See full review for The Selection at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... 
 The best way to describe The Selection, I guess, is to take the district system from The Hunger Games and have it meet The Bachelor. In this world of the new America - it's actually called Illea if I remember correctly - there is a caste system. The royal family are Ones, then there are Twos, and it goes down to the Eights. When the royal heir - this case Prince Maxon - comes of age to select a bride a countrywide contest is held. Girls from the age of 16-20 are encouraged to fill out an application and there name is added to the list (and may the odds be ever in your favor). Thirty-five girls are selected and go to the palace where they have to fight - not literally, of course, they are ladies after all - for the Prince's affections. The thirty-five slowly dwindles down to the Elite until he chooses the One. 
 America Singer is a Five and wants nothing to do with the Selection when she gets an application in the mail. She won't fill out despite her mother's protests, but what her mother doesn't know is that she's already in love with someone - a Six named Aspen - and it wouldn't be fair. But her mother makes an offer she can't refuse, and what's the probability that she'll actually get picked anyway? So she fills out the application and smiles for the camera. Later that week, Aspen breaks her heart and she gets selected. She's off to the palace to win the prince, but how can she when she has a broken heart?