Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for sending me an advanced copy of this to review! I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised going into this. I didn’t know much about it, but I really enjoyed the writing style and the characters. Plus, the world Boekweg has created is intriguing!

This is a historical fiction book with a bit of a twist. It feels a little like The Handmaid’s Tale and a little like The Selection. Elsie is a strong main character, sure in her beliefs and confident in her appearance. There are a lot of great conversations between her and her friends about body acceptance and things like that that really stood out to me. Those elements aren’t included nearly enough in YA books.

There is also queer representation that feels effortless. One of Elsie’s friends realizes that she might be asexual, and their discussion about this validates her feelings. The main group of girls are also so supportive of each other, even though they are all competing for the same man. Yes, Elsie slips at times, but they always make up and keep their friendship strong. As someone always looking for these strong friendships in YA, this was probably my favorite aspect of the book.

My only complaint might be the pacing of the book. It felt a little uneven throughout, and I wanted a little more breathing room for the ending. Despite this, Boekweg ends on a powerful note (no spoilers), but it made me love Elsie even more.

All in all, if you like books like The Selection, this is definitely one that you’ll want to pick up! 

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This is kind of an alternate history book with <i>The Selection</i> vibes. There's a lot of great stuff here, especially the way all the girls support each other even though they're in a competition. Stay tuned for a full review coming soon!