From animated romantic comedies to romantasies, you won’t want to skip these seven romance TV shows. Because they generally cater to women, romance books, movies, and TV shows have historically been devalued. However, Hollywood has finally started giving romance stories the respect that they've always deserved.
The best romance stories create a couple that's worth rooting for and then give them complex relationship dynamics and obstacles to overcome. They make use of tropes while keeping the story unique. They balance joy and conflicts. They build the chemistry of the main characters over time.
The standards for great romances are high, but these seven romance TV shows have everything necessary to succeed. You won't want to miss them!
7 Before I Let Go
Kennedy Ryan is an incredible writer, and her must-read Skyland book series is in development as a TV show with Peacock. The three interconnected books focus on the romances of three best friends named Yasmen, Soledad, and Hendrix.
Before I Let Go is a second-chance romance between the divorced co-parents and business co-owners Yasmen and Josiah. The forbidden romance book This Could Be Us follows Soledad as she falls for Judah, the forensic accountant who uncovered her husband’s crimes. Lastly, Can’t Get Enough follows an ambitious and successful woman named Hendrix who unexpectedly falls for Maverick.
Ryan creates stories that are romantic, steamy, and emotionally resonant. There’s a realness to them, as they aren’t afraid to explore serious topics. However, they don’t feel heavy. The TV show could easily weave the three stories together rather than following them one at a time, much like Bridgerton does. If the Before I Let Go TV show captures the beauty of the books, it will be a must-watch.
6 I Want To End This Love Game
Most popular anime started out as manga, so manga fans often long for their favorite stories to become TV shows. One web manga called I Want To End This Love Game, which was released in Japanese and English, is becoming a series this year.
Since their childhood, best friends Yukiya Asagi and Miku Sakura have played a love game. They say “I love you” in different situations, trying to fluster one another. Whoever blushes and gets flustered the most loses. They’ve continued the game into their teen years, and they’re now secretly harboring true feelings for one another.
I Want To End This Love Game is flirty and super steamy, despite not having sex scenes. The manga includes one of the most iconic scenes in a rom-com. If they do it right, the anime adaptation will be one of the most popular anime in years.
5 Every Year After
Prime Video’s The Summer I Turned Pretty TV show might be finished, but the perfect replacement, Every Year After, is coming to the streamer this year. The show is based on the book Every Summer After by Carley Fortune, which was released in 2022 and became a New York Times bestseller.
Set in Barry’s Bay, Ontario, Sam and Percy experience love for the first time across six summers. After one bad choice, they split. However, they meet again when Percy comes back to the beachside town for one weekend. They’re left to question whether forgiveness is possible and love can be sparked again.
Every Year After will be a fantastic romance show you won’t want to miss. The visuals are bound to be drop-dead gorgeous, considering they filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, which also doubles as the setting for Virgin River in Netflix’s titular romance show. It’s the perfect place to fall in love. Plus, Every Year After cast Sadie Soverall and Matt Cornett as Percy and Sam. The two up-and-coming actors have so much potential.
4 Fourth Wing
Romantasy is the most popular genre on BookTok, and many of the stories have been picked up for movie and TV adaptations. The most exciting upcoming show in the genre is Prime Video’s Fourth Wing, which will adapt the bestselling Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros.
The spicy, dark academia series follows a young woman named Violet Sorrengail, who is forced by her mother, General Lilith Sorrengail, to attend the ruthless and violent Basgaith War College, which trains dragon riders. While she competes in deadly competitions, she finds herself simultaneously hating and falling for her biggest competitor, Xaden Riorsan.
Fourth Wing has strong potential to rival Game of Thrones with its dragon battles, political intrigue, and romance. The author is also an executive producer on the show, increasing the likelihood of a faithful adaptation. Plus, Prime Video’s budget allows for stunning visual effects and cinematography. Though still in early development, Fourth Wing is a series you won't want to miss.
3 The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t A Guy At All
LGBTQ+ anime typically features yoai, also called boy love, romances. However, Sapphics are gaining more representation with yuri shows. One of the most exciting was announced last year. The manga The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t A Guy At All, known for its black-and-white sketch-style and lime green visuals, is becoming an anime.
The TV show follows the budding romance between Aya Oosawa, a teenage music fanatic, and Mitsuki Koga, a record store clerk. The two connect over their love of classic rock ‘n’ roll. Aya doesn’t recognize her classmate Mitsuki, who wears a hoodie and face mask at work, and thinks she’s a guy. Mitsuki hears Aya admit her crush while in class, and she must decide whether to reveal her true identity.
The interactions between Aya and Mitsuki are extremely adorable, and the characters display an excited jitteriness that feels true to a new crush. The artwork is gorgeous, providing a strong framework for the animation. Plus, The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t A Guy At All could have one of the best soundtracks in an anime.
2 Off-Campus
Although they’ve been popular in writing for a decade, sports romances have become an absolute hit on TV since Heated Rivalry became a worldwide phenomenon. The next steamy hockey romance story to come to the small screen is the Off-Campus book series by Elle Kennedy.
Each of the first four books of Off-Campus focuses on a different romantic couple, with all the major men love interests playing on the Briar University hockey team. The first book follows the budding romance between songwriter Hannah and the star player, Garrett. This is also where Prime Video’s Off-Campus series will start.
Author Elle Kennedy has provided plenty of updates and behind-the-scenes videos on her TikTok account, increasing the excitement. The two main cast members, Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli, seem to have fantastic chemistry based on the small clips. Plus, the Off-Campus books are just as spicy as Heated Rivalry, which will undoubtedly appeal to most audiences. It's truly one of the most exciting romance shows based on books.
1 From Blood & Ash
Fourth Wing might be the most hyped upcoming romantasy adaptation in the works, but From Blood & Ash is equally as exciting and could be just as successful. The book series has five books already released, with two more on the way. The series has hit the New York Times bestsellers list multiple times, and the next two are expected to be just as popular.
The series's protagonist, Poppy Balfour, has been raised from birth to become a Maiden who “ascends” at the instruction of the gods. (I will refrain from explaining ascension because that’s a spoiler.) In preparation for the ascension ceremony, she has remained untouched and solitary. However, all this changes when she meets Hawke, a guard tasked with ensuring her ascension.
From Blood & Ash features incredible worldbuilding, strong characters, and plenty of political conflicts to keep the story going. On top of that, the BookTok favorite is packed with explicit, open-door spicy scenes that are perfect for TV, especially after the success of Heated Rivalry. From Blood & Ash will truly be phenomenal if they pick the right cast and invest in bringing the fantasy world to life.