Cover Image: Memoirs of a Triangle

Memoirs of a Triangle

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Member Reviews

This short novel really did not hit the mark for me. I found it just too unbelievable and a touch ridiculous. Which is a huge shame as the premise and themes raised were intriguing and worthy but I feel the author just didn't have the writing chops to pull this off. Also I was very confused as to which country and time period this was set in that the behaviour and lifestyle choices of the MCs didn't cause even a whiff of scandal or meet with any censure from society, family or friends.

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This was well layered and had lots of interesting ideas in this. Going in i thought this was going to be an endless three-way sex romp and thankfully it was the complete opposite. The book focuses more on the underlying relationship and how this changes as those involved grow up. The framing as a story within a story was done well and the characters were generally well written and there were only a few moments that came across as unbelievable. I got a bit confused regarding the time period as it felt mid-victorian in places and early Edwardian in others. This was one bit that really was an issue as I couldn't work out when it was set as the indicators were all over the place.

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What an interesting concept for a book. I love reading stories that stem from original ideas, and this book fit the bill. Well written and engaging. This wasn't a book that I absolutely couldn't put down, but it did hold my interest. The characters were likable and even relatable. The only complaint (and really just a personal preference) was the strange formatting. New chapters began on the same page as the previous ones - not sure if it was intentional, but it seemed to be an error.

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I'll be honest—I was instantly drawn to the premise of ‘Memoirs of a Triangle’. Narratives about polyamorous relationships are only now becoming mainstream, and I find them fascinating—especially ones that explore the complexities involved in deviating from the ‘status quo’, or monogamy. That being said, I would love to read more books about this topic that are of a slightly higher caliber.

‘Memoirs of a Triangle’ is about three friends who have an unexpected tryst when they are young, and the repercussions this relationship has on the rest of their lives. They grow up, grow apart and then are pulled back together. We have May, the shy best friend who adores the strong-willed and independent Edith, who herself lusts after Peter, the kind boy who grows up to be a carpenter and only has eyes for May. The story follows them from their youth into adulthood when they have all pulled away from each other but are then drawn back together once again.

Unfortunately, the premise of the book was about all I enjoyed. I was not a fan of the writing style. I felt as if a lot of the book lacked description, interesting dialogue and believable characters. I really couldn't tell you the time period in which the story took place because the settings and dialogue seemed very generic. All I could decipher was that it took place in “the past,” when women might’ve worn petticoats. The opinions of several of the characters also didn't seem realistic—they were far too modern to be believable. I feel the real problem was that there wasn't enough buildup as to who they were or how they came to be that way. Overall I think the book would have been much better with more world building. Lastly, the framing of the book was very distracting. Starting a story from other characters’ perspectives can work, but in this case, the structure only served to foreshadow certain events and introduce characters that were not central to the story. Honestly, I would not recommend this novel to readers interested in historical or literary fiction.

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This story follows a threesome relationship made up of Edith, May, and Peter. They grew up together as good friends, but things get complicated as they all fall in love with one another. And it's not a simple heterosexual love triangle.

I didn't love the story, though not because of the relationships. On the contrary, it was rather refreshing to read about a polyamorous relationship, especially one that takes place in the late 19th century. That said, I got tired of the main characters basically falling in love with everyone they meet and really not caring about who they hurt in the process. Additionally, Edith and Peter were not very likeable characters; May was a bit better, but I felt bad for her because she just felt like a pawn in Edith and Peter's own games.

If you're looking for a polyamorous story in a historical setting, this could be an interesting read for you to pick up. Unfortunately, I didn't care much for it.

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