Why Readers HATE The Third-Act Breakup

Romance, like any genre, has its conventions. That dependability is what keeps readers coming back. A romance without a happily-ever-after ending or, at a minimum, a happily-for-now is going to get raked across the firiest of coals by its audience.

There are also tropes that won't appear in every romance novel but tend to be reliable favorites for those who seek them out, like enemies-to-lovers and office romances.

And then, you've got the tropes and genre conventions that readers hate. Or are at least tired of seeing.

Perhaps one of the most commonly disliked in romance is the third-act breakup. Simply put, this is a scene in which the love interests break up, often because a conflict has come to a head, only to get back together a few chapters later and ride off into the sunset.

Every story needs its conflict, and breaking off your characters' budding romance can heighten the tension, but the third-act breakup is one conflict many readers have grown weary of. So much so that if you search for videos about the third-act breakup on YouTube, you'll be met by an abundance of creators recommending books that don't feature third-act breakups.

In this post, I'm highlighting some of the reasons readers are breaking up with the third-act breakup in romance, plus a few tips for getting it right.

It's Predictable

Genre conventions give readers a sense of what they can expect when picking up a book. Sci-fi readers know they'll likely get advanced tech doing cool things or causing chaos because humankind got too ambitious, and fantasy readers likely expect magic to do the same. Cozy mystery readers can rest assured that any criminal activity won't be grisly and gory. Romance readers, as mentioned above, can count on a happy ending and swoon-worthy moments.

This kind of predictability can be a comfort. But when it comes to third-act breakups, it can be a problem. We know it's coming. Like, Oh, it's the 75% mark. Right on schedule...

Which brings me to my next point...

Lessened Stakes

Even though third-act breakups are often used to heighten tension, their predictability can actually lower the stakes of your story.

We know that the characters are going to get back together, so this sudden breakup can feel like an unnecessary hurdle just there for the drama because you've come to that point in the beat sheet and need something to happen.

It's Contrived And Cliché

Another reason that readers are over the third-act breakup is that it can come out of nowhere, making it feel forced.

Third-act breakups can sometimes read like a plot device that lacks emotional weight and doesn't challenge your characters. And if characters aren't sufficiently challenged, their happy ending won't feel earned.

This is especially true when the cause for the third-act breakup feels adjacent to ongoing conflicts rather than the result of them. If it's been smooth sailing for your characters for the past 120 pages, and everything suddenly comes crashing down because of something that wasn't foreshadowed previously, your readers will take notice.

Especially if it's something that can be easily resolved.

The Miscommunication Trope

As you might recall from a previous post, I don't actually hate the miscommunication trope as much as other romance readers—but that's with a caveat: it needs to feel organic.

Miscommunication is a common culprit of third-act breakups. Something gets misconstrued, there's an argument, things get blown out of proportion, and the characters split. One of the chief complaints levied against the miscommunication trope is how, nine times out of ten, it can be easily resolved if the characters would just sit down and have a chat. When one shared vexation is the basis of another, it can suck the enjoyment out of the read.

Pacing Problems

Third-act breakups can also mess with your story's pacing. I can't tell you how many times I've felt that bit of whiplash when characters go from being perfectly fine to anguish to being perfectly fine again.

As predictable as the third-act breakup is, the cause of it in any particular romance is what can make it feel disjointed if it isn't foreshadowed well.

Similarly, if this breakup scene comes too late in the story, there isn't enough time to explore the fallout, allow your characters that opportunity for emotional growth that can make the third-act breakup worth it for readers, or have a believable reconciliation. That all feels rushed and, potentially, pointless.

The Fallout

The trouble with third-act breakups isn't limited to the breakup itself. You've also got the fallout. How your characters get back together (as they inevitably will).

Just as the breakup itself can interfere with your pacing, the fallout and resolution can feel rushed or forced. If your characters are getting back together almost as quickly as they broke things off, your readers might ask themselves if there was even a point to their breakup to begin with.

There needs to be ample space for individual reflection and making amends. A quick apology and reset of the relationship followed by a three-page epilogue isn't going to cut it.

Especially if you want to avoid questions like...

Does This Romance Even Have A Leg To Stand On?

Every romantic couple (or polyamorous romance) has its share of arguments. In a healthy relationship, these disagreements can be worked through, even if it takes a little time and some uncomfortable conversations, and you and your significant other will likely be in a better place than before.

When the third-act breakup is the result of a petty squabble, readers might be inclined to wonder if the characters are actually compatible or if we actually want them to be together in the end.

While I haven't seen it yet, one of my favorite things that I've heard about High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is the revelation that Troy and Gabriella are going to couples therapy. Because, let's face it, that is totally realistic given their propensity to break up in every film, often because of a miscommunication.

If a minor mishap caused them to crash out this much, what happens when life gets hard? In a genre where readers want that assurance that love conquers all, that line of questioning is the last thing you want.

Tips For Writing The Third-Act Breakup

Love it or hate it, third-act breakups are a romance staple. If you're planning to include one in your own WIP, here are some tips for writing one that won't have readers falling completely out of love with your story.

• Plant the seeds early — one of the biggest points of contention with third-act breakups is that they can feel like clockwork while simultaneously coming out of nowhere. Foreshadowing the breakup by carefully hinting at its cause (and fallout) keeps things moving at a good clip without throwing your readers for a loop. Ask yourself: what fear, flaw, or wound in each character would realistically cause friction down the road? Then, build on it.

  
  

• Balancing internal and external conflict — as a reader, I've found that breakup scenes work best when they tap into the heart of each character's being. Whether it's a mistake or a poor decision on one character's part that harms the other, or something external that's beyond their control, go deeper. Understand your character's vulnerabilities and beliefs and build the breakup on those. This helps cement the breakup as part of a larger emotional journey than a plot device.

  
  

• Make it meaningful — in other words, avoid things that can be resolved with a text message. It's not the misunderstanding that annoys readers; it's the flimsy ones that they mind. The breakup needs to challenge your characters in the moment and as they grow back to each other.

  
  

• Make them lie in the bed they've made — the only thing that annoys me more than a rushed breakup is a rushed reconciliation. Give your characters sufficient time to wrestle with regrets and reflect on the relationship because...

  
  

• The reunion needs to feel EARNED — a romance novel is essentially the story of people falling in love no matter the odds and facing those odds together. We need to see them overcome trials and fight for their HEA. If they break up in the third act and get back together at the snap of a finger because, to borrow from Cinemasins, the plot demands it, it won't be as satisfying for readers. Give your characters an appropriate amount of time to wallow in their pity and come to terms with what needs to change in order for them to grow not only on an individual level but together as significant others. Even the grandest of grand gestures can feel meaningless if the reconciliation reads like checking off a box on your beat sheet.

The relationship at the heart of a romance novel needs to be tested. However, the third-act breakup might just end up testing your reader's patience instead. Like any scene in a novel, the third-act breakup needs to be written with intentionality.

How do you feel about the third-act breakup? Have you read any books that get it right (or have gotten it astronomically wrong)? Share your thoughts in the comments!