The One (The Selection, 3)

SPOILERS AHOY!

This is the semi-final book in this series. There are two sequels for America and Maxon's daughter, and a volume of novellas with supplemental stories if you like that sort of thing. This review isn’t picayune nitpicking—these are major problems. When we last saw America Singer, she vowed to win Prince Maxi-Pad. SHE LIED. If there is any doubt that America is as much of a dirtbag as Prince Maxi-Pad, this quote should seal the deal:

"At least if Aspen still thinks there’s a chance, maybe we could try again when everything’s over."

Aspen is nothing but sloppy seconds. America’s sister tries to tell her she’s “better than this,” even though we all know she isn’t. But don't feel sorry for him; he gets a nice maid out of the deal in the end. Anyway…

Maple Syrup, Anyone?
You’ll need it for the flatter than pancake characters. King Clarkson twirls his mustache and delivers abusive lines from an after school special. Queen Amberly is all of the gentility of Melanie Wilkes with none of the spunk or valor. Aspen is the guy at the gym who picks things up and puts them down. Celeste flips and becomes America’s advocate for no good reason. Paige, the hooker with a heart of gold, is introduced as a major character complete with backstory, then is never seen again. Kota is a jerk, end of story. I think I need insulin.

Cheese and Corn Casserole
No, I'm not talking about the food, because that's never described. I'm talking about clichés. This can be subjective, but usually you can tell it's cliché because it's used to pound the message in with a jackhammer when a few light taps would have done just as well-- in fact, much better. The wedding epilogue in particular is chock full of clichés that will satisfy even the hungriest cheesy corn addict… Or the letters Prince Maxi-Pad wrote to America while she was at her father’s funeral. Gag.

Al-Qaeda Walks Into The White House
It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but imagine it. They request a private meeting with the President and First Lady with NO Secret Service protection. NOT HAPPENING, right? So when two rebels walk into the palace and ask for an unguarded meeting with Prince Maxi-Pad and America, what do you think happens? THEY GET IT. The ongoing incompetence of the palace guard would simply never be tolerated like it is in this series. This is carried to extreme levels of absurdity. NOTHING in this series would happen the way it did, especially replacing half the guard without being noticed.

Talk To Your Rebels About Gun Control
After all that war, all 357 million privately owned guns in the US just disappeared, and everyone forgot how to make them, except the government—and apparently, the southern rebels. How convenient. When the northern rebels ally themselves with the monarchy and ask for help, they get it basically in the form of stone knives and bear skins until Italy sidesteps the king. Good grief. When America finally gets a gun, she wastes all of her ammunition trying to shoot her way out of a panic room.

Dude, Where’s My DD214?
Soldiers never have been, and never will be, one step below royalty on the social scale. That’s not the way it SHOULD be, but that’s the way it is. Soldiers are treated like grunts because they are considered just muscle. Only Spartans put them at the top of the food chain. Does Illogica look like Sparta to you? Does Aspen seem like someone who could lead 300 Neopolitans to fight the Visigoth hordes in Safeway? Of course not.

The Family Jewels
Maxi-Pad gives America some jewelry, like he has given all the Selected throughout the series. However, he tells her that everything they have been given up to this point has been costume jewelry. So were the other Selected sent home not knowing their jewelry was not made of genuine materials? Why would you do that to people? It's such a dirty trick. Some of them are going to fall on hard times, try to sell these pieces, and have the rug yanked out from under them.

Why was it even necessary to even toss this detail in at this point? It didn't reveal anything about any of the ladies' characters, and if it were completely omitted it would make zero difference to the story. All it does is make the royal family look even more like a clueless cow pile, especially Maxi-Pad.

If It Does Not Fit, You Should Omit
Marshmallow fluff is not bad, but it should be consistent all the way through. You can’t take me 2/3rds of the way through the jar and throw in a chicken leg. I have a HUGE problem with America brokering an arms deal with the Rebels and the Italian princess. Aside from the fact that it never would have happened, this is a candy coated slightly dystopian romance, not Tom Clancy. This plot thread does not fit into the genre. A thread where the Italians actively promote and support America in the press would have been much more appropriate.

The Red Wedding thing falls into this as well. Somebody tripping Kriss and dunking Celeste’s head in the punch bowl would have been the right thing to do here. There were other ways of getting rid of these people. Dumping the king was convenient, but the queen was a neutral party who could have been useful in future books in cameo appearances. All this did was present a deux ex machina that removed all obstacles to America winning Prince Maxi-Pad.

Plus, dumping Celeste was definitely a mistake, and it was SO out of place. This series is a cash cow, and Celeste would have been PERFECT for a spin-off series outside the palace, or maybe with a cousin of the royals. It wouldn't be hard to resurrect her for it, though. Then I could have more garbage to read, and Cass would have a bigger revenue stream. Just think about it, Cass.

Outright Logic Fail
Kota, the social-climbing brother, threatens to out America and Aspen to Prince Maxi-Pad. When you marry the prince in Illogica, your family comes along for the royal ride. Why would the social climber sabotage his chance at becoming a royal like that? If anything, he would be sabotaging the *other* contestants and trying to arrange for Aspen to be transferred to the front lines of the war.

America and Maxon go out to meet the rebels JUST because they think King Clarkson is lying about the casualty numbers. America is shot in the arm and no one notices. Prince Maxi-Pad rips America’s dress off and they just cuddle. RIGHT.

Fashionable Nomenclature
I wasn’t going to comment on the names, but the fact is that they ARE pretty ridiculous. I went to the publisher’s site and there is a video on the pronunciation of names in this series. Most of the names are just regular names spelled differently enough to make you trip over them while reading them. If you have to make a video so that people know how to say it, you’re doing it wrong.

America’s name is kind of explained, but that doesn’t make it any less irritating. Look at my reviews. “America is so stupid. America is ungrateful. America is a dirtbag.” Am I talking about a fictional character, or am I trash talking my country? Is this book meant to be some kind of metaphor for how stupid and spoiled the author thinks America is, and is she laughing every time a negative reviewer makes a statement like that? With all the plot holes in this series, I shouldn’t credit her with that kind of brilliance, but I have to wonder.

If you’ve already read the first two books, you might as well read this one and finish it. Be warned that it’s all over the place, it doesn’t make sense, and it’s irritating to read. Everything I mentioned about the first two books applies to this one times ten. I liked the book and the series. It’s right up my alley, but all of the technical problems, the abject stupidity, the willful ignorance, and the “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain” attitude of the author built to a fever pitch in this book that became too heinous to bear.

I mean, I’m not an expert, but this series should have been mapped out in advance, and someone should have heavily edited this. Maybe they did, and this is the least odious edition they could have published, but I find that hard to believe given the range of other authors this publisher has. Of course, they’re laughing all the way to the bank, and I’m giving my copies of this series to my nieces for Christmas. This final book barely makes the “so bad it’s good” cut for me. I’m going to have to re-read Breaking Dawn as a palate cleanser before I even think about reading another book by this author, and that’s not a good thing, Buttercup.

Amerenesmee, you will have to wait.

SPOILER ALERT - read with caution

Well, this is the worst ending to a trilogy in the history of disappointing endings. I kid you not. I'd give this book zero stars if I could.

First of all, dear author, please have the decency to make up names of the countries. Hunduragus? Swednway (or however you spelled that) - next spoiler alert - in Swendway the speak Finnish. Oh really? REALLY?
Cass killed off basically every character who's plotline was inconvenient. Maybe she didn't want to bother with writing their stories, i don't know. But hey, news flash - being an author means WRITING the storylines and not killing off characters when you don't know what to do with them.
The love triangle is so forced it made me uncomfortable. When Maxon finally found out about Aspen the dialogue went basically like this:
M: You lied to me from the start!
A: I didn't want to lose you!
M: You should have told me the truth! I want you gone!
A: I looooooove you.
*the end* Seriously. Eye roll.

I'm also not happy with the ex-boyfriend cliche... oh yes we love each other like brother and sister right now. Let's be friends, dance on flowery meadow and throw glitter at each oter.

So disappointing. The build up to the rebels was a flop and the climax was even more flawed.

SPOILERS.

From the beginning America is a whinny brat. She is constantly tugging back and forth between Aspen and Maxon. I swear she is crying in almost every single chapter. She's so impulsive you almost don't understand what's going on. One second she's agreeing to be obedient because she wants to stay, then she gets into a fight with Maxon, and the next day she impulsively shares her ideas about removing the castes's because she doesn't care if she goes home. Then there is this huge build up for America's big leave from the castle, rebels attack, she's stuck with Maxon for a few hours, they make out as a goodbye, and then she stays. Maxon was literally talking about sending her home the entire chapter and then he magically changes his mind minutes before she leaves? She must be an outstanding kisser.

Once my head stops spinning from that, in comes another girl from the Elite that Maxon developed feelings for. She was hardly mentioned and then all of a sudden he has really strong feelings for her? He said he was ready to pick America like five seconds ago. Oops and then America catches him making out with Celeste in the hallway. America cries, Maxon apologizes, America forgives him. It's like book two all over again.

I was finally beginning to get interested when they left the castle to talk with the rebels. After they are attacked and America finds herself lost and shot with an eight, I thought things would finally get more interesting. Nope. Maxon found her a few minutes later, they gave the eight a job at the castle, and they stitch her up. Cue America and Maxon crying/fighting for another few chapters.

The imitation 'Red Wedding' at the end was also a let down. People died, shots were fired, Maxon was shot. He was saying goodbye as if he was dying... she thinks he is dead because he's not in the hospital wing, she silently says goodbye to him in her head, and is FINE. When she finds out he's alive, of course she can't live without him and loves him so much. Prince Maxon who dramatically thought he was dying is also awake and doing work in his bed, no serious injuries.

I just... ugh. It was so cookie cutter.

This final book in America and Maxon's selection is absolutely ineffable. My favorite series and I have read it over and over again. It is such a sweet story, I can't wait to watch the movie!!! I hope everyone enjoys this book because it will definitely leave a mark. It is just amazing. I stayed up all night to read the whole series in just 5 days!! It was that good. I devoured the words so quickly, I regret that I read it so quickly, yet I can't because it is so engaging. I adore everything about this book and I hope everyone else does too!

spoilers ahead***

The books was great but I think it could have been much shorter, like finished in the Elite.
There's just so much things in this book that got me so frustrated. First, August and Georgia just got in the palace and met Maxon and America. I mean like how?? Where were the guards? The conversation was just basically the Nothern rebels are not bad people, they want the caste systems to be dissolved and they will help the royal family to fight the southern rebels but they need money. Second, Celeste. We all disliked her in the beginning because she did bad things to America and the other elites. But now that we kind of see several things from her point of view, we kind of understand her and feel sorry for her. But in the end, Celeste got shot by the rebels....she died. Third, Maxon, Aspen, America went sneaking to Georgia and August just to exchange some words. Like why couldn't Georgia or August leave their number when they met at the palace so America can call them. Fourth, Apsen, Maxon and America came to Georgia's house but truck. Somebody recognized America from the selection and shot her. There's several things I noticed from reading this series. 1.Illea's technology. In 2015, most people have some kind of tech. Cellphones, pcs, etc. Like I imagined 300 years later, robots will be fight for the humans in wars. But in Illea, they still use guns... 2. When America got shot by a gun, I think it was Anne or one of her maids, cleaned her wound and stitched it up. I also watch Greys Anatomy, but I learned that if you get shot, you need surgery to remove the bullet or it will damage your bones, etc. After Anne stitched up Americas wound, America just had some headaches and she was fine. How? Anyways, the convicting... So Maxon presented jewelry to the girls as a tradition. And after America saw the jewelry, she was so happy and thankful...but during the convicting, America was presented but this man who stole some clothing for his children. America was like, "Here take my jewelry...pay your debt to the king..!!" something like that. I was so furious!! But things turned out to be good again. So Maxon finally proposed to America and they were so happy and the minute Maxon sees America 'touching' Aspen he was like, " Bye bye America. I'm marrying Kriss now." He was pretty outraged. In the end, there's was this huge rebel attack. The queen and king died, Celeste died and Maxon got shot. Orginally the rebel aimed the gun at America but Maxon wants her to live and because he loves her, he flew right in front of America and saved her. Lastly, Maxon and America got married.

-In the first book, The Selection, we kinda knew who Maxon was going to pick. However as soon asAspen came to palace, things got complicated. America spent literally 3 books figuring out who she's was gonna pick. This whole time, when she had a fight with Aspen she was like ok I'm picking Maxon. And when she had a fight with Maxon, she wa like I'm not choosing you, the only person that's there for me is Aspen. The who series who really quick to read. There wasn't that much plot I think. I still wanted to know more about the rebels. This series could have just been 2 books since Maxon said to America that if she could tell him she could have feelings for him, the whole selection would have ended. In my opinion, America should have been more honest to Maxon about Aspen.

-The One~ great book, rated 4 stars

I felt similarly about "The One" as the preceding two books. Cass starts from a fun premise, but the execution fails. America's connection to Aspen seemed much more vivid than her feelings for Maxon ever do. We're told that she comes around, but I didn't feel it. I also found myself rolling my eyes a lot over scenarios that seemed incredibly unlikely, writing that felt too unsubtle, hit-or-miss pacing, and lackluster prose. The books just aren't well-written. I've finally decided to give up on the rest of the series.

***SPOILERS***
Sigh. Better than the second, I guess. At least stuff finally happened in this one. The big attack, America finally getting chosen—as we all knew she would—by Maxon, figuring out what the rebels want; it all should have come a lot sooner. By the time it did, I just didn't care. Didn't help that I'd already figured it all out anyway.

There was still too much of America waffling back and forth between what she wanted. How many times does she vow to "fight" for what she wants, only to get discouraged right away and give up. She's set up to be this strong, selfless, hero of the people, but she's one of the stupidest most selfish heroines I've read for a good long while. She didn't even get Maxon a Christmas present! And you can't blame that on her dad dying, that only happened a few days before. She held on to both boys, never committing fully to either, and behaving with each in a way that could only feel like a betrayal to the other. She doesn't deserve Maxon or Aspen.

And honestly, what is up with the guards?! Why can't they ever keep the rebels off the grounds let alone OUT OF THE FREAKING PALACE! Did they attend the storm trooper school of how to guard something?! And after years of attacks they still haven't figured out what the rebels want. Uh, capture someone, interrogate them maybe? Or, perhaps do what they've apparently done humiliatingly well and infiltrate them? It was embarrassing that Aspen's only suggestion for why the rebels steal book is "for kindling". Duh.

My daughter tells me there are more books, but I'm not sure I'm up for them. Maybe I'll have to get a summary.

Do yourself a favor and make sure you read the dedication. Be still my heart.❤

From the very beginning of the Selection series I was rooting for America. Yes, the books are about love but really they’re about America embracing her heart to truly discover the powerful woman she is inside. These books are about more than a fairytale love story, they’re so much more than that. America is that girl inside of all of us, passionate, occasionally hotheaded, confused, and unwilling to take the risk of putting herself out there, too scared to bear her soul for fear of rejection. When it comes to everything BUT her heart, she’s fierce, brave, and throws herself into the chaos. She’s willing to risk everything for her nation and it is her devotion that makes her a true heroine.

I’ll be real with you. America makes some stupid decisions. She gets jealous, she isn’t always 100% on morals, and yeah, she does some unsavory things, but her imperfections make her all the more real and someone you can get behind.

I wasn’t always a fan of Maxon. He was robotic, borderline creepy on occasion, and the way he said dear always made me cringe. For the first time in the whole series, I started to feel something for Maxon and truly see him as America’s equal. He has depth, character, there’s so much passion that wasn’t as pointed in the other books. He’s complex, wounded, has a past, and that dark side that he hides makes him all the more attractive. He’s vulnerable and interesting, more so than I originally thought. Plus, the way he feels about America. Swoon city.

The plot was lively. Some sections were slow, but as the unrest and unhappiness among the classes rose, the danger skyrocketed. You never know when the next threat will hit.

That scene. No spoilers, but holy bearing of heart and soul. Melt. YOU WILL MELT.

I'll be totally honest... after finishing The Elite, I wasn't sure that I wanted to continue reading on to the third book. Thank goodness I did. Just like the first two books in the series, The One would definitely be considered a guilty pleasure. I found myself really enjoying the book, but I felt a little strange telling my friends what I was reading. Oh well, I read it and I loved it!

Cass continues the constant drama and love triangle mess until you're begging for answers. America is the same head-strong protagonist, but in The One, she begins to really have her own voice and she begins responding to difficult situations with well thought out plans instead of her impulsive attitude that we saw in the previous two books.

As always, there are parts that I did not like, but I still found myself falling in love with the characters and how they interacted with each other. It was a fun, quick and easy read that I really enjoyed. I would recommend this series to lovers of romantic young adult novels with the small warning that The One can be a little cheesy at times. But lets be honest, what young adult romance isn't a little cheesy at times? Enjoy!

I'm much happier with this book than I was with book 2. There were plenty of sweet awww moments, several frustrating moments where you wanted to slap sense into people, and there were heartbreaking moments. It tidied up a little too quickly between the argument, THE fight, then the "all is well moment" for me. The series had such potential to be amazing, but for me it was just a good read. I'd probably rate this as a 3.5 because it was good, but didn't delve into the bits and pieces that would've made this an amazing 5 star read.