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A review by allisonhollingsworth
Three Sides of a Heart: Stories about Love Triangles by Natalie C. Parker
4.0
"Riddles in Mathematics" by Katie Cotugno - 4/5 stars
As far as love triangles go, this one was a pretty straightforward one - Ro likes her brother's best friend Taylor. I loved the diversity and reading how Ro came to accept who she was. I liked how the author sort of threw me through a loop because I totally thought Ro was going to realize she liked the girl from theater instead of Taylor, but at the end it actually hints that her and Taylor may be a thing... You never know until you talk it through people!
"Dread South" by Justina Ireland - 5/5 stars
I would totally read this as a full length novel - oh wait. THERE IS ONE. I totally put DREAD NATION on my TBR after reading this short story because the world just FASCINATED me. Undead in the South in the 1800s? Struggles of class and race on top of all of that? So interesting. This short story mixed social and racial commentary and badass zombie butt-kicking POC characters. Also, choosing between Everett and Juliet? HA. No question there.
"Omega Ship" by Rae Carson - 5/5 stars
I saw some reviews that took issue with the story, but I loved it. It starts out on board a space ship that's on a quest to a habitable planet, last human survivors on board. But after a snafu, only Eva and two boys make it to the planet alive. This is when it hit me - one girl. to repopulate. the human race. And I immediately felt sick to my stomach at the thought of this. Even as Eva was describing how many babies she thought she could have in her lifetime - 20 - I was like, oh god. That would be a nightmare. This is fictional story but it really impacted me; I felt like I was suffocating along with Eva. So when she decided to inject herself with the sterilization gene, I felt SO RELIEVED. And I was like yes, girl. Yes. And it was also such a human moment - because I think at the core of humanity is this idea of free will, and that's exactly what she chose, human race be damned. I can totally admire that.
"La Revancha del Tango" by Renee Ahdieh - 2/5 stars
With the first few stories so different, I was a little let down by this story, which follows a girl named Maya as she travels to Buenos Aires and meets some boys in a hostel and goes tango dancing. I didn't really understand what the love triangle take was in this story, but the plot was really weak. I just didn't really take anything away from it at all.
"Cass. An, and Dra" by Natalie C. Parker - 4/5 stars
This story was really interesting. Cass can kinda sorta see the future. She sees threads of the future, depending on a decision she makes - if she says no or says yes to something, for example. Cass is with a girl named An, but sees another person, Dra, in her future, and struggles to decide what to do. I really like this take on love triangles, because it's a love triangle between people but also between Cass and two futures. But it was totally frustrating at the ending when the story ends without finding out what Cass chooses!!
"Lessons for Beginners" by Julie Murphy - 5/5 stars
This story was so cute!! I love the concept of someone doing a business for teaching people how to kiss. And when your client ends up being someone you like? Drama!! Haha. Also, there was that touch of body positivity that only Julie Murphy can do. Really cute story.
"Triangle Solo" by Garth Nix - 2/5 stars
This story was... weird. As in, I didn't get why I was reading it. And I didn't really take anything away from it either. It's basically about this guy named Connor who's discovering himself and learns at the end not to compare himself to his friend and to embrace what he likes. An important message, sure, but not really sure how it fits the love triangle trope - maybe girl vs friend? And he chooses himself? Maybe. I'm just unsure.
"Vim and Vigor" by Veronica Roth - 3/5 stars
Okay, this story was also really weird. I love Veronica Roth's writing style but there were a lot of things flying around in this story. Edie is trying to figure out which boy she should take to prom but is also struggling with her friends, and they've sort of fallen apart from each other. But then Edie uses this like weird device that let's you see to versions of the future? And I totally laughed when of all things she uses it to decide which date to bring to prom... like why. That's so silly. But I adored the ending, when she decides to go with her friends and dresses up as characters.
"Work in Progress" by E. K. Johnston - 1/5 stars
I have no idea what this story was trying to say. I was so lost. Maybe it was because I was listening to it on audiobook, but... I just don't know. I think there were three different characters? In three different time periods? I was so confused. I don't think the second-person POV helped. I think maybe it warrants another re-read, but not ready to put myself through it again.
"Hurdles" by Brandy Colbert - 3/5 stars
In this story, Mavis is trying to decide whether to compete in a track meet that she really has no interest in and is living her dad's dream, or to run away with a boy named Bobby. And she's grappling with what she should do. And the story does that infuriating this where it ends before she makes a decision. It felt like a total cop out for this story, but I hope Mavis chose to stay (I totally didn't trust this Bobby guy) and tell her parents how she really felt about track... But I'll never know, will I?
"The Historian, the Garrison, and the Cantankerous Cat Woman" by Lamar Giles - 4/5 stars
This took me a little while to get into, but once I figured out what the main character was up to near the end, I loved it. I loved that dark side of the narrator came out at the end - that she knew what she wanted and she did anything in her power to get it, even though it was definitely morally gray.
"Waiting" by Sabaa Tahir - 2/5 stars
I expected this to be fantasy and it was definitely not. It was interesting to see Sabaa Tahir write a contemporary story, and while I would definitely read more by her, this story wasn't a huge hit with me. I was so confused by the decisions of the main character and feel like I didn't get to know them at all. And the love triangle felt a little weak... why did she love Sam so much? I just needed more, I think, to believe the outcome there. And there was never any background or explanation to Sam's drug use. I understand that "the heart wants what it wants," but I don't really think that's the healthiest relationship. I don't know if that was the point, but I hope readers got it if it was.
"Vega" by Brenna Yovanoff - 4/5 stars
I liked this story. I loved the writing style, how it was told in dual point of views. I liked how it told the story of two kids who grew up close, and then grew apart. This types of stories have always fascinated me; how people who've had a close bond as children grow apart. In this particular story, the two main characters are from Vegas. For one of them, Elle, it's home, and place where she thrives. For Alex, it's an unhealthy place where he's surrounded by things and people that aren't good for him. It's a sad story, but felt authentic in its characters and relationships. And I could be wrong... but it felt like the third side of the triangle here was a place - Vegas itself. And I liked that take on a love triangle.
"A Hundred Thousand Threads" by Alaya Dawn Johnson - 2/5 stars
Okay I know that it was because I listened to it on audiobook, but this story was so confusing. It took me forever to figure out who was talking and that it was through different entries. There were also so many pieces to this story, so many things going on that I felt a little overwhelmed at the end. I do like how it ended up going full-circle. It tied up pretty nicely.
"Before She Was Bloody" by Tessa Gratton - 3/5 stars
This was an interesting take on the love triangle, considering the two girls Sahiza and Farah and the boy Enver seemed to all love each other, but I didn't really understand the story. I didn't understand how the excerpts from Safiya the Bloody related to the story. Maybe it's worth a re-read, but I felt disconnected to the characters. I didn't take anything away from it, really, other than I applauded how the two girls supported one another.
"Unus, Duo, Tres" by Bethany Hagen - 5/5 stars
Now this is one of the scenarios where, in my opinion, love triangles work. It took me a while to get into it because I was like, oh, great, a love triangle vampire story. But then I learned that the human in the story, Esther, has "sick blood" that would kill Cas or Enoch if they drank from her (a unique take on vampires I haven't really seen), and I suddenly realized what was going to happen. When Enoch sacrificed himself to save Esther, in turn wanting to give Cas a better life with her, it broke my heart because I felt all of the guilt he had for changing Cas without his consent. And his death was a way of making things right, and it was so sad, but at the end of the story it was clear that all three of them loved each other, and it was a great story to end this anthology with.
As far as love triangles go, this one was a pretty straightforward one - Ro likes her brother's best friend Taylor. I loved the diversity and reading how Ro came to accept who she was. I liked how the author sort of threw me through a loop because I totally thought Ro was going to realize she liked the girl from theater instead of Taylor, but at the end it actually hints that her and Taylor may be a thing... You never know until you talk it through people!
"Dread South" by Justina Ireland - 5/5 stars
I would totally read this as a full length novel - oh wait. THERE IS ONE. I totally put DREAD NATION on my TBR after reading this short story because the world just FASCINATED me. Undead in the South in the 1800s? Struggles of class and race on top of all of that? So interesting. This short story mixed social and racial commentary and badass zombie butt-kicking POC characters. Also, choosing between Everett and Juliet? HA. No question there.
"Omega Ship" by Rae Carson - 5/5 stars
I saw some reviews that took issue with the story, but I loved it. It starts out on board a space ship that's on a quest to a habitable planet, last human survivors on board. But after a snafu, only Eva and two boys make it to the planet alive. This is when it hit me - one girl. to repopulate. the human race. And I immediately felt sick to my stomach at the thought of this. Even as Eva was describing how many babies she thought she could have in her lifetime - 20 - I was like, oh god. That would be a nightmare. This is fictional story but it really impacted me; I felt like I was suffocating along with Eva. So when she decided to inject herself with the sterilization gene, I felt SO RELIEVED. And I was like yes, girl. Yes. And it was also such a human moment - because I think at the core of humanity is this idea of free will, and that's exactly what she chose, human race be damned. I can totally admire that.
"La Revancha del Tango" by Renee Ahdieh - 2/5 stars
With the first few stories so different, I was a little let down by this story, which follows a girl named Maya as she travels to Buenos Aires and meets some boys in a hostel and goes tango dancing. I didn't really understand what the love triangle take was in this story, but the plot was really weak. I just didn't really take anything away from it at all.
"Cass. An, and Dra" by Natalie C. Parker - 4/5 stars
This story was really interesting. Cass can kinda sorta see the future. She sees threads of the future, depending on a decision she makes - if she says no or says yes to something, for example. Cass is with a girl named An, but sees another person, Dra, in her future, and struggles to decide what to do. I really like this take on love triangles, because it's a love triangle between people but also between Cass and two futures. But it was totally frustrating at the ending when the story ends without finding out what Cass chooses!!
"Lessons for Beginners" by Julie Murphy - 5/5 stars
This story was so cute!! I love the concept of someone doing a business for teaching people how to kiss. And when your client ends up being someone you like? Drama!! Haha. Also, there was that touch of body positivity that only Julie Murphy can do. Really cute story.
"Triangle Solo" by Garth Nix - 2/5 stars
This story was... weird. As in, I didn't get why I was reading it. And I didn't really take anything away from it either. It's basically about this guy named Connor who's discovering himself and learns at the end not to compare himself to his friend and to embrace what he likes. An important message, sure, but not really sure how it fits the love triangle trope - maybe girl vs friend? And he chooses himself? Maybe. I'm just unsure.
"Vim and Vigor" by Veronica Roth - 3/5 stars
Okay, this story was also really weird. I love Veronica Roth's writing style but there were a lot of things flying around in this story. Edie is trying to figure out which boy she should take to prom but is also struggling with her friends, and they've sort of fallen apart from each other. But then Edie uses this like weird device that let's you see to versions of the future? And I totally laughed when of all things she uses it to decide which date to bring to prom... like why. That's so silly. But I adored the ending, when she decides to go with her friends and dresses up as characters.
"Work in Progress" by E. K. Johnston - 1/5 stars
I have no idea what this story was trying to say. I was so lost. Maybe it was because I was listening to it on audiobook, but... I just don't know. I think there were three different characters? In three different time periods? I was so confused. I don't think the second-person POV helped. I think maybe it warrants another re-read, but not ready to put myself through it again.
"Hurdles" by Brandy Colbert - 3/5 stars
In this story, Mavis is trying to decide whether to compete in a track meet that she really has no interest in and is living her dad's dream, or to run away with a boy named Bobby. And she's grappling with what she should do. And the story does that infuriating this where it ends before she makes a decision. It felt like a total cop out for this story, but I hope Mavis chose to stay (I totally didn't trust this Bobby guy) and tell her parents how she really felt about track... But I'll never know, will I?
"The Historian, the Garrison, and the Cantankerous Cat Woman" by Lamar Giles - 4/5 stars
This took me a little while to get into, but once I figured out what the main character was up to near the end, I loved it. I loved that dark side of the narrator came out at the end - that she knew what she wanted and she did anything in her power to get it, even though it was definitely morally gray.
"Waiting" by Sabaa Tahir - 2/5 stars
I expected this to be fantasy and it was definitely not. It was interesting to see Sabaa Tahir write a contemporary story, and while I would definitely read more by her, this story wasn't a huge hit with me. I was so confused by the decisions of the main character and feel like I didn't get to know them at all. And the love triangle felt a little weak... why did she love Sam so much? I just needed more, I think, to believe the outcome there. And there was never any background or explanation to Sam's drug use. I understand that "the heart wants what it wants," but I don't really think that's the healthiest relationship. I don't know if that was the point, but I hope readers got it if it was.
"Vega" by Brenna Yovanoff - 4/5 stars
I liked this story. I loved the writing style, how it was told in dual point of views. I liked how it told the story of two kids who grew up close, and then grew apart. This types of stories have always fascinated me; how people who've had a close bond as children grow apart. In this particular story, the two main characters are from Vegas. For one of them, Elle, it's home, and place where she thrives. For Alex, it's an unhealthy place where he's surrounded by things and people that aren't good for him. It's a sad story, but felt authentic in its characters and relationships. And I could be wrong... but it felt like the third side of the triangle here was a place - Vegas itself. And I liked that take on a love triangle.
"A Hundred Thousand Threads" by Alaya Dawn Johnson - 2/5 stars
Okay I know that it was because I listened to it on audiobook, but this story was so confusing. It took me forever to figure out who was talking and that it was through different entries. There were also so many pieces to this story, so many things going on that I felt a little overwhelmed at the end. I do like how it ended up going full-circle. It tied up pretty nicely.
"Before She Was Bloody" by Tessa Gratton - 3/5 stars
This was an interesting take on the love triangle, considering the two girls Sahiza and Farah and the boy Enver seemed to all love each other, but I didn't really understand the story. I didn't understand how the excerpts from Safiya the Bloody related to the story. Maybe it's worth a re-read, but I felt disconnected to the characters. I didn't take anything away from it, really, other than I applauded how the two girls supported one another.
"Unus, Duo, Tres" by Bethany Hagen - 5/5 stars
Now this is one of the scenarios where, in my opinion, love triangles work. It took me a while to get into it because I was like, oh, great, a love triangle vampire story. But then I learned that the human in the story, Esther, has "sick blood" that would kill Cas or Enoch if they drank from her (a unique take on vampires I haven't really seen), and I suddenly realized what was going to happen. When Enoch sacrificed himself to save Esther, in turn wanting to give Cas a better life with her, it broke my heart because I felt all of the guilt he had for changing Cas without his consent. And his death was a way of making things right, and it was so sad, but at the end of the story it was clear that all three of them loved each other, and it was a great story to end this anthology with.