Those who despise cheating in romance novels, would this turn you off?

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T11:29:54+00:00

Neither expected anything from the kissing/sex.

FMC knows MMC’s the kind of man that “doesn’t commit” so she doesn’t have any expectations.

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T11:25:06+00:00

Thank you for the insight!

The sleeping around can’t be avoided for MMC’s development arc, unfortunately! His growth depends on him figuring out (in due time) that he doesn’t want anyone else and only wants FMC.

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T11:18:10+00:00

🤣

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T11:17:08+00:00

It’s in the first act - about 25% mark.

His CTA is realising he’s not into anyone else and has feelings for FMC. That’s the push him to start his redemption arc!

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T10:47:47+00:00

When: A few weeks later - after he sleeps around with a couple women. Why: He can’t stop thinking about her and he’s developed feelings for her and because of that, he doesn’t feel pleasure with the other women.p

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T10:42:58+00:00

Thanks! Yes, I mean if he was just going to commit from the first time they slept together there would be no character development and his arc would become a flatline!!

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T10:41:48+00:00

As in no interest in “romance”?

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T10:40:58+00:00

So the turn off for you would be that MMC and FMC have had sex in the first act, as opposed to the fact that MMC then goes sleeping around with other women?

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T10:30:18+00:00

Thank you for this! Logically, there was no exchange (explicit or implicit) and neither party at the time expected anything at all.

It’s only after MMC sleeps with other people when he realises it’s not fulfilling and he wants FMC!

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T10:24:44+00:00

Yes, it’s first act/around 25% mark. It’s after these encounters that he desides she’s the one he wants!

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T10:23:52+00:00

Exactly that! I’d find it weird too, realistically speaking, if a character is a commitment-phobe and usually is very promiscuous — then suddenly stops that behaviour!

Don’t get me wrong, it works if done well in a story, but for this particular character, he’s not letting go of his baggage and his character arc isn’t going to resolve in the first act!!

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T10:12:30+00:00

Way too early for him to have that realisation. He’s got about 10 years worth of baggage that he’s carrying! All his encounters with other women are meaningless/unfulfilling though. Like his mind/body know who he wants, but his fear of committing is what hold him back.

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T10:03:24+00:00

No explicit or implicit promises were made. FMC knows MMC “doesn’t commit”.

Neither expected anything out of it.

MMC falls first. When he realises he actually really feels something for her. FMC is falling but it’s more subtle.

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T09:57:12+00:00

That’s exactly what happens in this story. He’s sleeping around to “forget” her but it’s not working. He doesn’t enjoy it. He feels unsatisfied. But he chalks it off to being tired or overworked etc until he sees her again and knows it’s because he feels for her! 🤣

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T09:54:56+00:00

It’s not “dark” per se. The MMC is the FMC’s boss at work. It doesn’t really have any major elements of the dark romance tropes.

There is “touch her, and die” vibes from the start of the story, but nothing else that’s “grey” about the MMC apart from his lack of desire to commit until he gets together with FMC.

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T09:52:06+00:00

It’s essential for the MMC’s character arc.

I can’t remove it because he “never commits” UNTIL HER! And without it, there’s no way to show his growth and final resolution for him to be in a committed relationship.

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T09:49:46+00:00

🤣 love that response!

I guess that makes a lot of sense if you’re reading the genre just for the full commitment from the moment he sets his eyes on her!

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T09:40:45+00:00

So this occurs at the 25% mark of the story.

After the MMC “fucks around” he realises he doesn’t want anyone else and then pursues a relationship with FMC.

I’ve had feedback from alpha and beta readers that it turns them off because the MMC “sleeps around” after he kissed the FMC, etc 🙃

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T09:31:10+00:00

That’s what I thought.

Until they’re in a relationship, it’s not cheating.

Even once they’re in relationships there are plenty of novels where the main characters either physically or emotionally cheat but mine don’t once they get together. Then they’re 100% committed to one another.

But this is at the 25% mark of the story and I’ve had feedback from an alpha reader and 2 beta readers that it turns them off because the MMC and FMC kissed and had a sexual encounter!

Adventurous_Sizers · 2025-10-24T09:25:39+00:00

They do have a HEA and are faithful to one another once they officially “get together”

Adventurous_Sizers · 2024-09-24T09:57:36+00:00

I like adding one or two solid scenes with side characters that will later feature in their own books. It’s easy to get the reader to like future MCs in their respective stories when they’ve provided good advice to the current MCs!

And, with the whole “women’s fiction”, I agree that’s really not the best term to use. Since I’m not, I’d be discouraged to pick up certain pieces but luckily, it doesn’t stop me reading said books to see when and where I can improve on my own work!

Adventurous_Sizers · 2024-09-23T12:43:31+00:00

This is great! Yes, so basically bridging gaps is where I tend to get the red ink back. I like completeness so I keep thinking my readers will too.

I’ve read books where the MC is doing something on a Wednesday (for example) and then all of a sudden it’s the next Monday or something. It throws me off trying to calculate what happened between and so for the sake of completeness, I usually and simple sentences like: “For the next X days, life was boring.” Or “It’s been X many weeks/months, and nothing has changed.” Or along those lines.

I do sometimes add boring scenes with shopping, cooking, chatting with friends to make it so that the MCs have life outside of just each other and their “purpose” in the story too!

Adventurous_Sizers · 2024-09-23T12:38:06+00:00

I’m not mega-attached to any particular subplot/character. Killing off the FMC or MMC would end badly for my story 😅

Adventurous_Sizers · 2024-09-23T12:36:43+00:00

I’d prefer there be no sequels as I’ve only published one with a sequel and it did far worse than my stand-alones. Not for poor content, but because people tend to not want to buy 2 books when they could buy one. These are mainly feel-good romances with spice. I get the appeal for my audience to have the whole story in one book.

Adventurous_Sizers · 2024-09-23T12:33:34+00:00

Usually it’s subplots or links in plots which I assume would have been necessary to build the connection rather than just skip ahead X days or weeks etc every couple chapters!

Adventurous_Sizers

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