Cupid's reign of terror begins in fewer than 96 hours, and we're girding our loins for the heart-shaped smackdown. (Okay, we're kidding. Sorta.) I mean, let's be real, Valentine's Day is all fine and dandy when you have a special someone to serenade you with "Fat Bottomed Girls" and buy you breadsticks, but if you're a single lady, it can be downright depressing. THOUGH, we can think of one scenario even more unbearable: being head-over-heels for someone who's in love with someone else.
Yep, the dreaded love triangle—a particularly prevalent theme in current YA literature. In fact, so many of our favorite reads feature fraught threesomes that it seemed ripe for a sort-of anti-Valentine's Day retrospective. Check out our favorites after the jump and vote for the one you love the most. We'll reveal the results on February 14 (poll closes at 12 p.m. ET that day). AND JUST AS A WARNING, THERE ARE SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE SERIES!
6. Ky/Cassia/Xander
"Matched" by Ally Condie
This threesome would likely rank higher on our list if only we knew how it ended! In the first novel of her dystopian series, Ally introduces us to Cassia, a teenage girl living in a world where life partners are picked by the government. Cassia's matched to her childhood neighbor Xander, but it's mysterious Ky who really piques her interest. Who will she pick? We'll just have to keep reading to find out! (To steal a line from "True Blood"'s marketing campaign, Waiting sucks!)
5. Jace/Clary/Simon
"Mortal Instruments" series by Cassandra Clare
It was never truly BFF Simon that stood in the way of Clary and Jace's love—it was that pesky is-he-my-brother-or-isn't-he conundrum that kept Clary from jumping Jace's bones. Nevertheless, we’re glad Clary and Simon had their moment if only to reinforce to Clary that Jace truly was the one.
4. Dimitri/Rose/Adrian
"Vampire Academy" series by Richelle Mead
Much like "The Mortal Instruments," it was largely circumstances (namely Dimitri turning into a blood-loving Strigoi) that kept he and Rose apart, not rebound Adrian. Though the wealthy party boy did put up quite a fight for Rose's heart. Here’s hoping it really is the lovelorn lad featured in Richelle’s upcoming spin-off "Bloodlines" because Adrian deserves a happy ending too!
3. Stefan/Elena/Damon
"Vampire Diaries" series by L.J. Smith
We'll be honest, we haven't read this vamperific series on which The CW show is based. However, we have to give Ms. Smith kudos for creating a love triangle that steams up our TV sets week after week.
2. Edward/Bella/Jacob
"The Twilight Saga" by Stephenie Meyer
Perhaps the most famous (infamous?) YA love triangle of all, Jacob never really stood a chance (even with those abs) against Edward's sparkling (hee hee!) personality. Bella only had eyes for one vampire and made the ultimate sacrifice to be with him forever. But, of course, Stephenie couldn't leave Jacob all alone for eternity, so he imprinted on Bella's daughter. Yep, we're still scratching our heads too.
1. Peeta/Katniss/Gale
"The Hunger Games" series by Suzanne Collins
We've got to hand it to Suzanne for giving us a love triangle whose outcome we truly couldn't predict. It wasn't until the end of the trilogy's final installment "Mockingjay" that we knew for certain Katniss would choose fellow tribute Peeta. Poor Gale.
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