Bridgerton and the 5 best romance shows released in 2024 so far

There have already been some excellent romance shows in 2024. There are also many still to come, and we only have a month and a half of the year left. Which shows stand out as the best, though? Which ones do you need to watch?

I want to give a shout-out to Outlander. It would have made this list had I written this post in December, but we’re still a week out from Outlander season 7B premiering. I’m sure it will be up there, and I’ve only got trailers and sneak peeks (and the books, of course) to base that thought on.

In this article, I’m looking at the shows that are out now. The ones that you can watch as well. There’s a good mixture of period romance, romantic comedy, and modern-day romantic shows. Which ones are your favorites?

Bridgerton

We would be amiss if this weren’t on the list! Bridgerton season 3 arrived in two parts earlier in 2024, and it did not disappoint. We got to see Penelope get her man, and yes, that carriage scene was everything we expected and more! We had wondered how the show was going to handle Colin learning the truth about Penelope being a certain gossip columnist, and the show handled that slight change well.

The best thing about the show is that it doesn’t forget that there are other couples around. We got to see Francesca’s marriage, but also the hint that there is something more to come. We’ll have to wait for that, though, as we have Benedict Bridgerton’s story first in the upcoming Bridgerton season 4.

Watch Bridgerton on Netflix.

My Lady Jane

I promised a romantic comedy, and that’s what you get with My Lady Jane. The series is based on the novel of the same name, and it brings us an element of historical fiction and supernatural. We also get to see a very different love story for Lady Jane Grey and Guildford Dudley.

One of the great things about this series is that Jane wasn’t looking for love. She was ready to tackle situations alone, but she wasn’t well-versed in everything she needed to survive. Guildford wasn’t the knight in shining armor that she expected to find, but their unusual relationship worked extremely well. It’s just a shame that My Lady Jane was canceled after just one season. But don't let its cancellation stop you from watching it!

Check out My Lady Jane on Prime Video.

Mary & George

I did not think I’d end up putting this on a list of romantic shows when it first came out. After all, the romance is kind of fake. But at the same time, it isn’t. There was affection thrown in there, and it was extremely steamy at times.

Whether this is based on truth is always going to be debated. There may be some truth to King James I’s interest in men, but it’s not like something like that will be heavily documented. However, that didn’t stop us from falling in love with Nicholas Galitzine as James’ lover and potential assassin.

Mary & George is available to stream on STARZ.

Maxton Hall — The World Between Us

If you haven’t checked out Maxton Hall yet, you must get onto it right now. This isn’t a show that breaks the barriers of romance tropes. It uses all of them, but it uses them well. In a way, the tropes know that they’re tropes, but the writing and the chemistry between Harriet Herbig-Matten and Damian Hardung help to pull the tropes off.

Ruby and James are not a couple that should work. In fact, in the first episode, it’s hard to see how they could end up finding their way into each other’s hearts. And within episodes, we’re hooked. We see how the two form a bond and open up to each other in ways they never have with others, leading us to want to see them much more.

Maxton Hall — The World Between Us is streaming on Prime Video.

Heartstopper

Don’t tell me you thought I was going to miss this one! Heartstopper season 3 arrived in October, and it was more than worth the wait. One thing that has made this show work so well is that it opted for a trope that isn’t as often used in romance shows. We got the friendship-turned-romance trope. It meant the two already had a bond, and we got to see it adapt to a whole new level.

The series is perfect for a look at young love. It’s an opportunity to see teenagers figure out their sexuality and transform their relationships. The third season was a chance to see how love can lead to worry, fear, and many other negative emotions and how to deal with them for the first time.

Heartstopper is available to stream on Netflix.

No Gain No Love

When it comes to romance tropes, the fake relationship is one of the most popular. South Korea took it to a new extreme in No Gain No Love, bringing us a story of faking more than just a relationship. The couple fakes a whole wedding.

Son Hae-young doesn’t want to miss out on a promotion, so she decides that she will get married. Kim Ji-wook agrees to this marriage so that he doesn’t cause harm to Hae-young. We get a chance to see how two very different personalities can find their way to love one another. There’s also a lesson in leading with the heart and not with the brain!

No Gain No Love is available to stream on Prime Video.