If you’ve been craving a Hunger Games style trilogy but with more lovin’ and less fightin’ then the The Selection is for you. America Singer is the heroine of a good old fashioned dystopian future in which all the people have been segregated into caste systems. She has a boyfriend, Aspen, who is in a lower caste than she is (although she’s pretty basic herself, if you couldn’t tell by her name). America gets picked to be one of the Selected, thirty five girls who are to be trained to have a shot at becoming bride to Prince Maxon…like it or not. So begins a YA fantasy mashup with elements of The Bachelor and Hunger Games, in which Katniss–SORRY America–starts to develop feelings for Peeta–SORRY Prince Maxon–in spite of her disdain for the game in which she finds herself. It’s enjoyable fluff, and author Kiera Cass exprtly builds the characterization in so that you will be jealous of the relationship that America has with both Maxon and Aspen.

The Elite is the name of the second book in the trilogy, carrying on where The Selection left off, with everything ratcheted up a notch. This book has a bit more social context than its predecessor, a bit more action, and we get to see more of the true colors of Maxon’s father, King Clarkson. Cass also does a great job of keeping us guessing as to who holds America’s heart.

The last book, The One, is released on May 6th, and will see America choose for good between Maxon and Aspen. It may also let us know the real reason for the rebellion against the castle. Perhaps King Clarkson knows more than he is letting on? Either way, expect more delicious dialogue and probably a few tears!