Since its debut in 2012, Kiera Cass’s The Selection has sold over 11 million copies and even spurred a much-anticipated Netflix adaptation.
The dystopian romance tells of a world where 35 girls are given the chance to escape their rigid caste system by competing for a prince’s heart in “the Selection.”
The unexpected romance that ensues between America Singer and Prince Maxon has captivated legions of loyal readers through five installments. But what should you read next if you’ve finished The Selection series?
In this post, we’ve rounded up 10 books like The Selection that are sure to enchant fans of the series.
10 Dystopian Romances Like The Selection
Below are 10 books like The Selection that feature similar themes of dystopias, romance, and a little magic.
1. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
In Mare Barrow’s world, those with Red blood serve the Silver-blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities.
As a Red, Mare gets by as a thief in a poor, rural village. But when she manifests abilities of her own while being tried for thievery before the king of the Silver Court, he betroths her to one of his own sons, forcing Mare to play the role of a Silver princess.
Mare takes a huge risk by using her new position to aid the Scarlet Guard, a growing Red rebellion, but her heart pulls her in an impossible direction.
2. Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
Two hundred years after Cinderella found her prince, teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom choose wives based on the girls’ displays of finery. If a girl isn’t chosen, she’s never heard from again.
Sixteen-year-old Sophia would rather marry her childhood best friend, Erin, than parade in front of suitors.
Once at the ball, Sophia decides to flee, taking shelter in Cinderella’s mausoleum. That’s where she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters.
Together they’ll fight to bring down the king once and for all, and learn there’s more to Cinderella’s story than they’d been told.
3. The Betrothed by Kiera Cass
If you’re looking for more books like The Selection, try out some of the author’s other books outside the series.
In The Betrothed, we meet King Jameson, the most desired bachelor in the kingdom. When he declares his love for Lady Hollis Brite, she’s shocked and thrilled—after all, it’s a dream come true for her.
But when a mysterious commoner visits the castle, Hollis wonders whether the life she dreamed of is truly worth the cost.
4. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
After 19-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives, demanding retribution.
Dragged to a dangerous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre learns that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.
While she stays on his estate, Feyre’s feelings for Tamlin transform from cold hostility to a fiery passion, despite every lie and warning she’s been told about the Fae.
But a wicked shadow is looming over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it if she wants to save Tamlin and his world.
5. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
In America, love has been declared a dangerous disease, so the government forces everyone over 18 to have a procedure called “the Cure.”
Having watched love destroy her mother, Lena Haloway is looking forward to being cured and living a safe, predictable life.
But 95 days before her scheduled treatment, Lena meets Alex, a boy from the Wilds who lives under the radar. What will happen if Lena does the unthinkable and falls in love?
6. The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye
Vika Andreyeva and Nikolai Karimov are the only two enchanters in Russia, and with the rising threat of the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs, the tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.
And so the tsar initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient battle of magical skill. The winner is named Imperial Enchanter, the tsar’s most respected adviser. The loser is sentenced to death.
Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in Saint Petersburg, but she’s not sure she can kill another enchanter—especially when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has.
For orphaned Nikolai, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime, but he can’t stop thinking about his beautiful and deadly opponent. As secretes begin to emerge, it’s clear that the future of the empire is at stake, and that the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.
7. Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
As a girl, Maia Tamarin can only hope to marry well, but she dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in her land.
When a royal messenger summons her ill father, once a renown tailor, to court, Maia poses as a boy to take his place. She knows she’s risking her life, but she’s willing to take that risk to save her dream and her family from ruin. But once there, Maia must compete against 12 other tailors for the job.
Maia must face backstabbing and lies as the competition grows fierce, but her task is further complicated when Edan, the court magician, seems to see right through her disguise.
When she’s given a final, seemingly impossible task, Maia embarks on a journey that delivers more than she could have ever imagined.
8. The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
Camellia Beauregard is a Belle, and in the opulent world of Orleans, that means she’s revered as a controller of Beauty, the most coveted commodity.
But Camellia doesn’t want to be just a Belle; she wants to be the favorite, chosen by the Queen to live in the royal palace and tend to the royal family.
Yet, once Camellia arrives at court, it becomes clear that the palace houses dark secrets, and that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined.
9. The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan: Woo the king. Marry him. Kill him and take his kingdom.
Some say the king can command the shadows to do his bidding, while others say the shadows whisper the thoughts of his enemies.
Regardless, Alessandra is determined to do everything in her power to get what she deserves. But she’s not the only one trying to kill the king, and she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough to make her his queen. What she didn’t count on was losing her heart.
10. The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
Languoreth is one of the most powerful queens in early medieval Scotland, but she rules during a time of immese bloodshed and disruption.
When the forces of Christianity threaten to obliterate her land’s ancient pagan beliefs and change her way of life forever, Languoreth and her twin brother, Lailoken, are catapulted into a world of danger.
Languoreth is betrothed to the son of the High King, but when she crosses paths with a handsome warrior, their passionate connection can’t be ignored. Whatever her choice, it’s up to Languoreth to preserve the Old Way, her kingdom, and everything she holds dear.
What Grade Level Book Is The Selection?
The Selection is considered a teen or YA novel. According to Scholastic, it’s suitable for grades 10-12, but older readers can also enjoy the series.
If you like books like The Selection, you’ll definitely enjoy the books on this list, but you can also check out our list of dystopian YA novels with similar themes.
Do you have a favorite book like Kiera Cass’s The Selection? Share it with us in the comments below!
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As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
