Triangles

TRIANGLES follows the interconnected lives of three women in their forties as they navigate marriage, parenthood, and desire. The narrative alternates between Holly, a stay-at-home mom exploring her sexuality, Andrea, a single mother focused on raising her daughters, and Marissa, who cares for a terminally ill child while her marriage crumbles. Written in Hopkins' signature verse style, the book examines how these three friends' lives intersect and impact one another through choices, secrets, and relationships. The story unfolds through free verse poetry that reveals each character's internal struggles and external conflicts. Each woman faces life-altering decisions that test their bonds of friendship, marriage, and family as they confront their own definitions of happiness and fulfillment. Their paths cross and diverge in unexpected ways as they deal with infidelity, illness, and the search for personal identity. TRIANGLES explores themes of female friendship, marriage, sexuality, and the complex geometries of human relationships. The verse format creates an intimate perspective on middle-age transformation and the price of seeking personal satisfaction.

Readers note this adult novel differs significantly from Hopkins' YA works, with some feeling misled by the change in target audience. The frank treatment of sexuality and relationships resonates with many female readers in their 30s-40s who relate to the characters' midlife struggles. Appreciated elements: - Raw, honest portrayal of marriage and infidelity - Poetry format makes heavy themes digestible - Complex female friendships - Fast-paced narrative style Common criticisms: - Characters lack likability and make poor choices - Too much focus on sex scenes - Plot feels melodramatic - Multiple perspectives can be hard to follow Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (15,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (200+ reviews) Barnes & Noble: 4.1/5 (90+ reviews) One frequent comment from readers: "Not for fans expecting another teen story." Several reviewers mentioned putting the book down after 50-100 pages, citing inability to connect with the characters' decisions.

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💫 "Triangles" was Ellen Hopkins' first adult novel after becoming a #1 New York Times bestselling author for her young adult books 🌟 The book's unique verse format contains approximately 544 pages, with each character's story told through distinct poetic styles 📚 Hopkins drew inspiration from real-life experiences and observations of suburban marriages, similar to her approach with her YA novels 🎭 The title "Triangles" represents both the three main characters' interconnected relationships and the geometric shape's strength and stability 💝 The book's release in 2011 marked a significant shift in Hopkins' career, expanding her audience while maintaining her signature verse-novel style that made her famous in YA literature