Little Summary: Every generation, when there is a new prince 35 girls have the chance to become a princess through the selection. An opportunity to escape the rules of the cast system that bind this society. For most it's an excellent opportunity but for America, she likes her life at home, has a future planned out for herself already, though unconventional. However, her family asks her to apply and she does, though reluctantly, as it's an opportunity that would help their family as they are on the lower side of the caste system. But, you guessed it, she gets chosen. At first reluctant and uninterested in the competition entirely, while she's there she realizes she should not discount a future she has not even thought through yet.
Yep, yes yes, for sure, this is one of my favorite books of all time probably! It is just way too fun! So, if you are looking for a quick read I would absolutely recommend this as I completely inhaled it in a matter of just two days. Anyways, let us delve right on into the plot.
What a creative idea! It is like a dystopian version of the bachelor TV show, and though I am definitely not a fan of those shows, this certainly pulled off a version of it very well. So anyways, America Singer -our main character- is a five in the caste system that goes from 1 (very rich) to eight (extreme poverty). Five is not a necessarily good place to be but it is not the worst by a long shot. When the monarchy announces that there will be a selection held for Prince Maxton and that all girls of any caste of a certain age group may apply, America's mom jumps at the opportunity bribing America to apply with promise that she will let America keep the profit from her own work. This is why America applies as she is trying to save up money because she is looking to get married to someone of a lower caste system, Aspen. This is unheard of as the main goal in life is typically to always move up a caste system. Anyways, with the promise of money if she applies, she does. This is something I really liked about this book, it isn't like the basic annoying books that I have previously complained about where our "heroine" just automatically falls in love with some random prince or vampire or something. Not into it. However, America has aspiration, talent. She enters but not to become a royal. She hopes, expects, not to get picked. Nonetheless she does because we wouldn't have a book if she didn't :)
She is picked and things just start going haywire. Her hometown boyfriend breaks up with her in just a really brutal way (I am not team Aspen WHATSOEVER might I add) and she realizes it might be time to start thinking for herself, doing things for herself. Still she is not interested in the prince, the competition, or becoming royalty at all, but she is interested in helping her family, staying in the competition as long as she can to keep the money going to them, and striking a deal with the prince to keep her there. However, as time progresses and she has more time for reflection she learns not to discount a future she hasn't thought out yet. I think that is an awesome lesson to be learned! As a junior in highs school currently I have a lot of college hoopla to think about, a lot of future considerations to go through and this idea was pretty eye opening.
However that is not really the chief reason why I enjoyed this book. Personally I read as a hobby, mainly for entertainment. Becoming well versed and educated is a nice byproduct but why I really got into it was for a fun activity and this book is just so much fun. Reviewers get too wrapped up in wanting some dramatic epiphany or main conclusion to books. Looking for some great government upheaval and political or social statements in books just gets boring and old and too intense. Sometimes it's just really cool to read about a girl who may or may not become a princess!
Character reflection time!
Maxton is just a really good person. He also isn't totally prioritizing finding a wife. He wants to learn how to run a country and be a good king one day and I respect that because it is realistic in a sense. Obviously we will likely never live in a world where something like this would happen, but if we were too obviously a prince would still have to do political duties and I like that there is a point in the book to show the reader that Maxton has a life of his own as well!
As for America, I know some people were annoyed by her but I just don't understand why. Of course she's going to make some wacky decisions, she is like 17 and is being considered for royalty and initially she didn't even want it. Also, she's going through a break up and when you are young you're super dramatic so I think it is pretty good writing by the author to depict her in kind of crisis scenario because in her head that is what she's going through! Also, it's not like she is wallowing in self pity at all! Maybe she is a little bummed for the first couple chapters but after that she is an extremely strong female heroine especially given the plot of this book! She isn't selfish at all even though she doesn't want to be there. She is doing all of this for her family and also recognizes she needs distance to get over her god awful ex-boyfried. Then, even when she does start wanting to be involved more so in the competition, reconsidering life if she were to become a princess, she realizes she has to figure things out first! I mean like, that is the most mature thing I have read from a young adult novel in a longggg time!
Aspen is just the worst ever. Enough said. Okay, maybe not enough said... The fact that he was so rude to America when breaking up with her when they had been dating for over a year is so messed up and to pawn it off on the idea that "you have a better future without me!" Champ that is not your decision to make, and THEN *spoiler alert* when he shows up to the palace he is literally risking her life by trying to have a relationship with her again while she's there! He's insanely selfish and I 11/10 do not support his decisions. America would be way better off without him, straight up. She is trying to move on because he literally told her to and then the next thing she knows HE SHOWS UP TO THE PALACE!!?? UNCOOL! So yes, I did have some qualms with him as a character you may say.
But anyways, I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone and everyone! Extremely entertaining and just reminds you why reading is so much fun. The plot, the dialogue, everything is a masterpiece! Definitely give this book a read!
- C8 :)