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We Three
Jasbina "Jassie" Dhillon is at summer performance camp to address concerns of her parents and teachers over her struggles at school and her lack of close friends. To Jasbina's surprise, she quickly makes two new friends, Ams and Sydney. The problem is that the pair can't seem to stand each other, and Jassie realizes she's got romantic feelings for both of them.
Just as Jassie is worried she may need to choose one over the other, Ams and Syd start to get along -- but a little bit too well. It seems like Jassie may have missed her chance at both love and friendship, since Ams and Syd only seem to have eyes for each other. Jassie is upset until Ams and Syd tell Jassie they want to be with her too.
The three spend their time at camp working out their relationship in the face of the misunderstandings, assumptions and envy of counsellors and fellow campers alike. As camp gets close to ending, Syd proposes that the three of them run away from camp together. Ams feels the only solution is for the three of them to just end their relationship. Jassie, heartbroken and hurt, realizes she needs to find the courage to convince her partners that their love can survive in the real world.
Just as Jassie is worried she may need to choose one over the other, Ams and Syd start to get along -- but a little bit too well. It seems like Jassie may have missed her chance at both love and friendship, since Ams and Syd only seem to have eyes for each other. Jassie is upset until Ams and Syd tell Jassie they want to be with her too.
The three spend their time at camp working out their relationship in the face of the misunderstandings, assumptions and envy of counsellors and fellow campers alike. As camp gets close to ending, Syd proposes that the three of them run away from camp together. Ams feels the only solution is for the three of them to just end their relationship. Jassie, heartbroken and hurt, realizes she needs to find the courage to convince her partners that their love can survive in the real world.
168 pages, Paperback
Published September 3, 2019
1 person is currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Markus Harwood-Jones
7 books80 followersMarkus Harwood-Jones (he/they) is a proudly queer and trans space-case who has been writing since he can remember. Markus specializes in writing young-adult fiction and has a soft-spot for sappy love stories. He lives in downtown Toronto with his husband, their platonic co-parent, and their extra-cute kiddo. Markus is an aspiring TikTokker with 125k+ followers. He and can be found on social media under the handle @MarkusBones.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 17, 2021
We definitely need better non-erotic polyamorous romance, but this book is not it. The characters were flat and the conflict was flimsy, likely because of the book's short nature.
I would recommend The Art of Three by Erin McRae and Racheline Maltese for polyamorous romance.
2.25 stars
I would recommend The Art of Three by Erin McRae and Racheline Maltese for polyamorous romance.
2.25 stars
January 24, 2020
This was an absolutely delightful book. I'll be checking out this author's other works!
November 8, 2019
Part of Lorimer’s “Real Love” line which bills itself as providing diverse romances for today’s teens, “We Three” can best be described as a niche book.
Three 16-year-old misfits – Jasbina, Sydney, and Amelio – are all sent by their parents to a performing arts summer camp. All three have their problems. Jassie has been diagnosed as a loner and social misfit with ADHD. Syd is a pierced, articulate and “out” lesbian with many natural talents and a troubled home life. Amelio (Ams) is a young man who is struggling with gender identity and prefers to use alternate pronouns (they). He (or they), too, feels out of place in the world.
At the camp, the three become friends and discover that they have deeper feelings for each other which they explore physically in a minor way. They decide to be a trio or a thruple but settle for triad.
Deliberately or not, “We Three” ticks off a lot of societal boxes which are now hot concepts in YA fiction – LGBTQ, race, religion, transgender issues, ADHD. Diverse fiction is needed but the real problem with this book is that it is just not particularly interesting. The best YA sees it heroes find themselves while demonstrating real insight into their dreams – recognizing both the possible and the impossible.
Here, we have three people rebelling against summer camp hi-jinks and trying to find ways to maintain their friendship (or more) after they return to their various homes. The narrative lacks punch and not much really happens.
There’s an important story somewhere here, but this one isn’t it.
Three 16-year-old misfits – Jasbina, Sydney, and Amelio – are all sent by their parents to a performing arts summer camp. All three have their problems. Jassie has been diagnosed as a loner and social misfit with ADHD. Syd is a pierced, articulate and “out” lesbian with many natural talents and a troubled home life. Amelio (Ams) is a young man who is struggling with gender identity and prefers to use alternate pronouns (they). He (or they), too, feels out of place in the world.
At the camp, the three become friends and discover that they have deeper feelings for each other which they explore physically in a minor way. They decide to be a trio or a thruple but settle for triad.
Deliberately or not, “We Three” ticks off a lot of societal boxes which are now hot concepts in YA fiction – LGBTQ, race, religion, transgender issues, ADHD. Diverse fiction is needed but the real problem with this book is that it is just not particularly interesting. The best YA sees it heroes find themselves while demonstrating real insight into their dreams – recognizing both the possible and the impossible.
Here, we have three people rebelling against summer camp hi-jinks and trying to find ways to maintain their friendship (or more) after they return to their various homes. The narrative lacks punch and not much really happens.
There’s an important story somewhere here, but this one isn’t it.
July 24, 2024
Welcome to the next last edition of camp marathon 3. I need a name for this. Anyway, this time the wheel let me go back to the magical world of 2020. It comes to us from Markus Harwood Jones, who has YA stuff that is about in this same vein. It sounded interesting enough so let’s go.
Jassie (what a name) is yet another person going to camp who isn’t interested. She isn’t too much of a social person and this arts camp is here for them to learn to get over that. The parents mean well, just so you know. While there, she meets the cool rebel Syd and the shy musical Ames. Soon she falls for both but thankfully they are able to form a throuple or triad as they say and navigate the ups and downs of that.
This was good. It’s a simple and mostly straight forward story that was decently charming. It has a more casual approach that makes it work, not trying too hard to have these big moments all the time. The flip side is that it can rush through certain moments, so it doesn’t go as deep into certain things as you may want. This works alright for what this is, a few bits did leave me wanting more.
It’s on the cliche side but it still creates enough charm and they lampshade it at least once. It feels oddly cinematic in some scenes. The characters are typical in a charming way, having solid chemistry. Syd is the cool one so of course she’s the best. This stands out from what I read by being a queer poly book and it’s all treated in a mostly casual way that again works for the lighter tone it tends to have.
There’s a couple awkward bits of dialogue but otherwise the writing is decent. The camp setting isn’t fully used per say, being more about them sneaking away than partaking in things. Not a big waste of it but not the main attraction. It’s on the simple side and if you’re looking for this hard fitting slice of life, it’s not quite that. What I find refreshing and charmings, others could find a bit more middling.
Still, it’s mostly solid and charming. Won’t stick with me as much as maybe others but given what horror stuff I tend to read, it at least stood out in that way. A decent recommendation if you’re interested and fine with a lighter read. Deserves to actually have the cover on this goodreads page at least lol.
There ya go, it was quicker to read than i expected. Next is the finale, that was fast. As always it will be left to a Twitter poll so head there to see what you want me to do for our finale, with the picks being randomized. So head over there. See ya then.
Jassie (what a name) is yet another person going to camp who isn’t interested. She isn’t too much of a social person and this arts camp is here for them to learn to get over that. The parents mean well, just so you know. While there, she meets the cool rebel Syd and the shy musical Ames. Soon she falls for both but thankfully they are able to form a throuple or triad as they say and navigate the ups and downs of that.
This was good. It’s a simple and mostly straight forward story that was decently charming. It has a more casual approach that makes it work, not trying too hard to have these big moments all the time. The flip side is that it can rush through certain moments, so it doesn’t go as deep into certain things as you may want. This works alright for what this is, a few bits did leave me wanting more.
It’s on the cliche side but it still creates enough charm and they lampshade it at least once. It feels oddly cinematic in some scenes. The characters are typical in a charming way, having solid chemistry. Syd is the cool one so of course she’s the best. This stands out from what I read by being a queer poly book and it’s all treated in a mostly casual way that again works for the lighter tone it tends to have.
There’s a couple awkward bits of dialogue but otherwise the writing is decent. The camp setting isn’t fully used per say, being more about them sneaking away than partaking in things. Not a big waste of it but not the main attraction. It’s on the simple side and if you’re looking for this hard fitting slice of life, it’s not quite that. What I find refreshing and charmings, others could find a bit more middling.
Still, it’s mostly solid and charming. Won’t stick with me as much as maybe others but given what horror stuff I tend to read, it at least stood out in that way. A decent recommendation if you’re interested and fine with a lighter read. Deserves to actually have the cover on this goodreads page at least lol.
There ya go, it was quicker to read than i expected. Next is the finale, that was fast. As always it will be left to a Twitter poll so head there to see what you want me to do for our finale, with the picks being randomized. So head over there. See ya then.
October 24, 2020
There is just not enough here.
If the definition of positive representation is the lack of negativity, then yeah sure, this is a positive depiction of a non-heteronormative relationship. But the characters are all one dimensional. The conflict is weak and childish. The resolution is cliche and not detailed or described in anyway... it’s just like a punctuation mark at the end, like PERIOD, DONE.
The writing style is actually fine. Dialogue isn’t clunky or jarring. It’s all just too simple, too short, and too fast.
If the definition of positive representation is the lack of negativity, then yeah sure, this is a positive depiction of a non-heteronormative relationship. But the characters are all one dimensional. The conflict is weak and childish. The resolution is cliche and not detailed or described in anyway... it’s just like a punctuation mark at the end, like PERIOD, DONE.
The writing style is actually fine. Dialogue isn’t clunky or jarring. It’s all just too simple, too short, and too fast.
May 16, 2021
A short story of identity, hardships, and love. This book has been on my tbr for months now and I've finally gotten around to read it. With me being polyamorous and a teen, this book helped me feel better about everything. It was a fast and quick-paced read but it hit hard. It included gender identity, sexuality, mental disorders, and family issues. Most things that teens and kids nowadays are going through. But it also involved a beautiful budding romance. This book filled me with so much happiness. I would recommend it!
July 1, 2021
I recognize that this book says 'teen' but it really feels midgrade.
The writing is simple, the text is...at LEAST size fourteen, which makes it look MG, and the story is...well, also simple. I didn't connect with any of the characters, but I am happy to see a polyamorous romance that's not unhealthy, especially considering it's between three sixteen year olds.
I want books with polyam people but written for older audiences - not for sexy reasons, but because I want to see more people like me.
This book is sweet, but it wasn't...great. Also I finished it in less than an hour.
The writing is simple, the text is...at LEAST size fourteen, which makes it look MG, and the story is...well, also simple. I didn't connect with any of the characters, but I am happy to see a polyamorous romance that's not unhealthy, especially considering it's between three sixteen year olds.
I want books with polyam people but written for older audiences - not for sexy reasons, but because I want to see more people like me.
This book is sweet, but it wasn't...great. Also I finished it in less than an hour.
October 2, 2020
I picked this book up at the library, and it was a random grab. I had no idea what it was about.
I really liked it but I think the writing style is more suited for middle grade than YA. I loved that it featured a polyamory relationship. I’ve never seen this in the YA genre.
The overall story line didn’t have enough meat to it. Not a lot happened and felt that more needed to be added to the story.
Overall feelings: summer, camp, easy read, not enough meat, happy.
I really liked it but I think the writing style is more suited for middle grade than YA. I loved that it featured a polyamory relationship. I’ve never seen this in the YA genre.
The overall story line didn’t have enough meat to it. Not a lot happened and felt that more needed to be added to the story.
Overall feelings: summer, camp, easy read, not enough meat, happy.
December 28, 2020
3.5 rounded up because we need more of this! Short & sweet, this is a great title for reluctant readers. Not a huge amount of character or plot development, but I think that's to be expected in a volume this slim. A great little depiction of a polyamorous relationship among three teens at a summer camp. Loved that there was a nonbinary character who uses they/them pronouns as well. Happy ending, succinct, but hits all the right points.
February 20, 2020
Where was this book when I was a teen? A great story of polyamory romance for both teens and adults!!! Everybody read this book. Maybe I'll turn it into a film one day (yes we've already talked about it)
October 25, 2023
Very clearly was at first a wattpad story and then the author decided to put it on paper after they went through wattpad stories their pre teen self decided to write in 2007
October 29, 2020
A quick read, good for reluctant readers looking for different kind of relationship representation. The story takes place over the course of a month at camp and works well within that constraint - this isn’t a lengthy, deep relationship but it’s sweet and feels authentic. Overall, recommended.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews