Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Thoughts on Tomes. If you want to join or find out more information about the weekly themes check out the Goodreads page! The theme for this week was books we liked that contain tropes we typically hate. This was perfect timing since I had just thought of a blog idea with a similar theme! I decided to focus on the most dreaded trope in that YA genre: love triangles. I think we can all agree that the love triangle trope is overdone and usually unnecessary. Not only that, but they’re no fun if you know you’re on the losing side! However, I’ve always been adamant in saying that I actually don’t mind a love triangle, as long as it’s handled in a good way. Below are five books that featured love triangles that I didn’t hate.

KISS OF DECEPTION – This is a YA fantasy full of some of the most redundant tropes, but I was surprised by how much I found myself intrigued by the love triangle in this. I think it’s because throughout the book, the identity of the two love interests/male protagonists remains a secret. As readers, we don’t actually know which one the heroine is falling for until the very end, nor do we ever know which disguise each of the male protagonists is supposed to be portraying. It creates a level of mystery that is unique and makes both the book and the love triangle pretty suspenseful.  

TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE – The main character pretends to be in a relationship with a boy to make another boy jealous? We all know how this is going to play out. This not only has a super cute fake-relationship trope, but it also has a love triangle that I never minded, because it was easy to figure out how it would all end. By the way, this movie comes out next week and I LITERALLY CANNOT WAIT.

THE INFERNAL DEVICES – This is a love triangle that ascends all other love triangles because the dynamic between all three characters is unlike any other. Unlike other books in which the love interests are usually are pitted against one another, Will and Jem love each other brotherly as possible, and they loved each other before Tessa was even in the picture. Both of they are completely wiling to give up their happiness for the other. And while I was also 100% here for Will and Tessa and wanted them to end up together, I never could hate Jem and Tessa as much as I wanted to.  

ASH PRINCESS – A lot of people didn’t like the love triangle in this one, but I loved it. First of all, there is nothing subtle or vague about it. Second, both sides of the triangle contain two of my favorite tropes. There’s both a friends-to-lovers romance, as well as a enemies-to-lovers. The latter is one of my favorite tropes to read about, so that’s the side I’m rooting for, but I’m totally invested in how both the romances (and the plot twists!) are going to turn out in the sequel. 

VAMPIRE ACADEMY – The love triangle in this didn’t show up until later in the series, and while it would usually annoy the heck out of me, I didn’t mind it that badly. I’m not ashamed to admit that the only reason I didn’t hate the love triangle was because I loved both the love interests. Yes, I totally ship Rose and Dimitri and want nothing to come between them, but I couldn’t help falling for Adrian’s charm. And let’s be honest, sometimes a little competition is healthy 😉