Romance and Love Triangles

EndlessDestiny · May 18, 2013

Is it a deal breaker if a ya novel doesn't have a love triangle or the romance at the forefront of the story? I have a ya fantasy novel that doesn't have a love triangle in it, nor is the romance driving the plot.

ellio · May 18, 2013

Nooooooo, I don't think so at all. I bloody hate love triangles. If anything, they are now overdone. Obviously you get those who are looking only for YA with romance elements, so all it means is that you're not going to get those agents/publishers wanting to market your work, right?

It doesn't mean anything for the whoooole mass market that totally laps up fantasy novels on its own.

CJ Knightrey · May 18, 2013

As someone who isn't a fan of romance, I don't think it's a deal breaker at all. A good plot and interest characters trumps just about anything. Romance is really just one tool to use, and I think the reason it seems necessary is that it's been done so many times. Some people may expect it, some people will be happy it's not there.

Just write what's best for your story. There is nothing more aggravating than reading a story that doesn't need a romance/love triangle plot but has it shoehorned in there anyway because the author thinks it will help the book sell. Just be true to the story you're writing.

SpinningWheel · May 19, 2013

I think more YA novels don't have a love triangle, than do, it's just that some of the biggest hits of the last few years have (Twilight and Hunger Games) so it feels more dominant than it actually is.

Kerosene · May 19, 2013

A love triangle is just another form of conflict in a romance. You need conflict (99% of the time), but it doesn't have to be that.

kmccabe · May 19, 2013

include as much romance/romantic conflict as you think is necessary for your story. If your story isn't concerned with romance, don't worry about it and don't put it in unnecessarily because it seems like the genre is concerned with. If anything, a non-romantic YA story would be nice to see because, from my perspective, the genre is flooded with too many "fall-madly-in-love-at-first-sight-and-ready-to-marry-each-other-by-page-50" romances.

Wendy Jenae · May 19, 2013

Funny you should bring this up. I read this column (and the comments made underneath it) and can't stop thinking about the inclusion of romance.

The writer cites "Code Name Verity" as a story that does very well without romance.

Lovesick and Tired: Unnecessary Romance in YA

Kristenlee83 · May 20, 2013

I find it really refreshing to read ya without a love triangle. Sometimes they can be very superficial and it seems like some authors only add them, even if it doesn't help the story progress, just to add conflict. It can be frustrating.

rwm4768 · May 20, 2013

If your story needs a love triangle, write one. If it doesn't, the love triangle will feel tacked on. Stay true to your story. I've read YA that doesn't feature a love triangle. In fact, I prefer to stay away from love triangles whenever possible. Only on rare occasions are they done well.

Shaezy · May 21, 2013

I agree with the above comments - love interests/love triangles are not essential. Relationships/conflict between the characters are enough. As a reader I want to connect (be it positively or negatively) with more than only the MC, so a nifty friend, nasty enemy or similar is more important to me than a love interest.

randi.lee · May 21, 2013

kmccabe said:
include as much romance/romantic conflict as you think is necessary for your story. If your story isn't concerned with romance, don't worry about it and don't put it in unnecessarily because it seems like the genre is concerned with. If anything, a non-romantic YA story would be nice to see because, from my perspective, the genre is flooded with too many "fall-madly-in-love-at-first-sight-and-ready-to-marry-each-other-by-page-50" romances.

Here, here!

Renée A. Price · May 26, 2013

WillSauger said:
A love triangle is just another form of conflict in a romance. You need conflict (99% of the time), but it doesn't have to be that.

Agree 100%

If you feel forced to write a love triangle, that means the story won't flow.

Phaeal · May 26, 2013

My novel below has zip romance. None of the agents or editors who saw it cited "lack of romance" as a problem, though I expect those who WERE looking for romantic elements just sent a form rejection.

Me, the only kind of romance I dislike is romance that feels shoe-horned into a book because you have to have it, right?

Wrong.

kuwisdelu · May 26, 2013

Renée A. Price said:
If you feel forced to write a love triangle, that means the story won't flow.

Unless it's the characters forcing you.

Renée A. Price · May 26, 2013

Yes! I meant forced by external elements.

Whitley · May 26, 2013

My problem with romantic elements in a lot of YA books is not the fact that there is romance, but the fact that the first book is inevitably part of a trilogy and yet the characters fall head over heels in love in the very first book! I would appreciate the romance, even the love triangles, a lot more if they built up slowly and naturally.

I am a little nervous because my WIP sets up the two main characters as possibly being interested in each other, but in all the chaos of the plot, they don't have a chance to get it together. Hopefully an agent and/or an audience will accept this.

Renée A. Price · May 26, 2013

I am trying to do the same with my WIP.

Whitley said:
My problem with romantic elements in a lot of YA books is not the fact that there is romance, but the fact that the first book is inevitably part of a trilogy and yet the characters fall head over heels in love in the very first book! I would appreciate the romance, even the love triangles, a lot more if they built up slowly and naturally.

I am a little nervous because my WIP sets up the two main characters as possibly being interested in each other, but in all the chaos of the plot, they don't have a chance to get it together. Hopefully an agent and/or an audience will accept this.

MJDavis · May 26, 2013

I'm going to go with "no." The fantasy I'm writing is plot-driven, not romance-driven, though there is some romance in it.

lolchemist · May 26, 2013

NOPE NOPE NOPE! In fact, many reviews I read nowadays on Amazon and Goodreads say that they are sick of love triangles, especially when it's obvious who the MC will end up with.

Lady Ice · May 28, 2013

From what I can tell, most fantasy novels don't have love triangles or romances at the forefront. Same for mystery and crime novels. The love triangle provides conflict but this sort of conflict would drag down the main conflicts.

Romances occur in novels really because characters have relationships (not specifically romantic) with each other. The more these characters care about each other, the higher the stakes when one of those characters is put in danger. The problem is that some writers rely on the inherent drama of romance and forget to write it convincingly, which means it comes across as dull and tacked on.

cnhull · May 28, 2013

I'm in complete accord with the others who like, and feel refreshed, by no love triangle. If you're story doesn't need; don't work one in. It's a selling point for some but a turn-off for just as many others.

Lyra Jean · May 28, 2013

I personally would have enjoyed Hunger Games more if there was no love triangle. Peeta and Katniss had enough issues going on without adding Gale as a love interest.

I don't think Gale was a character you could just drop as if it was not big deal. But I think it would have been better if he wasn't a love interest. Maybe have Gale be in love with Katniss but Katniss has no interest in him at all in that way and just wants to remain friends.

Forlorn-ember · May 28, 2013

Nope. For some people having a love triangle is a deal breaker.

TaintedBoo · May 28, 2013

My WIP has more of a right angle. My MC is Girl A, who is fighting her feelings for Boy B. Boy B is completely in love with Girl A, but Girl A is oblivious because of her own internal issues. Girl C is also in love with Boy B, but Boy B only considers Girl C a friend. Girl C causes conflict for Girl A, but there is no waffling on the part of Boy B. He is all about Girl A, and she's only interested in him as well.

I guess it's a triangle of sorts, but to me it feels more like a straight line between A and B, with a weird thorny off-shoot connecting B to C.

Renée A. Price · May 28, 2013

TaintedBoo said:
My WIP has more of a right angle. My MC is Girl A, who is fighting her feelings for Boy B. Boy B is completely in love with Girl A, but Girl A is oblivious because of her own internal issues. Girl C is also in love with Boy B, but Boy B only considers Girl C a friend. Girl C causes conflict for Girl A, but there is no waffling on the part of Boy B. He is all about Girl A, and she's only interested in him as well.

I guess it's a triangle of sorts, but to me it feels more like a straight line between A and B, with a weird thorny off-shoot connecting B to C.

I personally find refreshing a love triangle that involves 2 girls instead of 2 guys.

Romance and Love Triangles

EndlessDestiny

ellio

a hardback life on an ebook budget

CJ Knightrey

She Who Constantly Changes Avatars

SpinningWheel

Kerosene

Your Pixie Queen

kmccabe

Wendy Jenae

Autonomous & Nocturnal

Kristenlee83

rwm4768

practical experience, FTW

Shaezy

randi.lee

Certified Non-Genius

Renée A. Price

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

kuwisdelu

Revolutionize the World

Renée A. Price

Whitley

Renée A. Price

MJDavis

lolchemist

Shooting stars.

Lady Ice

Makes useful distinctions

cnhull

Lyra Jean

Two years old now.

Forlorn-ember

Returning Writer

TaintedBoo

Benefactor Member

Renée A. Price