Electrifying Love Triangles Make These Y.A. Novels Irresistible


Adalyn Grace, the author of the “Belladonna” series and the “All the Stars and Teeth” duology, recommends her favorite young adult novels with heroines torn between competing romantic interests.

There’s nothing that gets me turning the pages of a book faster than a love triangle. Maybe I’m a glutton for punishment (most of the time, the romantic interest I root for doesn’t get the girl, and yes, I was Team Jacob), but I always go back for more. I can’t help it. The drama and angst surrounding it all is addictive!

Whether you’re new to the trope or are just looking for a few more great, complicated relationships to dive into, here are some of my favorite Y.A. love triangles.


“Clockwork Angel” is the first book in Cassandra Clare’s Infernal Devices trilogy.

We’re starting off with one of my all-time favorite love triangles. This series follows a girl, Tessa Gray, who is on a quest to find her missing brother. Her search leads her to the monstrous side of Victorian England, which is full of vampires, demons and the skilled hunters who fight them. As the story unfolds, Tessa is torn between Jem, a kind and intelligent demon hunter, and Will, Jem’s best friend and fellow hunter who is charming and good-humored, though with a sizable ego. Both are equally perfect romantic options for our Tessa, and you’ll be just as torn as she is when trying to decide which pair you ship.

“These Hollow Vows” is the first book Lexi Ryan’s These Hollow Vows duology.

If you’re a fan of the romance-meets-fae vibes of Sarah J. Maas’s “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, I would highly recommend adding Ryan’s “These Hollow Vows” duology to your T.B.R. pile. The story centers on Brie, a girl whose sister is taken by the king of the Unseelie Court, the darkest of the fae courts that exist alongside the human realm. To rescue her, Brie is forced to make a bargain that requires her to sneak into a rival court. This sets the stage for romance, action and betrayal. As far as the love triangle goes, Brie has two romantic interests: Sebastian, a human mage with secrets to spare, and a brooding Unseelie misfit named Finn. There’s forced proximity, enemies to lovers and poorly behaved fae. What more could you want?

“Only a Monster” is the first book in Vanessa Len’s Only a Monster series.

In this fantasy series, the 16-year-old Joan’s life changes forever when she realizes not only that she’s inherited a terrifying power from her family but also that she’s fallen for a guy, Nick, whose mission in life is to kill everyone with magic like hers. The series is an action-packed adventure filled with time travel, morally gray characters and a “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”-esque monster-versus-slayer trope that’s to die for. And it features a girl divided between two complicated romances: a star-crossed-lovers romance with Nick and an enemies-to-lovers romance with a boy from an opposing magical family, Aaron. This dynamic develops into a compelling and perfectly executed love triangle.

“The Inheritance Games” is the first book in Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s Inheritance Games trilogy.

It feels as if everyone is talking about this series, and for good reason. If the gripping plot — about a poor orphaned girl, Avery, who is mysteriously left a fortune by a billionaire she’s never met — isn’t enough to spike your curiosity, then what about a love triangle in which the two love interests are siblings? The brothers, Grayson and Jameson, are both lovable and totally charming, making them both viable romantic options. You’ll be reading at warp speed to try to solve what’s going on with this strange inheritance, and to crack the biggest puzzle of all: Who will Avery end up with?

“Legendborn” is the first book in Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn series.

Deonn’s debut fantasy series is beloved for many reasons. This Arthurian-inspired tale is rich with fantastical magic, complex characters and a secret society of demon hunters. It also has an incredible love triangle featuring two completely opposite guys. One of them is a compassionate king-in-waiting, and the other is an antagonistic rogue. These characters are all tightly woven into one another’s lives, and it makes for the most delectable drama.

“Daughter of the Moon Goddess” is the first book in Sue Lynn Tan’s Celestial Kingdom series.

As the secret daughter of the Moon Goddess, Xingyin has spent her life in hiding. But when her magic flares and her mother sends her away to avoid being discovered by the Celestial Emperor, Xingyin’s life takes a turn. She ends up at the beautiful Celestial Kingdom, where she falls in love with both Liwei, the emperor’s son whom she can never be with, and the dashing army captain Wenzhi. Tan’s Celestial Kingdom series takes inspiration from the legend of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess, and I was swept away by the magic in its pages. The writing is lyrical, the setting is mesmerizing, and the elements of doomed love and romantic angst make the series impossible to put down.


Adalyn Grace is the author of the “Belladonna” series and the “All the Stars and Teeth” duology.


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