Actual rating: 3.5 
 I jumped right into this book as soon as I finished The Selection. I was so excited! It started right where the first book left off. I love when authors do that! (view spoiler)[I LOVE Maxon so much! I don't like Aspen at all, sorry to all the Aspen lovers. I think that it was stupid and ridiculous that Aspen told America to The Selection and now he's trying to pull her away! Also I hate what happened to Marlee. That broke my heart! And then after that Aspen takes America to a secret place only he knows. That made me angry cause America's best friend got punished for doing exactly what they were doing, but he didn't care because he just HAD to see her. He knows the risks, they've been nearly been caught enough times. Plus he is playing with her heart and head. I just don't like that. I mean as soon as America decides she loves Maxon and is ready for the Selection to be over Aspen swoops in and that just frustrates me. America is at fault here too, she needs to make up her mind (*cough Maxon *cough). America also annoyed me in this book because I felt like she was becoming more of a brat. I didn't see as much of her snarky side as I did in the first book. Also going back to Marlee, she is such a good friend! She understands that Maxon had to do what he had to do otherwise he would have been in deep doodoo. He made Marlee a Seven and allowed her to work in the palace even though, according to the rules, that shouldn't be allowed. Don't get me wrong this world is messed up, but I think Maxon is doing the best he can and America should cut him some slack. Anyway, Marlee tells America to forgive Maxon and that she thinks America should win The Selection an I just love Marlee. On another note it frustrates me how much of a hypocrite America is! Maxon has told her time and time again how he will stop The Selection and pick her, all she has to do is say the word, but...she won't. Yet she gets jealous that Maxon is talking to the other elites and she runs back to Aspen. It's just one big circle going around and around and around. Also King Clarkson: I HATE HIS FREAKING GUTS!!! No one NO ONE deserves to be beaten and abused. King Clarkson is a prime example of a corrupt king. Just cause his son says something or disagrees with the king, he beats him. And what of his mother? (hide spoiler)]. All in all, I enjoyed this book. I think the first book was better though. I can't wait to start book three!!! 
 HAPPY READINGS!!!!