In psychology, there is a concept known as —the phenomenon where people who endure extreme stress together form bonds that are exponentially stronger than those formed in comfort. The forced repack is a narrative engine for manufactured post-traumatic growth.

While not a romance, this novel showcases the forced repack of Mark Watney on Mars. His "relationship" is with NASA, and later his crew. The emotional climax occurs when the crew chooses to turn the ship around (breaking protocol) to rescue him. The repack (being stuck alone) forces the crew to realize they cannot live with leaving a man behind. That choice is more romantic than most romance novels. Part VII: Writing Your Own Forced Repack – Three Golden Rules For writers looking to harness this trope for a better romantic storyline, follow these rules:

And isn't that what we all want? Not the grand ballroom, but the person who will hold your hand in the dark while the elevator creaks, and then, when the doors finally open, refuses to let go. So the next time you see a blizzard warning, a broken spaceship, or a mysterious old cabin in the woods—lean in. The forced repack is coming. And it’s about to deliver the best love story you’ve ever read.

In bad forced-repack stories, the moment the door opens, the characters kiss, roll credits. This is lazy. In great forced-repack stories, the door opens, and everything falls apart.

In Western culture, the average "intimate zone" (reserved for lovers and family) is about 1.5 feet. In a forced repack—a tiny rowboat, a prison cell, a malfunctioning escape pod—that zone is zero. They breathe the same air. Their knees touch. They smell each other's sweat and fear.