The Selection Trilogy Ranked: Best to Worst (An Honest Review)
by The Book Pup on January 23, 2026
Series: The Selection by Kiera Cass
Books: The Selection, The Elite, The One
Genre: YA Dystopian Romance
Let's talk about The Selection trilogy. If you've been in the YA world for any length of time, you've probably heard of it, the series that's basically "The Bachelor meets royalty with a dystopian twist." It's been both loved and criticized, recommended and mocked, and honestly? It deserves all of those reactions.
I recently finished the entire trilogy, and I have THOUGHTS. Strong opinions about which books work, which ones don't, and why the order you read them matters for your enjoyment.
So today, I'm ranking all three books from best to worst, with honest reviews about what worked and what absolutely didn't. Whether you're considering reading the series or you've already finished and want to know if your opinions match mine, let's dive in.
Quick note: This ranking is based on the original trilogy only, not the novellas or The Heir/The Crown sequel duology.
Before We Rank: Series Overview
The Premise: In a future dystopian America divided into castes, 35 girls compete for Prince Maxon's heart in a televised competition called The Selection. Our protagonist, America Singer (yes, that's her name), enters reluctantly but finds herself torn between her first love and the surprisingly sweet prince.
What it promises: Romance, royal drama, competition tension, dystopian world-building
What it delivers: Mostly romance and drama, light on the dystopian elements, heavy on the love triangle
Content note: Appropriate for ages 13+, some violence and kissing, no graphic content
Now, let's rank these books!
#1: The Selection (Book 1) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why it's the best:
This is where the magic happens. The first book is genuinely fun, engaging, and addictive in all the right ways.
What works:
The premise is fresh and exciting. The Bachelor meets dystopia is exactly as entertaining as it sounds. The competition format creates natural tension and drama.
Maxon is surprisingly sweet. He could have been a generic Prince Charming, but he's awkward, earnest, and genuinely trying to navigate impossible circumstances. The book actually goes over his weaknesses and things he’s not good at.
The world-building is intriguing. While it's not deep dystopian fiction, the caste system and hints at rebellion create enough intrigue to keep you invested beyond just the romance.
The pacing is perfect. The book moves quickly, balancing romance, competition drama, and political intrigue. You're never bored.
The side characters shine. Marlee, Silvia, and the other Selected girls feel like real people with their own motivations.
What doesn't work:
The love triangle starts here. Aspen is... fine? But the back-and-forth between him and Maxon gets old quickly (and it only gets worse in future books).
Why it ranks #1:
Book one does exactly what it promises. It's entertaining, romantic, and captivating. It sets up interesting dynamics and keeps you turning pages. This is the book that makes you understand why the series became popular.
If I could only recommend one book from the series, it would be this one. You could arguably stop after reading this book and imagine your own ending.
Rating: 5/5 pawprints 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
#2: The One (Book 3) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why it's second:
The finale is significantly better than book two and manages to mostly stick the landing, even if the journey is sometimes frustrating.
The good stuff:
Things actually happen. After the stagnation of book two, book three finally has PLOT. The rebellion storyline intensifies, decisions get made, and the story moves forward.
Character growth for America. She's more focused on actual problems (the rebellion, helping people) rather than just her romantic drama.
The rebellion subplot pays off. The political elements that felt underdeveloped finally get attention. It's not a complex political thriller, but it's satisfying enough.
The ending is sweet. Without spoiling, the conclusion feels earned and gives you the closure you want. It's a satisfying wrap-up for the romance.
Resolution of the love triangle. FINALLY. The endless back-and-forth ends, and while the execution isn't perfect, at least it's DONE.
The love triangle drags on too long. Even in the final book, America is still waffling between Aspen and Maxon and doesn’t decide till the last minute. By this point, it's exhausting rather than tension-building.
Some convenient plot resolutions. A few things wrap up too neatly or rely on lucky timing. Not every thread feels completely earned.
Pacing issues. The middle section drags before picking up again toward the end.
Why it ranks #2:
Book three redeems much of what book two ruins. It delivers on the promises of the series, resolution, romance, and some genuine emotional moments. While it's not as strong as book one's fresh excitement, it's a solid conclusion that makes the journey feel worthwhile.
If you made it through book two, book three makes the struggle worth it.
Rating: 4/5 pawprints 🐾🐾🐾🐾
#3: The Elite (Book 2) ⭐⭐⭐
Why it's last:
This is the classic "middle book syndrome". It's mostly filler, frustrating character behavior, and endless love triangle drama without much plot progression.
What works:
Some good side character moments. Marlee's storyline is intense and emotional. The glimpses into other Selected girls' motivations are interesting.
Sets up book three. It does its job of bridging book one and three. Information is revealed, alliances shift, and groundwork is laid for the finale.
America becomes incredibly frustrating. She starts making terrible decisions. Her character growth from book one regresses completely.
The love triangle is INSUFFERABLE. The endless Maxon vs. Aspen waffling reaches peak annoying here. America treats both of them poorly while acting like the victim.
Nothing happens. Seriously, this entire book could be condensed into 50 pages. The plot barely moves forward. It's just drama and relationship.
Manufactured conflict. So much of the tension feels artificial and could be resolved with one honest conversation. The misunderstandings are infuriating.
America's lack of awareness. She judges others harshly while doing the same things herself. Her hypocrisy is difficult to read.
Why it ranks #3:
Book two is the weakest link by far. It tests your patience and makes you question why you're still reading. The only reasons to push through are:
You're invested in Maxon and America's relationship
You need to know how it ends
Book three is better and makes it somewhat worth it
Rating: 3/5 pawprints 🐾🐾🐾
Overall Series Thoughts
What The Selection Trilogy Does Well:
✅ Addictive premise The Bachelor-meets-royalty concept is entertaining
✅ Maxon Genuinely one of the better YA love interests
✅ Romance development When it's good, it's really sweet
✅ Easy, fast read Great for when you want something light
✅ Wish fulfillment It delivers on the fairy tale fantasy
What It Struggles With:
❌ Underdeveloped dystopia The world-building is surface-level
❌ Love triangle exhaustion It drags on way too long
❌ Middle book slump Book two is rough
❌ Logic issues Don't think too hard about how anything works
Should You Read The Selection Trilogy?
Read it if you:
Love royal romance and competition stories
Enjoy light, fluffy dystopian without heavy political themes
Can tolerate love triangles
- Want a quick, entertaining binge-read
Skip it if you:
Hate love triangles (this will drive you crazy)
Want complex dystopian world-building
Need protagonists who make smart choices consistently
Can't handle middle book slumps
The verdict: The Selection trilogy is flawed but fun. Book one is great for what it is. Book two tests your patience. Book three redeems the series enough to make it worthwhile if you're invested.
It's not literary fiction. It's not a groundbreaking dystopia. But it IS an entertaining romance with a unique premise, and sometimes that's exactly what you need.
Reading Strategy Recs
If you're unsure: Read book one. If you love it, continue. If you're lukewarm, stop there and imagine your own ending.
If you're committed: Power through book two quickly. Don't let it discourage you from reading book three.
If you loved book one: Set expectations lower for book two, and trust that book three is better.
My Personal Series Rating
Overall: 4/5 pawprints 🐾🐾🐾🐾
The trilogy averages out to "pretty good with frustrating moments." Book one elevates the series, book two drags it down, and book three brings it back to decent.
Would I recommend it? Yes, with caveats. Go in knowing what you're getting, a light, romantic, sometimes frustrating but ultimately satisfying story about a girl finding her place and choosing love.
It's not perfect, but it's the kind of series that's easy to binge, fun to discuss, and satisfying when it works.
Happy reading, and may your book series never suffer from middle-book syndrome as badly as The Elite!
The Book Pup
📖 More book content:
✨ Visit the Blog
📌 Follow The book Pup on Pinterest!