The Selection by Kiera Cass is a 1# New York Times Bestseller, and it’s completely different from any other written dystopian young adult story out today.

In the novel, The Bachelor meets royalty in the midst of rebels, the reconstruction of a new nation, and a torn heart.

The story takes place in the future, in the country of Iléa. But Iléa isn’t like any other country – it was once the United States. It was created after the United States owed China an overabundance of money, which led to the Chinese invading the U.S. to create the American State of China.

When the Russians invaded the American State of China, the American citizens took a chance and eventually beat both the Russians and the Chinese to create Iléa. Iléa is ruled by a monarchy, and at the forefront is the Iléa’s heir, Prince Maxon Schreave – and he’s looking for a wife.

Cue the entrance of the protagonist, America Singer, who is chosen as one of “The Selected” for a chance to win Prince Maxon’s heart and be crowned as princess – alongside 34 other girls competing for the same thing. But America doesn’t want to be there, not when her heart longs for her boyfriend, Aspen, back at home.

Yet, soon enough, Prince Maxon and America form an awkward (but adorable) friendship that eventually blossoms into something more. However, America is torn; can she envision a future with someone she never imagined, or will her heart continue to long for a future she left at home?

When I first got to know America’s character, I didn’t think I would like her – she didn’t seem to be much of a feminist, nor did she seem to be much of a hero. She was practically controlled by the two boys in her life: Maxon and Aspen. But as I got to know her, I realized that her bravery wasn’t shown in taking down a country or shooting people down, but rather, in sacrificing herself for her family.

America was in a competition she didn’t want to be in. Yet she did it because her family needed the money and the elevated status that the competition would reward her if she won. America Singer took a blind leap into love; she was compassionate, and she stood up for what she believed in, especially when the monarchy was being unnecessarily cruel.

America is a strong girl who is stubborn and impulsive when angry, but she means the best.

She also realized that Prince Maxon isn’t as bad as she believed he would be. He’s the opposite: he’s sympathetic, honest, wonderful, and thoughtful – the foil of his father, who is currently king. Prince Maxon is, in the most truthful sense, a nerd. He makes the reader fall in love with him. He is almost too good to be true, but don’t worry! He doesn’t pull a Prince Hans. (Excuse the Frozen reference.)

The relationship between Prince Maxon and America becomes as easy as breathing, and it’s honest and true as can be. The issue lies in whether or not America can let go of Aspen and accept the fact that she has to compete for Prince Maxon’s heart with 34 other girls.

The Selection is different is every way. The main characters are brave and strong in ways that are not usually explored in a dystopian novel. It’s good, it’s well written, and it’s a book everyone should be picking up.