America's competition
Begin with The Selection and read the five novels in order; the time jump happens after The One.
Book Series · 5 Books
The Selection Books
In order from The Selection to The Crown.
A televised royal competition pulls America Singer into palace life, political danger, and a love triangle before the final two books follow the next generation.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read The Selection
Read The Selection, The Elite, and The One for America Singer's complete story. The Heir and The Crown jump ahead twenty years and follow her daughter Eadlyn.
Happily Ever After collects four novellas and bonus material. It adds viewpoints and background but is not book #6.
Sources: Kiera Cass's official books page, Author explanation of the series.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
This YA romantic dystopia includes a caste system, poverty, rebel attacks, shootings, injuries and deaths, grief, political coercion, and a sustained love triangle. The final two books use a new protagonist and focus more directly on leadership and arranged public courtship.
Where to start
Where Should a New Reader Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$1899
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2012
The Selection
By Kiera Cass
A girl must choose between love and a crown in a life-changing competition.
336 pages· 79,732 words· Est. 7.5 hour read
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: America Singer is thrust into the Selection, a competition for Prince Maxon's heart, offering escape from her caste. Torn between her secret love, Aspen, and the unexpected allure of palace life, America faces a choice that could redefine her future. Will she embrace a destiny she never wanted, or follow her heart's true desire? As intrigue and romance swirl around her, America must navigate a world where every decision could change everything. Dive into a tale of love, choice, and unexpected possibilities in a glittering royal setting.
In reading order
The Selection Series
5 books · Published 2012–2016
#1
Sale price
$1899
The Selection
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2012
A girl must choose between love and a crown in a life-changing competition.
#2
Sale price
$1899
The Elite
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2013
Six girls vie for a prince's heart, but America's torn between love and destiny.
#3
Sale price
$1899
The One
Chapter Book · Ages 12–17 · 2014
America must choose between love and duty in a royal contest.
#4
Sale price
$1899
The Heir
Chapter Book · Ages 13–18 · 2015
Princess Eadlyn's unexpected journey to find love begins with her own Selection.
#5
Sale price
$1899
The Crown
Chapter Book · Ages 13–18 · 2016
A princess faces a life-changing choice among thirty-five suitors.
Optional novellas and bonus material
Happily Ever After
1 book · Published 2015
Four companion novellas offer other characters' viewpoints without extending the five-novel numbering.
Sale price
$1498
Happily Ever After
Chapter Book · Ages 13–+ · 2015
Discover untold stories of love and intrigue in the world of the Selection series.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Selection series?
There are 5 books in the Selection series. It began with The Selection in 2012, and the newest book, The Crown, was published in 2016.
What order should you read the Selection books in?
Start with The Selection and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #5.
What ages are the Selection books best for?
The series is best for ages 12–18, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Selection book is the longest?
The Selection (Book #1) is the longest book in the series at 79,732 words (336 pages).
Which Selection book is the shortest?
The Crown (Book #5) is the shortest at 61,682 words (278 pages).
The people
The Creative Behind the Books
The people who bring The Selection to life.
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