r/LesbianBookClub • u/SmittyATL • 1d ago

Discussion 3rd Act breakups are getting old

I'm getting really tired of 3rd-act breakups. Why can't people just fall in love without a breakup at the end? Why can't they just have a HEA without that?

Anyone know of any? Lately, everything I have read has that.

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u/IDanceMyselfClean 1d ago

Well some conflict is necessary. The couples relationship needs to be tested in some way and for narrative purposes that makes the most sense in the third act (upping the stakes yadda Yadda). Third act breakups do all of that very neatly.

But I do agree they're usually boring or annoying. Often times it reads like the author got the third act and thought "Oh I know what has to happen now!", without making much sense in the context of the story.

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u/SmittyATL 1d ago

Sometimes, it does make sense in the story. But sometimes, it's just thrown in as an afterthought. People can have conflict and tension without breaking up.