Love vs. Family Interest

When America gets the notice to register for the Selection, she is only tempted because her family sees it as a chance for all of them to prosper. If they won the longshot competition, and America did become royalty, the entire family would be elevated from their ramshackle existence to a life of privilege and plenty. Pulling America in the other direction—against her family’s interest—is her love for Aspen, who is a caste lower than her caste. She would actually be taking a social step down to marry him. In the beginning, the tension between these choices is resolved fairly easily. Aspen breaks up with America, and she leaves. But, when he finds her in the palace, the love is still there. The caste problem is apparently solved. As a soldier, Aspen is no longer below her family’s rank...