Genre · ranked
The best contemporary romance series of all time
25 ranked · updated July 2026
The best contemporary romance series redefine intimacy by blending the complexities of modern dating, career ambition, and self-discovery. From high-stakes sports rivalries and royal pressures to the quiet healing found in found family, these stories capture the transformative power of love across diverse cultures and life stages.
How this ranking works
Ranked by a Bayesian-weighted score (rating average + rating count) across series classified as Contemporary Romance.
Sex and the City
Darren Star
This series earns the top spot for its definitive exploration of female friendship and the raw, unfiltered realities of navigating single life in the city.
Explores: Female Friendship, Dating in the City, Single Life.
Off Campus
Gina Fattore
The series masterfully balances college-age sports drama with genuine emotional healing, turning a simple tutoring arrangement into a deep and lasting romantic connection.
Explores: Fake Dating, Emotional Healing, Coming-of-age.
Heartstopper
Alice Oseman
Its poignant depiction of self-discovery and the tender, hesitant nature of first love makes it a standout representation of modern LGBTQ+ teen drama.
Explores: First Love, Self-Discovery, High School.
Heated Rivalry
Jacob Tierney
This narrative excels by grounding its intense, forbidden romance in the high-pressure world of professional athletics and the complexities of long-term career ambition.
Explores: Rivalry, Forbidden Love, Career Ambition.
When Life Gives You Tangerines
Lim Sang-choon
The series captures the enduring nature of love through a beautifully paced, lifelong narrative that emphasizes the power of childhood bonds and island resilience.
Explores: First Love, Childhood Sweethearts, Island Life.
It's Okay to Not Be Okay
Park Shin-woo
It is celebrated for its unique psychological approach, demonstrating how two people with significant emotional baggage can find healing through a profound, unconventional connection.
Explores: healing through love, emotional baggage, found family.
Horimiya
This series shines by subverting expectations, using the contrast between hidden personal identities and public facades to create a deeply relatable and charming school romance.
Explores: Hidden Identities, Unexpected Friendship, Social Outcasts.
Crash Landing on You
Park Ji-eun
The series earns its place by expertly weaving a high-stakes political premise with a fish-out-of-water dynamic to explore the tension of forbidden, cross-border love.
Explores: Forbidden Love, Culture Clash, Fish Out of Water.
Young Royals
Lisa Ambjörn
It provides a compelling look at the intersection of duty and desire, highlighting the immense pressure of royal life on the process of coming-of-age.
Explores: Royal Life, Boarding School, Class Differences.
given
The series is distinguished by its emotional resonance, using the shared language of music to facilitate a powerful, transformative connection between two young men.
Explores: Musical Passion, Emotional Connection, Self-Discovery.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo
Yang Hui-seung
This story is a standout for its grounded portrayal of athlete romance, effectively capturing the transition from childhood friendship to a more complex, adult love.
Explores: First Love, Childhood Friends, Athlete Romance.
Golden Time
The series is notable for its intricate exploration of identity and memory loss, complicating the standard college romance with themes of obsessive love and growth.
Explores: Amnesia, Coming-of-age, Obsessive Love.
Maid Sama!
It remains a classic of the genre for its sharp use of the secret identity trope, perfectly balancing school-based drama with a compelling class-difference romance.
Explores: Secret Identity, Tsundere, Class Difference Romance.
Business Proposal
Han Sul-hee
The series excels at lighthearted workplace comedy, utilizing the classic fake dating trope to create high-stakes tension between a CEO and his employee.
Explores: Mistaken Identity, Forced Proximity, Fake Dating.
Yo soy Betty, la fea
Fernando Gaitán
This iconic telenovela is essential for its powerful commentary on social class and the 'ugly duckling' trope, centered on a brilliant woman's journey through corporate life.
Explores: Ugly Duckling, Unrequited Love, Social Class.
Descendants of the Sun
Baek Sang-Hoon
A standout of contemporary romance series.
Explores: Forbidden Love, Duty vs. Love, Star-Crossed Lovers.
Queen of Tears
Park Ji-eun
A standout of contemporary romance series.
Explores: Marital Crisis, Second Chance Romance, Corporate Intrigue.
My Love Story!!
A standout of contemporary romance series.
Explores: First Love, Unrequited Love (initial), Kindness.
Blue Spring Ride
A standout of contemporary romance series.
Explores: First Love, High School Romance, Past Trauma.
What's Wrong with Secretary Kim
Park Joon-hwa
A standout of contemporary romance series.
Explores: Boss-Secretary Relationship, Quitting Job, Arrogant Boss.
The Dangers in My Heart
A standout of contemporary romance series.
Explores: Unrequited Love, Hidden Feelings, Social Outcasts.
From Me to You: Kimi ni Todoke
A standout of contemporary romance series.
Explores: High School Romance, Social Anxiety, Self-Discovery.
Twenty Five Twenty One
Jung Jee-hyun
A standout of contemporary romance series.
Explores: Youth, Dreams, Resilience.
She Was Pretty
A standout of contemporary romance series.
Explores: Reunion, First Love, Identity.
Boys Over Flowers
Yoon Ji-ryun
A standout of contemporary romance series.
Explores: Class differences, Forbidden Love, Bullying.
Common questions
What are some of the best LGBTQ+ contemporary romance series?
Notable LGBTQ+ romance series include Heartstopper, which focuses on high school self-discovery, and Heated Rivalry, which explores a forbidden professional sports relationship. Additionally, the anime series Given provides a moving look at emotional connection and musical passion between its two leads.
Which romance series feature fake dating tropes?
Several series on this list utilize the fake dating trope to drive their romantic tension. Examples include the college-based Off Campus, where tutoring leads to real feelings, and the workplace comedy Business Proposal, where a blind date deception turns into a professional and personal entanglement.
Are there any good contemporary romance series set in high school or college?
Yes, there are many options. For high school settings, you might enjoy Heartstopper, Horimiya, or Maid Sama. If you prefer college-aged protagonists, consider Off Campus, which features hockey players, or Golden Time, an anime series involving students at a Tokyo law school.