♥!The Young Adult Book Club!♥ discussion

The Elite (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass



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.

One of the most amazing series I have ever read. With it twists and turns leaving me waiting for the next book;)

I cannot get enough of this series!! There was never a dull moment for me, and I agree with Bec. I WANT BOOK 3 NOWWW >.< Still a bit conflicted about Aspen and Maxon though... :'(

I Love this book!! I can not wait for book 3! Maxon is my love<3

I really liked it, but America did get on my nerves quite often. Overall it was a pretty good book and I'm looking forward to The One :)

America was on my nerves with the back and forth. I like both Aspen and Maxon but it was just bothering me that she wouldn't just pick one. First she does want to be Queen and be with Maxon and then she is ready to leave and doesn't want to be Queen.

Loved the book, but almost started to hate America. beyond the whole thing with the love triangle, she did a lot of stupid things, was selfish and realy got on my nerves

I have really enjoyed the series. In fact I read both of them back to back over the weekend, because I liked the storyline. I have to agree that I was getting a little annoyed with America towards the end. I don't like that she is stringing the two of them along.

Can't wait for book 3. Go America!

I'm still waiting for the hardback edition to come in the bookstores here. I've already bought the paperback copies of The Selection and The Elite :)

Megan wrote: "I have really enjoyed the series. In fact I read both of them back to back over the weekend, because I liked the storyline. I have to agree that I was getting a little annoyed with America toward..."

Oh... me too. She just pisses me off with that part. But we sort of have to give her credit since the only man she's ever been romantically involved with was Aspen until Maxon came into the picture. So she's pretty inexperienced, right? What would she know about relationships? Relationships are under martial law in their country and premarital sex will give you death penalty xD

Miku wrote: "Megan wrote: "I have really enjoyed the series. In fact I read both of them back to back over the weekend, because I liked the storyline. I have to agree that I was getting a little annoyed with ..."

İ totally agree with you and megan... And America did get on my nerves to often but sometimes İ also sympatized with her.. And looking forward to 3rd book!!

This book really surprised me and I was happy with how it ended, with America finally fighting for Maxon. I can't wait for The One. What are some of your predictions on the final book? I have also heard that some people hated Maxon here and I wanted to know why.

Team Maxon <3

hit the road aspen, and don't u come back no more no more no more no more

but seriously, i really loved this book and stayed until 4am finishing it. i suffered with what happened to Marlee and hope that that was a wake up call for America to stop it with Aspen. i have a terrible feeling that this thing with Aspen is gonna blow on her face and separate her and Maxon :( but i guess we have to wait and see. Cant wait for the next book.

When does the next book come out?

Megan wrote: "When does the next book come out?"

May 6th 2014

Just read the selection & the elite this week and loved them! I'm team Maxon all the way! Wish America would make up her mind already though, both guys seem great. I don't think it's fair how she's leading both of them on. I'm kinda worried that she'll lose Maxon when he finds out she's been seeing Aspen behind his back. Wish I didn't have to wait so long for the next book..

I just got this book... yesterday. I've read 71 pages and this is pretty much how I'm reacting to this book:



I'm so excited. I hope America ends up with Maxon... He's so romantic.

Anjie wrote: "This book really surprised me and I was happy with how it ended, with America finally fighting for Maxon. I can't wait for The One. What are some of your predictions on the final book? I have also ..."

<3 <3 <3 Yeah she's finally fighting for him

I completely love this series!!!!

I rated it a three. America comes off very flippant and seems to me like she thinks her meetings with Aspen will go unnoticed. I did like that at least some plot other than the love triangle progressed. I wish the author would have given the political tensions and background a bit more standing in the plot. I will read the third book just to see what happens with the country. I really don't care who she ends up with romantically because I really don't like America or the guys.

I did not like the book because of all that she finds out about Maxon and her country. I don't think she really in love with Aspen anymore and she needs to tell him, cuz they can't keep meeting in secret or they will get caught.

I loved this book. America is a little annoying in this book but I still like her.
Can't wait for book 3

Check out my full review here:
http://adventuresofateenagebookworm.b...

What a coincidence. I just read this without even knowing that this book was this group's monthly book.

Anyway...I didn't like it. America is a horrible protagonist who pisses me off greatly. She spends the entire book whining about how Maxon isn't spending enough time with her and rather with other girls (because, you know, that's TOTALLY not the point of this competition in the first place). Not to mention, it's totally hypocritical of America to be complaining about Maxon seeing other girls because America is seeing Aspen behind Maxon's back anyway. America annoyed me so much that I pray that she doesn't marry Maxon. I don't like Aspen at all, but America freaking deserves punishment (which she'll get if she's caught with Aspen before the competition ends). She doesn't deserve the crown at all. I'm totally rooting for Celeste now.

Also, the plot doesn't go anywhere (aside from the petty love triangle). There was some world-building with the journal subplot, which I guess worked OK, but not much else.

As for positives, I ended up enjoying the book enough to not regret reading it, I guess, and also, I like Marlee. The book should have been about her instead. I enjoy these books as entertainment, and I see them as a kind of addictive guilty pleasure (kind of like the show "The Bachelor" in real life). Maybe that was the point. If so, I'd like this book so much better if it took itself less seriously.

Huh. I did not mean to write so much here. I might as well just copy-and-paste this for a review.

America was okay in the selection, but she was just so indesive in this one. (view spoiler)[ Sure, she's fighting for Maxon now (YAY!!!! (hide spoiler)]

But her constant indesiveness just got on my freaking nerves.

Rarietty wrote: "What a coincidence. I just read this without even knowing that this book was this group's monthly book.

Anyway...I didn't like it. America is a horrible protagonist who pisses me off greatly. She..."

Hmmm.... definitely not Celeste. She's too much for Maxon. He can barely handle her. Haha! Yeah, America sort of is annoying. She's always unsure. She actually thinks it's unfair for Maxon to be spending time with other girls. It's like you want to yell at her: "HELLO! It's the freaking selection! What did you expect?" And when she spends time with Aspen, I'm like "Damn you America, I thought you were nice." My favorite character is Maxon. He's a very complicated guy. Since the POV in the series is America, it's hard to tell what's going on in his mind. I have a very good feeling that there's a lot of things going on in his mind. He has a lot of secrets and he knows many things. I'm excited about the next book because I wanna know what he's going to do. I'd rather have MaxonXAmerica than AspenXAmerica. Kriss would be nice for him too. I wish there was more smoke and burn than just spark in that book. I like the pace but even romance needs some action in it. I think I'd like to see someone die or some secrets revealed in the next book. America is indecisive and doesn't trust enough the people that she should trust. I think America's very compassionate but not that logical. She doesn't know how to calculate her moves. Her last one almost got her off the competition. Now she's fighting for Maxon, weehee... I've changed my mind. I don't want to see someone die. I want a war in the next book :D
Haha!

Omg Miku, you are so adorable =)) War might be interesting to happen but I doubt it will fit in one single book! Unless the whole book was all about one war...

Don't you dare say America seeing Aspen in secret is hypocritical! It's totally not fair that Maxon is seeing other girls (public knowledge!!) when America sits in her room or in the women's room all day long for Maxon to finally come to hang out with her. And saying she has his heart is no excuse! You need conversation in order to keep a relationship going! You can't simply say you love a person and trust that your emotions wouldn't simply disappear >.< And I get it, it's the Selection, but one way or another, Maxon's gotta figure out that he's not the only guy alive that girls want to be with (Hi Marlee!)

I'd be irritated if the author builds up to a massive war/fight scene and it just... flops.

America made me change my rating from 3 stars to 2. she was so annoying. so was Maxon. that scene when he was (view spoiler)[making out with Celeste (hide spoiler)] almost made me throw up. hopefully they can get their stuff together and make it work.

I don't like how America country was built off of lies.

I love Maxon. Just getting that out there up front. I don't think America has anyone to blame but herself. Maxon would have taken her over all the others and ended the competition, but she told him no she needed time and refused to give him her heart until he started actually looking at the other options available when she continually rejected him.

I think it is selfish and stupid of both her and Aspen for them to keep seeing each other with what is at risk, especially after what was done to Marlee and her soldier. And what about their families.

I love this book and I cannot wait for book three, and even though America drives me a little crazy sometimes I still like her, but I like Maxon more and if she'll make him happy then that is how I want it to end. (Poor Aspen... I'll still feel bad for him if it does end that way.)

I was disappointed, too, like a lot of people in here. I am really looking forward to "The One" and I am sure it's getting better. I'd love to see more of the rebells, more politics and maybe even war. Nevertheless i liked the Elite and all the America and Maxon scenes.