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You're The Voice: Susan on Love Triangles

You're The Voice: Susan on Love Triangles

Sep 10,2012
by Jordi
6 comment(s)
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Love triangles [luh-v tri-ang-guhl-s]:

The oh-so deadly yet dreadfully sweet, heart wrenching, tear wracking, feelings stomping, cliff hanging, misery making, emotion conflicting, grief causiNG DESPAIR PLUNGING SLEEP STEALING BITTERSWEET UNJUST UNFAIR FRUSTRATING LOVE TRIANGLE. Popular, but not limited to, young adult and adult romance and paranormal books, especially as of late. Solely established to produce mixed feelings of anguish and confusion, and to tear the hearts of all people worldwide.

Well, that’s just my definition. I may be over-exaggerating the feelings that I experience when it comes to love triangles, when that one girl that these two guys are just totally in love with and she can’t- oh my god okay I’m not over exaggerating.


File 10919A typical love triangle, in my opinion, is a girl, who is either totally bad-*** or a clumsy person who thinks she’s not cool but everyone actually loves her; one serious, sultry, hot hot hot, brooding, mysterious guy; and one lighter, funnier, chillaxed, hot hot hot and easy going guy.

It’s always the first guy though, the guy that she picks or ends up with. The author just wickedly chucks the second guy in the story to purposely keep me up all night crying and wondering if they can deal with this rejection.

I don’t know about you guys, but love triangles just STRESS ME OUT. Whatever happens, someone is going to get hurt and not everyone will be satisfied. And some authors, realising this, throw in another character for the rejected party to get together with as some kind of a consolation prize. IT'S TERRIBLE. 'Pity' relationships just don't feel real to me so no no no (unless of course, they were just absolutely destined for each other).

Yes, stories with love triangles are just so common these days, and despite the emotional journey it takes me on, I STILL PUT MYSELF THROUGH IT. ALL THE TIME. I have no-one to blame but myself. It’s my guilty pleasure, even though they are so overrated now. What makes them so alluring, so attractive, though? Is it the feeling of two guys wanting a girl enough to fight for her? The dramatic scenarios, heart wrenching conversations and decisions? The choices that could affect the most important relationships in their lives? Maybe just the super sexy characters. Okay, all of the above for me, it just seems so unrealistic to the point it’s fascinating.

So any favourite love triangles here? I'd have to say mine are The Hunger Games, Matched and of course Vamp Academy!

Thanks for reading guys, appreciate it! :)  

- Susan

Sep 13,2012
susan8D's picture
susan8D
Aw thank you so much Diem, sweet! Ugh anything Adrian breaks my heart, though I think he never stood a chance against my love Dimitri and he's totally perf with Sydney. Yes Peeta all the way!
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Sep 12,2012
Diem's picture
Diem
Hey Susan. I loved this post more than the first one. How is that even possible? Love triangles. I hate them, I hate them because like you said, someone always gets hurt. And I like the guy who gets hurt. Like Adrian, oh Adrian. Except for Gale who went all weird and I was always rooting for Peeta.
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Sep 11,2012
anonymous's picture
Anonymous
It's a good post.
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Sep 10,2012
susan8D's picture
susan8D
Anon #1: Yes its quite cruel, the guy that doesn't get the girl is usually so sweet but never stood a chance from the beginning! Oooh that's actually a good idea. Well Vampire Academy's spinoff series focuses on the 'rejected' guy, and his new relationship with another character! :) And I agree with that last comment, the second guy is usually just a distraction to 'test' the destined couple. Anon #2: Hahahahahha YES! I always try to look for faults and flaws, pro's and cons for each one, just to make it easier for me to choose a side! Terrible, terrible. :P
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Sep 10,2012
anonymous's picture
Anonymous
Oh, now that, Anon, seems to be an awesome potential storyline *files it away for future reference* That being said, rather than stressing me out, love triangles IRRITATE me. I despise them - particularly if the two parties in love with the third are nice. They irritate me even more. I feel like slapping the author for causing such grief - though I don't deny it can be rather addicting to read. But what I do in the case of a love triangle is villify one of the two parties on the same boat - that is, if they're not already horrible. That way, I can easily hate one and love another, and if the Significant Love Interest goes with the one I've made myself dislike.... well, I hate them too ^^
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Sep 10,2012
anonymous's picture
Anonymous
Yes, Susan! I agree. Love triangles stress me out - usually because I'm barracking for the guy who doesn't get the girl (and, like you, I do wonder how they deal with the rejection... I would actually love to read a romance which starts at the moment a love triangle is decided, and explores what happens to the 'rejected' fella) I think love triangles come down to a particularly tricky formula, and sleight of hand. It's often the author throwing in another contender to distract from the *real* love that's growing between the destined couples ... like the 'loser' of the triangle is there for misdirection.
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