This isn't about the month of August per se, but about love triangles. "But Teso! What do love triangles and a month have to do with one another?" Some of you may recall my elaborate ramble about Taylor Swift (see related posts) where I related books and characters to different Taylor Swift songs (would you guys wanna see one where I relate characters to her different albums, or one dedicated solely to the songs of Speak Now (Taylor's Version)? Answer at the poll at the bottom!). I love the song august (folklore), which is part of a larger trilogy of songs written about a teenage love triangle between three characters, who tell their stories through songs on the album (the other two are James, who tells his story through the song Betty, and betty, who tells her story through cardigan). Since love triangles have to do with the songs and there is a song called august, told through the perspective of someone named Augustine, I decided that I will now write about the love triangle troupe (one of the many I will cover on my troupes post if I ever finish it). Please enjoy me attempting to ramble about love triangles without spoilers.
They're everywhere. Love triangles exist all over books, wherever there's a romantic subplot, there is an inevitable love triangle. They're in romance novels (duh). They're in fantasy novels. They're in dystopians. They're in mysteries. They're in...I actually don't read anything else so...this is awkward. Anyways, my genre preferences aside, love triangles appear everywhere. Since they're written so often, there are many examples to choose from when one reads a love triangle, which means an author has to write an exceptional one for it to stand out. These are my personal love triangle standards (and later, at the bottom, a list of books with great love triangles). For this, I will be using sub in letters, so the top of the triangle will be A, and the the other two will be B and C. Why? I said so. I own the blog, therefore my word is law.
1) You have to be able to root for both sides.
It doesn't matter if character A is sufficiently torn between the two characters, if B or C sucks as a person, the love triangle sucks. You, the reader have to be torn between the two characters. You must to feel the need to pick a side. It's even better if you cannot pick a side, because therefore you cannot be hurt and you, the reader will be forced to continue reading to see what happens since you cannot decide.
2) There needs to be significant difference between characters B & C.
If characters B & C are the exact same person, with just a little bit of a difference, it's not that fun to read. Character A has to have a different relationship with each, and their personalities need to differ. For example, Character B can be reckless and cocky, who flirts with Character A relentlessly, mostly by banter whereas Character C is sweet and endearing, who protects Character A with their life. If they're the same person, it's boring to read since we know the main character will end up with something one way or another.
3) It needs to resolve itself in a non-drawn out, practical timeline.
No one wants to read four 800 page books about the same two characters fighting over the same person (which I have done. It gets boring). It shouldn't be drawn out. The same can be said about it being too short. If the book has a love triangle that gets resolved in one chapter, it's boring since you didn't see the build up and tension that leads to the resolution.
4) With a few exceptions, Character A has to actually make a choice AND THE OTHER TWO CHARACTERS HAVE TO BE OK WITH IT.
I don't want any "come back to me" type storylines. That's not fair to Character A, who has made a choice. If one character bows out? Triangle over. If Character A picks Character B? Character C has to be ok with it. No appearing out of nowhere and being like, "why didn't you pick me?" for me. Now the choice thing, I'm a little more willy nilly on. I've seen a couple books where the whole not choosing thing works, but they're pretty rare and they're mostly fantasy novels with weird extenuating circumstances. I like those. They're special. And now, for books with love triangles!
Best Love Triangle, Romance: Peter Kavinsky, John Ambrose McLaren and Lara Jean Covey, To All The Boys I've Loved Before (Jenny Han), (book 2, P.S. I Still Love You)
Lara Jean has a vastly different relationship with both Peter and John Ambrose. With John Ambrose, she shares Stormy and the nursing home, as well as their enjoyment of school and with Peter, she shares...the events entire first novel. I, personally am Team Peter, only because I would like to date John Ambrose myself (He's cute and awkward and smart. I really like him), but I was for Lara Jean either way. (see related articles for full review)
Best Love Triangle, Dystopia: America Singer, Kriss Ambers and Maxon Schreave, The Selection (Kiera Cass), (Books 2 and 3, The Elite and The One)
These books are told from America's point of view, so it makes sense if people favor America and Maxon to Kris and Maxon. America and Maxon playfully bicker, and get on each others nerves (read: America is stubborn and Maxon is not happy about it), whereas Maxon and Kris are the more ideal couple for the public. I, personally, like the bickering relationship Maxon and America have since they challenge each other to be better, which means that I am Team America.
Best Love Triangle, Fantasy Dystopia (I wanted to mention this one and The Selection so I made this one it's own personal category): Li Shimin, Gao Yizhi and Wu Zetian, Iron Widow, (Xiran Jay Zhao)
I will not say how it ends, but I was Team Zetian Takes Over The World, since she is my favorite character. She's fun and scary and sounds like my conscience (I'll review this book at a later date, maybe), and I think both boys are great. This may be the indecisiveness in me, but I liked them both.
Best Love Triangle, Unconventional Ending: Will Herondale, Jem Carstairs and Tessa Gray, The Infernal Devices (Cassandra Clare)
Now, I think it's not a spoiler to say that this triangle has an unconventional ending since any later series shows you how the triangle ends (if you read them in publishing order, you see who ends up with who BEFORE you even read the series). I understand that technically you could see Tessa as a cheater, but, since Will and Jem love each other the way Will and Jem do, it's not that decisive for me either way. I love both Will and Jem. Now, it may be that I am biased towards Jem, because I love his relationship with his mean old cat, but I think that he's very cute. I like Will too. He's a Herondale (the original one, may I add) and as such is attractive to me. I don't know.
Now, I know there are some love triangles I did not talk about. "Teso, where's Twilight? Where's the Hunger Games? Where's *insert popular novel that I forgot here*?" These are MY PERSONAL favorites. I will never comment on my feelings about Twilight and The Kissing Booth (unless people really want me to but I don't wanna get attacked), but as for the Hunger Games, I am Team Peeta. 100%. I hope you enjoyed, and definitely check out the books above.
Happy Reading!
Teso
Would you like to see more Taylor Swift Content?
0%Yes! Do one on all her albums!
0%Yes! Do one on Speak Now TV song by song!
0%Yes! Do both!
0%No. Stop talking about Taylor Swift. Please.