Obsessed with romance shows? Start with these 7
Obsessed with romance shows? Start with these 7
These shows bring the chemistry, the drama, and plenty of steamy moments.
Tara and I were looking for a family-friendly show to watch with my parents as we waited for the next episode of “Rooster” on HBO Max, and ended up diving into “Love Story.” Ryan Murphy’s latest series looks at the whirlwind relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette in the 1990’s, and it’s a lot of fun. My parents love the nostalgia factor, while Tara and I vibed with the performances from Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Anthony Kelly. A show like this lives and dies with the chemistry between the leads, and I’m happy to say it’s popping. It got me in the mood for some other series about love, longing, and all the complicated feelings that come with it. So, here are the top seven romance TV shows on streaming.
Top 7 romance TV shows on streaming right now:
No. 7: ‘Outlander’ (2014) | STARZ
“Outlander” somehow manages to blend historical drama and time-travel fantasy and still make the romance feel grounded and intense. The series is based on Diana Gabaldon’s novels and follows Claire Randall, a World War II nurse who suddenly finds herself transported from 1945 back to Scotland in 1743.
That’s where she meets Jamie Fraser, a Highland warrior, and what starts as a slow-burn connection gradually turns into this huge, sweeping love story that stretches across multiple timelines. Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan have seriously electric chemistry, and the sweeping Scottish landscapes give the show this epic, romantic vibe. The eighth and final season is dropping right now, so it’s the perfect time to jump into a full-scale saga about devotion, fate, and impossible choices.
Outlander
The story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate affair is ignited that tears Claire’s heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.
No. 6: ‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’ (2023) | Netflix
“Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” is a lush “Bridgerton” spin-off that tells two stories at once. In the present-day timeline of the Bridgerton world, Queen Charlotte is mourning the loss of her heir and desperately trying to push her children toward marriage so the royal line continues. Meanwhile, the past storyline shows young Charlotte entering an arranged marriage with King George III and slowly falling for him while confronting the reality of his mental illness.
Shonda Rhimes explores the politics of race and class in Regency London with the same extravagant costumes and juicy gossip that make Bridgerton so addictive, but there’s a deeper emotional layer here because we’re watching Charlotte and George build a real marriage under intense pressure. India Amarteifio and Corey Mylchreest are fantastic as the younger versions of the royal couple, and the dual timelines give you both the swoony beginning of a romance and the bittersweet reality of what happens after the fairy tale.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Young Queen Charlotte’s marriage to King George of England sparks an epic love story and transforms high society in this “Bridgerton” universe prequel.
No. 5: ‘Nobody Wants This’ (2024) | Netflix
Season 1 of “Nobody Wants This” is one of my favorite seasons of rom-com TV ever. Created by Erin Foster, the story centers on Joanne Williams, a blunt and very sex-positive podcaster played by Kristen Bell, and Noah Roklov, a newly single rabbi played by Adam Brody. They meet at a dinner party and instantly click, but the real fun comes from watching them try to build a relationship while living in completely different worlds.
Joanne hosts a relationship podcast with her sister, while Noah is trying to position himself as the next chief rabbi at his synagogue. The show jumps between sharp, funny banter and surprisingly thoughtful conversations about faith, family, and intimacy, and the supporting cast adds a lot of awkward comedic energy. If you’ve ever wondered whether two people from wildly different backgrounds can actually make a relationship work, this one really leans into that idea.
Nobody Wants This
An agnostic sex podcaster and a newly single rabbi fall in love, but can their relationship survive their wildly different lives and meddling families?
No. 4: ‘Bridgerton’ (2020) | Netflix
“Bridgerton” drops you straight into the glittering ballrooms of Regency-era London and introduces you to the eight Bridgerton siblings as they each try to find love in high society. Based on Julia Quinn’s novels, the show mixes scandal-filled intrigue with real romance, and Lady Whistledown’s anonymous gossip sheet, voiced by Julie Andrews, keeps the drama constantly bubbling.
Each season focuses on a different sibling’s love story, so you’ve always got a new couple to explore. I’m not usually a historical drama guy, but I like how it infuses a modern vibe, with pop songs performed by string quartets and a diverse cast that reimagines Regency London in a fresh way. Even when the story leans into full melodrama, the witty dialogue, stunning costumes, and undeniable chemistry keep the whole thing really fun to watch.
Bridgerton
Wealth, lust, and betrayal set in the backdrop of Regency era England, seen through the eyes of the powerful Bridgerton family.
No. 3: ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ (2022) | Prime Video
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” absolutely nails that bittersweet feeling of teenage summers by the beach. The coming-of-age series follows Belly Conklin, who spends every summer at Cousins Beach with her family and the Fisher brothers. When she turns sixteen, everything shifts, and she suddenly finds herself caught between Conrad and Jeremiah, two brothers who have been part of her life forever.
I think this show hits so hard because watching Belly deal with first love, independence, and the awkward in-between stage of growing up brings back those same memories in all of us — whether they happen at the lake or not. The show looks gorgeous, with sun-soaked cinematography and a nostalgic soundtrack packed with Taylor Swift songs, which makes it very easy to keep watching episode after episode. And the love triangle has enough emotional twists to keep things interesting across its three seasons.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Every summer, Belly and her family head to the Fishers’ beach house in Cousins. Every summer is the same … until Belly turns sixteen. Relationships will be tested, painful truths will be revealed, and Belly will be forever changed. It’s a summer of first love, first heartbreak and growing up — it’s the summer she turns pretty.
No. 2: ‘Heated Rivalry’ (2025) | HBO Max
As a huge hockey fan (and player — I play men’s league every week), I’m so happy “Heated Rivalry” is having a cultural moment. The series is based on Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” novels and centers on hockey superstars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, captains of rival teams in Montreal and Boston. On the ice, they’re fierce competitors with a rivalry the media absolutely loves to hype up, but away from the rink, they share a secret relationship they can’t quite walk away from.
We follow their connection over several years as they chase championships while also dealing with the pressure of being queer in the hyper-masculine world of professional hockey. That tension between their public careers and their private lives creates some seriously intense drama, and the show doesn’t shy away from either the emotional fallout or the very explicit romantic scenes. Even if sports aren’t usually your thing, the emotional stakes here make it easy to get invested in whether these two stubborn guys can actually figure things out.
Heated Rivalry
Two of the biggest stars in Major League Hockey are bound by ambition, rivalry, and a magnetic pull neither of them fully understands. What begins as a secret fling between two fresh faced rookies evolves into a years-long journey of love, denial, and self-discovery. Over the next eight years, as they chase glory on the ice, they struggle to navigate their feelings for each other. Torn between the sport they live for and the love they can’t ignore, they must decide if there’s room in their fiercely competitive world for something as fragile – and powerful – as real love.
No. 1: ‘Love Story’ (2026) | Hulu
“Love Story” lands at the top of my list because it combines a huge, real-life romance with great world-building, and most importantly, an entertaining story. The anthology series comes from executive producer Ryan Murphy as part of FX’s “American Story” franchise, with each season focusing on a famous love story.
This first season tells the story of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette when they first meet and fall in love. Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Anthony Kelly have fantastic chemistry and really capture the glamour of 1990s New York alongside the intense scrutiny that came with being part of one of America’s most famous couples. What I appreciate most is that the show doesn’t treat the relationship like a simple fairy tale. It also digs into the pressure of living in the spotlight and the cracks that can appear because of that pressure. If you haven’t jumped into this show because one, you don’t care about politics, and two, you don’t want to watch historical drama, let me reassure you. I’m the same, but I’m loving this show because, despite all that, it’s really entertaining. And if there’s one thing Ryan Murphy knows how to do, it’s that. Watch it!
Love Story
An anthology of sweeping true love stories that captured the world’s attention.