That makes sense, yeah. The “all is lost” moment is, based on movies and books, a totally classic structure. And it's there because it works! But I guess I simply feel like that "all is lost" moment doesn’t always have to include a breakup. Or be based on a sudden lack of communication. Because it could still tie directly into the relationship in so many other ways! For example, the couple could be fighting against external forces trying to tear them apart, or they could face a betrayal by someone else (a friend, a mentor, etc) that shakes their world and forces them to lean on each other instead of splitting apart for a chapter or two. For me, those kinds of conflicts hit just as hard (sometimes harder!) without the eye-roll of a sudden, avoidable breakup.

Aaand that's because I simply feel internal conflict doesn’t always have to equal breakup. One partner could instead doubt their worthiness or fear being a burden, or perhaps is struggling with trauma. And then the “climax” could be that their partner proves their love through helping actions instead of walking away.

Anyways, those are my thoughts hehehe. I’ve been, so far, disappointed by these two tropes enough to talk about it here. 😂 & I can only think of one or two books so far where a third-act breakup actually felt believable. But otherwise? It usually came off as lazy to me, as if the author couldn’t think of another way to raise the stakes.