MMC refuses to define the relationship, so she fucking leaves him

The refusal to “dtr” can happen publicly through the MMC not acknowledging the FMC as a girlfriend, partner, or even friend. It can also happen through a private conversation where MMC tries to weasel his way out of commitment to her despite their every interaction prior to that moment.

Regardless of how the refusal happens, I want the FMC to be blindsided by it. So, no “I can never fall in love with you, this is only ever a friends with benefits from the start” MMCs.

Ideally the FMC “fucking leaving him” happens early in the book, not during a third act breakup. The FMC shouldn’t fold at the first halfhearted “I’m sorry 🥺”. The MMC will need to WORK (beg, crawl, cry, display meaningful change, etc.) to prove himself and regain her trust. So hopefully he has lots of narrative space to do so.

Some books that almost hit the mark include {When He’s Alpha by Suzanne Wright} — the book opens with the FMC breaking off the FWB relationship she has with the MMC because she caught feelings and he was up front that he’d never commit. Love that the breakup happens so early in the book, but it doesn’t have the blindsided moment I was looking for. (I also don’t particularly love the way Wright writes, especially about other women.)

{Before Jamaica Lane by Samantha Lane} has a commitment-phobe MMC who ends up begging, but him not wanting a relationship was clear from the beginning.

Open to any subgenre!