A Goodreads user
A Goodreads user asked:

Who do you like better? Aspen or Maxon? I personally like Maxon a lot better.

To answer questions about The Elite, please sign up.
Rania Dali Maxon is way better and America annoys me when she goes back to thinking about Aspen!
Chloe Something about Aspen is still off. I don't trust him. Does anyone agree?
Novel Infatuatus Maxon was far to superficial to me in a lot of ways. He either came off as fake or so godforsaken cheesy that it did the exact opposite to me that it did to America. Quite frankly, I thought America was more of a real girl in the first book. By this book I was convinced that she was slowly being programmed into being a robot.

I like Aspen. He's a real man with insecurities. He wasn't convinced he could give America the life she deserved and honestly he couldn't. He let her go and that act in itself is so utterly selfless that it truly chafes my nerves when people say that he's a jerk. Seriously, where is everyones heads these days?

Maxon isn't a jerk. He's a bit too perfect and less real to me.

That's why I like Aspen better.

I don't think America deserves either one of them.
Amy America needs to get over Aspen. SRSLY! Yes, Aspen has a big heart, but he is just way too worried about "providing for America" that he BROKE HER HEART in the first book! Even though Maxon acted a little bit crappy, I'm still with Maxon.

#TeamMaxonDieAspen
Ashley Aspen gets on my nerves because he broke up with her and then thinks he has a right to come around and flirt with her, but yet again America does nothing to stop him. So they sneak around when they know they could get punished to death or something of the sort just because they can't help themselves.

Maxon has been my favorite for a while now but I can't help but get angry when I read a scene about him making out with another girl or flirting with someone. I know he says that he loves America and would choose her, but he makes it quite hard to believe when his actions say otherwise. And I guess it makes it hard for America to truly trust him, but he doesn't seem to get that and thinks she's temperamental about her choices( which in a way she is) but he needs to understand he's also at fault. This book is so frustrating! I wish she would make up her mind and that Maxon would stop flirting with other girls in front of her!
Despite the fact I like Maxon better I almost wish he would just send her home so I won't have to read this Maxon/Aspen drama.
Teamleo260 don't ever fall in love because everything that falls breaks they are both annoying and america is ten times worse than them
miriam bloxenheim I feel so bad for Maxon, he always stands up for America and even saves her from his abusive father, and meanwhile she is stabbing him in the back by cheating on him with ashen!
Yildis Rihter I like maxon 100 times more!! I can't stand Aspen!
Rachel Personally, I like aspen better. He was America's first true love. He always had his eyes set on America. He even risked his job and life by sneaking around with America. Although maxton is great, he seems to be on and off. Most of the time, he is thinking about what he wants. He also constantly puts America down because she is not good enough. Maxton seems to stay away from America a bit or not talk to her as much, when things don't go his way or America doesn't act the way he wants her to. Even though ashen broke up with her, he was thinking of what would be best for America. Team aspen all the wag
Karen I love Maxon way more than Aspen because he is such a gentleman and every girls fantasy boyfriend is him. Aspen sucks, he's a jerk.
Julie Johnson I like Maxon way more than Aspen! I like Aspen, but America and Maxon being together is so romantic
Rebecca I'm just now picking up this series, and quite frankly, every time America sneaks off to be with Aspen it p****s me off a little bit. I just cannot stand him. At all. I am literally only halfway through the book and I am debating googling if he gets killed in a rebel raid, I hate him that much. And I almost never feel like this about a fictional character. I read The Selection in a single day. I have had to put down The Elite four times now just to take a deep breath and not throw it against the wall.
Jessica Lambert I personally like Maxon more. I still like Aspen, but I just think he's kind of indecisive and it kind of makes me mad. Maxon knows what he wants and goes for it. Yes, at times Maxon can be a jerk but I personally think America makes him a better person.
Andrea Personally, I felt Aspen was more of a real man, but by this book, it is pretty obvious he is not given has much attention as Maxon. It doesn't even feel like a love triangle anymore as much as America being wishy-washy about only one boy.
María Greene F I like Maxon better but, more important, I DISLIKE Aspen, so there ir my choice!

I also think America is not really likeable, or really awesome. But I can't stop reading and cheering for it either way 8-)
Amy MAXON! He is so much more considerate of America's feelings. All Aspen seems to care about is himself
Hannah I think Maxon is wayyy better than aspen. Aspen is always doubting americia and Maxon never did anything wrong
Leah Bauer I personally like Maxon way better than Aspen because he is Maxon and Maxon is amazing and sweet and kind and so fuzzing adorable! Sorry i just had to fangirl!
Mnmgymnast
This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)
Jessika Lopez While they both have their flaws, I want America to choose Maxon because I think she has a lot to offer as princess.
I also think that if Aspen really loved America, he would have trusted her decision in the beginning to accept the consequences of marrying a lower caste. Instead, he made the decision for her, and when he regretted it, went on to upturn the good thing she had going with Maxon. He needs to accept the consequences of his own choices and allow the both of them to grieve and move on. Besides, I sense something with Lucy around the corner.
Jess Maxon. Aspen should've seen that America was trying to move on and instead of going after her let her go. He broke her hart and expected her to go running back to him, though she did. America kind of annoyed me in this book.
Maddie F. maxon all the way!!
Sennett I don't care one bit about the love triangle or America Singer. If they all die except Amberly, I'm fine. There's even a chance I might chear.
Ally i like aspen more
Ivy Netherbrand I like aspen. I think he and America should be together.
B Maxon any day, I feel Aspen is just manipulating her and he dropped her so he lost his chance.
Nboi Aspen is a Jerk. No doubt about it. He could have gotten her killed, he came into her room several times just to kiss her. That's all he wants. He's only using her. On the other hand, Maxon is an amazing, kindhearted, sweet dude who can just be shy occasionally. He's funny, and he wants America to be truly happy, that's his only care
Jene Maxon. Maxon all the way. Loved Aspen in the beginning but first reading about Maxon I fell in love. Crazy I know, but Maxon is Addictive.
Nithya Maxon really, really, REALLY gets on my nerves. Has no-one else realized he has zero clue about how to run a country?

He literally did not know people starved and that's more than half the population! He thought education was such a big step forward when people have nothing to eat and nothing to wear and no house and no nothing. How could you be raised to rule a country and not know that? Either he's extremely stupid or extremely ignorant. And maybe no-one else noticed the many (easily solvable) problems of Illea that still haven't been solved but I have. There are babies who are thrown onto the streets because they were illegitimately born, ie., through no fault of their own.

He didn't know about the violent Eights in certain provinces because: 'Aww, poor Maxon is an innocent little baby and we must protect him'. Well, Maxon may be kind and sweet but he would be a rotten king, and that's what matters. Frankly, I hate him.

Yours,
A Southern Rebel
Olivia I feel like Maxon was more thoughtful than we ever saw Aspen being, so naturally I prefer Maxon.
Jen Smith I adore Maxon. Even though he is royalty he is very laid back when it comes to America. She is foolish to think anything good will come out of her on and off relationship with Aspen. I don't trust him. Besides she is a 3 and he is a 6 She'd be putting her whole life aside for him, & if they are caught they are both dead. She deserves better, and Maxon deserves her. They are so cute together.
Clara MAXON CALIX SCHREAVE. I mean, we all knew Maxon and America would end up together and Aspen was just a secondary character. He was her first love and she won't forget him, they will be friends but what Maxon and America have is true love.
Emmaleigh I like Maxon because he is a gentle man and he never comes to her room at night just because he loves her and that he would never ask a girl to be his play thing.
Autumn Slaght It is definitely Maxon for me. Aspen is annoyingly arrogant and he needlessly endangered America's life on numerous occasions by asking her to secret meetings with him. The night after Marlee got in serious trouble for doing the same thing! I say ditch Aspen and go for Maxon. Definitely Maxon.
Chloe, I completely agree. I don't trust him either. I think he's up to some kind of agenda.
ella 100% Maxon! Something seems a little off with Aspen.
Aly I like Mason better, because he's calm in tough situations. Aspen.....yeah no.
Nicolle Maxon! I do not trust Aspen
Desy Honestly, I think Maxon is better (feel free to argue with me on this) because his side of love for America feels more deeper than Aspen's (the letters in the One really just made my heart burst). Aspen can just be an absolute sweetheart and fits the definition of childhood love for everything he's done for America.
Alyssa Maxon is definitely my favourite, he is so sweet. Aspen isn't too bad but it just annoys me how he broke up with America and told her to go the Selection, then expects her to get back with him.
Kaylea Reyment Maxon duh Aspen thinks he's better then everyone and America needs pick!
Lisa Maxon definitely :D
Izzy I like both but Maxon is the better choice. America could change the country and help a lot of people.
Bunni MAXON she makes me mad when she thinks about aspen cant she she see that aspen is not what she needs, although this is my opinion and it may not be yours but ya! i liked it alot! :)
Isla Mae TEAM MAXON!! Aspen literally broke her heart and came crawling back to America expecting her to take him back. Not to mention he risked her life multiple times just because he wanted to hook up. He is unreliable and selfish and completely sexist. He literally broke up with her because "HE should be providing for HER because HE is the man" like what???? Maxon is kind and trustworthy. He is always trying to make America happy and those of you not liking him because he kissed other girls here's a dose of common sense. That is exactly what the selection is! He has to do it and he literally promised his loyalty to America. He may live in luxury, but his life is hard, not only because of his endless responsibilities, but constantly having to please the public. Ending the selection so quickly would cause up rise so he has to give the other girls a shot. Maxon is also so forgiving. America screamed at him after he tried to help her and physically assaulted him later because of false assumptions and Maxon still forgave her and was willing to give her another chance. I'm not saying he is perfect but he is a heck of a lot better than Aspen.
Fljo_4u Aspen. He loves her better
Bhavya Goyal I like Aspen . . . I feel Maxon and America are made for each other with their equal stupidity and hesitation to bare their hearts to each other, and the only one noble in this whole scenario is Aspen who's always waiting for America I mean seriously! Goodness! He deserves so much better than her
Tayla Botha
This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)
Amelie
This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)
cel i agree. i think that while maxon has his flaws, but he's better than aspen.
Evelono Pratt bro aspen is sooo annoying and i hate it when america gets butterflies in her stomach for him! it makes me so mad because i am team maxon for life!
Laura Sechet Team Maxon!

I feel even though he made mistakes he is always really nice to America. I don't hate Aspen but I just don't think it was meant to be.
Plus I found Aspen really annoying when he like convinced America to sign up for the selection, broke up with her than came back and said "Good to see you had no problem dating him while I was gone" Like WHAT? You wanted her to come here and you like, broke her heart too... Grow up!
Oh also, I understand America has a hard time forgetting Aspen but during the whole Elite she just goes back and forth if one annoys her like do you even care about either of them. And even though Maxon is far from perfect I mean he loved America and she was like "Yes but I can't admit it, you need to say it first, I don't care if your father is torturing us and rebels are killing peope outside, i will not admit my feelings". He's still really patient considering.
Amelia Maxton i dont trust Aspen one bit
• honeztly.quiescentt • Ok…… so I know a lot of people are going to disagree with me on this but tbh rn I’m team Aspen. NOW DONT GET ME WRONG! I still think the way Aspen acted in the selection was jerkish, but after reading “The Elite” Maxon is making me so angry. He’s over here saying “if you just confess you feelings for me and promise me you want to be with me forever I will end this selection right now blah blah blah” and even though America is hesitant (can you blame her she still is hung up on Aspen) she later says she wants to be with him. Completely. AND HE GOES OF WITH OTHER GIRLS TO “GiVe ThEm A SpORtINg ChAnCe” when if you really loved America you wouldn’t be trying to see if you love any other girls. AND FOR GOODNESS SAKE JUST BELIEVE AMERICA AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO COMPLAINS ABOUT CELESTE WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT THE TERRIBLE THINGS SHES DONE AND KICK HER OUT! He basically told America to shut up when she told him about her in the selection!! Aspen (currently) is trying so hard to win America back, knowing what he did was wrong, while Maxon is being A JERK UGHH!!! Please tell me I’m not the only one who’s irritated! (P.S) I know America isn’t the best either there are times when I find her annoying but doesn’t mean I condone these actions done by Maxon. Or Aspen. I’m just scared to continue reading this book in fear I’m gonna get more upset… 😭
Anne Barboza I think, if I've had read this in my teens, i would've been team Maxon. But reading this as a new adult, I can't help but root for Aspen. We were given a strong hatred towards him because of what happened in The Selection where he was seen with another girl "happy" but after knowing his side, it turns out that he's been loyal all along. It's actually America who is annoying. She has her mind set to Aspen, then just because Maxon came, she forgets about their plans (with everything that they've been through! everything aspen has sacrificed for her!). I understand Maxon is your typical cheesy prince charming who wouldn't fall for that, but, I think being a royal guard sounds pretty hotter lol so, The Elite has me pausing many times because America has gotten annoying
Sydney Team Maxon. The fact Aspen had a relationship with America, knowing the risk, just seems off.
renee Maxon all the way. Aspen doesnt deserve her and shes so blind for not seeing whats ifront of her
The Bookworm❜ I say I like neither. Aspen broke her heart in the first story; Although I liked him in the beginning, he made me mad when he said, in the first book, something like, "I nEeD tO pRoViDe fOR yOu tHiS iS A mAn's jOb" yadayadayada.
Maxon... I don't know how I feel about him. I know that he has to go on dates with other girls and stuff as part of the competition, but at the same time, if he really loved America, wouldn't he just call an end to the whole thing?
America is trashy and I don't know why my friends liked her. I haven't even finished this book yet, but really? OH My GeRd I dOn'T kNoW wHo TO CHoSeEeE- mAxOn iS sO sWeEt bUt wHeN i'M WItH aSpEn *dramatic sigh* i JuSt nEEd sOmE mOre TImE.
So, I honestly don't like either character in this trio more than the other. My favorite characters in the whole book are America's attendants and Marlee.
KCUNDERCOVER Me too. IDk why I hate Aspen . Honestly I am reading this book just for Maxon... If this was about Aspen and America I wouldn't have even completed the first book. Maxon is just so sweet . I f I were America, I would have kicked Aspen's sorry ass..
Rachel
This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)
Jubilee Mia Figueroa MAXON! I don't like Aspen. Something about him is weird and off like he is planning something. Did everybody forget HE BROKE AMERICAS HEART? And did you forget that America kissed Ansley when she liked Maxon as her guard? She is so stupid! Tell Maxon! Pick Maxon! Aspen had his chance and now it is time for Maxon! It is a sign that She has no time for Aspen! At least she broke up with him and Is (Kinda) with Maxon now...
Brrots America started getting on my nerves. So the idea of Maxon x Aspen popped into my mind. Thoughts?
Julia Maxon, definitely! So frustrated with America every time she goes back to Aspen! Argh! Like, I get having a difficult time getting over your first love, but Maxon treats her so much better. Like when Aspen comes into her room unannounced when she's s l e e p I n g and violently rips off her comforter and kisses her without checking how she feels?? For crying out loud, he broke up with her and broke her heart, like, a week ago? And he assumes she still wants him? Maxon has his faults, he's not perfect, but at least he treats America with respect, and cares about what she thinks and feels.
Aamrah I homestly like Maxon as a person better.
For america.. aspen is a better choice..i dont you can just stop loving someone and move on to another within like a month. Aspen is devoted to her, and now there is no bbarrier of the 5 to 6 , they are both 2 and 3 and its not a hassle anymore.
Prince maxon is confused and so is america half the time.. america is not ready to be a princes.. but her need to make changes makes her feel like she should love maxon better.
She has the crown and the person mixed up...n it doesnt seem like she is really choosing maxon at this point in time.

Maxon can have anybody else for now, aspen seems good for america.

But we all love a cindrella story. And i would like to see the characters grow and maxon n america be together...because eventually that is what this book is about.
Makita Santoyo I think that Maxon is more responsible than Aspen
Berkley I didn't really like Aspen until he married Lucy and stopped hanging around America
Cadence Winslow I like Maxon and the way they act and treat each other, but Aspen has so much love for America.
Zinka Maxon, even more after the part with his father, poor guy, and yet he did it for her. And she can't even make her damn mind xD
Bailey Team Maxon all the way!
Victoria Alyesa neither, they both have good hearts but.....they are both assholes in the end.
Reader67 Maxon. Defenitely Maxon
Yasmine !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!MAXON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nasteho Khalif yeah me 2 i like maxon
Emmy i think Aspen is the better choice
Eleanor Jones My problem with the selection series is how horribly Aspen is written. Its done in a way that just makes you despise him. Maxon is so much better but even if that wasn't obvious you should just hate Aspen enough to think most people where better than him anyway.
Berlin I like Maxon much better. He doesn't doubt her, unlike Aspen when America asked him if he thought she could be the next princess. I honestly just think that he was just jealous of her and Maxon, that he thought he could make her change her mind about all the stuff going on in her mind and get her to love him. Aspen was just holding on too tight.
Grace K. Maxon. Aspen doesn't deserve her. He broke her heart and then comes back and hooks back up with her like nothing happened. Although, I don't like it when Maxon flirts/kisses other girls like he doesn't even love America. I know in the first book he was listing out the reasons for keeping them not one of them being for love, but still. I know he loves America so she should make up her mind! Or, preferably tell Aspen to beat it.
Filomena Baker Is anyone going to say Aspen...no. cool. He is HORRIBLE. Maxon. he is sexist and annoying. Who is so desperatly annoying, he is so DESPRATE, he is fine with being the second choice. I would never be with someone who had such low confidence. I cant, he is a sexist pig, he doesnt change, not like Maxon.
Sasha Washington Definitely Maxson im mean we all know she loves him but won't move on from Aspen. It's frustrating
Cristina I think they are both great guys and it's indefinitely a hard decision. Maxon is Mr.Wonderful, but Aspen is her first true love! Of course she is going to think of him often and have her doubts. There love has just ended and now he is back in her life. I personally believe Maxon is the better choice, but whoever says she shouldn't still be thinking about Aspen has never been in love like that!!
Image for The Elite
by Kiera Cass (Goodreads Author)
Rate this book
Clear rating

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more