, I know that there are even more books about before the Selection and after the Selection and who knows.. maybe I will read them one day but right now I think I'm done with this series. In a good way though!
I enjoyed the ending and I liked it even though I still believe that this series could have been way shorter and it obviously has many flaws. The world building was weak and there are many plot holes. Many things are never really explained and some parts if the story are not well thought through.
It's definitely not a masterpiece but that did not make me enjoy it less. It felt old and made me feel kind of nostalgic even though I have never read it before. I liked it and it was a cute enough romance.
My rating is 4 stars even though rationally it is not as good as most other books I have rated 4 stars but since I did enjoy it I don't want to give it less.
I still don't particularly care about all the characters and I thought it was really strange how the author just killed so many off for plot convenience in the end.
Maxon needed to be king so obviously his parents die, Anne had a crush on Aspen but he chose Mary so obviously she dies and Celeste was a bad person and even though she is now redeemed she still has to pay for what she did and dies.
I guess I just wish America was a bit more independent and not so much a 'not-like-other-girls' girl.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gun violence, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
theoriginalkidinthecorner's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Sexual content, and Blood
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