FIVE
Love triangles. Now this is one that can be done right, but is mostly done wrong. It’s simply unrealistic, at least for most people. I can’t recall ever reading about a love triangle with two girls fighting over a guy, but the other way around is so common in young adult. A series that does it right is Cassandra Clare’s Infernal Devices. I’m team Will, but both Will and Jem are just so great. Tessa is lucky to have been loved by two such lovable characters.
I loved reading about the three of them fighting demons and sharing a strong bond of friendship and love. I can only think of a few examples where I enjoyed reading about a love triangle, the rest fall flat.
FOUR
Instalove. There’s nothing more unbelievable in young adult fiction than instalove. I refuse to believe that’s a thing that can actually happen. There’s really nothing else to say about that.
THREE
The obviously-gay-then-suddenly-straight character *cough* Manon *cough*. I get so angry when a character, who I thought was obviously gay turns straight for some rando who’s ‘not like all the others’ or who makes them reconsider core characteristics of their identity.
TWO
The main character is cured/fixed by the love interest. Let’s see, maybe the main character is depressed or has anxiety. They meet someone interesting, they fall in love and *BAM* fixed. You can’t expect others to fix you, that’s like putting a band-aid on a ruptured organ and expecting it to magically heal itself.
ONE
The possessive douche canoe. One thing is wanting to protect the person you love, another is protecting them so much that they can’t do anything without you becoming a raging maniac. It’s toxic and it’s harmful to teach young people that that is was love should look like.
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