Let’s talk about love triangles. Do you love them or hate them? I personally loathe them. I think they’re overdone. There are other obstacles a couple can face that tests their love for one another. Why does the couple’s hardest trial always have to be in the form of a love triangle?
However, if I were to like a love triangle, it’d be one in which there really isn’t a triangle. Everneath by Brodi Ashton is awesome example of this. There’s no question who the protagonist loves, yet there’s still a third person trying to do their best to break up the happy couple. You know it’ll never happen and you know the third person can’t sway their love, but you also know the third person can wreak a lot of havoc on the situation until the story’s reached its end.
I also like the love triangle in The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare. This is the only one in which I’m torn. I prefer one of the guys over the other, but if the girl were to end up with either one, I’d be perfectly happy. Somehow Clare has got me to care so much about all three of these characters that I don’t want any of them hurt; I want them all to be happy and stay friends. Normally, I want the third wheel dead, out of the picture, gone, poof! (Yes, Jacob, Gale, Xander, Talbot, Jared, etc., that’s how I felt about you!!!)
I try to keep an open mind when I read a story with a love triangle. But, it’s inevitable, except in the case of The Infernal Devices, that I’ll hate the third wheel. I usually fall in love with the first person the protagonist does and then I’m unable to be swayed.
What do you think? Do you love them or hate them?
About Jenni Elyse
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I hate them! There are a few love triangles that I don’t mind, like Hunger Games and Theatre Illuminata, but overall I don’t like them.
I haven’t read the Theatre Illuminata yet. I’ll have to check it out if it’s a good love triangle. Glad to hear I’m not the only one who doesn’t like them.
I do NOT hate them. Not sure I LOVE them either. I enjoy them. I do get sick of them though. But still, I don’t mind them at all. And I’m always torn. Always. But I usually end up going for the “friend”, the one that’s always been there… which I’m completely opposite on the list of guys above! Sort of. Then again there’s always a “dark mysterious” dude too and I seem to like him a lot. See…. torn! Yeah, they are overdone, but… I still enjoy them now and then.
Ha ha! Yeah, I can understand being torn since I am with The Infernal Devices. But, I wish I could be torn all the time, like you. Then, maybe, I wouldn’t hate them!
I use to think that a love triangle was when one person had a crush on a person who had a crush on a person and they didn’t know it. I don’t mind the love triangle if its done well. But I feel like so often the solution to the triangle is to kill off one of the boys. In this scenario I loathe the love triangle. Why can’t they just be mature and part ways? Ack, this predicament is why I grew tired of the YA genre and had to take a break from the monotony of the over done and ever present love triangle.
Love your post!
Jen
I can definitely see why you’d want to take a break from YA. Me, I just keep going back. I guess I’m a glutton for punishment. But, yes, I have when one of the boys is killed off. I’d rather have them part ways, as long as it’s not too convenient. I hate when plot devices are too convenient!
Here’s a secret: I love a WELL DONE love triangle. I always ask myself: does it further the story? Will it make the character/s grow up? I used to write with a good friend, and we wrote only one love triangle out of many years of writing together. It was THE storyline that both broke my heart, and also made us both better writers. It also made my two characters (I wrote for both guys, and lord, was that hard) grow a lot as characters. In THAT instance, I support a love triangle.
But, if it’s gratuitous – there for shock value, or as weak external conflict when there are other ways, like you said, of testing a couple, I HATE it/them.
Plus, like I told you, I fall for the doomed guy EVERY time: Jacob, Gale, Angel, Warner, etc etc etc.
Okay, I see your point. If it does help further the story, then I’m okay with it. But, it’s just there for conflict’s sake and because the author couldn’t think of anything else to do, BOO!
Teach me how to fall for the doomed guy. Just once, I want to be on that end and see how it feels, lol.
I didn’t used to hate them, but I do now because they are SOOOOO overdone. You’re right — there are tons of conflicts that can stand in the way of a couple’s love, so why does it have to be a love triangle EVERY SINGLE TIME? It doesn’t!
Woo hoo! I’m glad to see someone who feels the exact same way I do.
I’m with most everybody else. It’s way overdone, and there are very few times I actually enjoy a story that involves a love triangle.That being said…If it has to happen, I’m rooting for the underdog/bad boy every time. Screw Stephen and Edward, I’m totally choosing Damon and Jacob!
I just don’t understand how people can root for the underdog/bad boy. I want to learn, lol. I want to see what it’s like. But, I always, ALWAYS like the first one the girl loves.
I can’t really say I hate them, because I’ve found some I really like. Like you said, the love-triangle from Everneath really works, the one from Unearthly isn’t too bad and I like the triangle between Ash, Puck and Meghan in the Iron Fey
They can work out, but I think it depends on the situation and the way it’s created. It must be well-written and it musn’t play the main role of the book.
Most of the love-triangles I hate are the ones where the girl picks the wrong guy (like: the good-looking asshole over the sweet best friend) or when I don’t like any of the characters.
Ha ha! I love how you term the wrong guys as the “the good-looking asshole.” That just made me chuckle. The funny thing is that I always choose the good-looking asshole when I’m reading a book. Unless, the best friend was there first as a love interest.
I’m pretty meh about love triangles. I do really enjoy what’s going on in Everneath and Everbound. It’s such an interesting dynamic.
I usually love who the main character loves, except for Matched. I just can’t stand Ky and I thought Xander was a much more interesting character. Oh well, can’t win em all I guess.
I really liked Xander. But, for whatever reason I liked Ky more. Probably because he was mysterious and was the main interest in Matched. Like I said, I’m unswayable, lol.
I enjoy love triangles as long as they don’t dominate the story and internal dialogue. I prefer the style of love triangle you mentioned being okay with, the non-triangle where there’s an odd person out wanting in. I like writing stories like that where you have a main love story, but there’s this other person who has something to offer, some value you can’t live without.
Yes, if it doesn’t dominate the story, I’m in too … sometimes. I guess it really just depends on the love triangle, lol.
I always whine about love triangles but every now and again, if it’s done right, they’re kinda fun. I also have found myself hoping for one because the current love interest bugs the heck out of me and I want another option.
I do have to laugh at your choices. It seems we are on opposite sides of the team every time.
Ha! I knew you’d be opposite from me. You’ll have to teach me how you fall for those guys because I just don’t know how, lol.
I usually love ‘em. I feel like I shouldn’t but I’m such a sucker for it. Ever since Ben and Noel on Felicity…
I wish I loved them. I really do because I read enough of them.