the romance renaissance
heated rivalry, off campus, the summer i turned pretty... what's next?
On the 17th of September, 2025, the finale to the series The Summer I Turned Pretty was released to the world. After 10 episodes of wondering whether Belly would end up with Conrad or Jeremiah, approximately 25 million viewers worldwide tuned in to watch the final instalment.
A couple of months later, Heated Rivalry quietly releases. It was made for those who loved the books, but instead amassed 10.6 million viewers per episode. Then, as though the movie-making gods knew people weren’t over the hockey romance fix, Off Campus debuts as Prime Videos third most-watched debut series in the history of the streaming service.
Whether you are an avid watcher of these shows (like me) or not, avoiding their fanfare in the cultural zeitgeist near undeniable. Your partner, co-worker or sibling is likely watching it. You must be living under a big, huge fucking rock to have not heard the names Ilya, Shane, Garrett or Conrad uttered at least once. And to that I say: fucking finally.
Until The Summer I Turned Pretty, there was a real lull in good1 romance films and TV. The last good ones to come out hit cinemas in the early 2010s—think Crazy, Stupid Love (2011), About Time (2013) and Leap Year (2010)2. Then, it seemed filmmakers and movie-watchers alike pivoted to watching “realistic” love stories—happy endings disappeared, silly premises evaporated, and suddenly it was more impressive to be gritty than giddy.
There have been attempts, since the early 2010s, to bring romcoms back—many of them helmed by Glen Powell and Zoe Deutch—but nothing brought romance back to the forefront like these recent romance TV series.
Romances, with all their supposed “unrealistic” elements and cringey moments, are necessary. They are even more necessary in an age where porn is ubiquitous, and violent sex without any context or care is seen as regular. Romances put all our big picture, unrealistic hopes into a fun piece of art. They ask: what if I did find the love of my life in a bookstore? What if someone loved me so much they chased me down in an airport? What if I had hot boyfriend who knew how to make me orgasm? They are aspirational texts. Precendent-setting texts.
As we wait for the next seasons of Heated Rivalry and Off Campus, you can also look forward to:
Every Emily Henry book’s screen adaption.
Another Pride and Prejudice adaption, written by none other than Dolly Alderton.
One Night Only with Mr Dua Lipa.
The Love Hypothesis adaptation with Lily Reinhart and Tom Bateman.
Oh, and the bonk-buster adaption Rivals is currently streaming Season 2. It’s absurd and fabulous.
my definitive list of the best romances everyone should watch at least once:
I’ve watched some pitiful attempts in order to know this list is
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
Sandra Bullock. Lewis Pullman’s dad (aka Bill). Leaning. It’s my favourite of all time.
Stuck in Love (2012)
A winner for anyone who loves coastal, cosy, writerly stories and loves Logan Lerman. It was a serious hyper-fixation of mine aged 13, and if you watch it and know me, will reveal a lot about me.
Notting Hill (1999)
I don’t think I need to explain this one. However, it’s not really the romance that wins this movie for me—it’s the setting, Rhys Ifans character, and the platform vans Julia Roberts wears in one of the scenes.
Off Campus (2026)
If this came out when I was fourteen, it would have completely altered my brain chemistry. I also think a lot of it’s merits lie in it’s healthy representation of sex and masculinity, of which I think is great for young people to watch.
Rye Lane (2023)
Perfect. Like, seriously perfect. Cinematography: gorgeous. Script: perfect. Performances: ace. Only slightly triggering for me to watch because I lost my virginity in Peckham. But otherwise: totally underrated.
About Time (2013)
I like to refer to this as a male-appealing romcom, in that it’s supporting elements (such as the father-son relationship) make it seem less romance and more sweet, cosy film. Nonetheless, it’s main plot is about a romantic relationship, and thus it’s a romance.
When I use the word “good” in reference to romances, I don’t mean that they lack cringe factor. I mean that they give you the exact affect a person is after when they watch or read romance: belly-fluttering, toe-curling, cheek-flushing feelings.
There was a serious generational run of romcoms in the early 2010s. Wow.