Views On Love Triangles

[Lila]

Personally, I'm getting quite sick of young adult books with love triangles. I know there are many good YA books without love triangles, don't get me wrong, but sometimes it just seems like you can't find a book about romance without a love triangle!
Jeez what happened to the days when there was only one love interest??

[Brigid ✩]

I know what you mean! I also have gotten rather tired of love triangles, and I can't think of very many that I actually found compelling ... usually they just annoy me. I think they can work sometimes, but a lot of the time they just feel like unnecessary drama. I tend to prefer romances that are focused on just two people and how their relationship develops; there doesn't need to be a love triangle to make it interesting.

[Lise]

Totally agree... Unnecessarily complicated, messy and often makes me want to stop reading because it's just blah. In fact most authors have a hard time developing just one good male lead.

[[deleted user]]

oh thank god it's not just me
some people love them all that build up and tension,
i hate love triangles.
so boring and adds nothing but drama for drama's sake all i want is an awesome love story with good characters

[Lise]

Sarah wrote: "oh thank god it's not just me
some people love them all that build up and tension,
i hate love triangles.
so boring and adds nothing but drama for drama's sake all i want is an awesome love story..."

absolutely! and a male lead that makes u sigh.. :D

[Leonie]

So overdone in my opinion, and generally very predictable.

[Diana]

Yes!!! It seems that almost every YA book I've read lately has a love triangle. Incredibly annoying!!

[Dorottya]

I'm not necessarily sick of them if they are done the right way - you know, when it's believable, real and original. I have seen some prime examples for that (Fathom by Merrie Destefano and Wicked Lovely, per se). But I hate it when it's too predictable who the main hero / ine is going to choose (if the main character is a guy, it's gonna be the innocent, quirky girl, if it's a girl, it's going to be the more interesting guy, mostly with paranormal powers, even if he's more of a jerk than the other one)...

[chinami]

i see why love triangles are popular. they add drama to the book when an author is trying to come up with a legitimate plot development. to me triangles are waste. do it once or maybe thrice, it is novelty but when you try with all books then the authors are not original.
A good triangle is not making who the MC chooses to be unpredictable. When triangle becomes the key plot then that is all we end up with, suspense over who she chooses. As such we have a mushy teen romance as sub plot. It shows how low we as readers have set the bar.
Honestly in a triangle, the MC can choose either or neither of the two boys.(min is 2 and no limit on max)
the outcome is no different.
By our ogling about which guy is hot, we are only encouraging authors to use the least effort in writing a worthy book.

[Katy]

I have to agree with Dorottya...it really depends on how it's done, IMO. Then again, the same old, same old love triangle bit IS pretty played out by now. As long as they don't add 90 new love interests, I'll put up with a triangle though. I finally gave up on the Anita Blake series when she was constantly having sex with so many different vampires and were-"insert-animal-heres" (no pun intended) that I was worried I was going to get some reading-induced venereal disease...I didn't even bother trying to read 50 Shades of Gray (though I gather that was really only 1 couple, I'm leery and honestly, it just makes me uncomfortable.) I'm weird, I know.

[Marla]

I am truly tired of the poorly done love triangles too. I have been trying to figure out why and I've decided that besides being militantly monogamous and it just offends me, if you were sooooo in love with the dream boat guy, then why are you hooking up/flirting/interested in another guy.

Also, I never really understood why teenage girls obsess over celebrities (I know they are safe ways to explore romantic feelings, but I always thought a tremendous waste of time and energy), why not give the guy who sits behind you in math class a quarter of that energy and you might have a real life boy friend. Granted, he probably won't look like the teen idol, but then don't complain that you spend every weekend reading romances instead of having one. And just because a boy kisses you once on page 37, does not mean he loves you or that he's your boyfriend or that he is trustworthy or that you know him. Sigh.

Besides, tension or suspense, I also think the authors use multiple interested parties to convince us of the character's desirability. If the character was truly awesome, I would know it and feel it, just because a bunch of girls are throwing themselves at a boy doesn't mean he's a good guy, it might mean he's a flirt, a player, really handsome or they are skanks.

Sorry, jumping off my soap box now...LOL

[chinami]

Marla wrote: "I am truly tired of the poorly done love triangles too. I have been trying to figure out why and I've decided that besides being militantly monogamous and it just offends me, if you were sooooo in ..."

well said XD

[Nicole]

Totally agree! Love triangles annoy me. I can't stand a heroine who strings along two guys and can't make up her mind!!!

[Sherri]

Lol...my people. I hate love triangles in any types of books. I like to play on the jealousy thing a little bit, but I want characters relationships to be solid. My thinking is that if the main character has to have a shopping list of suitors then she's either a cheater or has major Attention Deficit Disorder. Either way it's not attractive and it turns into a major annoyance.

[Marla]

Sherri wrote: "Lol...my people. I hate love triangles in any types of books...My thinking is that if the main character has to have a shopping list of suitors then she's either a cheater or has major Attention Deficit Disorder. Either way it's not attractive and it turns into a major annoyance. "

Yes, I agree.

[chinami]

Sherri wrote: "Lol...my people. I hate love triangles in any types of books. I like to play on the jealousy thing a little bit, but I want characters relationships to be solid. My thinking is that if the main cha..."

so true

[Sophie]

I honestly don't mind them too much. I mean yeah it could be annoying but I also think it can be kind of fun to choose which one you want and root for you team idk. Okay here's what I say. If a love triangle is done correctly I don't mind. For example, in The Infernal Devices, the love triangle was done absolutely beautifully. It just has to be done right.

[Tasha]

I think it depends on how it's done. The Infernal Devices was great, I honestly didn't know from one minute to the next who she was going to end up with. I guess it's easier for me to believe in love triangles, I've had a pretty serious one going on in my own life a couple of times

[D.D.]

I echo most of the thoughts here, love triangles have become overused vehicles to drive drama into the plot. I think there are other, more original ways to add suspense and twists to a plot without resorting to "who will the protag choose at the end?!?!?"

Of course, there are some good love triangles used but for the most part it seems to be turning into a crutch of sorts.

[Kayla]

I've been sick of love triangles for a while. The female or male character knows who he or she wants from the beginning. Its frustrating to watch them string another person along who you obviously don't like or love.

[Jennifer]

I agree. While I believe it's possible to love two people at once, I don't believe that love can be equal. You would always care about one more than the other. A lot of heroines tend to appear self-centered and greedy when they're constantly going back and forth between two adoring men.

[Robert]

Love triangles... Sometimes it's as annoying as a bad developed annoying character. If authors think it's sexy or anything close to hot that two boys want one girl (who can't apparently make one decision and save as all the trouble) or two girls want one boy (rarely seen this) than they're for a big surprise.

Actually I like books where there is a plot, a story. The books that are concentrated only on romances and love triangles are mostly a waste of time, at least for me. Some authors try to make their books appealing by putting as much romance in it as possible and when they think it's not enough they put a random person to form a love triangle and in most cases with insta-loves.

[M.D.]

Love triangles don't bother me so much. I am tired, however, of the male lead treating the female protagonist like s***. Why is this? I understand the whole bad boy thing but he doesn't have to be abusive/rude etc. A troubled soul or dark past is just as alluring. Why the awfulness toward the main character? Is it just me?

[M.D.]

Dorottya wrote: "I'm not necessarily sick of them if they are done the right way - you know, when it's believable, real and original. I have seen some prime examples for that (Fathom by Merrie Destefano and Wicked ..."

I agree. Why do they always choose the jerk? It's bothersome to me. A bad boy is one thing but he doesn't have to be a butthead to the main character. Why are some women/girls so drawn to being treated poorly? It disturbs me...

[M.D.]

Ashleigh wrote: "M.D. wrote: "Love triangles don't bother me so much. I am tired, however, of the male lead treating the female protagonist like s***. Why is this? I understand the whole bad boy thing but he doesn'..."

I hear you. You want to have a crush on the male character by the end not want to smack him. Lol!

[Francina]

I agree! as a writer of YA paranormal I felt like I needed to have one or else it wouldn't "fit" then I realized if it doesn't fit my book it doesn't fit! I don't need one! I think a lot more writers should have had that revelation and left them out.

I just finished a book where a girl fell in love with a boy not even 24 hours after knowing him...and then she met a "nice guy" who was supposed to make her feel happy all the time...(vs her 24 hours love at first sight with bad boy.)

I mean...there is nothing wrong with a love triangle if it's real. now a days it's all about swoon and intrigue, instead of the journey.

Oh not to mention, now every time there is more than one main guy, I'm on alert waiting for the sign that he's a candidate and going to fall for our heroine or confess his undying love...(*_*)

[chinami]

Joanne wrote: "M.D. wrote: "Love triangles don't bother me so much. I am tired, however, of the male lead treating the female protagonist like s***. Why is this? I understand the whole bad boy thing but he doesn'..."

many readers dig into abusive relationships with sexy bad boys.

[Ron]

I have to agree the love triangle isn't even good reading material anymore, if it ever was.

[Rachel]

Oh man, do I ever HATE love triangles!!! Unfortunately, it seems to me as though one can't pick up a YA book anywhere that doesn't have one of those dang love triangles going on! ***huffs in annoyance*** ;)

[Destiny]

I don't mind a triangle when it's executed well but I do feel like it's overdone.

[Krystal]

I have a love/hate relationship with love triangle. if its done right and the author don't go overbroad its ok. but never end up picking the guy you want them to.

[Tracy]

Destiny wrote: "I don't mind a triangle when it's executed well but I do feel like it's overdone."

I agree Destiny.

[Tracy]

Krystal wrote: "I have a love/hate relationship with love triangle. if its done right and the author don't go overbroad its ok. but never end up picking the guy you want them to."

That's how I feel Krystal.

[Ali]

I also have a love/hate relationship with love triangles, if they're exacted correctly then I LOVE them but more often than not, they're usually very tediously done and the girl (I'm presuming its a girl at the heart of it all because it generally usually is) always chooses the first guy and its always very obvious from the get go who she'll end up with. I mean, seriously, who in their right mind ever thought boring bella would ever choose anyone other than drab old Eddie? Even in The Mortal instrument series which I love, its so clear as day that Clary would never choose Simon over gorgeous cocky bad boy Jace even though Simon is arguably perfect for her.

But the you have the dilemma of keeping the love interests equal like in The Vampire Diaries (TV show not books), the show was clearly Stelena for the first two seasons, confused in the third, and Delena in seasons five and six which either elated some fans (ME!) or infuriated others (Stelena shippers) so somehow the writer always loses. I don't know, I like love triangles but only when I'm actually frightened or worried that my chosen couple won't end up together, not when its clear as day who'll end up with who. And only if it helps character building and moves and doesn't stall the progress of the book.

[Krystal]

Ali wrote: "I also have a love/hate relationship with love triangles, if they're exacted correctly then I LOVE them but more often than not, they're usually very tediously done and the girl (I'm presuming its ..."

That's a great way to look at it. Im not caught up with The Vampire Diaries TV show yet but I always wanted her to pick Damon Stefan was to much of a goody to shoes.

[Aabysinyaa]

I, for one, would be fascinated to see a love triangle turn into a polyamorous relationship in a book. Just a random thought...

[Maru]

Great discussion, for me love triangles are a major turn off. If I find out a book has a love triangle there is a big possibility I won't read it, unless the book gets really good reviews from people I trust or something, and even then I have to consider it. So far in my reading experience there has only been ONE love triangle that I didn't hate, and that's The Hunger Games. The reason for that is that I felt we understood Katniss' connection with both of them, and she didn't lead them on or anything like that. Also, it took a back seat to the actual plot of the story.

Other than that, for me love triangles are never done correctly. I feel like they always force situations that don't make sense and making the characters really really unlikeable. I also feel like the authors who use this trope underestimate us readers, and it's unfortunate so many of them choose to go this predictable way. There are a few specific things that bug me a lot:

- When it is obvious who the girl is going to end up with (aka - The Iron King), but in order to FORCE the love triangle the author makes the main character lead the third one on anyway, and later in order to resolve it and so the main character won't look bad the third person is made out to look bad in some way. By doing something horrible, betraying someone, changing personality and becoming an ass, etc.
It's annoying, it's just a way for the main character not to have to deal with her actions. AHH.

This also happens for example when the main character has a boyfriend/girlfriend but throughout the book likes someone else and mentally cheats on the gf/bf, and later - same thing - the gf/bf does something that makes them look like an ass so the main character's actions are magically justified.

- The other situation is when the girl doesn't actually know who she likes better and we, as readers, aren't sure who she'll end up with. This scenario also bugs me because more often than not the character comes off very immature, and not willing to make decisions. This makes her look weak and the longer it goes on the worse it looks. It also makes the love interests seem like they have no pride. And it's made even worse with the classic YA mary sue who thinks she's so ugly or non-pretty, nothing special, but for some reason EVERYONE is in love with her anyway.

- I hate any love triangle that is resolved with *fate* or the *soulmates* way. Like "I like you too but he's my soulmate". Ew, gross.

- I hate when the MC doesn't actually make the decision and allow for the others or the situations to make it for her. I hate who the person involved in a love triangle usually takes the role of a victim, acting like they are just victims for having too many people interested in them.

Basically I hate everything about love triangles in YA fiction, and I applaud the authors who are original enough to not rely on that for conflict.

[L.R.A.]

I've grown tired of them. But since the plot's popularity is waning and would hopefully be gone... wait another twenty years and they will come back... those dreadful "I love you but I love him too."
Sadly, that's the cycle of life.

[Saraí]

Love triangles are very common now-in-days. Though, if one thinks about it, it may be common because it is an event that happens so often in real life. I would like if there were a love-disoriented-shape. That would be fun and interesting.

[Plaguedoctor]

I generally don't really like love triangles because they're never really written well. The only books with a love triangle that I've liked is the Infernal Devices series.

[chinami]

Maru wrote: "Great discussion, for me love triangles are a major turn off. If I find out a book has a love triangle there is a big possibility I won't read it, unless the book gets really good reviews from peop..."

Totally agree.

[Marla]

Great discussion...though I liked the book, my latest read had three love triangles. Sigh. And only one was interesting...

[Plaguedoctor]

Marla wrote: "Great discussion...though I liked the book, my latest read had three love triangles. Sigh. And only one was interesting..."

That just sounds confusing.

[Marla]

Plaguedoctor wrote: " Marla wrote: "Great discussion...though I liked the book, my latest read had three love triangles. Sigh. And only one was interesting..."

That just sounds confu..."

Really more tiresome than confusing. I think a couple of the characters were more in love with the concept of being in love than actually in love with the other person.

[Elaine]

I really, really don't like love triangles (I didn't want to put 'hate' there so I used 'really' twice so it's clear how much I dislike them ;)) Love triangles are also the reason why I'm strugling with YA books lately. It seems like I can't find one without it. =(

[Raissa]

Was just reminiscing with a friend about Dawson's Creek and how much we liked it until they threw in a love triangle! Sometimes it's a knee-jerk complication that's just thrown in. Not to say it should be avoided--I used a love triangle myself in my book Love Among the Geeks. But it shouldn't be thrown in as some kind of default conflict.

[Marla]

I just finished a strange love triangle story:

[Beatrice]

I don't mind love triangles. I somehow enjoy it. As long as it doesn't turned Square, Pentagon, or more. It's completely a NO NO

[Sarah-Joy]

I can only think of one Ya book I have read without any soapy love triangles- Divergent, by Veronica Roth. I like how Tris and Four's relationship throughout the trilogy isn't perfect, but they understand the ideals that make up a good relationship, like trust and honesty. It was refreshing reading a Ya fiction that didn't frustrate me with the "difficult" decision of the protagonist choosing which guy she wanted to be her boyfriend.

[Marla]

Sarah wrote: "I can only think of one Ya book I have read without any soapy love triangles- Divergent, by Veronica Roth. I like how Tris and Four's relationship throughout the trilogy isn't perfect, but they und..."

I really liked that about Divergent too. I really only liked the first book.