Love triangles are definitely in the top 5 on my list of favorite romance tropes. How can you not love them? The angst, the torment, the rivalry… Love triangles have been a staple of YA romance books for as long as I can remember. If you love love triangles as much as I do, check out these books with some of the best love triangles around!
9 YA Books with the Best Love Triangles
1. Ashes of Gold by J. Elle
Rue is stuck between two worlds – her old life in East Row and her new magical one in Ghizon. As a half-god, she doesn’t quite fit in in either worlds, but she never loses her connections to both. This love triangle is between Rue and two boys, Julius and Jhamal, each representing one of her two different worlds. The Wings of Ebony duology is action-packed and will have you at the edge of your seat.
2. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
This is, in my humble opinion, the perfect love triangle. For once, the “triangle” part of a love triangle trope is highly represented here. Usually, love triangles consist of one person with two rivaling options. But in the Infernal Devices, the love really does go in a perfect triangle – Tessa genuinely loves Jem and Will, and as parabatai, Jem and Will truly love each other and want the best for the other. There’s no rivalry here, only complex, heartbreaking romance. WHICH IS WHAT MAKES IT SOOO GOOD!
3. P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
Lara Jean didn’t expect to actually fall for Peter – they were just pretending, until they weren’t. Now, her feelings are real, and his seem to be too. But things change when Lara Jean’s ex-crush, John Ambrose, comes back into the picture. Sweet and charming, Lara Jean can’t help but fall for him too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?
4. The Lucky List by Rachael Lippincott
Three years ago, Emily’s mom passed away from cancer, and Emily has never been the same since. Sad and lonely during the summer before her senior year, she finds a bucket list her mom made when she was Emily’s age and decides to complete it with the help of a swoony new girl: Blake. Emily finds herself stuck between falling for Blake and settling for her ex, who her mom loved when she was alive. This love triangle is rooted in grief and Emily’s fear of accepting her real self.
5. The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith
Frances has always had a crush on Oliver, but everything changes when her brother is murdered and Frances discovers that she has mysterious magical powers. To make matters worse, she must leave her life behind and attend Haxahaven Sanitarium, which turns out to be a secret school for witches. Yet, when the school refuses to really teach her magic, she turns to Finn, a boy who claims he has answers to her brother’s murder. Who will Frances choose? You’ll have to read The Witch Haven to find out!
6. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
*Spoilers for City of Bones ahead*
The love triangle in this OG Shadowhunters series gets…a little weird. Clary’s lifelong best friend, Simon, has been in love with Clary for years, and despises Jace when he comes into the picture in City of Bones, book one of the Mortal Instruments series. However, when Jace is revealed to be Clary’s brother, Simon thinks his time has finally come! Clary and Simon attempt the awkward transition from besties to lovers, yet somehow…Jace is still an issue. This love triangle includes a best friend and…a brother? Yikes!
7. Briar Girls by Rebecca Kim Wells
Lena has a secret: the touch of her skin can kill. When Miranda offers Lena a deal to break her curse, she cannot refuse this opportunity. Along the way, they meet Alaric, and Lena can’t help but catch feelings for both of her companions. Alaric is a comfort, and Miranda makes Lena want to dream. She is stuck with not only who to pick, but who to trust.
8. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Legendborn’s love triangle is a little less canon than some of the other books on this list and is largely a fanbase conversation as we all wait for Bloodmarked to release in Fall 2022. As Bree is inducted into a secret society made up of descendants of the Round Table, she and Nick get very close. In the meantime, Sel doesn’t trust Bree and actively tries to make her disappear—cute, right? This love triangle perfectly exemplifies the age-old debate: nice guy or bad boy?
9. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Belly measures her life in summers, when she gets to see her best friends Susannah, Jeremiah and Conrad. Oh, Jeremiah and Conrad—these boys have been Belly’s brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.
