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One of the shows I’ve enjoyed watching during lockdown, is Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. If you haven’t seen it, an earthquake during an MRI scan gives Zoey Clarke the ability to hear other people singing their innermost thoughts and feelings, their ‘heart songs’. 

The show is funny and deals very well with some difficult issues. Still, I agree with an article by Rachel Foertsch, which expressed the hope that the Zoey/Max/Simon love triangle will not continue into the second season. Foertsch’s main point is that the love triangle is one-sided, in that it’s obvious who Zoey should choose (Max). 

Love triangles are a common fixture in Popular Culture, particularly in Young Adult novels. Now, I don’t mind love triangles in books. I’m a big fan of The Hunger Games. Nevertheless, they do seem to be in everything.    

Including a love triangle is less of a problem when it’s important to the plot. As I mentioned, I don’t mind the love triangle in The Hunger Games. This is because it has an important influence on events. With some other love triangles, you could remove them from the story, and it wouldn’t make that much of an impact. Those love triangles can end up being a distraction from the main narrative of the book. 

A love triangle can add intrigue, leaving readers with the question of which character will be chosen. The problem is that these love triangles tend to follow the same pattern, with one girl having to choose between two boys. Admittedly, if the love triangle is well-written, it can keep the readers interested, with people discussing which ‘team’ they are. 

Often, the two male characters are quite different to each other. I understand that’s to help make them unique and show that there is a clear choice. However, when the two boys are so different, it should be easier for the choice to be made.  

If a love triangle works well, both male characters would be a ‘good’ choice and readers might constantly change their minds over which ‘team’ they are. Some readers will always be disappointed if their guy doesn’t get chosen. But when the audience isn’t split, the decision will anger everyone.

Sometimes, there is an attempt to make otherwise ‘perfect’ female characters more relatable, by giving them terrible taste in men. Consistently bad relationship decisions don’t necessarily make the female lead more relatable, they can make her irritating.  

Indeed, one of the main dangers with these ‘one girl and two boys’ love triangles, is that they can make the female character less likeable. It all depends on her response to the situation. If she’s constantly moaning about the fact that two boys are in love with her, and there’s evidence of false modesty, many readers may find it difficult to sympathise.

Having all the boys fighting over you is not a healthy aspiration to have. I’m not saying there should be no more love triangles in books, just that they shouldn’t be there for the sake of it. There also needs to be more diversity and variation, with a set-up other than, one girl, two boys.

Oh, and there’s one issue I still haven’t addressed, I’m team Peeta.