Review: Triangles
Three women – two sisters and a friend – are unhappy with their lives as they face their forties. They each have their challenges and they each cope with them in different ways. Holly is a single mom searching for Mr. Right. Andrea is married to a man who she finds dull so she looks for fun in other places. Marissa has an ill daughter, a gay son, and she and her husband seem to have drifted apart.
Last year I discovered novels in verse and became a huge fan. I read one of Ellen Hopkins‘ young adult novels and loved it, so I was really excited to pick up her first adult book, Triangles, and I’m sad to say it didn’t live up to my expectations. At times, I felt like Hopkins tried to do too much with the book – some issues were brought up and barely explored. I didn’t like the way the characters handled their problems or the way they justified their actions. There was a lot of infidelity in the book and it made me uncomfortable. Maybe that was the point, but the old fuddy-duddy in me hopes it’s not an accurate portrayal of our society. As I finished the book, I wondered what the point of it was.
Even though I wasn’t a fan of the story, I appreciated Hopkins’ writing. Her free verse is outstanding and I love the way her poems flow into each other. Triangles is told from the points of view of the three main characters and it didn’t take long to get a feel for their individual voices.
I seem to be in the minority on GoodReads, so you might enjoy this book more than I did. It’s graphic and sexually explicit, so it’s not for everyone.
Review copy provided by Simon & Schuster. I am an Indiebound Affiliate.
I am also not that big on infidelity, and I can imagine that this book might not have sat well with me. I do want to explore some novels in verse, but I am not sure this will be the one. Thanks for the candor.
Well poo. I haven’t read Hopkins yet but I am preparing too soon. I know there will be plenty of other novels in verse to pick from so I will probably avoid this one. I get a little testy with novels about women whining about their awful lives as 40 year olds. Figure it out gals.
I probably won’t read this one but I liked the earlier ones I read by her (Crank, Glass). I know what you mean about how you hope the characters’ actions don’t represent out society. Sometimes books like that make me really sad even if they aren’t necessarily meant to be.
Sounds like this one pooped out.
I’m not sure this is for me either. Sounds like the author’s other book is well worth the read, so I’ll look for that.
infidelity, graphic sex? Not for me, thanks. There are too many uplifting books out there.
thanks for your honesty.
Nope, not for me. And yours is not the first review I’ve read that expressed disappointment in the book. I agree with Kaye in that there are too many uplifting books out there. I’m glad that you liked the writing style.
Thank you! Now, I don’t have to waste my time.
I was hoping this one would be better. I have a copy of it in my soon-to-be-read pile.
That cover’s a bit racy! So I guess I’m not surprised it’s racy on the inside as well!
I am excited about novels in verse and would love to see this one. Sorry you didn’t enjoy it as much as the folks at Goodreads~
My daughter has enjoyed most of her books. The subject matter is not of interest to me however.
Last year I discovered the novel in verse book, The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus by Sonya Sones, and absolutely LOVED it. It definitely was targeted to my demographic group 🙂
I can tell from the cover this book is not for me, but your review confirmed it.
I have read Hopkins young adult books and thought they were very thought-provoking. This branch into adult, though, does not sound like something I would like at all. That’s too bad! I think I will pass and just stick with her YA.
I’m disappointed that this one wasn’t great, because I do plan on reading it this year. Oh well. Her YA novels are fabulous so maybe that style just doesn’t translate well to adult books?
I think the aspect that would bother me the most would be the many directions/problems that were not explored thoroughly. If it’s done well then I don’t mind explicit content (although I am somewhat picky about the books I read that are graphic because I don’t feel that many people can write those scenes tastefully).
With that cover, I thought it was some other type of book! Sorry it didn’t work for you.
I want to read this and I have it but something just holds me back…
I don’t think you were being a fuddy-duddy at all. I felt the exact same way about this one and I’m a HUGE fan of her writing.
I appreciate your candid review and agree with the uncomfortableness of the over-the-top infidelity in the book….reading in verse is truly an experience and Ellen Hopkins seems to have cornered the market on doing it and doing it well
Oh and it looked like it would be good! I agree with you Kathy – the infidelity and sexual explicitly would be a loss for me too on this one.
I was offered this book and refused it and your review just confirmed I made the right choice.
I think I’m a fuddy-duddy, too. 🙂
I have this and have been hesitant because of the free verse aspects. I’ll likely give it a try –the sex and infidelity wouldn’t bother me, but poorly developed plot lines do bug me.
I’m behind the eight ball. What is a novel in verse? Is the whole book told as a poem?
Sorry you didn’t like it. I’m a fuddy duddy too, so wouldn’t have read it because of the cover. But if I had wanted to read it, your review would have nixed that plan.
I really loved this one….sorry it wasn’t your cup of tea. I haven’t read any of Hopkin’s YA yet, but it’s about time I do. I’ve been meaning too and I believe I have a few of them lying around the house. haha She does deal with some hard-hitting topics, which is great for someone like me, but it might not always work. 🙂
Too much infedelity will keep me from trying this one. Thanks for the warning.
I think I’ll start with her YA book that I have!
Great review! I LOVE that book cover – though not just for the obvious reasons!
Verse, hmm…..I don’t know about that – I can’t wrap my head around it but need to try it before I say I don’t like it.
I really like the cover, it immediately caught my attention. Sorry you were disappointed in this one. It sounds interesting enough and it’s gotten other reviews that I’ll probably keep it in mind and read it at some point.