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

Jun 15, 2016 Dahiany rated it really liked it · review of another edition

AHHH! This was my absolute favorite book from the series so far. When I first started reading the series, I was not at all intrigued by America's character. However, I really enjoyed this book because of how fast-paced it was. America really came of age and thanks to the various circumstances she faced, she was able to make decisions that pushed her to where she wanted to be. One of the things that I love about Cass' writing is her ability to make you feel everything like America does. This stor AHHH! This was my absolute favorite book from the series so far. When I first started reading the series, I was not at all intrigued by America's character. However, I really enjoyed this book because of how fast-paced it was. America really came of age and thanks to the various circumstances she faced, she was able to make decisions that pushed her to where she wanted to be. One of the things that I love about Cass' writing is her ability to make you feel everything like America does. This story is very, very relatable, not in the princess-y events, but in the everyday feelings, emotions, and stages of life that we face. Reading through this book, I simultaneously reflecting on feelings of being in love, family, sympathy, loss, anger, fear, and passion. I really felt the need to say every emotion, because even though I have read many books I could relate to, this one was the closest to making me feel like I was living America's life, and living through her eyes.
Another aspect of this series that I have appreciated, is the slow character development. I enjoyed reading about the feelings that America went through, as she tried to maintain her integrity, while fighting for what she feels is right for her family, and her community. She has much passion, compassion, intelligence, and force. I was often inspired by her father's letters to her, because he told her how much he believed in her, and her ability to fight for what she wanted :')
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SPOILERS

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AND OMYGOSH When she realizes she "solidly" loves Maxon for the first tie <3 <3 <3.
I was also iffy about Maxon, because at times he seemed to be a bit clingy, but I felt sure that Maxon was the one along with America. I physically and emotional was like, HE IS THE ONE. Even though a lot of people have been saying that Aspen is really wimpy, I loved the fact that he was so selfless and protective toward America. So I had a difficult time letting him go as well, but I loved the transition that Cass made of making America approach Maxon. I think Maxon was the right one for America not only personality wise, but in that they both have an immense passion for making a difference, and their different points of view could come together to create something huge. :) ...more

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Dec 28, 2015 Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, 2015-favourites

Actual Rating: 4.3 Stars

I think that The One was definitely my favourite in this series. The cover is absolutely breathtaking, America finally makes up her mind, Maxon is his adorable self, surprising events take place, and everyone has a happy ending.

While America made up her mind (finally!), she procrastinated or withheld information for the entirety of the book. She should have told Maxon straight up about her old love being Aspen, but no, he sees them together and had already figured it out Actual Rating: 4.3 Stars

I think that The One was definitely my favourite in this series. The cover is absolutely breathtaking, America finally makes up her mind, Maxon is his adorable self, surprising events take place, and everyone has a happy ending.

While America made up her mind (finally!), she procrastinated or withheld information for the entirety of the book. She should have told Maxon straight up about her old love being Aspen, but no, he sees them together and had already figured it out (because he’s a smart cookie) and America and Maxon almost don’t get their happy ending because of America’s stupid decisions.

Okay, my rant is over.

Apart from that, I loved this book. I loved every Maxon and America moment, I loved their wedding, I loved how they are going to fix the world together. I just love them.

My favourite part was when America had gotten back from her father’s funeral and Maxon visited her room and gave her gifts and they spent the night together and were completely adorable.

Again, I wished Aspen had died, but we can’t have everything. I had a sneaking suspicion he and Lucy had something going on, and thought it convenient that Anne dies so that they could be together.

Having Kriss be a rebel was honestly the most boring “twist” in the book, it just didn’t phase me at all because I didn’t care, and while I suspected America’s dad was a rebel, that reveal also didn’t shock me. What did shock me though was Celeste dying, especially after being redemptive and proven to be a likable character, and having Queen Amberly die. The King I didn’t care about and was glad he died.

I’m so glad that now America and Maxon are Queen and King they can change the world and set things right. And I’m so so happy Marlee gets to come back and was America’s made of honour, just as they’d discussed in the previous book. However I did not like and found it super weird that Aspen gave America away at her wedding. Like can you not?

Overall I loved this and look forward to continuing this series. ...more

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Jan 06, 2016 Anke Zweel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned

"my love, you are sunlight falling through trees. You are laughter that breaks through sadness. You are the breeze on a too-warm day. You are clarity in the midst of confusion"

The perfect ending to a perfect series.

***** Spoiler*******

I fell in love with this series from the chapter and kept loving it till the end.

The one is the final chapter of the selection. But has the end comes near our group is thrown with a few curve balls. I was on the edge of my seat, and it seems everything i was about ...more

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May 12, 2014 BooksNerd14 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, dystopian, cute-couple

...I don't even know where to begin with this one...ummm...well maybe I'll start with HOW ENORMOUSLY FRUSTRATING AMERICA WAS THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE BOOK!!!! She said at the end of The Elite that Aspen no longer was an option to her. Okay, well she may not have said those exact words but...that was how I took it!!! At least in this one she stayed with her promise about 70% of the time. I can deal with that. Throughout the whole thing I became so frustrated that I was actually yelling at the book. ...more

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Aug 08, 2017 Teenage Reads rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, series, loved, 2017

The Selection has been cut down to the finals. Down to three is when Maxon has to choose who he wants in a wife, and the Queen of Illea. Which is why Maxon is keeping it at four, dragging the competition on so that he does not have to make a choice, the four being: Celeste, Kirss, Elise and America. Celeste Newsome, a two, was a model, but it was not just her looks that Maxon kept Celeste around. Being a two not only was she the highest in the caste of the girls, but also have friends in high pl The Selection has been cut down to the finals. Down to three is when Maxon has to choose who he wants in a wife, and the Queen of Illea. Which is why Maxon is keeping it at four, dragging the competition on so that he does not have to make a choice, the four being: Celeste, Kirss, Elise and America. Celeste Newsome, a two, was a model, but it was not just her looks that Maxon kept Celeste around. Being a two not only was she the highest in the caste of the girls, but also have friends in high places, which is looking high upon by the King, and by Maxon. Then it is Kriss Ambers, a three and no doubt Maxon’s favourite. This kindhearted soul truly loves Maxon, and would love him if he was a six or an eight, and was in this competition for his heart and not the crown. Elise Whisks, a four, was here in a business arrangement. Where girls are married off in her family, she saw Maxon not as a husband but a good business partner. Love has been never in her cards, thus she cannot be with Maxon the way the other girls are, yet her ties to New Asia kept her in the competition, plus the fact once she is gone Maxon would have to choose. America Singer, a five, and what could not be said about her? Brave, yes, kind, yes, a fool, also a yes, and an irrational loudmouth who truly does not think before she speaks – again another yes. Maxon had his heart set out for America from the start, yet she has to rebuild his trust after her performance, and with the king looking down on her as well, America might just have to fight to stay alive. After all, what she has above the other girls, is not just her low caste, but the fact that she truly does love Maxon, and he loves her too.

Down to four, the whole Kingdom is going crazy to see who Maxon will pick. The girls are getting antsy, trying to pick apart each other to see what they have done with Maxon and what the others have not. Kirss who is refusing to let Maxon kiss her, Celeste who had a few good kissing sessions with him, America let it slipped that he took off his shirt (but did not tell them the reason why). Queen Amberley tries to remind the girls that these are the closes friends you will ever get, and slowly it starts to sink in. America starts to see Kriss as the way Maxon sees her, Elise is not that bad, and America finally see under the tough girl act of Celeste, and created a brand new friendship, the strongest one America might ever have. Still there was the fact she was sharing her future husband with three other girls, something America cannot get over. Yet when Maxon takes her to the roof and tells her this as they dance: “You’re worth it. I don’t think you get that. You’re worth it to me”, America works even harder to prove her love for him. King Clarkson has different ideas for his son, trying to make him do anything else besides picking America, sadly that is what the opposite party wants to do. The Northern Rebels come to talk to Maxon and America and explain the deal they want to strike up: they will help fight the Southern rebels, only if Maxon destroys the caste system and picks America. “I felt as if my heart was on the edge of bursting, and I just wanted everything to end today. MY world had settled onto a new axis, and it felt like the only way to handle how dizzy it made me was for us to finally be real. I felt certain now that it would come. It would have to. Soon”. The rebels, the King, Maxon, the fact she still has not put Aspen in his place, and a death close to her heart, America will have to fight for everything she loves, or else she will lose it all.

Kiera Cass, wow, just wow. If the series lost your interest in The Elite, then The One is going to take back your interest and raise it a level at that. This book grabs you by the arm and leads you towards the fork in the road between misery and bliss, and leaves you there for what feels like years. Honestly, as a person who believes you should always show your feelings (the good and the bad) America just told Maxon she loves him, then a whole mess could have been avoided. From Maxon side, it totally made sense, this is his one chance to find someone to love, real and true love. He is a nineteen-year-old male, who is going to get married before twenty and all he has is thirty-five girls to pick from. Lucky for him, he narrows it down quite a bit, but knowing he found her on day one. Still, he has backups (which America blames him for), two for public and political views, one he likes, and then her. Yet how can he choose America, when she would not even say she loves him, and plays the hot and cold diva act on him several times throughout their relationship. Then America wonders why he does not pick her: because you have given him no reason to! The death in this book, made sense, but you do not have to be happy about it, but it did bring America more character development and make her finally settle on her feelings for Maxon, and for Aspen. As her first love, and best friend, Aspen will always be a part of her life, but that does not mean she loves him in the way she loves Maxon. Only now she must let Aspen know her feelings, and explain to Maxon that she loves him, and been keeping a lover on the side for most of their relationship. With a shocking climax, nothing in this world could explain how heart wrenching there last few chapters are in a good and terrible way. With the rebels advancing, not even the help of the northern rebels, can keep this slaughtering away. The wedding at the end is spectacular, one of the best weddings you might ever read, that leaves you with a warm pit in your stomach and heavy eyes, as you can can put the love story of a five name America Singer, and a Prince Maxon, truly unique love story to rest. ...more

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Sep 09, 2015 Myrah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, favorites, romance, hyped, absolutely-loved, interesting, female-protag, touching, audiobooks, fiction

Review Coming Soon !!!!

...more

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Feb 18, 2014 Sayra added it

Check out my blog to know why I am apart of Team Aspen!
sual27.blogspot.co.uk

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Nov 22, 2014 Jessica rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014

Ahh. omg. i read this 25 weeks ago (I know from one of my instagram posts) and I just noticed I totally forgot to update on goodrads for this book. loool.
To be approx. exact, May 24.

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