Title: Triangles
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Genre: Women’s Fiction; Verse
ISBN: 1451626339
Pages: 544
Year: 2011
Publisher: Atria
Source: Review Copy from Publisher
Rating: 3.5/5
Summary:
Holly has the perfect life: a successful husband, three kids, a beautiful home, and a killer body she gets from running 5 miles every day. So why does she find herself involved in various extramarital relationships?
Andrea has a wonderful daughter and a very un-wonderful ex-husband. Will she ever find Mr. Right?
Marissa’s husband is distant, her gay son is experimenting with drugs, and her four-year-old daughter is dying. Will she always be trapped in this miserable life?
My Thoughts:
This is my first Ellen Hopkins book and my first adult novel in verse (I’ve read a few YA novels in verse). I was impressed.
The book is lengthy. Even if it is written in verse. It took me 8 full hours on Saturday to get through the 500+ pages. But I enjoyed it the entire time.
Marissa’s story was the hardest to read. Her whole life just felt so unfortunate and Shelby’s condition is simply heartbreaking. There were definitely tears. I sometimes got a little bored with Holly’s story, probably because I felt it was mostly self-inflicted drama. Andrea was a good middle ground. Your pretty typical single-mom who keeps finding all the wrong men.
If you’ve never tried to read verse, this might be a good starting point. It’s easy to get sucked into the story and the verse isn’t too cutesy or sing-song-y. And I bet some of the lines wow you like they did me. I do want to give one little warning that it can be a bit…mature…at times. Not that there is anything wrong with that…
I wonder if I should dive into her YA novels now. Can anyone recommend a good one to start with?
Others’ Thoughts: KellyVision
Buy It Now: Amazon
my books. my life. 
The YA ones are also very “mature”.. I haven’t read too many (maybe 3 or 4) but I’d recommend Crank.
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I might recommend Perfect to you, though I am not sure if it’s out yet. I got the chance to speak to Hopkins at SIBA, and she mentioned that she was going to be alternating between writing YA and adult books for a few years in the future. This one does sound rather interesting, and like something that I should pick up. It seems like it’s a rather heart-tugging book. Fantastic review!
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This sounds like something I’d like. Great review. I’ll be putting this one on my tbr list.
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I have decided, after reading several books in verse, that I really like that format. I’m not sure why it makes such a big impact with me, but it does. As for these women’s stories, I do get restless with ones that whine even though their life is perfect.
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Not a fan of verse novels, but the description sounds very high drama, and I love high drama novels. Can’t wait to read this one.
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Her Crank trilogy is amazing, but I would probably read Burned. Everything of hers is brilliant but that one’s my favorite.
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I see you finished your review last night! (I did not)
I have never read a book in verse and am not sure I would like it but maybe I will try some YA in verse to give it a try.
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