Are love triangles too clichè?

I've included a love triangle in my plot since the very beginning and had honestly never thought much of it, until I saw someone complaining on social media about how much they HATED love triangles.

The situation is, my main character falls in love with this girl because she's beautiful — he likes her and they end up becoming engaged, but he doesn't really love her (hey, life is short in war, right?). But this girl is quite a bit younger than him (he's about 21, she's 17) and very naïve and in love. However, my main character is very close to his love interest's older sister. They have a much deeper connection and aren't necessarily having an affair, but there is definitely a forbidden-love-type-thing going on.

Is this clichè? At this point, I've become so used to my own plot that I really can't tell anymore!

 

Nothing is cliche when done effectively, is it?
It can be a bit of a challenge to breathe new life into something that's been done over and over, but it's not impossible. It's entirely dependent on the way you build the relationships and the dialogue.

 

@kim&jessie Very true! I just hope I can pull it off haha

 

1) How old is he, 2) what are the two females' opinions about all of this?

 

@Simpson17866 He's around 21 — I'm not entirely sure how old exactly because I still have a few things to sort out regarding timelines. But round about there.

And my MC's fiance has no idea about her sister's feelings, so as far as she's concerned nothing is awry. And her sister has no intention of saying anything, because she doesn't want to ruin their relationship or hurt anyone's feelings.

 

I'm tired of the chosen one with magical powers fantasies, but they still seem to be popular. While a love triangle can be cliché, it's all about the story telling.

I have one in my story, but it's a bit of a different take.

 

@GingerCoffee Well I can promise that there are no chosen ones or magical powers, so that's something at least! And thank you, you're right.

 

A love triangle would be alright, say if, I'm the guy; And the two girls have short, pink hair with pale skin, big tits, and ocean blue eyes. (Bonus if they're both yandere.)

...okay, as for your story, like the others have said, as long as it's WELL WRITTEN, then it will most-likely work.

 

I have the perfect suggestion! Make it a love quadrangle and there's a secret boyfriend for the guy!
ANYWAY, the point is that yes, nothing is bad for being done. It's bad for being done repetitively. As long as your story it's own beast and does the formula in a way that doesn't feel recycled, then congrats, you've beaten cliche!

 

I don't think they are. I think it can get a bit messy and it depends on your writing style really. Having to know everyone's feelings and intentions can be hard to get out to the reader. If you can pull it off, I think love triangles are great.

 

I'd love to read a love triangle told from the perspective of one of the legs of the triangle rather than the fulcrum or axis or whatever. That is, from your example, I'd be intrigued to read one or both of the women's perspectives.

The guy's perspective? Meh. He just seems like an asshole, really. Not that interesting in fiction, since there are so many in real life.

 

Yes, it does always seem to be about the lucky person with two options, it's never about the guy/girl that gets fucked over.

 

I agree, and you've also posted what annoys me most about love triangles: they're not triangles, because there's invariably a side missing. A love triangle would be X loves Y who loves Z who loves X (which I suppose means that at least one of them can't be hetero).

We need to rename that standard thing. Love see-saw? Love tug-of-war? Actually... maybe not those

 

A love triangle would be more interesting and unique if: 1) it were a real love triangle and 2) the people were all from different cultures or walks of life.

 

And in reality ego would get in the way before a true love triangle could blissfully emerge.

 

Well... there are successful polyamorous relationships, I think. But they're based on consent, communication, etc., not a guy being too much of a weenie to pick one woman.

 

Or an abused spouse too afraid to say anything -

 

deleted same post -

 

Why does it have to be a triangle? Why not a situation with 4 people, where a person from each couple likes someone from the other couple instead? Or a situation with more people where the dynamics are more complex?

It doesn't always have to be "Person A likes B, but B likes C."

 

Know what I hate about love triangles? They're not actually triangles. They're two lines that intersect at one point; you should make an actual triangle.

Guy likes both girls, this makes the girls fight at first, until they realize, "This guy isn't worth us hating each other"
That's when they start up a very emotional, fulfilling, healthy, and loving relationship, and both just use the guy for sex.

 

That does not describe successful polyamorous relationship.

 

Nicholas Sparks has made millions on this 'cliche'. So no, I don't think it matters provided you tell a good story.

 

yes, I agree that would be an unsuccessful polyamorous relationship.