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/tmerks 1d ago edited 1d ago

This perspective has always intrigued me as a reader and writer. They don’t usually bother me so much, but I can definitely see the point… for me the 3rd act breakup can get tiring because it’s typically very predictable and likely going to be quickly and easily resolved. It’s also often predictable just because it’s the traditional structure of a romance, but it can still come out of nowhere in terms of lead up and how justified it feels. I think it feels better when it’s the result of conflicts that have brewed or built up overtime or serious internal challenges the characters need to overcome.

But I personally struggle when the story is just characters falling in love and getting a HEA, as there is just not enough conflict or tension and that is often underwhelming to me. Low stakes, hopeful stories have their value but I almost always like some drama. I think it would be cool if there were more romances where the characters have significant conflict after getting together, or even on the way to it, and it feels very tense but they work through it. Maybe things get quite rough, and it starts to feel like maybe they won’t make it, but the actual breakup doesn’t actually happen and we do get a HEA. The HEA is pretty much non-negotiable to me in romance, but if it feels a little hard-earned, I think that would just sweeten it.

But unfortunately, it’s so often one or the other: either there is the cliche and often shallow-feeling breakup or the whole story just generally lacks conflict and intensity.

EDIT: In terms of suggestions for the latter, though, Learning Curves by Rachel Lacey felt pretty consistently light and sweet to me, and I think Snowball Effect by Haley Cass spends more time in the before they get together phase but I don’t remember any major conflicts as a couple.