2015 Reading Challenge: A book set in the future – The Selection Series by Kierra Cass

Have you ever sat and thought about the future or your future at lease? What will life be like in 10, 50, 100 years? Will it be similar to what we know now or will it be a place unlike anything we have ever seen? It can be an exhilarating or a scary thing to imagine, to see something that is unpredictable and unstoppable. It is often exciting to read books that take place in the future and see an author’s view of things to come. It is these authors that have an imagination and a mindset of looking forward, and imagining life in the future. I heard about The Selection series from several of my IG followers, so out of curiosity I picked up the first book, The Selection. I then proceed to quickly hunt down and purchase the next 3 books in the series after devouring the first one. In a nutshell, I didn’t sleep for a week, and suffered from the worst book hangover of my life.

I was going to write a little description of the first book, but I just couldn’t find the words, so I am borrowing them from the author, Kiera Cass:

“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 the palace and compete for the heart of the 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. 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.” (www.kieracass.com/books)

After The Selection, there is The Elite, The One and then part 2 of the series is The Heir; which looks at the selection through the next generation to inherit the crown, as well as various companion tales and novellas that go along with the main story line of The Selection. I have read all the books, which are available so far (apparently she is writing more books, YESS!) and the majority of the companion novellas. I guess I should just come out and say it… I am obsessed!

OH MY GOSH THESE BOOKS ARE AMAZING!!!!!!! Not only is the story, gripping, and compelling, but the writing is descriptive, imaginative and thought-provoking. Kiera does a wonderful job of bringing you into her world, and allowing to see a future that could be real someday. Her writing is straight forward with eloquent tidbits of detail that gives the reader a firsthand experience of life in the selection. The story is mash-up of The Bachelor meets Hunger Games, and um… who wouldn’t want to read something like that! America, the story is told from her point of view, is someone you learn to love, which is think is the epitome of a great character. As a reader, you grow, learn and understand her as the story goes along. You root for her even though you may not agree with her decisions or the way she approached certain situations, but you want her to win.

 I devoured these books in DAYS, when I wasn’t working, or doing something else I was reading these books. I was up late at night reading these books, which would explain the crazy book hangover I suffered through for a good 5 days.  I needed to know what would happen to America, who would she choose? I NEEDED TO KNOW! I went to a Young Adult book festival a few weeks ago, and proceed to ask every girl I came in contact with if she had read The Selection novels. Many of them hadn’t, which then I went into my sales pitch about these books and how they needed to read them now. I think I managed to convince everyone I ran into, and even convinced my roommates to read them as well. These books are so good! I know this is not a very good description of my thought and feelings towards these books, but it is hard to express the words of a book that takes over your life. I got the same feelings that I go when I first read books like Pride and Prejudice, Outlander and many more inspiring books. They are books that I connected with, appreciated, and was drawn to as a reader. It is hard to describe books you love and why you love them, and somehow find the words to describe how you felt and experience while reading a certain book. So I tried, even though I feel that I fell a little short on my description and everything, but these books were incredible.

These are YA or Young Adult books, so if these aren’t necessarily your cup of tea, it is ok. It has been in the last 10 years where YA books have started making a name for itself and the books are actually becoming better. YA when I was a teenager wasn’t something everyone read or talked about, whereas now a days, most people will read YA and talk about it. YA is growing in the literary world, and the books and the writing comes out of this genre is spectacular. So if books which have a Bachelor type twist doesn’t amuse you, then there are plenty of other YA books that could keep your interest, have you read the Hunger Games? I have a friend who told me he didn’t read, but he proceed to engulf the Hunger Games like his life depended on it. So, books have a way of impacting even the slightest cynic. I know with the futurist genre I could have easily gone with Sci-Fi or fantasy, but I like to think out of the box and went for a YA book instead.

What are your thought on YA novels or futuristic novels? Love them, hate them? Have you read The Selection yet? Your thoughts? Leave a comment below!

Buy the Series on Amazon: The Selection Series Box Set: The Selection, The Elite, The One

Happy Reading!