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A review by missbookiverse
Triangles by Ellen Hopkins
4.0
I don’t read a lot of adult novels but I love Ellen Hopkins’ writing (which is usually for Young Adults), so I gave her first adult book a go.
Like Ellen’s other books this story was written in verse. As usual this worked well for me, I felt like reading a story, not poetry. The story is told from three different perspectives, Holly’s, Marissa’s and Andrea’s. Andrea and Marissa are sisters and Holly and Andrea are friends but there is no connection between Marissa and Holly which I found a bit sad, considering the book’s title and how all the other paths keep crossing.
In between every narrator switch the author included a poem which I started skipping quickly. The poems just felt too abstract between the storylines and couldn’t hold my interest.
I found it refreshing to not read from the perspective of a teenager. These women are all in their late 30s, an age group I can’t really identify with yet but I enjoyed reading about their thoughts and problems. What it is like to have been married for 15 years? What it is like to have a teenage daughter who develops her first interest in boys? Or what it is like trying to please both your husband and your children without “betraying” one of them?
Next to age and topics the biggest difference between Ellen Hopkins’ YA and adult novels is the take on sex. Don’t get me wrong, Ellen Hopkins has never been an author shy of words and descriptions but sex does not mean the same to a grown-up as it means to a teen. The author deals with it more openly in Triangles, adding very descriptive (tasteful) scenes and fantasies.
Infidelity is a big subject in the book and while I found it interesting to read about it, it also seemed a bit over the top. It’s like everybody is doing it with everybody. Guilt is mentioned from time to time but not addressed strongly enough, in my opinion. Cheating on your spouse or best friend is a serious issue and I doubt that a lot of people would take it so lightly. Maybe that’s just my young romantic self talking but I really hope not.
All in all I’m glad I finally found an adult book I actually enjoyed. Maybe I should check out some other books by authors who usually write YA fiction.
Like Ellen’s other books this story was written in verse. As usual this worked well for me, I felt like reading a story, not poetry. The story is told from three different perspectives, Holly’s, Marissa’s and Andrea’s. Andrea and Marissa are sisters and Holly and Andrea are friends but there is no connection between Marissa and Holly which I found a bit sad, considering the book’s title and how all the other paths keep crossing.
In between every narrator switch the author included a poem which I started skipping quickly. The poems just felt too abstract between the storylines and couldn’t hold my interest.
I found it refreshing to not read from the perspective of a teenager. These women are all in their late 30s, an age group I can’t really identify with yet but I enjoyed reading about their thoughts and problems. What it is like to have been married for 15 years? What it is like to have a teenage daughter who develops her first interest in boys? Or what it is like trying to please both your husband and your children without “betraying” one of them?
Next to age and topics the biggest difference between Ellen Hopkins’ YA and adult novels is the take on sex. Don’t get me wrong, Ellen Hopkins has never been an author shy of words and descriptions but sex does not mean the same to a grown-up as it means to a teen. The author deals with it more openly in Triangles, adding very descriptive (tasteful) scenes and fantasies.
Infidelity is a big subject in the book and while I found it interesting to read about it, it also seemed a bit over the top. It’s like everybody is doing it with everybody. Guilt is mentioned from time to time but not addressed strongly enough, in my opinion. Cheating on your spouse or best friend is a serious issue and I doubt that a lot of people would take it so lightly. Maybe that’s just my young romantic self talking but I really hope not.
All in all I’m glad I finally found an adult book I actually enjoyed. Maybe I should check out some other books by authors who usually write YA fiction.