The Selection Series in Order: Books, Novellas & Best Order

By T.L. BransonScience Fiction

What’s the best way to read The Selection series in order?

If you’re reading it for the first time, I’d start with The Selection, then work the novellas in between the main books where they fit best. You can skip the novellas and still follow the main story, but I think they’re worth reading if you want more time with Maxon, Amberly, Aspen, and Marlee.

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Best Selection Series Reading Order

This is the Selection series order I recommend for most first-time readers.

It’s my own personal recommendation, and it’s a mishmash of the publication and chronological orders, which I also outline below.

I believe everyone should start with Book 1. Therefore, I suggest waiting to read the novellas until after The Selection. I’ve put The Prince after Book 1 since we’ve met Maxon by then, but I’d hold off on reading The Queen until after you’ve spent a bit more time getting to know Amberly.

  1. The Selection
  2. The Prince (Novella)
  3. The Elite
  4. The Queen (Novella)
  5. The Guard (Novella)
  6. The One
  7. The Favorite (Novella)
  8. The Heir
  9. The Crown

The novellas are optional, but this order keeps spoiler risk low and gives you the extra character stories when they matter most.

Should You Read Happily Ever After?

Yes, if you want the complete Selection experience.

Happily Ever After is the companion collection for the series. It includes the four novellas, plus bonus scenes, an epilogue, a map, illustrations, and a few extra pieces fans will want to know about.

  • The Prince
  • The Guard
  • The Queen
  • The Favorite
  • bonus scenes from Celeste’s point of view
  • Lucy’s bonus scene, which you may see listed online as The Maid
  • a bonus epilogue
  • a “Where are they now?” section
  • a map and illustrations

So no, it isn’t another main novel. But it’s more than a simple bundle of the novellas. If you’re a completionist, this is the book that gathers the extra Selection material in one place.

For first-time readers, I wouldn’t read the whole collection straight through at the beginning. Use it to read each novella in the spots listed above, then save the extra scenes and bonus material until after The One.

Main Books Only

If you only want the main novels, this is the order to follow.

  1. The Selection
  2. The Elite
  3. The One
  4. The Heir
  5. The Crown

This gives you America’s story first, then Eadlyn’s story after that. You won’t be lost if you skip the novellas. They’re bonus character stories, not required chapters.

The Selection Series in Publication Order

Publication order is a solid choice because it follows the way readers originally experienced the series. Just keep in mind that Happily Ever After is a companion collection, so it includes material you may have already read if you bought the novellas separately.

  1. The Selection (2012)
  2. The Prince (Novella) (2013)
  3. The Elite (2013)
  4. The Guard (Novella) (2014)
  5. The One (2014)
  6. The Queen (Novella) (2014)
  7. The Favorite (Novella) (2015)
  8. The Heir (2015)
  9. Happily Ever After (Companion Collection) (2015)
  10. The Crown (2016)

I like publication order, but I don’t think it’s the best order for everyone. The Queen works better after you’ve spent more time in the series, and The Favorite makes more sense once you understand the events around Marlee and Carter.

The Selection Series in Chronological Order

Chronological order is best for rereads. It starts with prequel material, so I wouldn’t use this order the first time through.

  1. The Queen (Novella)
  2. The Prince (Novella)
  3. The Selection
  4. The Elite
  5. The Guard (Novella)
  6. The Favorite (Novella)
  7. The One
  8. The Heir
  9. The Crown

Happily Ever After isn’t listed as a separate timeline entry because it collects stories and extras from different points in the series. If you’re doing a full reread, use it for the novellas and bonus material.

What is The Selection About?

Kiera Cass’s Selection series is set in Illéa, a future version of a fractured United States with a rigid caste system.

The story follows America Singer, a girl who gets chosen for a royal competition to marry Prince Maxon. America doesn’t enter because she’s dreaming of a crown. She’s still tied emotionally to Aspen, a boy from home, and the palace is the last place she wants to be.

Then she meets Maxon, and the whole situation gets a lot more complicated.

There’s romance, palace drama, family pressure, rebel conflict, and plenty of tension around what America wants versus what everyone else expects from her.

Optional Companion Book

There’s also The Selection Coloring Book.

This is official companion material, but it’s not part of the reading order. It’s an activity book with art, characters, scenes, and quotes from the series. Skip it if you only want the story. Grab it if you collect Selection extras or want something visual from the world of Illéa.

Is The Selection Movie Still Happening?

No. Netflix was attached to a movie adaptation of The Selection, but Kiera Cass later confirmed that Netflix is not making the movie or a series.

Until Kiera Cass announces another adaptation, the books are the full Selection story. Her official site is the best place to check for updates.

Looking for similar books?

If you want more YA dystopian romance after The Selection, start with my list of Books Like The Selection.

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