Love Triangles

Love Triangles in YA literature.

I am in love with love—and suspense—which is why love triangles are one of my favorite parts of YA literature. There are many types of love triangles in literature, all of which are fantastic in their own way.

The Bad Boy v. The Nice Guy

Who doesn’t love reading about a bad boy? They’re usually complex, dynamic, and fascinating. When it comes to a love triangle between a bad boy and a nice guy though, I usually want the heroine to end up with the nice guy and I want to read a spin-off series about the bad boy.

The boys in this type of love triangle are so different, however, that I think it makes it easier for readers to decide which boy they like best.

The Soul Mate v. The Charming Friend

Triangles between soul mates and charming friends are always very easy for me. Date the soulmate! Why waste your time on the charming friend? However, many people do favor the friend over the clearly destined soul mate. An example of this is the Edward-Bella-Jacob triangle from the Twilight saga.

Personally, I think that Edward and Bella are clearly destined to be together, so Bella should just leave Jacob alone. However, there are many people out there who would completely disagree with me on this. I think this type of triangle really allows the reader to pick which character they like best. Oftentimes, both men are good matches for the heroine, and she will usually be very happy either way.

The Safe Choice v. The Forbidden Love

Forbidden love is just delightful. Society has been in love with these stories for ages: Romeo and Juliet, Tristan and Isolde, and Helen and Paris are just a few of the couples whose romances have captured the imagination of readers for centuries. What makes these romances so much fun to read?

I think it’s that the love between the couples who are forbidden to be together is usually really pure, and you just can’t help rooting for them to overcome the odds and be together. Part of me always feels bad for the safe choice because he is usually such a nice guy! However, the safe choice never sparks the same kind of passion that the forbidden love does.

The Same-species v. The Other-species

This type of love triangle just seems to be popping up everywhere. Unfortunately, it usually ends up with someone changing species to make their chance love more realistic. I don’t think that I have a generalization for how I feel about these types of love triangles because the circumstances that these come about are usually very different. However, I will say that this type of triangle exists in Aprilynne Pike’s Wings series, and I will be heart-broken if the heroine choses the other-species guy!

No matter what type of love triangle you’re reading about though, it adds a great element to the story. There is the mystery of who will end up with who, the inner turmoil as the character sorts out their feelings, and the emotional investment that the reader feels towards a specific couple. I think love triangles really capture the hearts of romantics and non-romantics alike and add a layer to the story that wouldn’t be there otherwise.

Take Me There by Susane Colasanti

Summary: Rhiannon is devastated after the break up with her boyfriend and desperately wants him back. But love comes easy for Nicole. Her ex is still in the picture, pining for her, but she can’t help having a new crush. And then there’s James, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Rhiannon, who is too blind to see that their friendship can be so much more. Just when things couldn’t get more complicated, the school’s resident mean girl decides she is intent on ruining everyone’s life. James, Nicole and Rhiannon are not going to let slide, but will their desire to take down the mean girl bring these three friends exactly what they want?

My Thoughts: This tale has likable and realistic teen characters. It takes place over an event-filled week, with Rhiannon, Nicole, and James telling the same story from their individual perspectives. Rhiannon is devastated by her recent breakup with Steve. Nicole has broken up with Danny for no apparent reason, and he is determined to win her back. James, who has always been Rhiannon's best friend, is finding his feelings for her undergoing a dramatic change. Many humorous events occur, including Rhiannon's surefire plan to get Steve back that backfires.I really love split narration as I like to hear all sides of the story! My favorite character has to be James. I love reading his parts because he is the kind of guy that is sweet to Rhiannon. I kind of disliked Nicole in this book it was hard to picture why she broke up with Danny because he sounds so dreamy. I also liked Rhiannon in so of her parts, but she kind of went overboard into trying to get her ex back. 

Overall: The ending could of been better, but it was an awesome read. I finished this book in one night because I couldn't help but read what happened in each of the characters perspective. It was an really interesting story, but it felt so short. Like after I finished I was like is that all?

Cover: This cover is so cute and adorable. I like that it doesn't show their face from all the books in front of them. :)

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Summary: Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything"--at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf 's Department Store.This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling.With Owen's help,maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

My thoughts: It’s the first day of school and Annabel is nervous.  Something happened last spring(which the reader doesn’t find out about until much later in the novel) that caused a rift between Annabel and her friends.  At lunch, she finds herself, alone, sitting near a mysterious, intimidating boy.  This becomes their routine, never speaking but always eating lunch “together”.  Eventually, of course, Annabel and the boy begin talking and find themselves becoming friends.  Also, as the semester goes on she faces what happened last spring and learns some things about herself along the way.

After finding out what happened to her that summer it got really interesting on how she handled things. I kept re-reading parts because it was so good. My thoughts on Annabel is that she is a strong and beautiful person, but sometimes she doesn't know how to handle things the right way. As for Owen, I absolutely loved his character, even though he listens to funky kind music I would have never listen.

Overall: This is one of my favorite Sarah Dessen book because I loved every moment reading it. From the beginning to end. The characters in this book made me root for each other. Also I love the message of Just Listen. It was a fun and romantic read and I finished this book in two days.

Cover: I like the cover, but it would have been nice to actually see someones face or even have Owen in it.

Forever by Judy Blume

Summary: Katherine is a high school senior when she meets -- and quickly falls in love with -- Michael. Her parents grow concerned about how much time they're spending together -- and it's true that they're together whenever possible. Soon they even begin a sexual relationship. But with high school ending -- and grown-up problems just beginning -- will their young love be able to last?

 

My Thoughts: It is a realistic look on teenage love and views on sex. The book, talking a lot about sex, is often challenged.

 In the first chapter, Katherine meets a young boy, Michael, at a  New Year's Eve party. They go on a date the next day, become completely involved with each other, and as they continue to go out on dates he pressures Katherine more and more about sex. Everything seems to be just great, but when they are separated over the summer, Katherine learns that forever might not just be forever. She meets an older and more mature guy while working at the camp. Blume truly does tell a story of first love in Forever. It is a great book for teenage girls.This book is  a reminder that love is not always forever, and it doesn't have to be. Forever gives anyone who reads it an outlook on sex and love. I didn't think that this book was too explicit for anyone that is mature enough to read it. This book doesn't end with a perfect ending; just like life doesn't always. If you are looking for a story about love and truth, then this is a great book for you to read. 

 

 Overall: I thought this book was very informational to me about sex and first love. It was an eye-opener and it was actually funny during some parts. It was a quick read and I enjoyed it. :)

Cover: The book cover is cute, but maybe not really related to the plot of this whole book

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Summary: Macy's summer stretches before her, carefully planned and outlined. She will spend her days sitting at the library information desk. She will spend her evenings studying for the SATs. Spare time will be used to help her obsessive mother prepare for the big opening of the townhouse section of her luxury development. But Macy's plans don't anticipate a surprising and chaotic job with Wish Catering, a motley crew of new friends, or ... Wes. Tattooed, artistic, anything-but-expected Wes. He doesn't fit Macy's life at all--so why does she feel so comfortable with him? So ... happy? What is it about him that makes her let down her guard and finally talk about how much she misses her father, who died before her eyes the year before? Sarah Dessen delivers a page-turning novel that carries readers on a roller coaster of denial, grief, comfort, and love as we watch a broken but resilient girl pick up the pieces of her life and fit them back together.

My Thoughts: I love her writing story and I seem to like the characters alot. We get to know Macy, who thinks she HAS to be perfect but really she does not want to be perfect. She feels guilty about her father passing away. I won't give too many details about that as its told very slowly in the book. But, we get to know her feelings and I felt myself relate to almost everything she felt. Macy's boyfriend thinks it would be best if they took a break over the summer while he goes and does his own thing. Except he wants her to take over his old job! She also starts working For Wish Catering and we get to know all the people who work there! Well, she than meets Wes. By the way, this guy is totally swooooonnn worthing! I fell in love with him over the course of the book and now I wish he was real! Are you real out there somewhere Wes? To sum it up, if you haven't read any of Sarah Dessen books, start off with this one, its a good romantic fun read!

Overall: Love Love Love Love this book! The character Wes is so my Prince Charming I love him in it, as much as I like Macy in it too.

Cover: Its pretty! And, the way she is pulling the petals off the flower, totally romantic wouldn't you say? Love it

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Summary: When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.
In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

My Thoughts: We are introduced to Brittany, the golden girl and Alex, the boy who everyone is afraid of. Brittany is pretty, popular, has the guy everyone at school wants, she is perfect to everyone. Alex, is a badass, a gang member, a thug. Brittany and Alex couldn't be more opposite, their personalities, their lives, their whole existence but underneath it all, they are more alike then they think. Brittany is from the rich part of town, Alex is from across the tracks. Brittany and Alex get put together as lab partners in chemistry. They despise each other. They want nothing to do with each other. They both have their own set of problems. Brittany is trying to lead her life making everyone think she is perfect, trying to make her boyfriend happy, trying to live up to every one's expectations while Alex is trying to take care of his family the only way he knows how. Brittany gets under Alex's skin so Alex makes a bet with a friend that he can get into Brittany's pants. But the truth of the matter is, Brittany is a virgin and sex is the last thing on her mind right now.

Alex and Brittany spend more time together, fighting, arguing, bickering, while the sexual tension is always on the back burner just waiting to make an appearance. Brittany and Alex both go through so many struggles that is breaks me heart because more than anything I want them to end up together but the problems that lay before them are not easy. They start to care about each other as more than lab partners but they both deny their feelings for each other for a long time. There are side characters to make things interesting as well. Alex ex girlfriend Carmen, his family, and Brittany's friends and family. I was a little wary of Brittany at first because she is the typical snobby rich girl but she grew on me. Now Alex, he was a whole different story. I have a thing for bad boys and him being in a gang (which is not a good thing haha) just adds to his sex appeal. He was so tough on the outside but I knew on the inside he had a big heart. The mention of his tattoos made me blush even more. Through smart comebacks and sassy wit I fell in love with Brittany and Alex as a potential couple.

If you want an epic love story that will leave you wanting to savor every page Perfect Chemistry is a hit you'll want to run out to the store to buy as quick as you can! Thankfully I already have Rules Of Attraction on my bookshelf.

Overall: This is suppose to be my first post because this was the first book I ever read fully and started my love for YA books. It is going to be my favorite book of a life time and I still keep re-reading this awesome book with I have nothing to do at home. Love Love it and everyone should, it's my number one YA romantic fiction book :)

Cover: Really like it! And, look at his tattoo, could you think of anthing that sexy. While reading this book I could so picture these characters in my head. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!

Waiting for You By Susane Colasanti

Summary: At the beginning of her sophomore year, Marisa is ready for a fresh start and, more importantly, a boyfriend. So when the handsome and popular Derek asks her out, Marisa thinks her long wait for happiness is over. But several bumps in the road—including her parents’ unexpected separation, a fight with her best friend, and a shocking disappointment in her relationship with Derek—test Marisa’s ability to maintain her new outlook. Only the anonymous DJ, whose underground podcasts have the school’s ear, seems to understand what Marisa is going through. But she has no idea who he is—or does she?

My Thoughts: We are introduced to Marisa who is quiet but she feels this is the year that could all change. She wants to be more witty, more outgoing, and she wants to date someone. She's never had a real boyfriend and that is what she is determined to get. She finally gets Derek to notice her (of course its after he dumps his popular girlfriend) but hey beggers can't be choosers right? Marisa starts a relationship with Derek while she gets paired up in class with Nash, an old friend. He also lives next store to Marisa but she hasn't really talked to him in years.

Marisa shouldn't be having second thoughts about Derek. She is finally with him so she thinks she needs to be happy. But all she can think about is Nash. The way he listens to her, the way he understands her. She has an anxiety disorder and she tells Nash about it and he understands and is there for her.

Enter guy 3 into the story. He is a local DJ and nobody knows his identity. Marisa listens to him on the radio every chance she gets. She enjoys him. She enjoys his advice. He's a real guy.

Marisa also has a friend named Sterling. Sterling is a good friend to Marisa but she's always dating the wrong guys. She tends to like them older. She is seen dating a few different guys throughout the story.

I was a big fan of Nash throughout the book. He seems like a nice guy. The kind of guy I would take notice in.

So, who does Marisa end up with? Nash, Derek, mystery DJ?

Overall: Loved it. One of my favorite Colsanti book's, this and When It Happens. It gets you picturing what is happening once you read this book, it was amazing.

Cover: Its really romantic. The way they are sitting on the dock. I like his glasses and the way her hair is in a ponytail. The cover also relates to the story, which does not happen much anymore. Usually the cover is way off base! Love it