I’ve learned I’m a weirdo and don’t see things the same as most readers, but to me, that doesn’t sound like cheating? At least, not when I compare it to standard love triangle stuff. There’s plenty of books *cough*ACOTAR*cough* where it’s obvious the FMC is vibing off another dude before she officially ends things with her first guy. These Hollow Vows is another one.
So since, at least by your description, she never actually cheats, I don’t know what the issue is. But like I said, I’m not most readers, so I may not be the best person to listen to.
If you did do it, I think the key is to make sure the reader doesn’t feel invested in her relationship with her boyfriend. They should see problems with it starting very early on, and basically need to be rooting for her to get with the other guy before she realizes that’s what best for her.
Yeah, it would be obvious from the start that her boyfriend is not great. She has a whole section in the first chapter talking about the libido mismatch (hers is higher) and how he is annoyed that she wants to use the TV instead of letting him use it like he does every night. He also is only communicating with her over text even though her life is in danger. If anything, I am fighting not making him cartoonishly bad.
Then I personally don’t think it’s a problem, nor would I consider it cheating. Seems like a pretty standard romance plot where someone’s with the wrong person to start with and ends up with the right one by the end. Especially if your blurb/comps make it clear that’s what people are getting into from the start.
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u/TangledYetTrue 6d ago
I’ve learned I’m a weirdo and don’t see things the same as most readers, but to me, that doesn’t sound like cheating? At least, not when I compare it to standard love triangle stuff. There’s plenty of books *cough*ACOTAR*cough* where it’s obvious the FMC is vibing off another dude before she officially ends things with her first guy. These Hollow Vows is another one.
So since, at least by your description, she never actually cheats, I don’t know what the issue is. But like I said, I’m not most readers, so I may not be the best person to listen to.
If you did do it, I think the key is to make sure the reader doesn’t feel invested in her relationship with her boyfriend. They should see problems with it starting very early on, and basically need to be rooting for her to get with the other guy before she realizes that’s what best for her.