The One (The Selection, #3) in The Wide Web of Friends in YA Books

Apr 21, 2013 Carie rated it really liked it

Fantastic ending to the series, but I was frustrated by quite a few things:

(view spoiler) Fantastic ending to the series, but I was frustrated by quite a few things:

(view spoiler)[
My number one irritation was that America didn’t tell Maxon about Aspen ASAP!! This infuriated me and made the drama at the end of the book SO stupidly predictable :( I also hated that she wouldn’t just tell Maxon that she loved him already!! America wasn’t as annoying in this book as in the last one, but sometimes she was VERY close :( Her reactions and the things she said/did were often SO irritating, ridiculous, and over-the-top! And, I hated that she kept Aspen hanging on and didn’t just break up with him for good after she realized she loved Maxon. And I REALLY hated how she wouldn’t let Aspen finish a sentence and say what he wanted to say! No wonder he got over her SO quickly!!

Maxon made me really mad at the beginning of the book, too, when he humiliated America, insulted her, etc. And, I don’t think he ever apologized for any of that later either! ALL of this was SO unlike him, which made it doubly irritating. And I still hated all the lovey moments with the other girls (Kriss, in particular!). These things all made me angry with him and not sure I liked him as much :( He did quite a bit to redeem himself later in the book and he was definitely my favorite character in the whole series, but I hated these little things that chipped away at his awesomeness and tarnished his character :(

I also thought way too many things were too neatly/conveniently wrapped up by killing people off at the end of the book--and I was REALLY mad that we didn’t get long-overdue confrontations or conversations because of this :( Maxon didn’t have to really stand up to the King ever--to stop the King’s abuse of him, or demand to marry America, or confess his future plans for the country or anything--because the King was killed! We didn’t get that wonderful moment where America and Maxon “defeated” the King by managing to outsmart him and insist on being together regardless of his wishes/machinations :( Also, the Queen didn’t ever find out or face that the King was abusing Maxon, since she died, too (I was seriously irritated that the Queen died--WHY?! So unnecessary and SAD!). Nobody had to break it to Anne that Aspen was interested in Lucy and not her because Anne’s dead, too. It’s like the author didn’t want to deal with any tough confrontations between the MC’s and anybody, so she killed off everybody who might have been a problem. Because of this, I felt REALLY cheated out of some moments I was anticipating :(

Also, I’m SO happy that Aspen and Lucy ended up together, but it’s kind of icky that he fell out of forever-love with America in a matter of days and is now instantly and deeply in love with Lucy?! SO convenient and kind of hard to buy! And it kind of makes Aspen look like a big wishy-washy jerk! And, if he’s SO in love with Lucy now, why does he still have that stupid love note from America hanging up in his room?! I’m thrilled Aspen got a happy ending, too, but I think it all should have been handled a bit differently…

I was REALLY mad that Celeste died!! Why go to all that trouble to redeem her and have her and America become friends just to kill her off?!! Did Elise live? I don’t remember her being mentioned later… Why not kill her for shock value instead of Celeste?! I actually think Kiera Cass missed a FANTASTIC opportunity for a spin-off series with Celeste! I would have loved to read more about her and see her find love and continue her friendship with Queen America :( Celeste’s death was SO maddening and stupid!!!

I also thought the part after the attack at the end where America was wandering around, thinking Maxon was dead, was REALLY odd. NO ONE is watching for her on Maxon’s behalf or waiting to take her to the Prince/King?! No guards are protecting her as the future queen? Instead, Maxon’s doing paperwork and not at all concerned about whether she’s okay or ALIVE or safe, and whether she might be looking for him or worried about him?! What the heck?!

I was bothered, too, that we didn’t find out the fate of some of the people at the end, like Elise and Paige… (I guess out of sight, out of mind for poor Paige :( I thought America might follow up with her later in the book, but she apparently never gave her a second thought after Maxon sent her off to the kitchens to work--disappointing!)

Finally, I have to ask: Why on earth didn’t Maxon give America back that necklace from her father?! I was SHOCKED that he wouldn’t have made sure she got at least the necklace back after her father died (if not also the bracelet and earrings he had given her himself). Unless the idea was that it would have negated her sacrifice…? I still don’t think it was very sensitive of him :( If it really was supposed to be for the sacrifice thing or if the King had done away with America’s jewelry and Maxon couldn’t get it back, couldn’t he have at least explained that to her? Would have been more in character for him to at least try to get her necklace back for her in light of her father's death!!

(hide spoiler)]

All this aside, though, I couldn’t put this book down and I loved the ending (especially after (view spoiler)). I loved that there were some moments outside of the palace in this book, too--and there were some VERY tense and scary moments in the story to keep me on the edge of my seat! I liked the introduction of new characters among the rebels and getting to know older characters better. And, I absolutely LOVED the romance in the latter part of the book :) I was very surprised that (view spoiler). I was NOT AT ALL surprised that (view spoiler).

This was a really good ending to the series and did keep me on the edge of my seat and racing through the pages to see how it would all end. I feel VERY satisfied by the ending :) It would have been nice to have a bit more of an extended epilogue ((view spoiler)), but it is what it is… I was a bit sad to finish this final book--I’ll really miss the series and characters :(
...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 06, 2013 Nat marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: not-out-soon-enough

And the winner is...

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 22, 2013 Nat rated it really liked it

I don't even know. I read this thing in one sitting, two hours of non-stop reading.

The characters,
Celeste: OMG im so glad we have perspective for her now. She kicks butt, she's sassy, and she gets what she wants. I love her, and I wish she could be my bestie. She's sooooo much better in this book. (view spoiler)
Kriss: I'll always not like you very much, you're sort of a baby. (view spoiler) ...more

Like · see review

Jul 22, 2013 Andrea Evans rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Like · see review

Feb 20, 2014 Anna rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites-shelf, favorite-authors, must-read-2014-releases

I cannot believe it's over. Just, wow.

I've been so excited for this series for so long, it's a bittersweet feeling now that it's over.

So many things happened in the last book that I loved and towards the end man, there were some things I just hated.

Without giving anything away, what I was hoping for happened, which was all I really asked for.

However, what happened to America's dad, Celeste and the Queen, just didn't sit well with me. It's also the part of dystopian that I can't stand, since it t ...more

Like · see review

Aug 11, 2014 Nikki rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014

Okay, I... Don't know what to say. There are too many emotions right now. I feel like bawling but I want to laugh, too! God, this series is so good! Seriously. I don't want to spoil anyone. They had to read the book!!! They're not gonna regret it. Swear. ...more

Like · see review