Few romance tropes stir chaos quite like a love triangle. One second, you’re casually watching the newest episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty, and the next, you’re spiralling on TikTok, dissecting every line read and trailer frame to find out who Belly really belongs with. Three might be a crowd, but it’s also a recipe for obsession.
Why does the love triangle trope hook us every time?
The short answer is because it’s messy and dramatic, way less straightforward than your standard single romance storyline. By adding a third person into the mix, the tension is instantly heightened, giving us more of a reason to keep turning the page or binge watch another episode. Fundamentally, love triangles aren’t really about who is objectively “better” or “hotter”; instead, suitors represent the protagonist’s different choices. One love interest usually feels safe or familiar, while the other offers excitement or risk. This push and pull between love interests sparks fandom debate and can make audiences feel personally invested in the outcome.
This is why the love triangle trope thrives in YA media. Young adulthood is already a time when many begin to figure out who they want to be and what kind of love they want, so a fictional heroine choosing between two doubles mirrors the audience’s path of self-discovery in real life. It’s less about “who will she choose?” and more about “who will she become by choosing?”.
Bella, Belly, and the relatable heroine effect
In Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty, our main character, Belly, finds herself torn between Conrad, the brooding older brother, and Jeremiah, the easy-going “boy next door” type. What makes this triangle so powerful is that they aren’t just two of Belly’s crushes, but two versions of her future. Placed as the first love in Belly’s narrative, Conrad grapples with emotional unavailability, embodying mystery and introversion. Jeremiah, used as a complete juxtaposition to Conrad’s brooding, comes off as charming and carefree, an easier choice that viewers later learn is not necessarily a safer one. As unrealistic, outlandish, and very complicated as this triangle becomes, it works because fans can picture themselves in a dilemma of just an average teenage girl. Choosing between them is more than about picking a boyfriend; it’s about picking what version of herself she wants to be.
And before there was Belly, there was Bella. Twilight basically invented the modern-day “pick a team” fandom experience. Edward and Jacob’s rivalry over our protagonist defined an era of late 2000s pop culture. Team Edward vs. Team Jacob became an identity for fans, dressed in merchandise branded in support of their chosen love interest (much like sports jerseys) and hung posters in their rooms as a symbol of their loyalty. The question was incessantly posed – were you into the cold, brooding, immortal vampire, or the warm, shirtless werewolf who actually aged past his teen years? It was a way for fans to connect with like-minded peers and express themselves as if they had a stake in the story.
The timelessness of the love triangle trope
Part of what makes these triangles so timeless is how easily we can project ourselves onto characters like Bella and Belly. They aren’t perfect heroines; they’re awkward and emotional – figuring things out in real time just like us. Watching them wrestle with these seemingly impossible choices feels personal because, deep down, it mirrors our own worries about love and identity. Do we choose comfort or passion? Stability or intensity? The fantasy of the love triangle is that we get to explore multiple versions of ourselves through the love interests on screen. It’s not just about swooning over Conrad’s mysterious stares or Edward’s glittering skin; it’s about imagining who we’d be if we were the ones standing at that fork in the road.
Essentially, the love triangle trope isn’t just about romance; it’s about personal transformation. Choosing between two people forces a character to decide what kind of life they want, and in turn, lets the audience reflect on their own lives. Do we crave stability or seek what the unknown offers? That’s why viewers, like me, can’t seem to stop craving the chaos, whether it be watching Belly choose between two brothers or rooting for Team Edward or Jacob.