Hello?

I wanted to know about Patrick and Alice’s relationship, In the books, Alice and Patrick do eventually break up ( even though they end up together in the end) I wanted to know why their breakup dragged on for so long? Reading back on the beginning books Alice and Patrick were practically obsessed with each other so I was confused as to why it seemed like they lost interest in one another or how their relationship broke up so easily?

They were exploring other aspects of their lives, and very wisely, I think.  Patrick, obviously, wanted the experience of living abroad, and Alice–with Patrick gone–felt the need to explore another relationship.  The fact that they felt so intensely happy when they met up again made their decision to marry convince them that they were right for each other.