Blog #5: What Makes A Romance?

You might have noticed a pattern, a sort of checklist if you will, if you’ve read a handful of romances (especially contemporary romances).

Although it involves four acts instead of three, the romance structure essentially works similarly to the traditional narrative structure with the exception of having the budding and building connection be the main plot. The first act is The Meet Cute. The story begins with the love interests bumping into each other, whether it’s for the first time, after an amount of time away, or what have you. The FMC (female main character) and MMC (male main character) usually has something at stake, a project, a goal, or sticky situation they’re desperately trying to get out of. The “cosmic glue” of coincidence and circumstances binds them together for the second act: Falling In Love. The following Third-Act Breakup brings out all their doubts and internal wounds into the light, causing a rift that pushes them away from each other seemingly for good. Dark days, nights, and months fly by while they grapple with the fact that they brought this upon themselves. Which brings us to the fourth and final act: Fighting For Love. The heroes realize they have to take action, choosing love over fear. Cue the grand gestures, mad dash to the airport, and lavish display of love! Remember, love always wins. A romance wouldn’t be complete without the heroes getting their Happily Ever After.

Let’s discuss each act in more depth.

**Spoilers beyond**

Act 1: The Meet Cute

When you hear “meet cute” what is a scene that plays out in your mind? A little office tumble, a pair of glasses gone askew along with some spilled coffee? A brush of fingers and a glance held for perhaps a bit too long? It’s a tried and true scene that we all adore. Nowadays, there are lots of creative variations to the meet cute. Many of them play off specific tropes, lending to unique set ups that makes for a fun start to the story.

Let’s look at an example of a classic meet cute. In The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews, the first chapter starts off with Evelyn visiting a famous dressmaker’s shop. She’s unchaperoned, a strange sight for a Victorian woman about the city, but she’s on a mission. Upon hearing her request, the shop owner rejects her and asks her to leave. Their bickering prompts another dressmaker out of the backroom to see the woman who won’t take no for an answer. It turns out Mr. Malik, the gentleman now speaking with Evelyn, is the one who made all the women’s riding habits that brought so much attention to the shop. He agrees to take on her dress order thus sparking up their relationship as client and dressmaker and inevitable sweethearts.

Another example of a meet cute that’s been popular is having the love interests already familiar with each other. And absolutely HATE each other. Perfect for the Enemies/Rivals to Lovers trope. In The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood, Delphie and Cooper are tenants of the same apartment complex, and their disdain for each other stemmed from a misunderstanding when Delphie tried to confront Cooper with a noise complaint. When Delphie is presented with a life-or-death mission, she is forced to look to her downstairs neighbor for the help she desperately needs, entangling them together on a wild goose chase.

Act 2: Falling in Love

I love seeing characters fall helplessly in love despite themselves. And what makes this act sing is the RESISTANCE to the pull! Both FMC and MMC should have a reason of some sort for why they shouldn’t fall in love or an unshakable truth about themselves that prevents them from experiencing love. Or maybe they have something to lose. All of this makes for an enticing push and pull as they spend more time together.

Going back to The Siren of Sussex, the second act is beautifully executed as a gentle, slow-burn. With each fitting appointment, their initial attraction blooms into a friendship, a partnership, and finally, an undeniable yearning. The intimate setting of these appointments allows them to get to know each other better, their motivations and goals, their insecurities and fears, each revelation further binding them together.

In After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez, (yes, I’m mentioning this book again because it is excellent), Alex and Jeremiah are both fighting for the bar. When it becomes clear that the building might be stolen right underneath them by a city bully, the two begrudgingly combine their efforts to save the bar. During this time, they learn more about each other in ways they never thought possible with empathy giving into understanding friendship and forced proximity into steamy desire.

Act 3: Breakup/Retreating from Love

This is the ultimate test of love. The stakes are finally coming to a head, highlighting the characters at their ultimate crossroads. Which path will they take? Will this completely shatter them or will they find ways to make it work, to make love work? In the darkest hours of the breakup, they must grapple with what truly matters most.

A great example of this can be found in Keep Me by Sara Cate. Originally, the marriage of convenience was a way for Sylvie to obtain the money she needed to get out of her situation. It was also a way for Killian’s sister to get the family mansion from her brother without his knowledge. As the end of the one year contract approaches, Sylvie realizes she can’t follow through with it because she truly cares for the man she fake-married. Unfortunately, he finds out about the scheme before she gets the chance to tell him the truth and confess the very real love she feels for him, breaking his trust of her and in them. They nullify the contract and Sylvie is sent back to the States. During this time, the two cope with their mistakes and regrets while they attempt to forget and move on.

There are many romances out there that tackle this act differently while still hitting the mark. The Love of My Afterlife accomplishes this. The third-act breakup in this novel is less of a breakup and more of a . . . car crash. The event separates them, with Cooper in a tragic coma, and during that time they each grapple with their "truths" about themselves and each other, leaving both of them realizing their follies and cherishing each other more at the end. 

Act 4: Fighting for Love/Happily Ever After

With some wisdom from friends, family, or mentors, the FMC/MMC finally gets the golden epiphany to risk it all to get their soulmate back. Whether it’s a chase, a tender moment between them, or a wild and grand gesture, this is the scene the entire story has been building up to. Make it meaningful (and worth it for the readers).

In Keep Me, after ending the contract and sending Sylvie away, Killian spends time working through his issues. He goes to therapy, develops better habits, and makes changes that count. He wants to be the best version of himself for when he next sees Sylvie to reclaim her as his real wife. He surprises her by giving up the family mansion, something he would never do, and showing up on her front steps.

In The Siren of Sussex, Mr. Malik proves his devotion for Evelyn by making an appearance at a ball she was attending, daring anyone to stop him. For him, he is risking it all, including the success of his dressmaking business, to be with his darling. This gesture is meaningful to Evelyn because he proved to her that in the end he is willing to overcome the status quo and choose her over everything.

❧

Thank you for reading! I hope you found it illuminating. If you enjoyed this blog post, please share to anyone looking to craft a romance story!

Books mentioned:

After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez (Open Door/Steamy)

Keep Me by Sara Cate (Spicy/Erotic)

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood (Open Door/Steamy)

The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews (Clean/Sweet)

Bonus! Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes is a book I highly recommend for all romance authors! Not only does Hayes go over the four-act structure, she also discusses the beats within each act that make those heart-felt moments in a romance special. Check it out! Until next time, happy reading and writing 📚💕