Overall, I really enjoyed these novellas. Most of them were the perfect complement to The Selection series, and the "Where Are They Now?" was super interesting. I could really see the girls from the books actually turning into those women. The Favorite and Celeste were my favorite novellas, I think it despicted Marlee and Celeste perfectly, giving us an insight of their thoughts during the books - especially Celeste. I felt even more sorry for her, and felt more acutely that her character should have been better explored in The One.

The bonus chapter from The One was a little bit unnecessary, I think, and America seemed a little out of character for me. The book ending was perfect already, I don't think this added anything to it, like a bonus chapter from The Crown would. Since I've read both The Prince and The Guard before, I'll not comment on these two novellas again. The only one I re-read was The Prince, because I adored it the first time.

My big disappointment with this collection was "The Queen". I loved Queen Amberly and when I heard there was going to be a novella about her and her own Selection, I was so happy! She's so sweet, and graceful, and elegant and wise! And I really thought that, despite his cruelty, King Clarkson really loved her. No wonder she was so adored and America looked up to her during the series. But this vision into her own Selection was a let down. Amberly came across as a silly girl with a crush-turned-obsession to a point where everything Clark did was justified and forgivable, even when he was completely abusive to her. I get that he didn't grow up in a very healthy environment, not with his parents (as it shown in the novella), but that's not excuse for some of his attitudes. Also, she was willing to give up everything to be what he needed, give all her love, even when he gave her nothing in return. We could see as well the first inkling that Clark did not love Amberly as much as we though (and then came The Crown to confirm it) - she was simply convenient: a Five-turned-One, which means the people from lower castes would admire her, beautiful and poised enough that she could become a respectable Queen, subservient and completely devoted. She would never question him or anything he did, only show up and smile, and he actually say this to her when she tells her she won the Selection. It was hard for me to read this novella, even bearing in my mind the author's notes at the beginning - that she never intended for their relationship to come across as abusive or demeaning for Amberly. Well, sorry, but it did and it made me almost leave it unfinished and go on to another novella.

Anyway, glad this is out of the way and the other novellas make up to it. 3/5 stars.