How do love triangle novels create tension?

In triangle romance novels, the competition between the two love interests creates tension. For example, in a love triangle where one character is a good - hearted but poor man and the other is a rich and charming man, the heroine's indecision makes the readers eager to know who she will choose.

These novels create tension by showing the characters' conflicting goals. In 'You Deserve Each Other', the couple who are on the verge of breaking up have different ideas about how to handle their relationship. The man wants to win back the woman in a rather manipulative way at first, while she wants to move on. This clash of intentions builds tension. Also, physical proximity can be a factor. In 'Wallbanger', the female lead and her neighbor are constantly in close quarters because of their living situations. Their annoyance with each other at first, combined with this proximity, makes for a tense and interesting dynamic.

Another way is through the setting and external factors. In a Chinese fanfiction, the social or family background might be a big factor in the forced love. If a family forces two characters together, the pressure from the family and the characters' attempts to deal with it can build up a lot of tension. Also, secrets within the forced relationship can add to the suspense and tension.

In rivals to lovers romance novels, the tension is often created in multiple ways. First, there's the basic difference in their personalities or values that put them at odds. This leads to heated debates and arguments. Second, their social or professional standings can be a source of tension. If one is from a higher class or more powerful in the workplace, it adds a layer of complexity. For example, in a historical romance, a poor but headstrong girl and a rich, arrogant nobleman may start as rivals. Their every encounter is filled with power struggles and unspoken attraction that builds the tension until it finally breaks and turns into love.

Trapped romance novels create tension in multiple ways. One is by trapping the characters in a social situation. For instance, if they are from different social classes and are trapped in a society that doesn't approve of their relationship. They have to fight against the norms and prejudices, which creates a great deal of tension. Also, when the characters are trapped by their own past traumas or mistakes in relation to love. They might be afraid to open up to a new relationship but are forced to be in close contact with someone they are attracted to, and this inner conflict creates a palpable tension in the story.

Competition fantasy novels create tension in multiple ways. Firstly, by pitting characters with different skills and motives against each other. In 'Harry Potter' during the Triwizard Tournament, the students from different schools have different goals and abilities. Secondly, the high - stakes nature of the competitions. If a character fails in a competition in 'Red Rising', they may face death or slavery. Also, the element of the unknown. In 'The Maze Runner', the boys don't know what's in the maze or how to escape, which adds to the tension during their competitive attempts to find a way out.

They often use unreliable narrators. For example, in 'The Girl on the Train', the narrator's memory and perception are distorted, making the reader question what's real. This creates a lot of tension as the truth is hard to figure out.

Well, the setting can play a big role. If it's a dark, isolated place like in 'The Silence of the Lambs' with the prison cell scenes. The unknown is also a factor. The more the reader doesn't know what will happen next, the more tense they feel. And the use of foreshadowing, like in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' where little hints are dropped early on about the big revelations later.

Another way is through the slow development of the relationship. The captor may start off as cold and distant, but as they interact more with the captive, small changes occur. This slow burn while the captive is still in a kidnapped state keeps the reader on edge, wondering when and how the relationship will fully develop into a romantic one.

One way is to make the story centered on the couple's internal conflicts and personal growth. Maybe they have to overcome external obstacles like career issues or family problems, rather than having a third person come between them.