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    Triangles: A Novel
    Triangles: A Novel
    Triangles: A Novel
    Ebook688 pages5 hours

    Triangles: A Novel

    By Ellen Hopkins

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    From the New York Times bestselling author of the sizzling romantic suspense Love Lies Beneath, three female friends face midlife crises in a no-holds-barred exploration of sex, marriage, and the fragility of life.

    Holly, filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom, sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. But will it truly bring the fulfillment she is searching for?

    Andrea, a single mom and avowed celibate, watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So would it be such a bad thing if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband?

    Marissa has more than her fair share of challenges—a rebellious teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts.

    As one woman’s marriage unravels, another’s rekindles. As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s reconfigures into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness.

    Unflinchingly honest, emotionally powerful, surprisingly erotic, Triangles is the ultimate page-turner. Hopkins’s gorgeous, expertly honed poetic verse perfectly captures the inner lives of her characters: Sometimes it happens like that. Sometimes you just get lost.

    Get lost in the world of Triangles, where the lives of three unforgettable women intersect, and where there are no easy answers.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAtria Books
    Release dateOct 18, 2011
    ISBN9781451626360
    Author

    Ellen Hopkins

    Ellen Hopkins is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous young adult novels, as well as the adult novels such as Triangles, Collateral, and Love Lies Beneath. She lives with her family in Carson City, Nevada, where she has founded Ventana Sierra, a nonprofit youth housing and resource initiative. Follow her on Twitter at @EllenHopkinsLit.

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    Reviews for Triangles

    4/5

    141 ratings27 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I have heard some really great things about Ellen Hopkins' writing, from reviews of her young adult books. But I have never actually read any of her work.
      I was pleasantly surprised when I picked up this book. Triangles is written in poetic verse, which apparently is how Hopkins writes her books. I haven't read many poetic verse books and I find that I really do like them.
      Triangles is an adult fiction book about three women, two are sisters, but they are all friends; Holly, Andrea, and Marissa.
      Holly and Marissa are married while Andrea is divorced. All three have children. Holly is an almost 40 year old mother of three whom starts to look outside of her marriage for what she thinks is missing. Marissa is a mother of two, her son; Shane; is gay, her daughter Shelby has SMA. Andrea is raising her daughter Harley on her own, with very little help from her ex.
      All three women have their issue's; Holly being the one that stands out the most to me. She has the perfect life, or so we think. A doting husband, three wonderful children and on top of it all, she doesn't have to work. But you soon find out that as great as she has it, she believes that she is being smothered and that she needs more... more sex, more affection...just more. She becomes the "whore" of the book and really just made me dislike her.
      Andrea , as the single mother that ends up in one dead end relationship after another, caught my heart. I was her for a few years. Although, I didn't end up doing what she did, I did have my fair share of bad guys and liars. And with an ex that all of a sudden wants to be a father, i know how she feels when it comes to sharing Harley with her ex and the doubts that arise.
      Marissa is strong throughout most of the book, dealing with a teenager that is gay, and her failing 4 year old. I don't think that I could be married and deal with all of that on my own. As much as she is married, she may as wel be a single mother. Her husband Christian isn't around, and when he is; they are more roommates that share children than anything else.
      Each main character is given her own little section as there aren't any "real" chapters in the book, and you will notice that while it is written in three different points of view, it really flows. All of the sections go together amazingly well, and the story is a powerful one.
      I felt as though I was drawn into the lives of these women and my heart broke along with Marissa when she found out just how messed up her marriage was.
      I don't want to give away too much, but know that this is a powerful read!
    • 3/5
      This book was surprisingly a life changing read. It makes you appreciate what you have and take a closer look at your own marriage.



      Andrea is a single mom struggling with dating problems and raising her daughter. Her story was entertaining and lonely. I felt for her... It seemed as though she sulked alot. When she meets a charming guy and thinks he could be the one of course he turns out to be a douche. Towards the end of the book though there was a twist and I loved it!

      Holly basically wants to be a cougar. She sheds the weight and prances all around. She puts extramarital activities before her family and even decides to write an erotica. When her husband finds her writing he realizes the stories within the journal are real. Together they grow apart and their marriage wears thin.



      Marissa has it tough and I loved her story. With a gay son and a terminally ill daughter her life is consumed by being a caretaker. She argues with her husband trying to get him more involved. Little did she know he was having an affair. Towards the end things change... Will they mend their wounds??

      Overall if you like reading about older women with depth this book is for you!
      Wonderful, emotional read.
    • 4/5
      I've been reading her books for a while and at first I didn't think I'd enjoy it. Compared to her Teen/YA books, this one's quite raunchy, so if you've never read anything by Ellen Hopkins before, I wouldn't suggest this one first. But overall, the content doesn't bother me and I thought it ended nicely for what it was.
    • 5/5
      Book Title: "Triangles”Author: Ellen HopkinsPublished By: AtriaAge Recommended: 18+Reviewed By: Kitty BullardRaven Rating: 5Review: Another wonderful addition to women’s literature, Ellen Hopkins brings us a vivid and moving tale of three friends reaching that inevitable hill called the mid-life crisis that seems more like a mountain.This story is amazing, the characters are brilliant and the emotions are extremely easy for women of all ages to identify with. I loved this novel and I’m sure other women everywhere will!
    • 4/5
      Riveting and evocative. This author has the ability to wrench every emotion from you as you read, shock, anger,sadness, empathy, disgust etc… Her characters are raw and real.
    • 2/5
      Story had great potential - but writing it in prose is not for me. I mostly found it incredibly annoying.
    • 5/5
      This was Ellen's first novel and I expected nothing less than amazing. It was actually better than I expected. While the content is much more adult than her YA novels, I found nothing wrong with it, and I am a 20 year old reader. I loved how she kept the poetry but it flowed like a novel does.
    • 5/5
      Getting older causes people to question if the life they have lived for the past forty years is the one they want to be stuck in forever. Marissa, Holly, and Andrea are no different than most America's either struggling to keep a marriage together, or struggling to cope with being a single mother, eventually everyone starts questioning the choices they made when they were younger. It is called a midlife crisis. Triangles tells the tale of three woman, and the struggles they face in the lives they have chosen to live.

      I was a huge fan of Ellen Hopkins when she first came out with Crank, and Glass. The story of her daughter’s struggle with drugs captivated me so much I would read her books in one sitting. Once she started coming out with the other books such as Burned, Impulse, Tricks and more, I started to read them but slowly just stopped buying her books at the bookstore. I am an adult and I didn't relate to the novels anymore, because her novels talk about a ton of serious teen issues. I did however miss her incredible poetic writing style, and would constantly wish she would write an adult novel. Triangles was my wish come true, a novel for adults.

      As soon as I picked up Triangles I was sucked back into the world of Ellen Hopkins beautiful tragic poetry that I missed so much. This novel reminded me why I was a huge fan of Ellen Hopkins to start with; she has this ability to capture me as a reader with her writing style, and her talent for storytelling. The tale of these three ladies is so incredible I could not put this novel down no matter how hard I tried. When I wasn't reading Triangles I couldn't wait to dive back into the novel at my next free moment.

      Triangles is about three different woman but they are all tied together. The show stealer for me was Marissa a mother of a disabled daughter, a gay son, and an active member in a failing marriage. Marissa's story is tragic she takes hit after hit throughout the entire book. Marissa's entire life is dedicated to her disabled daughter to a point she is almost a prisoner in her own house. Marissa's friends don't come see her anymore, her sister avoids her, and her husband is either not around or drowning himself in booze. Marissa's story had me in tears, and I love when a book can bring real emotions out of me.

      Now for my recommendation, of course I would love to say this book is incredible and everyone would love it, but I just don't think that is the case. Most people read to escape real life problems, but Ellen Hopkins novels take real life problems and multiply them by a thousand. Also Ellen Hopkins creates villains not heroes, and her stories don't end with a resolution, they end with a consequence. So if this sounds like something you might be interested in grab yourself a copy, but keep an open mind. This novel is for adult readers only due to sexual content.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      This book is not what I thought it would be. It wasn't even a shadow of what I thought it would be. I thought the storyline had great potential to be a touching story about female relationships with friends and family. However that aspect of the story was greatly overshadowed by numerous raunchy sex scenes that got really boring and silly after awhile. I also found 2 of the 3 main characters so immature that you just couldn't take them seriously. This would be considered good chick lit but nothing more substantial than that. I gave it three stars because the audio production was fairly well done. I'm not saying it was a terrible book, just a big dissapointment to me because I was hoping for something more substantial.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      Have you ever heard about high school kids moan about having to read poetry? I'm about one step up from that. And by that, I mean I don't moan about it out loud but it's rarely something I have rarely chosen to do since graduating from school. About the only poetry reading I do voluntarily these days is reading through the elementary school kid's poetry packet when he brings it home after the unit is finished every year. For my money, he writes some highly entertaining poetry (not that that was his intention, mind you). So it was almost completely out of character for me to choose to read a novel in verse. **I only qualified the above statement because Sharon Creech's Love That Dog for the elementary school set is written in verse and is bloody brilliant. In any case, had I been paying close enough attention, I'd have known up front that Ellen Hopkins' Triangles was a novel in verse and it would likely not have hit my plate thanks to my long time avoidance of most poetry.Narrated in verse and in turn by all three of the main characters, this is a novel of mid-life crises, dissatisfaction, unhappiness, and infidelity. It calls into question what we can legitimately expect from our lives, the meaning of loyalty, love, and friendship, and how marriages can wither away or crumble from lack of effort. Holly is newly thin and looking for excitement which she finds in multiple affairs. Andrea is a single mom who tries to shepherd friend Holly away from temptation but when Holly succumbs, she has few compunctions about trying Holly's settled and comfortable life, including Holly's husband, on for size. Andrea's sister Marissa is stultifyingly trapped. Her daughter has a terminal disease and she has subsumed her whole being into caring for Shelby for as long as Shelby has to live. That her son Shane is newly out of the closet and constantly sparring with his dad, Marissa's distant and work-absorbed husband, doesn't ease her burden any. As the stories twine together, each of the women is brought to the crisis point, forced to examine her life, and to determine what she wants from it and who she ultimately wants to be.While the poetry is an innovative way to tell the story, it was confusing with three narrators. Holly, Andrea, and Marissa all sounded exactly alike in their sections because of the spareness of the verse, making it difficult to retain which woman's story the plot thread was following at any given moment. They came to seem rather interchangeable. And somehow the poetry was less evocative and more devoid of detail and symbol than it should have been, leaving the tale feeling thin and underdeveloped. Each of the women's self-realization does in fact include her sexuality but there was an awful lot of very descriptive scenes that really did nothing in the service of the plot or in building the characters. None of the characters was all that sympathetic or likeable over all and they didn't seem to grow or change in any perceptible way either. The about face at the end of the book on some characters' parts was too easy and unearned to be believable. Although this is a book written for adults with middle aged characters, the feel is still very emotionally puerile and teenaged immature. Telling the tale in poetic form was interesting and could have worked but it needed to plumb deeper than it did and to be used for a reason. Ultimately I found the book unsatisfying and grateful that it was a quick read.
    • 5/5
      Book Title: "Triangles”Author: Ellen HopkinsPublished By: AtriaAge Recommended: 18+Reviewed By: Kitty BullardRaven Rating: 5Review: Another wonderful addition to women’s literature, Ellen Hopkins brings us a vivid and moving tale of three friends reaching that inevitable hill called the mid-life crisis that seems more like a mountain.This story is amazing, the characters are brilliant and the emotions are extremely easy for women of all ages to identify with. I loved this novel and I’m sure other women everywhere will!
    • 4/5
      A sad, dramatic snapshot of four women's lives that incorporate lots of drama! I am pleased to say that after reading this, I am so appreciative to have the family that I do!
    • 5/5
      This is a great book. I love the writing style of Ellen Hopkins. She is truly an amazing author who can weave the story, relationships, joys, sadness and life lessons taught by the various family members into an enjoyable novel.
    • 4/5
      The Good Stuff No holds barred, dark, truthful, raw and honest Writing style is unique Some nice dark honest humour thrown in A lot of truths about parenting, being a women and marriage All of the children characters are interesting,would have liked more about them - I love Shane Heartbreakingly beautiful at times Even-though it isn't my usual fiction and a little too sad and uncomfortable, I just couldn't put it down. Hopkins grabs you with her understanding of relationships and makes all of the characters oh so very real Fantastic character development Poetically written (mostly in a good way -- we all know that poetry isn't my thing) Very emotional (I'm talking rip your heart out stuff) - you will need Kleenex near the end Fascinating to read all of the various observations about the same events from each of the friendsThe Not So Good Stuff (MAJOR SPOILER AT END) Its a real downer at times and extremely uncomfortable to read - this is not a feel good book Sick terminally ill children make me cry and feel sick, I have a hard time with this Does not put a hopeful spin on marriage and way too many uncomfortable truths about marriage and friendship - I need something a little more hopeful (This has nothing to do with the exceptional talents of the author) SPOILER - The little girl dies and it is very raw and honestFavorite Quotes/Passages"Shane was born perfectly fine, despite the same genetic pairing. One in four. That's what their odds were. God gave Shelby SMA. Shane just got "gay"."She's penned her fair share of the spicy stuff. My expression must say more than I want it to because everyone laughs and Betty says, What? I may be old, but my memory is still good. And my husband isn't quite dead yet.""Oh, and I got a makeover -new cosmetics to enhance my natural "beauty." What a joke. But hey, the just-barely-out-of-high-school department store "expert" managed to sell this "in need of advice" middle-aged hag three hundred plus dollars' worth of lotions and creams, which do make my skin feel plumped and moisturized."Who Should/Shouldn't Read Good for adult reluctant reader Perfect book for a book club discussion Not for those who like something light and fluffy - that being said I am definitely reading something light and fluffy next cuz this was INTENSE3.75 Dewey's (Based on my enjoyment not on talents of writer)I received this from Simon and Schuster on behalf of the Bookalicious Twitter Book Club
    • 4/5
      A book that mixes romance and interpersonal relationships with touches of erotica and chick-lit, this is not the type of book that I would normally seek out on the shelf. Having admitted that, I found the book to be an interesting work that alternates between one of three women in mid-life seeking anwsers to life's persistent questions of love, fidelity and regret. The book is well written and uses an interesting structuring of line lengths, paragraph size and spacing and a liberal use of indenting and outdenting to add a visual sense of poetry. Sections are short and often end with poetry or a keyword that launches the introduction to the next person or idea.I don't know if this breaks any new ground in its mixed-genre, but I found it an enjoyable book whose presumably unique presentation style should appeal to many readers. There are some very good lines mixed in with an interesting narrative.This book was furnished by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      Triangles is the first novel I've read by Ellen Hopkins. I've heard a ton of great things about this author and her books so I was thrilled to get my hands on Triangles. Ellen Hopkins is well known for her young adult novels but Triangles is an adult novel. This novel is written in a beautifully descriptive verse. The story line focuses on three women who are at a cross roads of sort in their lives. Holly, Andrea and Marissa are all struggling with different issues and circumstances. Holly is a mother of three who wants something different. Her search leads her to exploring her sexuality. Andrea is a single mom who is still searching for that special someone. Marissa is married but might as well be single for the amount of attention her husband shows her. Marissa also has her hands full with her terminally ill daughter. Ellen Hopkins is an epic story teller. Triangles is told from all three women's points-of-view. I love how the author gave a glimpse into the other characters reaction to the events unfolding. I was glued to the pages as I read through this book. I didn't want to put it down for anything. Triangles is an emotional roller coaster that had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the events were going to play out. I felt connected to the characters and their individual stories. This book had me laughing and crying until the very last page.
    • 4/5
      I won this book from a GoodReads first-read giveaway. When I signed up for the giveaway I had no idea that the book was in verse form. I found out that it was shortly after I won the book and that made me wary of the book. I wasn't sure if I would like how it was written. Once I started reading the book I realized that I worried for nothing. The book was written beautifully and if was so unique. I liked that it was so different from what I usually read.The book revolves around the lives of three middle-aged women; Holly, Andrea, and Marissa. All three of the women are going through difficult periods in their lives and because of these difficult periods their lives intersect each other. Andrea and Marissa are tied together through the bond of sisterhood, while Andrea and Holly are tied together through friendship.The women all react differently to their difficult situations. Holly who feels bored with her marriage and life looks into infidelity to spice up her life. Andrea who struggles with being a single mother looks for a man to love her and keeps finding Mr. Wrong, which eventually leads her into the arms of Holly's husband. Marissa who is dealing with an ill daughter and a rebellious gay son, spends all her time taking care of her daughter while her husband slips further and further away.I found myself absolutely annoyed with Holly throughout the book. She basically is just a shadow of herself to her family, of whom really need her, and basically obsesses over her lover. If she had only paid a little attention and acted like a parent, maybe she could have prevented her daughter Mikayla from getting pregnant, but no she had to have her own fun.I thought that Andrea should have kept up her affair with Jace, Holly's husband, because Holly basically threw away her marriage. What harm would it have been for Andrea to be with Jace? Although I do understand that she didn't want to be like Holly and have an affair. She wanted to be true to herself.I loved Marissa's devotion to her daughter, and to her son as well. I knew that Christian was cheating on her from the beginning, I could just sense it. I was/am so pissed that he left he to take care of Shelby all by herself; how could he be so selfish? I was hoping that Marissa would leave him, because even though she doesn't know it she is strong, he was the one that needed her. I don't think that they'll end up staying together much longer I just think they need to lean on each other right now.I would recommend this book to women of all ages.
    • 5/5
      For three these three women, getting older mean contemplating you life and figuring out what you are missing and whether or not it needs to be obtained. This type of midlife crisis story has been well documented in women's fiction, but here the words make all of the difference in how that story is conveyed. The story centers around:Andrea - single and with a teenage daughter, sister of Marissa. She wonders why love passed her by and even though she is barely getting by, she knows she should be thankful for what she has. She is the one I rooted for the most.Marissa - married with a gay teenage son and a terminally ill daughter. She wonders why God is punishing her with such a hard life which she approaches with much grace and fortitude. I connected with her struggles the most. Marissa's son Shane is a breathe of fresh air and shows that his mother is trying to raise him right.Holly - Andrea's best friend with the *perfect* life of a wealthy husband and three kids but now wants *more*. The least likable character since she seems to ignore her family in pursuit of pleasure and Marissa and Andrea are a bit jealous of her. She decides she want to be an erotic author and uses this as an excuse to have extramarital affairs. These three characters and their stories overlap through interactions with each other and their children in a typical fashion with catty remarks that are actually the truth about what is bothering them in their own lives. In her own unique way, Hopkins cuts right to truth about what makes these women tick. Their heartache is poured out on to each page in a very honest fashion. These are very believable characters and their actions credible since you can easily imagine them involved in the PTA at your children's school. For some reason, I didn't expect Hopkins novel for adults to be written in verse, it just didn't occur to me that she would write her first adult novel in this form. I am so glad she did since this style of writing is truly one of my favorite. I am amazed by authors who can pull this off since the craft seems much more difficult than traditional story forms. Every word needs to count and in this story every word counts double. I found myself quickly reading this one and then savoring certain passages. I truly enjoyed the recap poems at each chapter. This is a much needed breathe of fresh air to women's fiction. If you want to try other verse books, check out Lisa Schroeder and Sarah Tregay.
    • 3/5
      Being so used to Hopkins' writing, I was surprised by how much this book lacked. Not only would I say this isn't her writing YA anymore, but it was on the tip of being...uncomfortable for me, and I even read erotica! What grinded my gears was how in almost every YA book by Hopkins, there's some kind of trauma, drug, abuse, etc. that the author connects to the reader in some instance. In Triangles, the only thing going on is infidelity, which, if you've never went through that, or aren't 40 years old, can't really identify with the characters who are. I didn't hate the book by any means; it had enough going for it that I read it pretty quickly and painlessly, I just wanted her to either go all-out with the sex or take the story down a notch to something less intimate. At the rate the story goes, it feels like you're stuck in 2nd gear and only hope the ending shifts you into 3rd...which it never does. I hate to say it, but I really expected more from Hopkins. Maybe with her next book...
    • 5/5
      Find this review and more at On The Shelf Ellen Hopkins is the bestselling author of incredibly popular young adult novels, such as Crank and Glass, that are enjoyed both by teens and adults. Triangles is her first adult novel, which is written in verse instead of the common prose of most novels. This novel is definitely meant for mature readers, and in my opinion, if you are easily offended, you may not like it because of some of the issues and content that comes up during the story. That being said, I thought it was a very wonderful book. It is very artistic in its structure, words, and story. This book follows three women, Marissa, Holly, and Andrea, through some very tough times they are having with family, love lives, and careers. There are many emotional and personal changes that happen for these women, and the author’s words do an amazing job of transporting you along on their journey. The book being written in verse gives a whole different feel to the novel. It has a different flow and emotions are emphasized in a different way. When grammar and punctuation are not something you have to pay strict attention to and rules can be bent, other things happen with a story, and the beauty of it can be accentuated even further. Hopkins’s verses are geniusly written and absolutely exquisite. The personalities of the characters really come through in this work, and I feel as if I know them well. Their true selves shine through in each verse, raw and real. The writing of this work is very honest and how-it-is, all reality, making it very believable; it matches the drama of real life. The pages of poetry are full of lovely descriptions and meaning, both obvious and hidden. The only bad thing I could possibly say about this book is that it has a tendency to be confusing at first when it switches from the view points of the three women. I think that was a me thing, though, and has nothing to do with the author’s style, since I am not very used to reading books with more than two view points. So many of the author’s words are powerful, but I think the most powerful was the last poem. Wonderful!Magnificent, artistic, real, honest, descriptive.
    • 5/5
      Very clever writing of Hopkins in this book. Her experiment with the poetry format, the three different perspectives, the different fonts all make for a perspective on the lives of three women that has more dimensions than an ordinary novel. The characters of the three women are well defined, broad and deep, and give an insight in the lives of women who we would call 'ordinary', but turn out to have deep motives for what they do or not do. The story keeps a tension, problems are solved at some point, yet the lives of the three characters will go on when the book is finished, the book is a glimpse in three lives, unfinished and satisfactory at the same time.
    • 5/5
      This emotional novel focuses on three women: Andrea a single mother searching for love; Marissa, married to a mostly absentee husband, is consumed with caring for her terminally ill daughter and struggling to come to terms with her son's homosexuality; and Holly who seems to have everything, but wants more excitement than she is getting as a wife and mother. Being a fan of Hopkins' teen novels, I was excited to see she had written a novel for adults and could not wait to read it. I was not disappointed. Her new novel Triangle speaks to mothers the way Crank spoke to young women. Just a warning, however, that this novel contains some pretty graphic sex scenes . . . this is definitely not for teens!
    • 4/5
      Ellen Hopkins is one of those authors that is on auto-buy for me. As soon as I heard she was writing her first adult novel, I was stoked. Her YA novels are always so dark and gut-retching and I expected nothing less from Triangles, and she didn't disapoint me. Ellen Hopkins def. shows more a sexual side in this novel and at times I felt like I was reading an erotic novel, but in true Hopkins form she dosn't sugar-coat things, and her brutual honesty is something I love about her. This story follows three women, Holly, and sisters Marissa and Andrea, all woman who are struggling with a certain aspect of their lives. Holly has it all a husband and three beautiful children, and a house that many people can only dream of, But Holly starts to feel like she needs more and starts experimenting sexually on the side seperate from her husband, and her teen daughter comes to her with a secret that she's pregnant. Marissa is dealing with a cheating husband, a daughter who is terminally ill and a son who comes out of the closet and who's partner is HIV-positive. Andrea is trying to find a man to treat her right, but she falls in the same trap everytime with men who are alcoholics, and abusive, etc. This story is powerful and if your a true young adult, I would say to hold off on this book until your older because it is very sexual in nature. The story has very serious issues that the main characters are dealing with. But for all of us adults out there this book was a great, dramatic story and I loved it, but honestly i've never read an Ellen Hopkins book that I didn't enjoy! Can't wait to see if Ellen continues on the road of writing adult fiction as well as young adult!
    • 5/5
      This was my first time reading something written in poetic verse...and also something written by Ellen Hopkins, and I absolutely loved it. I was extremely hesitant to try poetic verse out at first, but I decided that I'd give it a shot, and I am so glad that I did! Triangles was a beautiful story, and it was beautifully written! I was seriously blown away while I read this one, it was one of those stories that sticks with you long after you've finished reading. :DBefore trying poetic verse, I was always worried that it would be hard to get to know the characters, but in Triangles, the characters were so real, and while I didn't always approve of their actions...*cough* Holly *cough* I still felt like I genuinely got to know them throughout the book. I loved that Triangles alternated points of view between three characters, Holly, Andrea, and Marissa, and I especially loved that all three of their lives were connected in some way. Holly was best friends with Andrea, who was the sister of Marissa, so sometimes their stories would overlap, and I really liked when that happened, it just made it seem so much more involved.Out of the three characters, Marissa's stories were my favourite, she was genuinely such an amazing person, who had been through so much, and I was thrilled that her ending of the story seemed pretty optimistic. Holly, was probably my least favourite, but I did find her parts entertaining...morally, I just kind of found her to be a terrible person. I could understand why she acted the way she did...even if her choices were kind of terrible. Andrea, was somewhere in the middle, she'd been through lots but she'd worked hard in her life to get where she was. All of these women had men problems, which I'm sure is pretty obvious by the description, but they all handled them in different ways.My favourite of the poetic verses were the sections between the different narrators. If you read the words that stuck out off to the side, they'd form a complete sentence, or idea, and every time I'd read one of them, I just couldn't help but smile! :D I was completely enthralled with Triangles once I started it, and I honestly didn't put it down until I was done. For a 500-and-some page book, it seriously just flew by! :DI seriously can't recommend Triangles enough! It was a captivating story told in a beautiful way. I will put a bit of a warning here though because Triangles does mention sex, and there are a few scenes that don't go into explicit detail, but they describe enough that it might not be appropriate for younger readers. Ellen Hopkins does have YA titles though, so if you're younger and want to try one of her books out, maybe go for those ones first, and wait on Triangles until you're a bit older. :)If you're a bit hesitant to try poetic verse, like I was, I say go for it! Don't be afraid, and give it a chance. You might love it like I did, and after reading Triangles, I can definitely say that I've become an Ellen Hopkins fan for life! :D***I received an ARC from Simon and Schuster Canada/Atria Books for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      Triangles centers in on the lives of three women, two sisters, Marissa and Andrea, and Andrea’s friend Holly and alternating narrators every few pages amongst these three women.The story begins with Holly, a woman who has everything she could ever dream of. She is athletic, has a successful and attractive husband who gives her everything, and has three lovely children who all live in a dream house. Of course, behind all what seems to be the perfect life, not everything is as it seems. Holly continuously feels as though she is missing something more in her life. One of her daughters is rebellious, and her husband Jace is the only parent who enforces parental discipline. Perhaps Holly’s emptiness comes from being an adopted child, biological parents unknown, and being married at such a young age in college. Just before her fortieth birthday, Holly begins to stray from her husband, trying to find something or someone to fill the void she has…The story then continues with Marissa who is in her mid-forties. She is a stay at home mother, who must dedicate every minute of her day to watch and take care of her terminally ill daughter, Shelby. Shelby has SMA and is not expected to live past the age of four. Marissa also must deal with her sixteen year old son Shane, who has recently come out of the closet, hangs out with the wrong type of crowd, and smokes up to escape. Her successful husband Christian is never around, and whenever he makes an appearance, he is usually drunk. When he comes home from various business trips, or from late meetings at the office, Christian never sleeps in the same bed as his wife and some nights, does not even come home at all. Marissa cannot help but feel that Christian is trying to escape his life at home by loading himself with work. Marissa also suspects that something is wrong… Could Christian be hiding something from her?Next comes Andrea, Marissa’s younger sister. Andrea is divorced and has a fourteen year old daughter named Harley, and rarely gets any help from her ex-husband. Unfortunately, Andrea gets involved with the wrong men, alcoholics, cheaters, and liars, leading to many dead end relationships. Andrea just wishes that for once she can find a man who is successful, handsome, and who will love her back, she wants that her best friend always takes for granted; she wants everything that Holly has…The emotions and daily lives of Holly, Marissa, and Andrea are the focus of the novel. These women are all connected to each other, one even directly affecting another’s life within the novel, thus making Triangles an appropriate title for this novel. These three women give strength to each other, while at the same time; some must lie to avoid destroying their friendship. Triangles deals with many heavy issues such as commitment, betrayal, adultery, and alcoholism. These three women learn that every choice they make will bring consequences that connect to these issues in some way. With alternating narrators, readers will be sucked into this powerful read, and will experience the many issues present in today’s society through the eyes of these women. From the very first page, Triangles will take you on an emotional rollercoaster that will last right to the very end.My favorite aspect of this novel is that Ellen Hopkins writes about relatable adult issues, that many women and families go through. I also appreciate that the secondary as well as the main characters are realistically portrayed. The alternating narration was brilliantly pieced together and is yet another aspect of the novel that I appreciated, as it gives the opportunity to readers to feel the thoughts and emotions each character experiences.Ellen Hopkins is an incredible writer with a wonderful way with words and that has a unique writing style. For those who are not familiar with Ellen Hopkins’ writing, she writes in poetic verse, and is definitely one of my favorite authors. Ellen Hopkins takes a bold stand with this remarkable adult novel Triangles, presenting many lessons readers should consider and can easily relate to. Ellen Hopkins’ novels are the kind that will leave you thinking about the issues presented, long after reading the novels, Triangles is no exception…I recommend this novel to those who enjoy Adult Fiction with emotional depth. For readers who enjoy YA, you should definitely consider picking up Ellen Hopkins’ previous novels, you will not be disappointed!5/5 MUST READ, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
    • 4/5
      Ellen Hopkins has a way of connecting with her readers in a way that seems almost intimate and a little voyeuristic. Her novels are written in poetic verse - some more artistic than my non-artistic mind can wrap around - but the story is always touching on some level.Be forewarned Hopkins is not a tiptoeing author. Her previous novels, written for young adults, tackles difficult subjects head on. This one is much more graphic than her previous books. Hopkins tackles the difficult stage of the middle age woman, using three women whose lives constantly intersect, like a triangle. Marissa is stretching towards her mid-forties. She is a stay-at-home mother who is bitter with the cards she has been dealt. Marrying later in life than her contemporaries, she was a stewardess who fell for a passenger, married him, and settled in Reno, Nevada. She is the mother of two children; Shane, her 16 year old gay son and Shelby who is terminally ill and expected to live only months into her fourth year. Christian, her husband, is often absent and Marissa is filled with resentment as her life is completely engulfed in caring for Shelby and dealing with her gay son on her own. When her husband makes an appearance, he is usually drunk.Andrea is a divorced mother of a 14 year old daughter, Harley. Her specialty is dead-end relationships. Although she craves companionship she knows her tastes tend toward the unavailable - her last relationship being with Geoff, a man who forgot to tell her he was still married. He was also an ugly drunk. Andrea is also the younger sister of Marissa. Both girls are the result of a marriage born of free love hippies. One of the girls may not be the daughter of her identified father. Andrea is a passive player who lacks backbone, at least in the beginning of the book. Andrea covets what Holly has.Holly is a friend of Andrea's. She is the discontented housewife hiding behind the perfect, successful husband and three lovely children. Adopted as a baby, Holly sought security early in her college career which she cut short. Holly and Jace have the suburban dream. Now Holly is reaching her fortieth birthday and she wonders how life would look if she was not married or a mother. Holly begins a hedonistic second adolescence beginning with innocent flirting at a bar and littered with lies and ideas for her writing career in Erotica. Although the story is about sex and love, it is also about commitment, friendship and acceptance. It's a difficult book to read for so many reasons. There is loss, betrayal, one character who pursues hedonistic sex. There are also subjects that the middle age woman doesn't want to admit - different figure, lines and sags, existential questions, life defining moments of, "So this is it?" Redefinition of love and marriage, reasons for staying, choices of leaving and all of fascinating in a sociological way at a distance, a personal way closer to the age of forty or so.If I were to be perfectly honest, I would admit that I identified with each of the characters at least to some extent. Questioning the social mores, religious morality, purpose of life, home, God's will and chance are all part of adult stages of life. Some of these issues were definitely taken to the extreme by some of the characters in the book. And yet I am glad Hopkins went that direction for the reader's benefit. It was a strangely discomfiting yet satisfying read.
    • 5/5
      When I received this ARC in the mail, and realized it was written in poetic verse, my first thought was "Ugh, I really do NOT like poetry. I'm probably not going to read this." I had never read any of Ellen Hopkins YA novels.So I was a more than a little shocked when I picked the book up around 11pm to just read the first few pages, and found myself completely sucked into the story of these 3 middle-aged women and the intersecting twists and turns of their relationships. 5 hours later, it was 4am, and I had just finished this 500+ page novel. As a full-time working mom of three school-age boys, it has been a VERY LONG time since I've stayed up all night to read a book all in one sitting.I identified with some parts of each of these women, which kept me interested in the story way beyond when I should have gone to bed. And while nothing was really much of a surprise (it was easy to see things coming, and the ending, while somewhat sad, was inevitable), the style and ease of the author's prose propels you along. A highly recommended read.For some reason, the cover of the book made me think it was another "vampire/Twilight" story. I could not have been more wrong. Just goes to prove you shouldn't judge a book by its cover!And finally, a word of warning: This is definitely an adult novel, with detailed descriptions of graphic sexual situations - the author's YA fans should NOT read this novel.

    Book preview

    Triangles - Ellen Hopkins

    Triangles: A Novel, by Ellen Hopkins.

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    Also by Ellen Hopkins

    Crank

    Burned

    Impulse

    Glass

    Identical

    Tricks

    Fallout

    Perfect

    Triangles: A Novel, by Ellen Hopkins. Atria.

    A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

    1230 Avenue of the Americas

    New York, NY 10020

    www.SimonandSchuster.com

    This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

    Copyright © 2011 by Ellen Hopkins

    All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Atria Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

    First Atria Books hardcover edition October 2011

    ATRIA BOOKS and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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    Designed by Jill Putorti

    Manufactured in the United States of America

    10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

    Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

    Hopkins, Ellen.

    Triangles / Ellen Hopkins.—1st Atria Books hardcover ed.

    p. cm.

    1. Self-realization in women—Fiction.   2. Female friendship—Fiction. I. Title.

    PS3608.O647T75 2011

    813′.6—dc22

    2011009537

    ISBN 978-1-4516-2633-9 (Print)

    ISBN 978-1-4516-2636-0 (eBook)

    This book is dedicated to some very special friends, who shall remain nameless here. But you know who you are.

    Contents

    Acknowledgments

    Chapter 1: Triangles

    Chapter 2: Holly: Not Big

    Chapter 3: As Always

    Chapter 4: I Used to Hate Running

    Chapter 5: And Today

    Chapter 6: When i Get Back

    Chapter 7: He’s Always Home on Time

    Chapter 8: Obituary

    Chapter 9: Marissa: Fuck Her

    Chapter 10: One of My Costars

    Chapter 11: A Cosmic Joke

    Chapter 12: Breathing Stabilized

    Chapter 13: Her Brother

    Chapter 14: I Should Go In

    Chapter 15: God Is On a Walkabout

    Chapter 16: Andrea: Best Friend Meltdown

    Chapter 17: It’s a Smooth Asphalt Cruise

    Chapter 18: Average Guy

    Chapter 19: Merlot-Faced, He Goes

    Chapter 20: Holly In Action

    Chapter 21: Under The Table

    Chapter 22: Holly: Four Mojitos

    Chapter 23: Almost Every Window Is Lit

    Chapter 24: I Don’t Believe In Santa

    Chapter 25: Tumbling Toward Exhaustion

    Chapter 26: Quivering Rays

    Chapter 27: But Andrea Was There

    Chapter 28: Vanilla

    Chapter 29: Marissa: Saturday Morning

    Chapter 30: Lack of Uninterrupted Sleep

    Chapter 31: It’s Not The First Time

    Chapter 32: I Wait For Him

    Chapter 33: I Keep Shane Company

    Chapter 34: Unexpectedly

    Chapter 35: A Few Minutes

    Chapter 36: Andrea: If I Had To Tell The Truth

    Chapter 37: A High School Hookup

    Chapter 38: It’s An Hour

    Chapter 39: Finally

    Chapter 40: On Our Way

    Chapter 41: Halfway Home

    Chapter 42: Yikes! Major Crush

    Chapter 43: Reverie

    Chapter 44: Holly: Family Dynamics

    Chapter 45: Mik Starts Her Research

    Chapter 46: Conspiracy Firmly Established

    Chapter 47: Before I Get The Chance

    Chapter 48: I Follow a Trail

    Chapter 49: He Definitely Remembers

    Chapter 50: We Shed All Pretense Quickly

    Chapter 51: Sex With a Stranger

    Chapter 52: Marissa: Swim Therapy Day

    Chapter 53: Sometimes I Swim

    Chapter 54: Escape

    Chapter 55: The House Is Empty

    Chapter 56: As I Fill The Kettle

    Chapter 57: Potential

    Chapter 58: Andrea: A Rapid Pulse

    Chapter 59: I Hang Up

    Chapter 60: I’m More

    Chapter 61: Her Funeral

    Chapter 62: I Don’t Discuss This

    Chapter 63: The County Employee

    Chapter 64: A Cop-Out

    Chapter 65: Holly: Deceptions

    Chapter 66: The Fourth Wednesday In June

    Chapter 67: On a Weekday Evening

    Chapter 68: And They Are, In Fact

    Chapter 69: So Why

    Chapter 70: It Is a Game, Pure And Simple

    Chapter 71: It’s Her Mother

    Chapter 72: In The Deep, Dark Forest

    Chapter 73: Marissa: The Fourth of July Weekend

    Chapter 74: I Drink My Coffee Black

    Chapter 75: My Inbox

    Chapter 76: But The Way

    Chapter 77: A Door Slams

    Chapter 78: About Guilt

    Chapter 79: Andrea: Camping With My Parents

    Chapter 80: I Don’t Mention Bears To Holly

    Chapter 81: That Earns

    Chapter 82: When Did He Grow Up?

    Chapter 83: As I Muse

    Chapter 84: From Holly’s Place

    Chapter 85: I Try To Tune Out

    Chapter 86: The Menu

    Chapter 87: Holly: Running Is a Cure

    Chapter 88: More Likely

    Chapter 89: Smart Girl

    Chapter 90: Ooh, Bad Move

    Chapter 91: Not Exactly An Apology

    Chapter 92: I’ve Always Claimed

    Chapter 93: Game Time

    Chapter 94: A Daughter

    Chapter 95: Marissa: An Unintended Benefit

    Chapter 96: Tonight, For The First Time

    Chapter 97: When I Let Myself Think

    Chapter 98: I Slip Past Him

    Chapter 99: It Really Is Gorgeous Outside

    Chapter 100: Bedtime Routine Accomplished

    Chapter 101: He Smells of Whisky-Beaded Sweat

    Chapter 102: Who Is This Man?

    Chapter 103: Andrea: The Problem With Health Kicks

    Chapter 104: My Second Job

    Chapter 105: And The Best Thing of All

    Chapter 106: Right This Minute

    Chapter 107: Moments Like These

    Chapter 108: He Sounds Sincere

    Chapter 109: Another Awkward Silence

    Chapter 110: Turn-Ons

    Chapter 111: Holly: What’s Rotten

    Chapter 112: So I’m a Little Disappointed

    Chapter 113: Not Sure If She Means

    Chapter 114: Post-Critique

    Chapter 115: It Goes Into My Journal First-Person

    Chapter 116: Satisfaction

    Chapter 117: Marissa: Transient Desire

    Chapter 118: Alone Enough Right Now

    Chapter 119: I Finish My Coffee

    Chapter 120: It’s Not a Nice Morning

    Chapter 121: All Sense of Regular

    Chapter 122: Wish I Could Blame The Wind

    Chapter 123: Stitches

    Chapter 124: Andrea: Time Is Relentless

    Chapter 125: All it Takes

    Chapter 126: Her Son Might Be Schizo Too

    Chapter 127: Right Now

    Chapter 128: It Was One of Those Conversations

    Chapter 129: A Feeble Cough

    Chapter 130: Brain Crammed

    Chapter 131: One of Those Shadows

    Chapter 132: The Philistines

    Chapter 133: Holly: Some Kids Never Learn

    Chapter 134: I Open My Arms

    Chapter 135: The Senior Carlisles

    Chapter 136: Small Talk Accomplished

    Chapter 137: I Scoot Into a Lounge Chair

    Chapter 138: Which Is Why, I Suppose

    Chapter 139: No Take-Backs

    Chapter 140: Marissa: Perspective

    Chapter 141: All Decked Down

    Chapter 142: An Aura of Nervous

    Chapter 143: Getting Dressed

    Chapter 144: I Emerge

    Chapter 145: July Heat

    Chapter 146: Confession

    Chapter 147: Andrea: Nasty Bad Habits

    Chapter 148: I’m Torn

    Chapter 149: Not Quite As Much

    Chapter 150: Late Sunday Morning

    Chapter 151: Not One Word

    Chapter 152: Okay, That Was Funny

    Chapter 153: The California Roll

    Chapter 154: A Friend

    Chapter 155: Holly: No Run Today

    Chapter 156: Caught Up Completely

    Chapter 157: I Plumbed The Question

    Chapter 158: And That Led

    Chapter 159: What Happened There

    Chapter 160: Parental Priorities

    Chapter 161: Marissa: Not The Worst Day

    Chapter 162: Still, As We Motor Up

    Chapter 163: Have I Been Asleep

    Chapter 164: I Step Out of The Car

    Chapter 165: But No

    Chapter 166: How Far

    Chapter 167: Andrea: All Rhetoric Aside

    Chapter 168: Five Days After The Fact

    Chapter 169: Why Do I Feel

    Chapter 170: Worried About Wardrobe

    Chapter 171: Teetering

    Chapter 172: Now The Room Throbs

    Chapter 173: Jealousy

    Chapter 174: Holly: The Power

    Chapter 175: The Audience Sings Along

    Chapter 176: Another First

    Chapter 177: As The Waiter Leaves

    Chapter 178: Degrees of Infidelity

    Chapter 179: Marissa: Saying Goodbye

    Chapter 180: To Say

    Chapter 181: He Barely Talks

    Chapter 182: Valid Question

    Chapter 183: When He Looks Up

    Chapter 184: By Nature

    Chapter 185: Love Disappears

    Chapter 186: Andrea: Buried In Books

    Chapter 187: I Start The Car

    Chapter 188: She Does, of Course

    Chapter 189: Ice Broken

    Chapter 190: Wild Waters Is Packed

    Chapter 191: Imagination

    Chapter 192: Holly: Possibly The Best Day

    Chapter 193: That’s The Second Time

    Chapter 194: We Are Allowed

    Chapter 195: My Face Flowers Heat

    Chapter 196: We Practically Surf

    Chapter 197: Cowboy Up

    Chapter 198: Marissa: The West

    Chapter 199: Little Steps

    Chapter 200: When I Invited Claire

    Chapter 201: Claire And Tyler Live

    Chapter 202: I Almost Choke

    Chapter 203: But She Won’t Die Today

    Chapter 204: Awkward

    Chapter 205: Home

    Chapter 206: Andrea: Moored

    Chapter 207: Thankfully

    Chapter 208: It’s Been a Very Long Time

    Chapter 209: Those Questions

    Chapter 210: Perrier-JouËt

    Chapter 211: The G-Spot

    Chapter 212: Holly: Research

    Chapter 213: Case In Point

    Chapter 214: Sixty-Three Minutes Later

    Chapter 215: Something Shifts

    Chapter 216: We Decide To Practice

    Chapter 217: Have You Ever Been Tied Up?

    Chapter 218: Orgasm

    Chapter 219: Marissa: I’ve Tried

    Chapter 220: So Instead of Drew And Grit

    Chapter 221: Not That I Believe In God

    Chapter 222: A Rather Amazing Thing

    Chapter 223: I Ponder Such Things

    Chapter 224: Rather Than Drown

    Chapter 225: Which Is Odd

    Chapter 226: It’s a Very Long Two Hours

    Chapter 227: It’s Under Control

    Chapter 228: Andrea: Flowering

    Chapter 229: Synergy

    Chapter 230: Crazy

    Chapter 231: So Tonight

    Chapter 232: It’s a Very Long Few Seconds

    Chapter 233: The Apples

    Chapter 234: The Evening

    Chapter 235: Meanwhile

    Chapter 236: Not Quite Awake

    Chapter 237: Holly: You Can’t Outrun Obsession

    Chapter 238: I Know

    Chapter 239: Exacerbating Every Doubt

    Chapter 240: That Was Me, Once

    Chapter 241: I’m Not Ready To Die

    Chapter 242: Bucket List Completed

    Chapter 243: Semi-Rebuked

    Chapter 244: Saturday Night

    Chapter 245: Marissa: Call Me Crazy

    Chapter 246: God, I’m Just So Sick

    Chapter 247: Who Knows

    Chapter 248: Philosophical Musing

    Chapter 249: That Inebriated

    Chapter 250: It’s a Small Pile

    Chapter 251: Trips

    Chapter 252: A Star Rises

    Chapter 253: Andrea: Fate Has Decreed

    Chapter 254: More Than Surprised

    Chapter 255: She Might Be Right

    Chapter 256: My Cerebral Meanderings

    Chapter 257: Then Again, Maybe Not

    Chapter 258: Marissa And I

    Chapter 259: Surely Nobody Else Knows

    Chapter 260: The Obvious Answer

    Chapter 261: I Don’t Get To Hear

    Chapter 262: A Quiet Plea

    Chapter 263: Holly: Quiet

    Chapter 264: Tonight Will Be Reckless

    Chapter 265: It’s a Homespun Affair

    Chapter 266: But As Morning Gives Way

    Chapter 267: I Won’t Keep

    Chapter 268: It Goes In My Journal

    Chapter 269: Public Sex

    Chapter 270: Marissa: Eclipsed

    Chapter 271: Forgiveness

    Chapter 272: The Smack of Footfalls

    Chapter 273: We Are Standing Here

    Chapter 274: Pungent Words

    Chapter 275: Shane Goes To Call Alex

    Chapter 276: A New Life

    Chapter 277: Andrea: Still Married

    Chapter 278: Mulling Over

    Chapter 279: But Before I Do

    Chapter 280: I Meander Over

    Chapter 281: Definitely Time

    Chapter 282: I Squeeze Into

    Chapter 283: Spilling a Secret

    Chapter 284: Holly: Falling To Pieces

    Chapter 285: Dry Spell

    Chapter 286: The Last Stanza

    Chapter 287: Wonder What He’d Think

    Chapter 288: Almost, But Not Quite

    Chapter 289: I’ve Just About Sold Myself

    Chapter 290: Impossible!

    Chapter 291: Listen To Me

    Chapter 292: Nothing But The Truth

    Chapter 293: Marissa: The Truth

    Chapter 294: I Can’t Bring Myself

    Chapter 295: Everyone Has An Opinion

    Chapter 296: Spontaneously

    Chapter 297: It Was An Evasion

    Chapter 298: The Last Person

    Chapter 299: As Much As He Hated

    Chapter 300: A Honeymoon

    Chapter 301: Andrea: Wait And See

    Chapter 302: In That Department

    Chapter 303: I Wasn’t Gentle

    Chapter 304: Truth Is a Sharp Spear

    Chapter 305: The Rest

    Chapter 306: Convergence

    Chapter 307: Holly: Collision Course

    Chapter 308: For Every Action

    Chapter 309: The Crazy Thing Is

    Chapter 310: I Wish The Confrontation

    Chapter 311: I Had Nothing To Say

    Chapter 312: By Noon

    Chapter 313: Perfect

    Chapter 314: In Those Moments

    Chapter 315: Marissa: A Sexless Trip

    Chapter 316: We Grapple For Them

    Chapter 317: This Evening

    Chapter 318: I’d Think it Was The Wine

    Chapter 319: Suddenly We’ve Segued

    Chapter 320: Inelegant Truths

    Chapter 321: And Will I Ever Want Him

    Chapter 322: Threesomes

    Chapter 323: Andrea: An Abrupt Direction Shift

    Chapter 324: Jace Took The Hook

    Chapter 325: Despite Everything

    Chapter 326: I Sincerely Did Not Expect

    Chapter 327: I Swear, Again

    Chapter 328: Stories In Leather

    Chapter 329: Holly: A Journal

    Chapter 330: He Never Told Me

    Chapter 331: I’ve Been There

    Chapter 332: The Timing of Her Call

    Chapter 333: Turns Out

    Chapter 334: Ulterior Motives

    Chapter 335: A Very Big Part of Me

    Chapter 336: Falling Back

    Chapter 337: Marissa: Faith

    Chapter 338: When Christian Got Home

    Chapter 339: But It’s Back To Routine

    Chapter 340: It Is Kind of Nice

    Chapter 341: What I Want To Hear

    Chapter 342: I Chant a Silent Mantra

    Chapter 343: As Summer Dies

    Chapter 344: Andrea: Officially, Summer

    Chapter 345: Sitting Here

    Chapter 346: Friday Evening

    Chapter 347: I Am Standing Naked

    Chapter 348: Suddenly That Sounds Really Good

    Chapter 349: Comfort Sex

    Chapter 350: Holly: Fusing Lives

    Chapter 351: That Same Voice

    Chapter 352: I Still Want a Drink

    Chapter 353: On The Far End

    Chapter 354: Sarah And Tia

    Chapter 355: We Talk Long Into The Evening

    Chapter 356: Words Are An Echo

    Chapter 357: Marissa: The House Is Shuttered

    Chapter 358: Friends Keep Stopping By

    Chapter 359: As For My Son

    Chapter 360: It Is Just Past Dawn

    Chapter 361: I Am Soon Grateful

    Chapter 362: Departure

    Chapter 363: Andrea: Embers

    Chapter 364: Every Trace

    Chapter 365: A Huge Admission

    Chapter 366: Up Until Now

    Chapter 367: I Am Still Woozy

    Chapter 368: That Stops Him

    Chapter 369: Huge Questions

    Chapter 370: Holly: Musings On An Autumn Run

    Chapter 371: For Now

    Chapter 372: Speaking of Time

    Chapter 373: I Hope it Does

    Chapter 374: Dream Bigger

    Chapter 375: Marissa: I Don’t Dare Dream

    Chapter 376: Because, Without Hope

    Chapter 377: One Thing I Can’T Predict

    Chapter 378: Home Is Different Now

    Chapter 379: Haunting

    Chapter 380: Andrea: Condemned

    Chapter 381: I Did Not Expect

    Chapter 382: Her Healing Is Slow

    Chapter 383: Parallel Lines

    'Collateral' Excerpt

    PUBLISHER’S NOTE

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    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

    Immense thanks to my husband, John, whose faith in me remains steadfast. And to my family, which grew by one this year, and serves as a never-ending source of inspiration. Also to my Simon & Schuster family, which grew by an entire imprint this year. Thank you, McElderry Books, for your continued support. With a big shout-out to Jon Anderson, who encouraged this new writing venture. And thank you, Atria Books, for your warm welcome. With special nods to my editor, Sarah Branham; publisher, Judith Curr; the design department, which has to work extra hard to make this book look right; and to marketing, which now has to work hard to make it a success. And, of course, to Carolyn Reidy, an amazing woman who took more than one chance on me.

    TRIANGLES

    Scientists say every action

    initiates an equal and opposite

    reaction. I say that’s just the start.

    I say

    every action initiates a most

    unequal and unpredictable

    chain reaction, that

    every

    filament of living becomes

    part of a larger weave, while

    remaining identifiable. That each

    line

    of latitude requires several

    stripes of longitude to obtain

    meaning. That every universe

    is part

    of a bigger heaven, a heaven

    of rhythm and geometry,

    where a heartbeat is the apex

    of a triangle.

    Holly

    NOT BIG

    On perimeters and diameters.

    Math was never my best

    thing, not even when school

    was a thing. I was an English

    freak. Lit classes and creative

    writing, yeah, I could go for

    those. Escape. That’s what

    books were. Are. I should

    have finished college. Given

    myself some choices. But no.

    Instead, I let someone build

    me a box. Cube me in. Okay,

    it’s safe inside, and safe is

    not a bad thing to be. Except

    after twenty years, stuffed

    inside my secure, little box,

    I’m in need of a good stretch.

    Pushing against the sides. All

    it will take is one good shove

    for the walls to tumble down.

    And every day

    I wonder, will

    this be the day?

    AS ALWAYS

    I wake to anorexic rays of morning,

    prodding gently through cracks in the blinds.

    The breathing beside me is even. Familiar.

    Safe. Once upon a time, I might have slid

    a leg up over Jace, reveled in the way he

    stirred, hot and hard before the rest of him

    surfaced from dreams. But not today. Not

    in many, many days. I ease out from under

    the sheets, slip into shorts and a sports bra,

    grab my running shoes, gentle my way

    out the bedroom door and into the silence

    of my house, asleep. Even after school starts

    up again, I won’t see the kids until after six a.m.

    But early June, the mad dash to cereal rarely begins

    until nine. Which gives me almost four hours

    to myself. I take three bites of a PowerBar,

    wash it down with Smartwater. Outside,

    the sun has yet to crawl over the eastern hills,

    yet warm waves temper the night-cooled air.

    It’s going to be a hot one today. A quick stretch

    and I start my daily run downhill. Can’t do it

    any other way, since we live on top of a sage-

    crusted knoll. A series of hills rims the lake-lush

    valley where Jace and I bought our home, fifteen

    years ago. Down. Along. Up. Along. I run, flushing

    rabbits. Quail. Squirrels. Hopefully, no coyotes,

    hunting for the rest. I see them every now and then,

    eager-eyed and scruffy-coated. Sometimes they trot

    straight up the roadways, unconcerned about

    human intrusion. In fact, they relish it, and

    the opportunities it brings. Trash on Fridays.

    Cats on their own evening prowls. Small dogs,

    let out to wander. But they don’t bother me

    and almost seem to enjoy my company. No

    coyote escort today, however. I fall into my well-

    practiced rhythm, draw deeply of the dawning

    morning. Here, in the zone where every breath

    takes on such meaning, I find the best part of my day.

    Today, I discern some subtle shift. Perhaps it is

    the earth’s lean toward summer, but there is motion.

    Unexpected. Disorienting, as if I’m running

    somewhere new. But am I running from? Or to?

    I USED TO HATE RUNNING

    In high school, I always trailed

    the pack, running laps in P.E.

    After graduation and into my one

    year of college, I avoided most

    forms of exercise, except skiing

    and the occasional bike ride.

    Three pregnancies, two years in

    between each, didn’t do much

    except breast-feed and eat. By the time

    all three kids were finally in school,

    I was a big sack of blubber, afraid

    to even start an exercise program.

    It took staring down probable

    diabetes to make me consider

    how much I wanted to stay alive.

    I cut carbs. Started walking. One

    mile a day, then two. After a while

    I ran downhill. Later, uphill too.

    Now, less than a year later, I run

    more than five miles every day. My legs

    are amazing, my body is tight, and

    I love how that feels. How that looks.

    Certain neighbors have made it a habit

    to come outside and watch me run by

    every day, despite the early hour.

    There is power in that, in the ability to

    manipulate the intent behind the smiles

    and hellos. And while I would never

    take up with someone this close

    to home, knowing I could makes me

    happy. I run to be happy. Run to

    be strong. Run to be successful

    at something besides being

    a mom. And when I run, I can think.

    AND TODAY

    I’m thinking again about geometry.

    About cubes. Squares. Triangles.

    How they’re all made up of lines.

    A line is a collection of points

    along a straight path that goes on

    and on forever in opposite directions.

    Two lines that never intersect

    are parallel. Two lines that intersect,

    forming ninety-degree angles,

    are perpendicular. Perpendicular lines

    cross each other. Crossing lines.

    Today I’m thinking about how easy

    it is to be perpendicular. And about

    how, while parallel lines may not

    intersect, parallel lives too often do.

    WHEN I GET BACK

    All out of breath and sheathed in a shimmer

    of perspiration, Jace is up and heading

    toward the shower. Coffee? I ask.

    He takes one look at me, smiles. In a few.

    But first, come here. Did I ever tell

    you that sweaty women turn me on?

    "Thus, your addiction to beach

    volleyball?" I go over for a morning

    kiss, sex the farthest thing from my mind.

    Jace, however, is totally in the mood,

    as advertised by the twitch of his hard-on.

    Come on. We haven’t had a morning

    go in a while, and I don’t have to be

    in the office until nine. He coaxes me

    toward the unmade bed. Pretty please?

    I start to protest, to say something

    about having to change the sheets,

    but it’s simpler just to give in for the ten

    whole minutes it will take to make

    him a satisfied man. And me a dutiful

    wife. He leans me, stomach against

    the rumpled spread, over the bed,

    tugs down my shorts. I close my eyes

    as he slips two fingers inside me.

    See, now? You’re ready for me.

    Strangely, I am, and when he pushes

    more than his fingers inside, the sex

    is comfortable. Easy. No work at all.

    It doesn’t even take ten minutes

    until I feel the familiar tightening

    of his thighs. Jace comes. I don’t.

    He punctuates his final thrust with

    a soft Oomph. Pulls away, sticky,

    starts again for the shower. Dues paid,

    I’m a little less guilty about reminding him,

    "Don’t forget I’m going out with Andrea

    tonight. Mikayla’s spending the night

    at Emily’s. But Trace and Brianna

    will be here. Get home on time, okay?"

    HE’S ALWAYS HOME ON TIME

    Unless he’s on a really big case,

    but lately even his litigations

    are slam-dunk average. Some

    would call that lucky, I guess.

    I find it ho-hum, but it pays

    the bills, and pays them well.

    I watch Jace towel off. At forty-

    five, his hairline is sliding back

    a bit, and shallow lines have

    webbed his eyes. But he stays

    fit enough and women, I’m

    sure, find him attractive.

    Attractive. Reliable. Good

    provider. Always home on

    time. Even-tempered. Caring

    father. Adoring husband.

    (Sounds like an obituary.)

    What more could any sane

    woman ask for, right? Which

    says a whole lot about me.

    OBITUARY

    She decides to write her own,

    rather than leave it to strangers;

    studies the paper, develops

    an obituary template:

    In loving memory of

    [complete name goes here],

    who passed away

    [say when, but not

    how]

    after [number of] years

    on this earth. [He/she]

    is survived by [spouse, children,

    parents, siblings, if applicable].

    She considers her life,

    how it will end. What

    do

    you write, she wonders, if

    none of those things applies?

    What do you say about

    someone who realized no

    dreams,

    who never found love, never

    wanted commitment? What

    do you say about someone

    who clearly wanted to

    die?

    Marissa

    FUCK HER

    I swear that must be what God said

    when he agreed to implant me in Good

    Old Mom’s uterus. I can see it now:

    The angel of making men horny meets

    up with the angel of making women

    stupid. "Let’s create a problem for some

    lame earthly couple," he says.

    (Making Men Horny Angel has to be

    a guy. Why would a woman angel

    bother with making men horny?)

    Uh, you mean, like rip a condom and SNAP …

    baby? Sounds like a rainy afternoon,

    agrees Making Women

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