Favorite romances ♥

two fascinating and engaging leads in a beautiful slow-burning romance. i adore them both as characters individually, but together, they steal the show every time and i find myself wishing their scenes could go on forever! each moment feels so warm, so genuine, and so affectionate. i only wish there was MORE of their love story :D will add more when i finish the show...

a truly clever- and heartbreaking- spin on the transmigration storyline, featuring one of my favorite couples ever. a matched set in the best way possible, two schemers who deeply enjoy each other's company, every second they're together on screen is a delight... or else you're crying your eyes out... this was definitely one of the best shows of 2026 for me. can't rec it enough!

a breezy 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 heartbreaking, dramatic, and tenderly devoted. 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 he's doing her hair :')  LoF is a really fun show, unique in many ways, and i think the romance enhances it even more! 

i love chen xiao so much, haha, here he's playing ANOTHER leading man that i adore! paired with a heroic, compassionate, courageous lady who wears her bold heart on her sleeve <33 this is a slow-building romance of the best kind: two hearts who admire and yearn for each other but are kept apart by honor and circumstance, yet keep finding each other again and again. this show has a lot of themes written about the power of doing something good in the face of cruelty, and i think that heart shines beautifully in the romance. so warm, so real and so hopeful. 

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. technically two love stories in one, each exploring who the characters are, who they could be, and who they inspire each other to become. takes an intriguing premise and turns it inside out! a romance with true vulnerability at its heart: human error and kindness, hope and understanding, and two people choosing each other over and over again. <3

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! massively popular for a good reason!

wonderfully charming leads and a plot that i was invested in alongside the romance! the premise of the VR world they meet for the first time in is so interesting i found myself wishing we spent more time there, but i was also keen on the architectural story and the family drama laced within it. very sweet romance that offers a nice variation on the classic "ceo romance" formula, with a leading man who has played multiple ceos, lol, and is at the top of his game in this drama! i had to rewatch their first kiss at least three or four times <33

has to be one of my favorite fictional couples of all time!! finally the badass stoic warrior is a lady and the pretty assassin with a tragic double identity is a man! :D the leads play their roles with such flair and talent, and the show is satisfying in so many ways, with so many cute moments. the plot rockets through classic drama tropes with a fresh new spin, and i found myself wishing it was a full show. highly rec for role reversal fans! :)

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

literally one of the best slowburn romances i've ever seen, starring two of the most fascinating leads i've had the pleasure to watch. turns so many tropes on its head and thoughtfully explores the "all-powerful divine being will do anything for you" type of romance with more depth than i've ever seen. the character arcs are INCREDIBLE: this show keeps revealing new layers to its leads and story right up to the very end. it lures you in with comedy, romance and mystery, and then shatters your heart into a million pieces, before healing you with a wonderfully sweet and happy ending. SO SATISFYING

the worldbuilding is also really satisfying and the romance is part of it!

this one is a must rewatch! once you know everything, you'll realize how many clues and pieces of foreshadowing are hidden in the layers of the show throughout every episode-- the actors' performances, the side plots, the lore they carefully develop. xianxia of all time!

"we've always shared the same mind."

one of my favorite couples of all time. a lot more understated than other romances on this list, but it suits the characters and the story very well IMO. a competent, devoted power couple; neither of them compromise who they are, and they admire and love that about each other. they challenge each other and inspire each other to become their best selves. true equals, despite their different stations in life, and soulmates in the sense that they understand each other intimately. they scheme and plot together <3

her intelligence, boldness, irreverence and risk-taking appeals to him, just as his calmness, cleverness, loyalty and relentless honor appeals to her. i love when age gap romances are done well, and this is one of the best! a VERY happy ending despite what you may expect :)

iconic for a reason! xiao qi has to be one of my favorite leading men of all time. unfinished because i'm savoring the drama and don't want it to end lol!!

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

this show is insaneeee GJM has done it again. I really can't explain why I enjoyed the romances so much without spoiling the story's million twists XD Trust me that this show is a masterpiece; if you enjoy GJM's style of storytelling, this show will be right up your alley.

Layers of deceit and identity, a tragedy and a romance coiled around itself in a ball of devotion and grief, stunning performances from each talented lead, beautiful visuals and an evocative soundtrack. Definitely one of my favorite shows of 2026, highly recommend for when you want a twisty tale that keeps surprising you at every turn.

The ending is so satisfying (IMO) and so bittersweet. An unforgettable ride!

WRECKED ME <3. i adore this couple so much, they live in my mind and heart forever. this show is both wildly fun and intensely devastating at the same time (similar to how dare you!). it affectionately pokes at many well-known character and story tropes, and showcases a truly enthralling character arc for both leads, as well as an incredibly indulgent and beautifully developed romance with so many breathless moments. the couple dynamic is a classic one but it's done so well here it reinvents the tropes it's using, both in a meta way and in a well-written way. highly, highly rec!