Exploring Love Triangles
Okay, I know this is a fantasy for maaaaannnny of you reading this article! And I totally understand why. One person in love with and unable to choose between two perfect, attentive, and gorgeous lovers sounds amazing. What a fun dilemma to have. But if you are like me, you can’t help but wonder about the OPERATIONAL piece of it. How in the world do you manage your time? Do the lovers know about each other or that you are on the fence? And if they are so wonderful, just pick one of them already! You are either rolling your eyes or nodding along…either way, check out this list that can help you imagine a life with two lovers. Unless you already have more than two? I don’t know a shape for that!
6 Must-Read Love Triangle Romance Novels
Triple Sec – TJ Alexander
Mel has seen plenty of disastrous dates from her spot behind the bar at an upscale NYC cocktail lounge. At this point, she is convinced that love just does not exist.
When the beautiful, funny, whiskey-knowledgeable Bebe walks in the door, everything changes. Bebe IS happily married, but she and her husband, Kade, have an open marriage. Mel is thrilled when Bebe asks her out!
Soon, Mel is trying all sorts of things that she didn’t think would ever be in her wheelhouse. But her budding relationship with Bebe and the spark between her and Kade encourages her to explore those feelings. As the three of them try to figure out what the future holds, Mel is forced to reimagine her idea of what love really is.
“In this appealingly fluffy triad romance, Alexander (Chef’s Choice) explores sweet and authentic queer relationship dynamics . . . Readers hungry for representation of community-supported nonmonogamy that doesn’t skimp on either love or sex will happily gulp this down.” ― Publishers Weekly
Boys with Sharp Teeth – Jenni Howell
Don’t sleep on these young adult titles! They may not be as spicy and graphic as the reader is used to, but this particular book – especially the cover – is an absolute showstopper. If you like things a bit on the tamer side, this is a great choice for you.
Marin James knows exactly who to blame when her cousin is found dead at Huntsworth Academy. Adrian Hargraves and Henry Wu are alluring, dangerous, and the acknowledged leaders of the school’s social elite.
Determined to get justice for her cousin, Marin poses as a student and infiltrates the Huntsworth student body. To her surprise, she enjoys the rhythm of campus and classes. Even more surprising…she is drawn to both Adrian and Henry, the two boys she once swore to destroy.
And if you find YOURSELF drawn to Henry and Adrian, click here for a list of 10 book boyfriends who walk – and more – on the dark side.
An Instant New York Times Bestseller “A stunningly lush, utterly compelling, darkly beautiful debut!” ―Ginny Myers Sain, New York Times bestselling author of Dark and Shallow Lies
The Light We Lost – Jill Santopolo
Stay with me here, we are getting to the love triangle!
The tagline on the cover of this one says it all: “Two lives. Two loves. One choice.” How could I not start reading immediately?!
It was already a life-changing day for both of them when Lucy and Gabe meet as seniors at Columbia. They decide they want their lives to mean something…but what does that mean? Another chance meeting a year later feels like fate. But Gabe, a photojournalist, is assigned to the Middle East. Lucy’s work and future are in New York. Lucy and Gabe may be thousands of miles apart, but they are never out of each other’s hearts. Was it fate that brought them together? And is fate cruel enough to let their feelings fade?
…and that leads us to…
The Love We Found – Jill Santopolo
Gabe has been long for ten long years when Lucy finds a scrap of paper nestled in an envelope of photos. It’s an address in Rome. Why did Gabe keep it? And just when did he go to Italy? Lucy decides to go see for herself.
Lucy is happily married. And she has a son. So why is she so drawn to Dr. Armstrong, a lovely man with sad eyes who pierces Lucy’s armor. No one has made her feel that way since Gabe walked out of her life.
Her old life is still there, and she needs to make a life-changing decision that will affect more a lot of people. Not just her. Can Lucy move forward while her heart is in the past? Can a new love break the spell that the old love has cast over her life?
INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER “No one writes about love like Jill Santopolo.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune
Really Cute People – Markus Harwood-Jones
Charlie Dee (they/them) is headed for a breakdown. Life is too much at the moment. So, when their boss asks them to take a work trip outside of the city, Charlie agrees. They are desperate for some downtime, and a work-funded mini trip fits the bill perfectly!
But when Charlie enters the supposedly private rental they booked for the length of their stay, they are shocked to see a bird flapping around. Being chased by a cat. Who is being chased by a small child. Who is being chased by both of her parents.
Hayden and Buffy are apologetic and promise to leave as soon as possible. When a rogue snowstorm blows through and makes travel impossible, “soon as possible” becomes a weeklong affair.
They don’t want to be, but Charlie is charmed. It has been a long time since he has come across a functional, healthy family. Before long, Charlie is developing feelings for both Hayden AND Buffy. They attempt a bit of flirting, and it seems that both of them are in fact flirting back.
When Charlie’s time in the city comes to an end, the three of them have to decide if there is a future for them or if Charlie’s stint as a third wheel will also end when they leave the rental house. Which has kind of started to feel like home. This is a must-read for poly romance lovers!
“…the bedroom dynamic feels spontaneous, playful, and hot.” – Publishers Weekly
Unlikely Story – Ali Rosen
It is kind of embarrassing to be a relationship therapist when you yourself are having relationship problems. And Nora’s problem is that she is in love with someone she hasn’t Met.
“J” edits Nora’s advice column, and they are an ocean apart and communicate via shared files. When J casually mentions that he is single, it happens to dovetail neatly with Nora’s boss asking her to make a trip to London. Nora takes it as a sign.
There is another man on her mind. One of her clients’, whom Nora counseled to move on, has ended her relationship, and now the ex has moved into her building. Eli absolutely blames Nora for the breakup, and he is determined to be the most difficult ever. Despite the chronic grumpiness, Nora can see that there is a softness to Eli. Can one person really be two things at once? Where will Nora’s heart ultimately land?
“A swoonworthy romance reminiscent of a Nora Ephron movie. Rosen’s enemies-to-lovers romance is a delightfully modern take on You’ve Got Mail, mixed with the kind of will-they, won’t-they sort-of love triangle that’s the bread and butter of all rom-coms…Readers will be eating it up happily.” ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Messy, Magical, and Totally Addictive
Research for this article prompted me to add some very sexy titles to my TBR! Too bad I can’t read two books at once…
However, at the end of the day, love triangles might be messy, chaotic, and sometimes downright impractical—but that’s what makes them so fun to read about. They let us live out the fantasy of being adored by two people at once, torn between passion and possibility, all while knowing we’ll eventually close the book and return to real life. Whether you’re rooting for one lover, secretly hoping they both win, or just enjoying the emotional rollercoaster, these stories prove that indecision can be just as delicious as resolution.
