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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/43874
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/43874
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Whether your novel is in the Romance genre or just a book where romance is the central topic, it's all about how you define your characters and their goals.

We the readers need to know what would make them happy. At least what the characters believe will make them happy. If the reader assumes what they want is love (in the mainstream sense of settling down to a happy coupled relationship) then, when the character doesn't get that, the reader will not consider it a happy ending.

Perhaps one character wants marriage and children. In mainstream work, this is exactly what she would get (if the ending is happy). But you can show the reader that her real focus is being a mom. Then if the book ends with her pregnant with a co-parenting arrangement in place with the dad (they could buy a duplex together), that could be over the moon happiness for all of them. With proper foreshadowing, the reader will accept that too.

In other cases, you can show that the dating arrangements among the 4 was a valued and important learning experience but not what any of them wanted longterm. You might want to frame something like this with the characters happy (and/or happily coupled) in the future and maybe still in touch but not together (or make a reunion 20 years later). With the framing, the reader will not expect the characters end up with each other.

Note: With the caveat that the Romance genre is pretty specific about the arc of a story and your alternatives may not fly there. I realize it's not the genre you're aiming for but wanted to mention it for others.

Original score: 9