Green-Eyed Epiphanies in Literature.
- J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series uses this trope in Lover Awakened. Zsadist is forced to realize he's bonded with Bella when his brother-in-arms Vishous provokes him. Basically, Vishous acts like he's going to go after her, at which point Z tackles him in a jealous rage, and Vishous explains to Z that he's invoking this trope while being strangled.
- In The Chronicles of Prydain, Taran's feelings for Eilonwy build slowly over the first couple of books. It's not until the third installment, The Castle of Llyr, that he really figures out what's going on - after he's been told that the monarchs of Mona hope to betroth her to their son. When he finally puts it into words near the end of the last book, she basically tells him that it's about time.
- Jasmine in Deltora Quest is lured into a trap by the Shadow Lord, where he baits her into coming into his lair (and thus prompting Leif to follow and rescue her) with a fake long lost sister. Part of the reason she is vulnerable to the ruse is that Leif had been hanging around a Toran lady who she suspected was his betrothed, and this bothered her for some reason. Her fears were unfounded as the Toran lady was actually Leif's temporary heir; a distantly related cousin whose identity he had to keep secret in case she was targeted. Perhaps a little communication might have helped, but then again if the misunderstanding hadn't revealed the green-eyed monster, they might have never gotten around to spitting it out.
- At the start of the Dragonlance Chronicles, Tanis Half-Elven dumps his childhood sweetheart, the elven princess Laurana and tells her he is in love with another woman, Kitiara. It is only after Elistan starts sniffing around Laurana that Tanis realizes he does still have feelings for the elf maid.
- In The Dresden Files, Harry first realizes and admits his feelings for Murphy after she went on a romantic trip with Kincaid and Harry felt like he wanted to kill him.
- Emma: The titular heroine's best friend Harriet confesses she is in love with Mr. Knightley. It instantly comes over Emma like a thunderclap that she is in love with Mr. Knightley!
- In The Goblin Emperor the first time Csethiro Ceredin approaches Maia of her own accord is after seeing him flirt with Min Vechin. Allegedly she does this only to warn him that the other woman is using him, but it is clear she is disappointed he doesn't talk to her.
- Harry Potter:
- In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Ron and Hermione have a textbook case of Slap-Slap-Kiss going on, but Ron is in complete denial about it until Hermione goes to the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum. He's still in denial after that, too.
- It happens to Hermione, as well, when Ron begins "dating"note Lavender in the sixth book.
- Later in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry realizes he has feelings for Ginny when he sees her kissing Dean.
- In the third book in the The Hunger Games series, Mockingjay, Gale reveals that he didn't realize he loved Katniss until another guy flirted with her.
- She may not have ultimately been in love with him, but Katniss experienced a version of this in Catching Fire when she imagined Gale being the one volunteering for the Games and beginning a televised relationship with his fellow tribute.
- The Princess Bride: The attraction that sparks the jealousy is one-sided, but Buttercup first realizes that she's in love with Westley when the Countess Rugen starts ogling him.
- In episode 5 of Tantei Team KZ Jiken Note, after Kuroki told Aya Wakatake has been in bed for two days because he was dumped...Aya: (He had a girlfriend?! I feel bad for him that he got dumped, but it sounds like he's enjoying middle school life. I'm a little relievednote . But... Why is it that I'm a bit annoyed?)
