ARC Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

The Elite by Kiera Cass

Release Date: April 23, 2013
Format: ARC, 323 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Gifted
Series: The Selection, #2

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Timesbestseller The Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

My Review:

   I liked The Selection. I loved The Elite. I need The One. This is my favorite book in the series but I have to wait for The One to see if I'll love it even more.

   This book picks off right where The Selection finished with the selection being narrowed to the elite and America knows that Maxon likes her and she can end the competition by telling him. But she's not completely sure if she wants to live as a princess. There is a Halloween party and America sees Maxon with the other girls and feels like he may not like her as much as she thought. Then America's friend is punished for breaking a rule of the selection. She is punished and America sees how Maxon is so calm. American tries to save her friend but to no avail and she's taken by the guards to her room. She's sure that she would never be able to just stand there and do nothing while someone is punished. Maxon tells her that it rarely happens but he sees how she's pulling away and this moment changes things. In that moment I think Maxon saw that he needed a backup because he was so sure that America would be it for him.

   Then America sees Maxon with Celeste and everything goes haywire. She decides that she wants to go home but Maxon won't let her. And she resolve to be let go off another way, which turns out to be a bad idea because the king takes his anger out on Maxon. Then the rebels attack and then Maxon and America are alone in a safe room...*Squeals*

   The ending sort of ended in a cliffhanger when we thought America would be going home but she ended up staying. If I wrote this book, I would have changed the ending so that America left but then Maxon went to get her to come back. Then he sees how her old life was. It would have been romantic but oh well.

   I wanted to smack Maxon so many times in this book like his reason for being with Celeste was so unreasonable. It's kind of creepy that he's kissing Celeste, he likes America, and I think he's getting feelings for Kriss. Like what the hell is he with all three for. It's like he's having a harem.

   And then we have America. I love her because I think I can definitely put myself in her shoes. People are saying how she loves Maxon but she gets jealous when Aspen was dancing and talking to Celeste. I know she doesn't have a right to be mad but that was her ex and she freaking hates Celeste so I'd be mad too. We're all human and we have feelings so it's  inevitable.

   So in conclusion, The Selection was a good book read but The Elite is superb. It left me wanting to read the next book and it made me love this series which the first book didn't. It also brought out so many feelings. I'm finally starting to love Maxon and I Aspen doesn't bore me like he did in the first book, even though I find him annoying at times. Also Kriss is no friend of America, (I freaking hate her like Celeste) I feel like everyone thinks she's no innocent and lady-like when she's really devious.

5 out of 5 stars