The One (The Selection, #3) in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Jan 17, 2018 Nadine in NY Jones rated it it was ok

Shelves: fantasy-and-sci-fi, dystopian-and-post-apocalyptic, series-i-don-t-love-but-keep-readin

“Okay,” Kriss said, putting out her arms. “We need to clear this up. Who has done what with Maxon?”

Everyone was quiet for a moment, not wanting to speak up first.

“I’ve kissed him,” Elise said. “Three times, but that’s it.”

“I haven’t kissed him at all,” Kriss confessed. “But that’s by my own choosing. He would kiss me if I’d let him.”

“Really? Not once?” Celeste asked, shocked.

“Not once.”

“Well, I’ve kissed him plenty.” Celeste flipped her hair, deciding to be proud instead of embarrassed.

“Okay,” Kriss said, putting out her arms. “We need to clear this up. Who has done what with Maxon?”

Everyone was quiet for a moment, not wanting to speak up first.

“I’ve kissed him,” Elise said. “Three times, but that’s it.”

“I haven’t kissed him at all,” Kriss confessed. “But that’s by my own choosing. He would kiss me if I’d let him.”

“Really? Not once?” Celeste asked, shocked.

“Not once.”

“Well, I’ve kissed him plenty.” Celeste flipped her hair, deciding to be proud instead of embarrassed. “The best was in the hallway one night.” She eyed me. “We kept whispering about how exciting it was that we might get caught.”

Finally all eyes were on me. I thought of the king’s words, suggesting that maybe the other girls were being much more promiscuous than I was prepared to be. But now I knew it was one more weapon in his arsenal, a way to make me feel insignificant. I came clean.

“I was Maxon’s first kiss, not Olivia. I didn’t want anyone to know. And we’ve had a few . . . more intimate moments, and one of those times Maxon’s shirt came off.”

“Came off? Like it magically flew over his head?” Celeste pressed.

“He took it off,” I admitted.

Not satisfied, Celeste pushed on. “He took it off or you took it off?”

“I guess we both did.”

No lie, this series is ridiculous, but I just had to find out how it ends.

Aside from the endless descriptions of clothes, make up, and jewelry, and the girly convos, much of the plot is a ridiculous game of chicken: clearly I can't tell him I love him until he tells me first! and clearly he can't tell me he loves me until I tell him I love him! clearly I won't choose the wine in front of me! ... oh, no, that's a different book. The I-love-him-but-won't-tell-him plot line is enhanced by the equally ridiculous multiple misunderstandings caused by a series of: " I have something very important to tell this person" ... [spends private time with person ... says nothing about the matter ... doesn't even think of it]. WTF, America? Do you have more than two brain cells????

All that said, if you want a sappy, YA romance version of The Bachelor, in a dystopian setting, then this is a good one to read.

Points for the cover actually depicting a scene from the book, tho! (But the cover doesn't show the all-important strap at her right shoulder.)

the dresses were all white and gold. Mine had a high waist and no strap on the left but did have a small, off-the-shoulder strap on the right, covering my scar and looking really lovely at the same time. The top was snug, but the skirt was billowing, kissing the floor with scallops of golden lace. It came together with pleats in the back that fell behind me in a short train. When I looked at myself in the mirror, it was the first time I actually thought I looked like a princess.

...more

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