Love Triangles in Books

I don't know about you, but I have a thing for love triangles in books. I know that some people hate them, and I can understand why. Love triangles have become a staple in today's books... at least in the YA world. Probably half of the books I've read has this theme.

But the love triangle I prefer is not a simple love triangle. What I like is an equally balanced love triangle.

You see, for me, there are two kinds of love triangles in books.

The first one is 

the simple love triangle

Here, there is an obvious coupling, but there is another person who is "on the side."

To illustrate: boy 1 and heroine are very much in love. But here is boy 2 is hoping, wishing, and praying that heroine breaks up with boy 1 so he can have heroine in his arms finally.

In this scenario, there is already a pairing at the beginning of the story. A connection has already been established between the two lovebirds who will end up together at the end of the book (or the series). There is simply no choice. The pairing is pre-ordained. The third party is merely a best friend who will never in his life attain the status of a (dare I say) lover.

Concrete examples: Edward, Bella, and Jacob from Twilight; Ash, Meghan, and Puck from The Iron Fey; Jace, Clary, and Simon from The Mortal Instruments.

Now the second kind is 

the equally balanced love triangle

No partiality. No bias. No special fondness. Here there is no instant connection to one party at the beginning of the story. Anything can happen. Anyone (or no one) can be chosen. In this case, there is always this question: is it possible to be IN LOVE with two persons at the same time? (Note that I used IN LOVE, not merely love.)

To illustrate: boy 1 loves heroine, boy 2 also loves heroine, and heroine is in love (or can't choose?!) with the two boys.

I don't know if one can truly be in love with two persons in equal proportion, but this is what makes this kind of love triangle so addicting. Choice plays a major role here, and the outcome is unpredictable.

Concrete examples: Shay, Calla, and Ren from the Nightshade Series; Peeta, Katniss, and Gale from the Hunger Games.

Let me know what you think about love triangles... love them? Hate them?

And if you know a book with the equally balanced love triangle, please, please leave the title and the author of the book at the comments section... I will forever thank you for it!