The Best “Unfinished Business” Romances

 

Because some exes never really stay in the past…

There’s something about a romance rooted in unfinished business that hits so differently. Maybe it’s the history. Maybe it’s the heartbreak. But when two people who once meant everything to each other are suddenly face-to-face again? Yeah… I’m all in.

Whether it ended in silence, shouting, or sheer devastation, one thing is certain: they weren’t finished. And watching that kind of tension boil over into a second chance—or a second explosion—is pure reader catnip.

Why This Trope Works So Damn Well

Unfinished business romances thrive on raw emotion. These couples have:

– A shared past they can’t outrun

– Unresolved tension that simmers just beneath the surface

– Moments where a single look says, “I remember everything.”

It’s not just about rekindling a flame. It’s about navigating what was never dealt with—and finding out if the love they had still stands after everything.

Book Recs: My Favorite “We’re Not Done” Romances

💔 Before We Were Strangers by Renée Carlino

College lovers torn apart by circumstance meet again years later in a subway station. Emotional, lyrical, unforgettable.

💔 Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Academic rivals… who used to be something more. When their paths cross again, old wounds and unexpected chemistry collide.

💔 Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

A lakehouse, a teenage love story, and a betrayal that ruined everything. Years later, they’re both back—and nothing is the same.

💔 The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

Okay, technically they’re not exes, but that reunion scene will ruin you. Talk about tension and unfinished emotion.

💔 Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker

Camp sweethearts turned strangers, now back in each other’s orbit in a world that doesn’t make it easy. So many feels.

Sneak Peek: 

The Ex I Never Got Over

Here’s a tiny taste of my current WIP—because you know I couldn’t write this post without diving in myself:

I don’t expect to see him at the wedding.

I definitely don’t expect to be seated at the same damn table.

But there he is—smirking like he didn’t leave me broken on a bathroom floor three years ago.

“Long time,” he says.

I grab my champagne and lift my chin.

“Not long enough.”

Full of unresolved tension, sharp dialogue, and the kind of chemistry that never really died, The Ex I Never Got Over is my love letter to all of us who wanted to scream “we’re not done” at someone who walked away too soon.

 

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Your Turn:

What’s your favorite “unfinished business” romance?

Drop your recs in the comments—I’m always down for more emotional damage. 💔