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The Elite (The Selection, #2)

Kiera Cass

Start date: March 7, 2022

Finish date: April 7, 2022

Discussion: Buddy Reads 2022

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What Members Thought

Mar 26, 2020 Keri rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: uno-challenge-2020, 2020-12-series-in-progress, series-completed-all

Wow this was addicting. I had no idea I’d enjoy this series so much! It truly reminds me of a dystopian version of The Bachelor, which I am loving. What I am NOT loving, is how frustrating America is in this book. Almost the whole time I wanted to reach through and shake her for things she did and how much of a hypocrite she was being! Even so, I still do really like her as an MC and some of her ridiculous things I could at least understand even as they frustrated me. (view spoiler) ...more

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Mar 03, 2018 Marla rated it liked it

Shelves: series, dystopia, audiobook, young-adult, romance, asian, zz-2018, zz-2018-ammp-fairytales, celebrate-halloween, library-audiobook

2.5 stars. I enjoyed America Singer's naive, down-to-earth, honesty in the first book. I was annoyed by her constant jealousy and hypocrisy in this book. America's hesitancy at embracing the responsibilities of the crown was understandable but her hot and cold treatment of Maxon didn't make sense. America is angry and jealous of Maxon dating the other Selected girls, (view spoiler) 2.5 stars. I enjoyed America Singer's naive, down-to-earth, honesty in the first book. I was annoyed by her constant jealousy and hypocrisy in this book. America's hesitancy at embracing the responsibilities of the crown was understandable but her hot and cold treatment of Maxon didn't make sense. America is angry and jealous of Maxon dating the other Selected girls, (view spoiler) Not much happens in this book and only one girl is eliminated.

I am traveling, so I may have to listen to the next book for lack of another, but I'm not really looking forward to it after this very disappointing sequel.

Likes:
* Chris, Maxon's sweet, second choice
(view spoiler)

Dislikes:
* Conflict feels contrived, merely to add drama
* Celeste's witchiness
* Ugh, love triangles or love septagons
(view spoiler)

With-reservations:
violence, death, minor language, kissing multiple people, rebel attacks, vandalism, destruction ...more

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Jun 15, 2015 Maria (a) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, young-adult, read-in-dutch

I liked this book; like the first one, the writing just flowed (though again, I read this in translation). I’m trying to figure out what to say about the story itself, but am only now realising that... not all that much happens. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. The Selection is a series that definitely evolves more about its characters than about its plot, and The Elite shows more and more who Maxon is and what life could be like if America chooses him.

The entire book takes place at I liked this book; like the first one, the writing just flowed (though again, I read this in translation). I’m trying to figure out what to say about the story itself, but am only now realising that... not all that much happens. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. The Selection is a series that definitely evolves more about its characters than about its plot, and The Elite shows more and more who Maxon is and what life could be like if America chooses him.

The entire book takes place at the palace, where America is competing with 5 other girls for Maxon’s love – and for the crown. There was slightly more world-building in this one, most notable from diary entries from way back when Illea was founded and from the rebel attacks that are growing more and more frequent. The world-building is still too much background for this to turn into a dystopian story, though.

America started to become a little annoying in this book. Among other things, her jealousy drove me crazy at times, because a) as long as she doesn’t make up her mind, Maxon has to prepare for the possibility that she might not choose him, in which case he needs another bride – so of course he’s trying to get to know the other girls, trying to find someone who he would be willing to spend the rest of his life with and b) her own feelings for Aspen should make it clear to her that a choice isn’t always as easy as she thinks it should be for Maxon. I know jealousy isn’t exactly a rational emotion, but she could at least acknowledge that what she’s feeling is a bit hypocritical. Also, she refused to talk to Maxon about any of her doubts, which was just plain stupid. Talking to the guy would have eliminated about a quarter of the book in which she got lost in her own insecurities…

Prince Maxon is still my favourite character. He’s kind, compassionate... to me, he’s a regular prince charming. He definitely is the reason why I still truly enjoyed this book. Unfortunately, Aspen still doesn’t get much of a personality, making the love triangle – which, as feared, gets pretty much centre stage in this part – both forced and extremely uninteresting.

As far as the other girls go, I started to quite like Kriss.

I am definitely curious about the next part, but am not jumping up and down in impatience.
...more

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Apr 09, 2017 Monica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, own, fiction, dystopian, 2017-yearly-challenge-tcf

I loved this book just as much as I enjoyed the first book. The Elite is the continuation of the final 6 potential new princess for Prince Maxon. You have Marlee, America, Celeste, Natalie, Kriss, and Elise who have made it this far.

America is torn between the Prince and her ex Aspen. She doesn't know if she still love Aspen or Prince Maxon. I have been torn about who she should be with. I am pulling for her to win and be Maxon's Princess. I can feel the connection they have with each other whe ...more

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Jul 30, 2016 Shan ~A~ rated it liked it

Shelves: audio, young-adult, fantasy, dystopian

All the love I had for America and Maxon almost completely went out the window in this book. I was Team Maxon all the way coming into this book. Now I am left wondering: What do they see in each other? Will America stop being wishy washy anytime in the near future? Will Maxon stop being a jerk? Will America's self esteem improve? Will she stop leading Aspen around by his gonands and either let him move on or pick him? At this point I wish she would pick Aspen. He was the most honest of all the c All the love I had for America and Maxon almost completely went out the window in this book. I was Team Maxon all the way coming into this book. Now I am left wondering: What do they see in each other? Will America stop being wishy washy anytime in the near future? Will Maxon stop being a jerk? Will America's self esteem improve? Will she stop leading Aspen around by his gonands and either let him move on or pick him? At this point I wish she would pick Aspen. He was the most honest of all the characters here, plus his words/gestures of affection seemed genuine.

Here's why:
1. America and her waffling emotions.
~I understand that she is young, but her not sticking with a decision was not only annoying, but it also put her and Aspen in danger. I thought that after what happened with Marlee (not sure if I spelled it right) and her love, that she would make better decisions when it came to her interactions with Aspen in the castle. It's not like they weren't told that if they were ever found in this type of situations it was akin to treason. Plus, I didn't like the fact that she wasn't more truth with Aspen about her feelings for Maxon. She claimed to love Aspen, but her actions didn't fit that. More like she wanted to leave a carrot dangling to keep him around until she knew how this situation with Maxon would play out.

2. Maxon and his confusing actions
~ I totally understand how America could be confused about her place with Aspen, because in my opinion action speaks louder than words. Since he didn't explain things to her clearly and was up and down with his affection with America throughout this book, is it any wonder that she would be uncertain on rather or not what he said was true. What really sealed the nail for me was when he deliberately did things to hurt America. It's one thing to continuing to date the other girls, because that is what they are all there for, but he seemed more cruel toward America after she admitted to having some type of romantic feelings for him, going as far as throwing the time he was spending with the other girls in her face. It's like he was thinking now I know I have a real shot with you, I can use it against you to make you more complaint and to doubt your self-worth. Like father, like son I guess.

Besides that I thought that they needed to hire entirely new guards, because it was just too easy for the rebels to get inside the castle. (Well, if not new, then definitely more. Either they were incompetent or there wasn't enough of them to ward off these attacks before it made it into the castle.)

Overall, I felt like every last one of these people were selfish. Every once in a while I would see the America I fell in love with in the first book. She was/is feisty and will fight for what she believes in, but in this book her motivation didn't seem to hold to her previous personality traits. She mostly did or said something noble when she was acting out after being/feeling slighted by Maxon in some way. So it seemed more like a coincidence that something good could possibly come out of what she said/did, and not something she was trying to do because she really wanted to like a real hero would.

Still, that beings said I know that I will read the next book in the series. That way I can see for myself how America/Maxon/Aspen story concludes.

...more

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Nov 05, 2016 Susan rated it it was amazing

I swear these books are addicting. Moving into the next one...LOL

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Oct 06, 2016 Jenn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016

I love, love, love this series. This book was exciting and romantic and kept me guessing. I love that. And America freaking rocks. Can't wait to read the next one. ...more

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