This review was first posted on Ruby's Reads. 
 You know those books that reach such a fever pitch of popularity that the very fact that so many people loved it turns you off? The Selection was one of those books for me. Despite having gotten my copy when the book was first published, it took me over a year to get around to reading it. Was it worth the wait? Not really-but I do think it was a good thing I didn't read it when my anticipation was so high. My opinion of The Selection probably benefited. Sadly, this isn't saying much. 
 The Selection is basically The Bachelor Goes Dystopian. Since I'm the only person on earth with little-to-no interest in TV dating competition shows, this was not a recipe for success. I was frankly bored with America's "dilemma." She doesn't want to be princess; didn't even want to enter the lottery to enter the competition. It was only that her mother bribed her and her boyfriend said he'd never be able to live with himself knowing he'd taken away her one chance to become royalty. She never expected to be chosen! And now that she has, and her boyfriend has thrown her over, she might as well go ahead with it For the Sake of Her Family. 
 Yes, America's that girl. The one who makes a "sacrifice" so her family can rise out of poverty and then complains about it through the whole book. She's that godawful 21st Century girl plopped into a historical novel, only this time it's a Dystopia. America's the only one that questions the caste system, the only person who cares about her servants, the only one who is above competing for the prince's affections. By the end of the novel, I was so over America that I would have stuck my tongue out at her if I hadn't been afraid she'd see me. 
 Sadly, if America was awful, the other characters were worse. Aspen's a douche and Prince Maxon is worse. Maybe it's just that I don't go in for sensitive heroes, but honestly. You're supposed to be the ruler of a country someday, dude! Grow a pair, already, and give America the boot she so richly deserves. And while you're at it, use some of your sovereignty to make America shut up. 
 This is a Dystopian, so I can't review The Selection without addressing the world-building. There's some (expositional) backstory, but the more I think about it the less it makes sense. I understand why a new government needed to be formed, but why a kingdom? And why a caste system? It appears to exist solely to make the book possible. Furthermore, the violent rebel attacks? Not particularly violent. 
 The worst part of this book is the end, which sets up the rest of the trilogy for what looks to be a painful love triangle. If it weren't for that, I might have considered reading The Elite. However, the last few chapters create such a painful scenario that I doubt I could bear to read any more. If I liked either of the male love interests, I'd be upset with America for stringing them along. As it is, well, I can chalk it up to just another unlikeable aspect of a character in a series I won't be continuing to read.