The Selection Series by Kiera Cass -> Restarting November 1st, 2020

[Aly]

ch 18 (view spoiler)[ I want to know what's up with the rebels? They're looking for something, maybe the truth about the country's history? I like Aspen, but America belongs with Maxon! Come on girl lol (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

Hi! Hope it's not too late to jump in! I'm trying the audiobook of this story while I work on some necessary cleaning this week. So here's my comment for the first two chapters audio:

Chapters 1-2 (view spoiler)[Okay, so I don't remember liking the first book that much but I think if I had read the audiobook I would have completely given up on the story. Amy Rubinate's narration is deeply terrible, and I hope I can continue this without driving myself up the wall. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

ch 25 (view spoiler)[ I'm frustrated with America and Maxon is totally right. Telling her she needs to make a decision whether she likes him and wants to be with him or not. Why should he keep her around if there are other girls who actually love him? She needs to stop playing both sides and woman up! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Celia wrote: "Hi! Hope it's not too late to jump in! I'm trying the audiobook of this story while I work on some necessary cleaning this week. So here's my comment for the first two chapters audio:

Chapters 1-2..."

Not too late! I'm listening to the audio for book 2 and it is not good. I'm also glad I read the first book so I can power through this. I'll be physically reading the other books

[Aly]

The Elite finished (view spoiler)[ Ugh America really bugged me in the second half of this book. She can't commit to Maxon and is making out with Aspen, but then gets jealous when Maxon spends time with or kisses other girls? Get over yourself. She's way lucky she got to stay and wasn't imprisoned or something for her statements on tv. I hope she really fights for Maxon next book and tells Aspen it's over (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

Aly wrote: "Celia wrote: "Hi! Hope it's not too late to jump in! I'm trying the audiobook of this story while I work on some necessary cleaning this week. So here's my comment for the first two chapters audio:..."

I physically read them the first time. I literally just need something to make cleaning my room less boring (my sister wants to move into my room since I'm away at college and it's a mess, so I need audiobooks to help me and I'm not always comfortable with audiobook versions of books I haven't physically read before.) But yeah it's pretty terrible.

[Keri]

Ch.1-5
(view spoiler)[I'd heard about this series for years but I had no idea that America had a boyfriend before getting selected! It was kind of a shock and he seemed like a really good guy, with just some issues being an equal with her and letting her help when she's able. I felt heartbroken for America when Aspen left her. It puts a whole new spin on her selection and how she may act coming in heartbroken but trying to put Aspen behind her. (hide spoiler)]

Ch.6-10
(view spoiler)[I'm so hooked on this now, I love stories like this where there are many people in a group and we see how they interact when they're in competition: the friendships, the rivalries, etc. And I love Maxon from that one meeting with America freaking out trying to go outside. He seems so much more a person than expected, which I suspected would be the case. I love how America was just herself with him and he went with it and gave her the alone time she needed. (hide spoiler)]

Ch.11-18
(view spoiler)[I really like the deal that Maxon and America made. Again, it wasn't what I expected, him agreeing to keep her there as a friend and almost spy to help him choose the right person. And I love how it's ended up making them closer and now she sees a possibility of falling in love with him. THIS is the kind of relationship I like to root for. Not instalove, but the characters getting to know each other and starting to develop feelings. I'm liking this book way more than I expected. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[Wow, more twists! Aspen is a guard and now they could be together! Only now I don't really want that like I did at the start. But I can't blame America for being torn--it's her first love saying all the things she wanted him to say when she's not quite had the time to move on, vs. her new budding possible romance and man she feels so comfortable with and can trust, but he also has 5 others so it's not a guarantee...needless to say, I can't wait to jump in the next book! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Yay Keri! I'm glad you liked the book :)

[Aly]

Ch 10 (view spoiler)[ I'm glad America is trying now and realized she loves Maxon. The northern rebels can be a huge help I think, Maxon just needs to be king instead of his dad (hide spoiler)]

Ch 18 (view spoiler)[ America, just tell Maxon you love him! I'm glad there's distance between her and Aspen now. Maybe he and Anne would be cute together? (hide spoiler)]

Ch 25 (view spoiler)[ That's so awful that America's dad died. It's cool he was a rebel and those letters will be invaluable. Kota is a jerk, especially for reacting how he did about being given the house. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I was pretty worried for a moment that Maxon was going to make an irreversible decision and marry Kris. It's sad his parents and Celene died, but silver lining that he and America got married and he'll be a better king than his dad (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

ch 8 (view spoiler)[ Eadlyn is a spoiled brat. I get not wanting to be in the Selection, but she's irritating with how she treats others and thinks she's above others (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

ch 16 (view spoiler)[ It was pretty harsh of Eadlyn to dismiss a third of the boys on the first day, especially so publicly and being rude to them. She really needs to grow up and I hope this will give her some maturity (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

ch 25 (view spoiler)[ Wow that guy that grabbed her was creepy. I'm glad he's gone. And the guy who started a fight too. She still needs to work on spending time with them all and give people a chance. I like Eric the translator a lot, he's so sweet (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I really hope America is okay. That's pretty scary, especially since her dad and sister died from heart problems too. I'm glad Aaron married his girlfriend because he was right. Eadlyn would have tried to get him to give her up and stay with her, even take over as a ruler. I hope she takes the Selection seriously now and finds someone to love. I think it will be Eric (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

ch 9 (view spoiler)[ I'm glad America is okay and Eadlyn is taking over and being mature. I hope she picks Erik! (hide spoiler)]
ch 18 (view spoiler)[ I'm glad she's queen and crazy about Hale and Ian! I think they'd be super cute together. (hide spoiler)]
ch 27 (view spoiler)[ Ugh Merid (or whatever the spelling is) fuck that guy. Eadlyn needs to pick Erik and stand up to the haters! Her family will support her and I think the people would like that too (hide spoiler)]
finished (view spoiler)[ That was a bit crazy at the end! I'm glad she married Erik and the constitutional monarchy was a great idea that solves a lot of problems. (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

Aly wrote: "
ch 6 [spoilers removed]
ch 13 [spoilers removed]
ch 18 [spoilers removed]
finished [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I felt the same way on all of this. I forgot to comment in mine about how frustrating it is that Maxon is keeping Celeste around! I can’t stand her either! (hide spoiler)]
I can’t wait to get on to book 2 but had to pause to marathon some Cassandra Clare in Feb to pump up(as if I need help with that) for meeting her in March!

[Aly]

That's fun you get to meet her!

[Aly]

*********RESTARTING MARCH 10TH 2020***********

[Kim]

So excited for buddy read points on a series I’m so into right now!

46% ok soo i got a little far in this one before remembering that I had requested a thread! I’ll be adding spoiler things in here from a computer but just know that I have a new found liking for Celeste!

[Kim]

67% The Elite are fantastic. I’m really glad to get to know more about the individual girls, as well as the Queen. There’s just the right amount of time spent on their characters without taking away from the storyline.

I’m so ready for to see what happens with the King’s letter too!

[Keri]

I can’t wait to get back into this! I’m hoping to finish Lord of Shadows today and then start The Elite!

[Kim]

The One - 80% - agh that moment in the audiobook that you knew was gonna happen but then it happens and you literally have to stop the playback cuz it’s going to change everything!!!!

[Kim]

92% - ok things are like warp speed from yesterday and I seriously wish I wasn't working! #firstworldproblems

(view spoiler)[ Aspen and Lucy?! Didn't see it coming but also it makes perfect sense! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

The One - completed! Oh man, what a finish! And yet not a finish?! I feel like it’s a great spot to take a break from the series and finish some others I’m working through. I’m pumped to go for book 4 at the end of the week.

[Keri]

Finally getting to book 2! After only one chapter I’m already right back with these characters and I can already tell this book is going to stress me out lol

[Keri]

Ch.19 / 53%

(view spoiler)[I am so stressed out and devastated at this book. It’s so good but it killed me what they did to Marlee and Carter! 😢
But I wanted America to fight harder to get in there and make a difference, not give up totally and run to the safe place of Aspen. I like Aspen (tho I keep seemingly wrongly suspecting him of being a secret rebel...), and I was pretty torn in the first book, but I’m so much more invested in America and Maxon as a couple now.
I can’t wait for Celeste to get what’s coming to her. It better happen after how nasty she is. (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

Ch.23 / 67%
(view spoiler)[I’m addicted to this book.
BUT. I’m extremely annoyed by America!! She is so upset by maxon getting close to Kriss and acts like it bothers her so much that he may not be only interested in her. All the while she’s sneaking off to make out with Aspen! Such a hypocrite. At least she KNOWS he’s dating the five women. He thinks she’s there for him while she’s sneaking around. It’s really not fair and he’d be heartbroken to know. I’m disappointed in her and how easily she does this. (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

Finished!
(view spoiler)[okay so my biggest hope for next book is that America ACTUALLY commits to loving Maxon and fights for him, while letting Aspen go. I’d love for him to be happy too, but not with America. He only wants her to be his idea of her anyway. And I’m still not 100% sure he’s not hiding something...or maybe I just hope for that so she’ll end things finally!
I hate that she’s kept this secret from Maxon where at least she knew she was up against other girls. Maxon thinks she’s taking time to figure out her feelings for him and move past a bad breakup. When in reality she’s using the time to make out with the bad break up!
But other than that, this book was ADDICTING. I love this series and it’s so easy to fly through and get sucked into. Can’t wait to start the next book. (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

The Heir - whoops read it in 2 days and didn’t do my BR posts but here we go!

8% I didn’t even bother reading the synopsis before diving in because I loved the first three so much!

17% (view spoiler)[ a selection! How exciting! But also what’s it going to be like if Eadlyn is gonna be a brat about it?! (view spoiler)[

43% (view spoiler)[ I’m enjoying the weaving of the previous trilogy into this series. Lucy and Marlee and evenMay are present and I think their relationship with Eadlyn is also very sweet. Curious to see if she goes on dates...it’ll be kind of cool since we didn’t see much of the from Macon’s perspective. (view spoiler)[

70% there is so.much.drama! (view spoiler)[ I get that this is set like 20 years after America’s story but it all feels so un refined! The previous stories were so filled with etiquette and mini challenges. These boys are animals! (view spoiler)[

100% (view spoiler)[ at first I didn’t think I was going to like this half of the series. I got into it and fell out at least 3 times but in the end I’m hooked. I have no idea who she will choose. And the French storyline and now America with a heart attack?! Definition of I can’t even! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

I can’t wait to start The One next week!

[Keri]

I’m moving a little slow on my current books due to a 4 day migraine but now making progress and hope to be reading The One late next week. I hope I can fly through it like I did the first two because I was that invested!!

[Kim]

Keri wrote: "I’m moving a little slow on my current books due to a 4 day migraine but now making progress and hope to be reading The One late next week. I hope I can fly through it like I did the first two beca..."

I hope you feel better!!

[Kim]

25% I am much more interested in seeing what happens with Eadlyn than I had anticipated. (view spoiler)[ So America, who I friggin loved in the first 3 books, had a heart attack and is in a medically induced coma?! BAH!! However, hardass Edy over here things that the best way to deal with this it to keep on trekking along. I'm honestly surprised she didn't take this as her way out. Also, I feel like something shady is gonna come from her brother in France. Maybe I'm heartless but I am over Henry and Eric (part of me feels like she'll pick Eric instead of Henry and that would be tragic on many levels and slightly funny too). (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

I’m starting The One in minutes!!! So excited!

[Keri]

17%
(view spoiler)[oh my gosh America is so frustrating. She’s so mean to Maxon for basically not ending the selection or saying she has it 100% when she has given him pretty much nothing! She hasn’t said she loves him, she barely started proving he can trust her, and every time he doesn’t act exactly how she expects/wants, she basically tells him to go get to k ow the other girls! Not to mention she STILL hasn’t told Aspen it’s over, and Maxon doesn’t even know about that. Omg. If she wants Maxon she needs to tell him. Also, I do think the way he’s treated her lately with humiliating her and making her feel small weren’t great moves on his part, but she needs to TALK to him about how it made her feel not yell or talk around it. Okay. Rant over and even saying all that, I’m still obsessed with reading these. (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

The Crown - 58%
Agh how am I only at the halfway point?? Where else is this going? (view spoiler)[ I did not see the Hale thing coming! I definitely thought he just didn’t want the responsibility of being a prince. What. A. Curveball!

Totally saw Eric coming though. Makes me want to smack Edy through the audiobook lol. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

69% (view spoiler)[ oh no, she better didn't! Secret rendez-vous is no Bueno, girl!

Merit was a surprise but not wholly. I will be interested to see how she goes about fixing this. Something tells me that either something about Eric is going to slip out or she isn't going to move fast enough. Or worse, she's going to hurt Kyle! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

83% (view spoiler)[ merit is too much! I can’t even at this point. Engagement rings on the tv?! Ugh. However, he obviously proved himself to be a fighter so I don’t know why she thought she could just ignore him and nothing would happen. I’m really happy about Kyle even though he was the prince I wanted. She did right by him and that’s pretty major. I feel like she might still propose to Eric. It would feel too rotten if she didn’t. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Finished! (view spoiler)[ I am glad this was only 2 books. I love loved America's storyline. Therefore, this could only pale in comparison. However, I liked the different point of view, Selection for a princess. Eadlyn certainly became more endearing at the end.

What was with Maxon's monologue at the end?!

I didn't like how everything just "worked out" but I liked the epilogue. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

Finished

(view spoiler)[This was my favorite of the original trilogy, I loved how things ended up for the most part. But I hated that Celeste died!! 😔
Who would think I’d say that lol. But once she let more of her true self come out I loved all parts with Celeste and it was horrible when she got shot. I was looking forward to her spunk in friendship with America in the future books. I wish it had been one of the other girls, any other one, not to be mean but it was one of my least favorite things.
That said I devoured this book and am continually blown away by how addicting this series manages to be! (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

Kim wrote: "
25% I am much more interested in seeing what happens with Eadlyn than I had anticipated. [spoilers removed]"

I’m glad to hear this because I’ve been not as much looking forward to this once I realized it’s not right along with the original three.
I didn’t click your spoiler since I haven’t started but I’m glad to hear you’re more interested than you anticipated...I’m hoping to start this one early May!

[Keri]

Do you know when we’re supposed to read this novella bind up?

Is it safe to read after the first trilogy, or better to wait until after all five books in this world?

[Keri]

(view spoiler)[Just started the first couple chapters of this yesterday and it’s just so weird having just read The One and now having Maxon and America be 20 years older with multiple kids. I hope I’ll feel invested in Eadlyn like I did America...also, what kind of name is Eadlyn??? (hide spoiler)]

[Jammin Jenny]

Chapter 8 - (view spoiler)[ I love that Maxon approached America's dad to make sure he was okay with them staying together and her becoming the princess. I agree the story started out a little angsty but I am still liking the story. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17

(view spoiler)[I think that America is probably the best candidate for Queen but the public is dissing her because of her status. That says a lot about this world - and the way people put status above performance or suitability.

I like how she keeps thinking the prince doesn't care for her as much, when I think he really does.

I wonder why the King didn't speak to her during the little get together they had with the remaining girls? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 27 (view spoiler)[
What a bombshell America dropped on the royal family when she suggested the caste system be abolished. The King showed his true colors, and Maxon stood up to his father which was rare. I wonder who he will pick at the end, and if they are going to kick America out? (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[Well I'm glad America is still there, and I'm glad she let her friend Aspyn (sp) go because he shouldn't wait for her. I hope she and Maxon end up together. (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

Ch.1-7
(view spoiler)[okay I already love Kile for calling Eadlyn out on her bratty attitude! LOL it’s about time someone did.
She’s unbearable so far. I don’t feel bad for her at all she’s entitled and doesn’t seem to care much about others. I’m also glad America has stayed herself and called Eadlyn out also earlier about how she’s not thinking of others if it’s at her expense.
I hope she gets better or this is going to be a long book. Honestly now that Kile is selected, I’d rather have his perspective to read from. But on the positive side I love hearing about all the characters I know and love from the original trilogy. (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

Ch.8-20
(view spoiler)[Okay I’m invested now. It’s so different reading from the side of the royal who’s choosing rather than one of the selected. I knew all along in the first trilogy I was rooting for America to win and keep Maxon’s heart. In this one there are a few of the guys I like and I’ll be sad for some if they get sent home! I love Kile and hope more develops with him and Eadlyn, along with hoping he can help her get her attitude and snobbery in check. I also like Hale, Baden and I could see her starting to like Erik, Henri’s translator.
But I still don’t like Eadlyn very much at all. She has moments of being real, but mostly she comes across as a spoiled brat. I couldn’t believe how rude she was to Neena when she said she’d be doing laundry and her boyfriend would be curing cancer! She’s so entitled and I’m not sure how she got that way with such kind parents. She needs a reality check. She’s the main one not acting like the castes are gone.
But, what Jack did and how he acted were creepy and scary. I’m so glad he’s gone. I love her brothers too. (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

Ch.21-31
(view spoiler)[Geez every time I feel like Eadlyn will improve she does or says something else ridiculous! I hate how she’s so determined for this NOT to work and NOT to find someone, like that’s a success. I wish once she started to realize she’s getting along with some of these guys, that she’d just go forward with no agenda and see what happens, whether it works out that she falls in love or not. She’s making it so much harder on herself.

Also, I love the baseball game. That was so fun and cute and her just being in the moment. And I liked her. I feel like she’s unlikable when she’s trying to live by the ‘nobody’s more powerful than me’ motto. I wish she’d talk to her dad more because he was nothing like this. I’m hoping how she realized Camille is nice and sweet but also no one walks all over her, and takes that as a sign that she doesn’t have to be so stand off-ish all the time.

AND, I’m dying to know whose name popped into her head when they asked about who consumed her thoughts. I’d say Kile, Henri, or Erik for my top guesses. (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

Finished
(view spoiler)[Okay so even with how much I don’t care for Eadlyn...I still really loved this book! I don’t know what it is with this series but I just get so invested. And now I need to know what Eadlyn does and who she ends up with. I’m so invested in these guys.
Also I was shocked Ahren and Camille eloped! I’m so happy for them. And I LOVED his letter to Eadlyn. He literally wrote everything I’d been thinking, and she needed to hear that. I just hope she listens to his advice.

Also, America can’t die!!!!! 🥺😩 (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

I can’t wait to continue with The Crown! I feel like it’s making my CR a struggle lol

[Esther]

Hi! I hope it's not too late to join. I have read the 1st book and I just want to post my thoughts.

[Esther]

(view spoiler)[ In the beginning, I liked Aspen and America together, so when Aspen broke my heart America's heart, I wanted to kill him. What they had seemed special and he threw it away because of his pride. Then, I was afraid he was seeing someone else, but he wasn't. I was honestly thinking good riddance, Aspen when America left for the Selection (which was Aspen's fault). The way the Selection played out was mostly due (I think) to how Aspen made America feel. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ I keep imagining myself as America and what I would do in her situation. I wouldn't make friends but I would be friendly with everyone, and I would try to be myself because that always works. When America was having a panic attack and she needed to get outside, the stupid cautious guards wouldn't let her. In the depressing part of my mind, I thought she was going to die or something like that. But, Prince Maxon saved the day. I liked Maxon from the start. He was kind of cute and I prefer him to Aspen because he knows a good thing when he sees it and doesn't throw it away because of his pride. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I love this competitive setting. It makes me feel like I would want to take part in the Selection. It honestly sounds like fun. I love the deal that America and Maxon made because Maxon needs serious help when it comes to women. He's cute though. I thought it was easy to tell that their "friendship" would become more than that, and I am rooting for them to work out. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[It's never easy to just get what I want, is it? There is a 50 percent chance that America is going to end up with a tree! Of course, there is also a 50 percent chance that she will end up with a prince who would care for her more than a tree ever could. She didn't need to fall in love with a tree. She honestly didn't. But she did and made things complicated. I can't wait for the next book, but I am going to have to wait a while for it. (hide spoiler)]