ROMANCE | Strangers to Lovers

This list includes couples who don't know each other at the beginning of the drama - so there is no typical childhood connection. Strangers to Lovers is one of my favorite tropes. I really like it when the main characters have yet to really get to know each other. 

I name dramas that I've already watched, am currently watching or that I dropped.

I provide brief information about how the leads met and maybe add some information about their occupation.

The upper half of the list has dramas with straight couples and lower half with gay/lesbian couples.

(last updated on 28 August 2025)

Klementine Oct 14, 2024
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  • Rising with the Wind

    1. Rising with the Wind

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes

    9.5

    FL and ML meet at FL's father's company. Later ML becomes the investor for FL.

  • Stealth Walker

    2. Stealth Walker

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes

    9.0

    FL and ML meet during an undercover mission. Later they sometimes work together or against each other.

  • Parallel World

    3. Parallel World

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes

    10

    FL and ML meet at a shadow puppet show. Later they go on a mission into the desert.

  • The Rational Life

    4. The Rational Life

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 35 episodes

    9.5

    FL and ML meet in front of a supermarket. Later ML becomes FL's assistant.

  • Falling into You

    5. Falling into You

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 26 episodes

    7.0

    FL and ML meet at a sports competition. Later FL becomes ML's coach.

  • Reset

    6. Reset

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 15 episodes

    10

    ML and FL meet on the bus. They are trapped together in a time loop.

  • Mama Gogo

    7. Mama Gogo

    Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

    10

    FL und ML meet in a clothing store. ML is a debt collector and wants the money back that was lent to FL.

  • Across the Sky

    8. Across the Sky

    Thai Drama - 2023, 14 episodes

    9.0

    FL and ML meet outside on their way to the academy. ML is a new student there.

  • Healer

    9. Healer

    Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes

    9.5

    FL and ML meet on the bus. Both become entangled in a big mystery that needs to be solved. ML has to investigate more about FL's life.

  • Dirty Laundry

    10. Dirty Laundry

    Thai Drama - 2023, 6 episodes

    10

    FL and ML meet at the laundromat. They both come into contact with gangsters and have to help each other.

  • Knight Flower

    11. Knight Flower

    Korean Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

    9.0

    FL and ML meet during a mission. After that, they often meet again due to other criminal cases and FL has to hide her identity.

  • Lighter & Princess

    12. Lighter & Princess

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes

    7.0

    FL and ML meet on their first day of university. They have the same classes together.

  • On a Starry Night

    13. On a Starry Night

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes

    8.5

    FL and ML meet on a starry night during camping. They then meet again by chance at a funeral.

  • Witch's Romance

    14. Witch's Romance

    Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes

    8.0

    FL and ML meet in front of an office building. Later they become neighbors.

  • The Judge from Hell

    15. The Judge from Hell

    Korean Drama - 2024, 14 episodes

    10

    FL and ML meet in the courtroom. FL is a judge and ML is a police officer. They meet again because of various criminal cases.

  • Lesson in Love

    16. Lesson in Love

    Taiwanese Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

    9.5

    FL and ML meet on a sports field at the school. FL is a new teacher and ML is a student and troublemaker.

  • Pending Train: 8:23, Asu Kimi to

    17. Pending Train: 8:23, Asu Kimi to

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

    9.0

    FL and ML meet on the train. After the accident they have to survive together with the others in the wilderness.

  • Promise Cinderella

    18. Promise Cinderella

    Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes

    8.0

    FL and ML meet outside on the street. FL has lost her home and soon gets a room in ML's family house.

  • Tender Light

    19. Tender Light

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 28 episodes

    9.5

    FL and ML meet in the small town, in FL's store. They become entangled in a criminal case.

  • To the Moon and Back

    20. To the Moon and Back

    Thai Drama - 2023, 21 episodes

    9.5

    FL and ML meet on the street in front of garbage cans. They live close to each other and get to know each other better through baking.

  • The Story of Pearl Girl

    21. The Story of Pearl Girl

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes

    FL and ML meet during the dance of the pearl maidens in the cave. FL is a slave and pearl diver there. ML is a merchant.

  • The Best Thing

    22. The Best Thing

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 28 episodes

    8.5

    FL and ML meet at the medical clinic. FL is a new patient and ML is her doctor. Soon they find out that they live in the same neighborhood.

  • I Just Want You

    23. I Just Want You

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 75 episodes

    7.0

    FL and ML meet in a bar and have a one night stand. After that they meet again by coincidence at ML's father's funeral. FL is a lawyer and ML a young business man.

  • Netsuai Prince

    24. Netsuai Prince

    Japanese Drama - 2025, 8 episodes

    5.0

    FL and ML meet because their parents get married. FL is a high school student and fan of a boyband called Terzetto. ML is a high school student and idol of Terzetto.

  • Save Myself

    25. Save Myself

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 88 episodes

    6.0

    FL and ML meet at a wedding of FL's family member. They have a one night stand. FL is a young woman who gets abused by her "family" and ML is a rich young businessman and "gangster".

  • Wanna Be

    26. Wanna Be

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 29 episodes

    FL and ML meet at a fashion show. FL is a professional model and ML will soon try to become a model.

  • Break Up Service

    27. Break Up Service

    Thai Drama - 2025, 12 episodes

    9.0

    FL and ML meet in the park. They accidentally swap their phones. Later they work together for a company called Break Up Service.

  • Dominion and Devotion

    28. Dominion and Devotion

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes

    8.0

    FL and ML meet in the throne room of the palace. FL is cross-dressing since young age as a man and becomes the new emperor. ML is an eunuch working for her.

  • Destiny

    29. Destiny

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes

    10

    FL and ML meet in a club. Later they meet again because FL gets a job to film a documentary of ML who is an idol.

  • Grab Your Love

    30. Grab Your Love

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes

    9.0

    FL and ML meet in a building. FL applies for a tutor job for ML's little nephew. ML is a well-known businessman.

  • I Love ‘A Lot Of’ You

    31. I Love ‘A Lot Of’ You

    Thai Drama - 2025, 12 episodes

    8.0

    FL and ML meet on the road. FL has a unique personality disorder and therefore five different personalities. ML has to make every personality fall in love with him.

  • The Seven Relics of Ill Omen

    32. The Seven Relics of Ill Omen

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 32 episodes

    10

    FL and ML meet on the cable car. They find themselves entangled in dangerous situations and form a team with other friends to fight the seven ill omen.

  • Long Vacation

    33. Long Vacation

    Japanese Drama - 1996, 11 episodes

    8.0

    FL and ML meet in ML's apartment. His roommate was FL's fiancé, who stood her up on their wedding day. FL is moving in with ML. ML is a classical music teacher.

  • Bound by Sin

    34. Bound by Sin

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 20 episodes

    8.0

    FL and ML meet at a social event. FL is a dominant businesswoman and ML is a former soldier and her future bodyguard.

  • Reborn

    35. Reborn

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 23 episodes

    9.5

    ML accidentally bumps into FL outside. The two become classmates in high school.

  • Coroner's Diary

    36. Coroner's Diary

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 38 episodes

    9.5

    FL sees ML for the first time while she is sitting in the carriage and he is riding past her. Later, they work together to solve murder cases.

  • When Destiny Brings the Demon

    37. When Destiny Brings the Demon

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 33 episodes

    9.5

    FL and ML meet in the main hall of a tower. FL is from the real world, but got reincarnated into the world of cultivation. ML is a grandmaster of cultivation.

  • A Tale of Thousand Stars

    38. A Tale of Thousand Stars

    Thai Drama - 2021, 10 episodes

    9.0

    ML1 and ML2 meet in the mountains. They live together in a village there for many weeks.

  • Ai Long Nhai

    39. Ai Long Nhai

    Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

    7.0

    ML1 and ML2 meet at the university. ML1 has returned home after a stay abroad.

  • He's Coming to Me

    40. He's Coming to Me

    Thai Drama - 2019, 8 episodes

    9.5

    ML1 and ML2 meet in the cemetery. ML1 is a ghost and ML2 is a living person who can see him.

  • Happy of the End

    41. Happy of the End

    Japanese Drama - 2024, 8 episodes

    9.5

    ML1 and ML2 meet in a bar. Both have a tragic past and are trying to survive in their harsh reality.

  • I Feel You Linger in the Air: Uncut Version

    42. I Feel You Linger in the Air: Uncut Version

    Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

    9.5

    ML1 and ML2 meet at the river. ML1 has had an accident and suddenly wakes up in another century, where ML2 lives.

  • I Will Knock You

    43. I Will Knock You

    Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

    9.0

    ML1 and ML2 meet outside. Later ML1 becomes the tutor of ML2.

  • Knock Knock, Boys!

    44. Knock Knock, Boys!

    Thai Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

    8.5

    ML1 + ML2 and ML3 + ML4 end up in a shared house and live together. ML1 + ML2 are students at the university and ML3 + ML4 are working adults.

  • Last Twilight

    45. Last Twilight

    Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

    9.0

    ML1 and ML2 meet at an interview for a care worker. ML1 is almost blind and ML2 gets the job to take care of him.

  • Laws of Attraction

    46. Laws of Attraction

    Thai Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

    8.5

    ML1 and ML2 meet because of a criminal case. ML1 is a lawyer and starts helping ML2.

  • Moonlight Chicken

    47. Moonlight Chicken

    Thai Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

    8.5

    ML1 and ML2 meet at the chicken restaurant of ML1. 

  • Not Me

    48. Not Me

    Thai Drama - 2021, 14 episodes

    10

    ML1 and ML2 meet at the garage. ML1 is undercover to investigate the group that his twin brother and ML2 belong to.

    ML3 and ML4 meet during a mission outside a mansion. ML3 belongs to the garage crew and ML4 is a cop.

  • Only Boo!

    49. Only Boo!

    Thai Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

    10

    ML1 and ML2 meet at the restaurant of ML2's mother. ML1 is new in town.

  • Never Let Me Go

    50. Never Let Me Go

    Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

    7.0

    ML1 and ML2 meet because ML1 needs ML2 as a bodyguard.

  • Rak Diao

    51. Rak Diao

    Thai Drama - 2022, 15 episodes

    10

    ML1 and ML2 meet on their way to the office. ML1 starts working with ML2 and soon they live next to each other.

  • Something in My Room

    52. Something in My Room

    Thai Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

    8.0

    ML1 and ML2 meet at ML1's new home. ML2 is a ghost who lives there too and has unfinished business.

  • Sotus

    53. Sotus

    Thai Drama - 2016, 15 episodes

    9.0

    ML1 and ML2 meet at the university. ML1 is a freshman and ML2 his senior.

  • Sugar Dog Life

    54. Sugar Dog Life

    Japanese Drama - 2024, 9 episodes

    9.0

    ML1 and ML2 meet at night. ML1 is slightly drunk and ML2 is a police officer who first thinks he's underage.

  • The Eclipse

    55. The Eclipse

    Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

    9.0

    ML1 and ML2 meet in front of the school. ML1 is a new student and tries to find out more about the death of a loved one.

  • Unintentional Love Story

    56. Unintentional Love Story

    Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

    7.5

    ML1 and ML2 meet in the pottery store. ML1 has the task to find out more about ML2's secret.

  • 57. Wandee Goodday

    Thai Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

    7.5

    ML1 and ML2 meet at the hospital. ML1 is a famous boxer and becomes a patient of ML2 who is a doctor. 

  • Kidnap

    58. Kidnap

    Thai Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

    6.0

    ML1 and ML2 meet in front of a shopping mall. Later ML1 accepts a job to kidnap ML2.

  • Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart!

    59. Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart!

    Thai Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

    8.5

    ML1 and ML2 meet in a bar. ML1 is a thief and ML2 will become a debt collector.

  • Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo

    60. Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo

    Korean Drama - 2024, 8 episodes

    6.5

    ML1 and ML2 meet in front of a Taekwondo gym in a rural area.

  • Pluto

    61. Pluto

    Thai Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

    9.5

    FL1 and FL2 meet in the house of FL1. FL2 has a twin sister who is in the hospital. Then FL2 pretends to be her twin sister who is in a relationship with FL1.

  • The Heart Killers

    62. The Heart Killers

    Thai Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

    6.0

    ML1 and ML2 meet in a bowling center. ML3 and ML4 meet on the street.

  • Love Is a Poison

    63. Love Is a Poison

    Japanese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

    6.0

    ML1 and ML2 meet at a bar. ML1 is a lawyer and ML2 is a con artist.

  • Step by Step

    64. Step by Step

    Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

    6.5

    ML1 and ML2s meet in the lobby of the company. ML1 is a new office worker and ML2 is his boss.

  • Spare Me Your Mercy

    65. Spare Me Your Mercy

    Thai Drama - 2024, 8 episodes

    7.0

    ML1 and ML2 meet in the middle of the street and they meet again (this time officially) in the hospital because of a police investigation. ML1 is a doctor and ML2 is a police officer.

  • Caged Again

    66. Caged Again

    Thai Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

    9.5

    ML1 and ML2 meet in the zoo. ML1 is a black panther and ML2 is a penguin. Both turn human.

  • Perfect 10 Liners

    67. Perfect 10 Liners

    Thai Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

    9.0

    All three main couples are strangers first and meet at the university.

  • ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat

    68. ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat

    Thai Drama - 2024, 13 episodes

    10

    ML1 and ML2 meet outside after an event and some time later in the break room of the idol company. ML1 is a famous idol of a boyband and ML2 is a new employee.

  • Top Form

    69. Top Form

    Thai Drama - 2025, 11 episodes

    ML1 and ML2 meet at a filming set. ML1 is a famous actor and ML2 is a newcomer. They work together.

  • Boys in Love

    70. Boys in Love

    Thai Drama - 2025, 12 episodes

    10

    ML1 and ML2 meet in a classroom. ML1 becomes the tutor of ML2, who is his junior. 

    ML3 sees ML4 in front of the classroom. It's love at first sight for ML3. ML4 is a new transfer student.

    ML5 and ML6 meet during a teacher's conference. Both are teachers. ML6 is new at this school.

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