This got me to thinking about love triangles. Now, to be honest, most love triangles aren't really love triangles. There's another guy, but usually there's no contest. The main character is clearly in love with one guy, and this other guy is just there to muck things up. But recently I have read two other series where the first love interest (not a boyfriend to start with, that's a whole other thing) turns out not to be the guy she ends up with. And you know how that happens? By turning the first love interest into a bad guy. One of these series is very well known and I could mention it, but I'm not mentioning any books or authors so I don't spoil anything for anyone. That one made me crazy. But then I read another series, and the first guy suddenly turns evil. I mean, EVIL. There is some explanation, but I was shocked. And so she ends up with some guy that was barely in the first two books (to be honest, I don't even know if he was in the first book).
Part of me thinks this is a good thing. Shakes things up. It's unexpected. But what annoys me is that it's because the first guy changes into someone else. Versus the girl just realizing that he's not the one.
So that leads me to my dilemma. Should I read this last book? I'm telling you, this guy is amazing. He is wonderful. And if the author turns him evil, I will be incredibly angry. But it's hard for me to know this and not read it and see how it all happens. This author has never even had a love triangle in any of her other series, so this was different to begin with, and then for this to happen. Help! What should I do?
And have you read many books where the girl ends up with a different guy from the first guy? Where she ends up with the interfering guy?
Posted by: Pam
Um, I'm dying to know which series you are talking about. Have I read it??? If I have you should email me and tell me which one it is. Because my curiosity is literally killing me over here. I think you should read it. You have to know how it's all going to end right???
ReplyDeleteI'll e-mail you. Yeah, I'll have to read it, I guess. The second book left with everything basically pretty good, though so I could possibly pretend that that's how it ends. :) ~Pam
DeleteJust realized that you wrote that I should e-mail you if I think you've read it, but I don't think you have since you haven't reviewed it. I didn't want to spoil anything for anyone, but I know I've made people curious. Sorry! :) ~Pam
DeleteI think you should, you know what to expect now so you're more prepared. At least then you can see if it works in the story or not.
ReplyDeleteI'm just hoping the author doesn't make the guy change into a bad guy. I would hate that! ~Pam
DeleteI'm curious which series you're talking about!
ReplyDeleteI've read a few where the guy the girl is ecstatic over at the end of the first book doesn't end up being her happily ever after in the third. And each time I've been slightly disappointed in how the authors have handled it. Because they turned who was the lovely and amazing guy that they made their female main character (and their readers!) fall in love with and then made them horrid. I'd not read one where they simply fall out of love but instead they make the 1st guy do terrible things and act what feels out of character just to have the girl okay being with another guy and for us not to think less of her.
I'd like to read one where there are no villains or things like that.
Kate @ Fictional Thoughts
Firstly I want to say sorry for the whole two comments on the one post. But I've been thinking about this post all day. And then I was watching a terrible teen drama from ten years ago and it applied to this post. There is guy one and he is her soulmate. They are together in season one and the other guy doesn't even factor into things. But many seasons come and go and by the end of the show, she ends up with someone else. And it works.
DeleteI guess what I'm saying is that some writers get it right. They mix things up and no one ends up looking foolish or like a villain or anything bad. It's just people change and maybe the guy who was right for the MC in the first book just is going a different direction in life and whilst he was right for the moment, he wasn't her right for life. Oh wow... I sound corny and odd and whatever. But I just wanted to say - please give the book a go. If it starts to go horribly then by all means don't finish. But if you like how the story started then maybe everything will fit together in the end.
Sorry again for the double commenting!
I'm hoping the author handled it in the way you say, that they realize they aren't right for each other, or they're going in a different direction. Unfortunately, I have yet to read a book where that's what happened. Instead, the first guy changes into someone jerky or evil. But you're right, I should read it and maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. It's hard for me not to read it and find out how it happens.
DeleteAnd no problem with the double commenting, I appreciate what you wrote! ~Pam
OH MY GOSH this is going to nag at me not knowing what series you are talking about. I have like 4 series I need to end and I'm like.... I hope it isn't one of them). I know it isn't two, because you've already reviewed them, but gahh talk about curiosity killed the cat.
ReplyDeleteThere is one series that is an indie series that did this, but the guy doesn't become evil, something happens and he doesn't die, but there is a reason for them to not end up together. And it works out really well -- I actually was happy with how it ended. But, I can see how having to turn a good guy evil just to appease the triangle can be annoying.
Anyways, YES you should read it, because you'll forever be wondering. I know I would.
I think the consensus is definitely to finish it and see how it all happens. And yes, I think making the first guy evil (or killing him off, I didn't even think about the fact that may happen) is the worst way to resolve the love triangle.
DeleteAnd sorry I made you so curious about which series it is! ~Pam
Hmph. I would read it just to have closure. I knew I'd have problems with Allegiant and I still read it and I don't regret it. I am all but expecting to hate Ignite Me (which I just started listening to) but I want to know how it ends. I want to say more abut this because I feel like Juliette is going to end up with Warner and this is an example of what you are talking about but moving on. The last book might piss you off - turning the first love interest -someone you really like EVIL would not be ok with me either, but at least you'll know how it ends and you can move on?
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear what you think of Ignite Me. E-mail me if you just want to rant. And yes, I'm going to read it, I just have to wait a bit to make sure I'm in the right frame of mind. ~Pam
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