Favorite romances ♥

I really like competent couples, and these two were a perfect example. ML is high up in the secret police and FL is a former entertainer who now runs a tea shop with her friends. They're both clever and strong willed and they inspire each other to keep going. They're also really cute T_T I love when you can see how much a fictional couple just enjoys being together and talking with each other, and that's definitely in this romance. It's very warm and a slower burn. I wish they had even more screen time lol. They're so good.

This show has a crazy premise- what if you got your face swapped with another woman and had to marry her fiance?- but the romance is what really sold the show for me. The leads are both massively talented heavyweights, bringing a wonderfully moving and tender love story into this wacky minidrama.

The twist to their relationship is a fantastic piece of drama and it's executed so satisfyingly. I love how enamored ML is of FL really early on and how he wins her affections, figures out her secrets, and still trusts her. SO refreshing to see a tough general ML wholly on his wife's side, trusting her no matter what, supporting her, believing the best of her. Because of course she's a good-hearted person, and life has dealt her a cruel hand. It was so lovely to see this good guy come into her life and change it for the better (and for her to change his life too!)

Underrated minidrama gem.

Ahhh I have such mixed feelings for this show, because the plot disappointed me in the end but the romance was top notch. Despite everything, I loved them and I recommend the show.

FL is a clever, practical and tough young lady, who gets described as "spoiled" a lot but I never felt that from her. She seems more like she knows her own mind and what she wants. She has some understandable reservations about getting married, and ML has to work to prove he's worth the risk.

And he is just amazing too. ML is a quietly charismatic schemer, intelligent and sly, and seeing him open up to her over the course of the show was lovely. I love how he has this sort of humbly quiet persona but it masks a razor sharp mind, and FL recognizes that from the beginning and is intimidated (and attracted but she doesn't realize that yet.)

A lovely slow burn, but not so slow that it takes forever lol. AMAZING chemistry. Just thinking about them makes my heart flutter. What I loved most is that ML always treats her with respect for her intelligence and skills, even in the beginning when he isn't actually pursuing her. Despite their unequal social stations (he's older than her and wields considerable political power) he never lords it over her or talks down to her. He's constantly deferring to her, interested in what she thinks, and respectful of her wishes. Age gap romance, but they don't dig into that aspect very much.

The overarching plot kind of fell apart at the end, and many intriguing character arcs and story threads were never fully wrapped up. So you may find that frustrating, as well as some overused story beats.

But the romance is so wonderful I love to rewatch it, and I highly recommend that romance lovers give it a try.

Watching this show was like experiencing the first cool rainstorm in autumn after a long, dry summer. So refreshing and so sweet. I loved both the leads and supporting couple; both were wonderful to watch develop throughout the story.

This is one of my favorite slice of life romances ever! I loved seeing FL encourage ML and hype him up, and I loved seeing ML admire how cool FL was. They were SO cute together, you can just see how much they love spending time with each other, how much the other person relaxes them and makes them happy. They make each other's lives better and brighter.

I also loved how their personal gender expressions played into the romance, it was done very thoughtfully and with real affection from the writers IMO. Neither of them were ever played as a joke for having preferences different from society's norm. ML even gets a scene or two where he talks about how people like him exist, they are not a trend or a joke. FL adores him as he is! I honestly cried! It was such a lovely show.

If you want a slice of life romance that's genuinely sweet, a bit different, and leaves you feeling hopeful and reminded of the beauty of life, I recommend this one :)

Okayyy this romance starts off very fun and intriguing, best of the best in transmigration romances, and they have so much great banter and humor throughout the show. But the emotional center of it is quite heartbreaking... ML truly wants the best for her and admires her and there are some very awful circumstances that seem to hold them apart. FL is amazing and refuses to give up on him and together they forge their futures. The yearning and longing is really something else and I enjoyed their dynamic a lot! Happy ending despite what you may expect.

A lovely romance with a notable role reversal undercurrent (they definitely leaned into it, IMO-- he's the mysterious pretty boy and she's the badass legendary warrior) that turns tenderly devoted as they become each other's refuge. I love their flirty banter, their friendship, and how much they admire and enjoy each other! So many sweet moments as they fall in love over the course of the story. One of my favorite scenes is when ML is doing FL'S hair :')  

LoF is a really fun show with a corny adventure feeling to it, and I think the romance brings a lovely depth.

A kindhearted cunning schemer ML and an equally kindhearted courageous protector FL. This is another excellent slow burn and I loved the way they did it. So many circumstances of honor and life stand between them but they never forget each other. The subtle way their romance was woven into the show's main plot was really satisfying. They have so many lovely and sweet moments throughout. They also feel very real; despite the exaggerated drama of a fictional story, their affection, teasing, joy and sorrow was so grounded and moving. Truly a lovely romance.

More than a simple love story, this is also a story about loving yourself, loving others, and realizing what amazing potential for your own success and joy lies within your life already.

ML is a transfer from the technical department to the sales department. He doesn't fit in and despairs of disappointing the one man he really looked up to. One night he gets the chance to become his ideal self, and enters an alternate world where everything has changed... and the man he admires is infatuated with him! Of course, the potential for everything to be different already lies in the real world, just not the way he expected.

A romance with true vulnerability at its heart: human error and kindness, hope and understanding, and two men choosing each other. <3 It's only about 2 hours long all episodes included, so it's a nice quick watch.

an actual fairytale romance... this show suckered me in with the early episode shenanigans between the two leads and their amazingly fun dynamic, but then became deeply heartwrenching. a love that reshaped destinies... tragic, heartwarming, and mind-blowing all at once. a romance that defines the story of the show in the best way. spectacular character arcs with a cataclysmic and angsty finish (though it does end happily). true love really does save the day :)

One of my favorite fictional couples ever. The badass stoic general is a lady and the pretty assassin with a tragic double identity is a man!

ML enters FL's manor under false pretenses, planning to win her over as her frail and coquettish husband so he can accomplish his own secret plans. But he ends up falling in love with her for real. FL is wary of ML at first, but ends up genuinely caring for him, which makes the double identity all the more tragic. So many good moments of care and romance as they each fall in love with the last person they ever meant to. Such great chemistry, you really feel the magnetic pull between them and their desire for each other. And a happy ending!

Especially recommend this drama to gender role reversal fans!

I really like villain romances and this show said hold my beer, they're both unhinged. And it really works... I loved seeing these two get such a silly and sweet romance because you really learn how much hell they've both been through, and how they're the kinds of people who don't get those things. And they endure so much for the sake of loving the other person, they never give up on each other. They stay unhinged and shady too haha, but they become happier together. It's really a great romance! I loved them so much. Highly recommend!

poignant, thoughtful, and very sweet: a love letter to slice of life romances as well as a cooking-centered romance. i loved the manga it was based off of, and i felt the actors and the show captured the story and characters wonderfully. a lovely gentle romance, but one that doesn't shy away from making you cry! one of those shows that remind me of the joy of living and the power of loving and being loved in return. <3 while the show addresses serious topics, it isn't an overly stressful drama, and will leave you wanting more in the best way. 

the film that changed my life and saved my life!!!

these two drove me crazy ❤ ZLY has done it again (ღ ˘ ⌣˘ ღ) all I have to hear is three seconds of the ending credits song and I'm in pieces again lol.

one of the best slowburn romances, turns so many tropes on its head and thoughtfully explores the "all-powerful divine being who will do anything for you" dynamic with a powerful and mature FL who can hold her ground and sweeps ML off his feet lol. like you really get why he's so hung up on her.

even though the romance has a definite angsty "push and pull" fctor because it's forbidden for ML to fall in love, it doesn't succumb to any frustrating tropes or even to much drama between the couple. it's more like they both know they can't be together, but they want to find a way T_T and then it gets to a point where they're like "i love you regardless of what it costs me personally." CRAZY GOOD. happy ending too!

"We've always shared the same mind."

One of my favorite couples of all time, they really set the bar high for me on age gap romances, because they're co-conspirators and scheme together as a clever and powerful team, which I loved so much.

A lot more understated and yearning-like than other romances on this list, but it suits the characters and the story very well IMO; they're both uninterested in romance for personal reasons, they have to earn each other's trust, and then when they do fall for each other, there are circumstances that stand between them. But when they decide to love each other anyway, I cried!! So beautifully done. Neither of them ever compromise who they are or what they believe in, and they admire and love that quality in each other; in many ways that's what draws them together more intimately.

They continually challenge each other and inspire each other to become their best selves; the influence they have on each others' lives drives a good portion of their personal arcs. True equals, despite their different stations in life and different personalities, and soulmates in the sense that they understand each other on a deeper level than anyone else.

A happy ending despite what you may expect :) So satisfying! My only qualm was the noble idiocy bit, but it ended happily enough and true angst enjoyers may like it more than I did, lol.

I really love how affectionate this romance is... I feel like it's rare to see a fictional couple like this where their love for each other really radiates off the screen in quiet moments as well as big romantic ones. It's a slow burn "arranged marriage turns into a real romance" but in the sweetest way possible. A true power couple who are so devoted to each other, who come to understand each other, who stand at each other's side and support one another through thick and thin. They have such an interesting dynamic together with their personalities and goals and perspectives on life.

One of my favorite couples ever. I love them as a pair and as their own characters. It's just such a joy to see them together.

i haven't finished this show yet because i don't want it to end!! T__T