15 Best Romance Manhwa You Should Be Reading

The best romance manhwa are some of the medium's most intriguing and captivating stories, and rightfully so. Interpersonal relationships are always complicated, as intentions may be unclear and miscommunications arise, not to mention dissonant values and opinions. Adding romance into the mix only makes everything that much more difficult, yet likewise rewarding when couples do manage to find happiness together.

In a medium as varied and creative as manhwa, even a genre such as romance is bound to include a variety of different titles, ranging from grounded and relatable ones to supernatural and exciting ones. However, what the best ones have in common is that they all beautifully depict the different dimensions of romance, with all of its inherent highs and lows.

15 See You in My 19th Life

By Lee Hye

See You in My 19th Life follows Ban Jieum, who after a tragic accident is yet again reincarnated with all her memories intact for the nineteenth time. This time, Jieum vows to reconnect with people from her eighteenth life, specifically a boy named Mun Seoha. However, this proves to be much more challenging than she could ever anticipate, especially when the ghost of her very first life comes back to haunt her. Overall, See You in My 19th Life is a charming romance with plenty of intriguing mysteries, a touch of the supernatural, and a novel premise to boot.

14 Marry My Husband

By sungsojak and LICO

Marry My Husband is a thrilling tale of revenge, second chances, and fate that follows Kang Jiwon, a cancer patient who gets a second chance at life after she is killed by her husband who had been cheating on Jiwon with her best friend. Surprisingly, Jiwon finds herself ten years in the past when she opens her eyes again and vows to take revenge and avoid the same unfortunate fate that befell her.

Marry My Husband has also been adapted into a 16-episode K-drama available on Prime Video.

This time, Jiwon is ready to let her backstabbing best friend have her husband, passing on the bad fate and the suffering she went through from her in-laws to her instead. That said, Jiwon also unexpectedly finds love along the way and discovers she had people who cared about her all along, making the series a heartfelt one.

13 Devilish Romance

By Lee Kong-joo and White Eagle

As the title implies, Devilish Romance quite literally follows a demon named Sitri who is sent to Earth to live as a human after being wrongfully framed for a crime. Eager to take back his rightful place, Sitri dons the human name Damon and begins searching for his idol, the devil king, hoping to plead his case to him. In doing so, his path crosses with Narcissa Gye, a prosecutor on the hunt for a serial killer.

Though they start out hating each other with Damon even planning on cursing Narcissa, the two unwittingly fall for each other as the hunt for the serial killer continues. This, coupled with the suspense surrounding the serial killer makes for a story that is impossible to put down from start to finish.

12 Orange Marmalade

By Seokwoo

Set in a world where vampires coexist with humans, Orange Marmalade revolves around a forbidden love wherein two people manage to overcome their differences and find happiness together. Although the existence of vampires is neither a myth nor a secret, humans fear and despise them greatly, which is why they are forced to hide their identities. Baek Ma Ri, a young vampire disillusioned with the idea of interpersonal relationships due to past events and discrimination, ends up coming across Jung Jae Min, a likewise troubled boy who slowly but surely falls for her.

Though the genre of vampire and human romance has been thoroughly explored, Orange Marmalade is a strong addition that will likely appeal to any fan of supernatural romance. The series is a beautiful tale depicting the power and resilience of love, making one of the best romance manhwa available.

11 Operation: True Love

By kkokkalee & Dledumb

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Operation: True Love takes the classic complicated situation of high-school love and utilizes a supernatural twist to create one of the best romance stories. The story revolves around Su-Ae Sim, a girl stuck in a relationship with an indifferent boyfriend, Min-U Kang, who never puts in equal effort, failing to respond to her feelings appropriately. However, her life starts to change when a sentient phone named Jellypop suddenly shows up in her locker, commenting on her love life and choices. Drifting away from her boyfriend, Su-Ae starts to learn what true love is about and what it's supposed to feel like.

High school is one of the most popular settings for romance stories, and Operation: True Love is a classic example of why high school is such fertile ground for romance stories. The heightened emotions and conflicting feelings of being a teenager make Su-Ae's story incredibly compelling.

10 See, Hear, Love

By Yeong-Hun GO

See, Hear, Love follows the unique romance between Min Geun Soo, who can't see, and Jeon So Ri, who can't hear. Geun Soo used to be a manhwa artist, but the need to take care of himself and his mother pushed him to his limits, to the point where the strain caused him to lose his eyesight. This was a devastating development for him, but it's also what allowed him to meet So Ri, a deaf girl. Their relationship is not one without obstacles and difficult choices, but true love always prevails.

Though it might not be the most popular genre, romance stories involving disabilities are actually quite common in manga, manhwa, and anime as shown by big series like A Sign of Affection, which also features a deaf protagonist. See, Hear, Love offers a unique spin on this by having protagonists with different disabilities. This unique angle isn't just good representation, it also makes See, Hear, Love one of the most compelling romance manhwa.

9 Revenge Wedding

By ByulSatangYang and SaRyong

Revenge Wedding follows social butterfly Mercadia Sasha who finds her life turned upside down when she is one day kidnapped and forced to marry the Empire's infamous war hero Demetriu Cyprosa whose unsavory reputation as a massive jerk precedes him. To make matters worse, the newlywed couple is then abandoned on an island by themselves where they must survive all while planning an escape and getting to the bottom of the conspiracy behind their forced marriage.

But of course, despite being polar opposites, romance begins to blossom between Mercadia and Demetriu along the way. What follows is a charming, heart-racing yet simultaneously hilarious tale that every fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope will love.

8 Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion

By Milcha & Whale

The Reason Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion Writers Milcha Penciler(s) Whale Inker(s) Whale Colorist(s) Whale Publisher(s) Yen Press

The trope of an ordinary person waking up in the world of a fictional world is common in isekai stories, but these characters typically end up being either the heroes or villains of their respective titles. This is where Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion, as the titular Raeliana is an unimportant side character, fated to die at the end of her story. Aware of what awaits her, and unwilling to accept this fate, Raeliana looks to Duke Noah Volstaire Wynknight with the intention of changing the story and ensuring her survival, without realizing she is about to genuinely fall in love with him.

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion offers a new spin on the popular isekai and romance tropes that have risen to prominence lately. What makes the series work beyond its fun premise is its lovable cast of characters and the undeniable chemistry between its two central leads. All of this adds up to making Raeliana one of the best romance manhwa.

7 A Good Day to Be a Dog

By Lee Hey

One thing that is clearly identifiable from its title is that A Good Day to Be a Dog is a romance story, unlike any other. The story follows Han Hana, a teacher afflicted with a family curse that turns her into a dog the first time she kisses someone. The only way to break this curse is to get a second kiss from the same person, while still in the form of a dog. Ironically enough, the one person she ends up kissing is Jin Seon, a coworker who is simply terrified of dogs.

In spite of its unserious-sounding title, A Good Day to Be a Dog proves to be one of the most entertaining romance manhwa ever. The series' more comedic tone lends it an air of irreverence that makes A Good Day to Be a Dog endlessly readable.

6 Girls of the Wild's

By HUN & Zhena

The events of Girls of the Wild's take place in the titular Wild's Private High School, an elite all-girls school focused on producing the strongest warriors in the martial arts world. When this school changes its policy and allows male applicants, only one is brave enough to apply. Having obtained the scholarship that he so desperately needed, Song Jae Gu may consider himself lucky, but he soon learns that this environment is unlike any other, and that he can't survive without learning to fight.

Despite being tense and action-packed, Girls of the Wild's martial arts story still allows Jae Gu time to fall in love and develop relationships with various interesting strong girls. The martial arts edge and the interested characters all contribute to making Girls of the Wild's a wholly original and enthralling romance manhwa.

5 Villainess in Love

By R.su and Lee Haron

Based on the original novel by Lee Haron, Villainess in Love follows Yunifer Magnolia, the villainess that the protagonist of the series finds herself reincarnated as. As these stories go, Yunifer is doomed to a typical horrid fate and the best way to avoid it is to avoid Ishid Lucrenze, thus avoiding competing with Raelle, the true protagonist for his affection.

Yunifer thus vows to keep her distance from both Raelle and Ishid. However, things do not go as planned when a drunken night leads to a relationship with Ishid and a promise not to abandon him that Yunifer can't bring herself to break. Eventually, Yunifer finds herself falling for Ishid, unsure of whether she will be able to let go of him when the time comes. Melodramatic as it may sound, Villainess in Love is surprisingly wholesome with amazing chemistry and plenty of healthy communication between Yunifer and Ishid that make the series a must-read.

4 Something About Us

By Lee Yunji

Something About Us proves that there is no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to romance, as the age-old tale of childhood friends growing closer and falling in love will always be enjoyable, provided the execution is competent. The story revolves around Woojin Han and Gayong Doh, who became the best of friends in high school, forming a genuine friendship based on trust and mutual respect. However, as they grew older and continued to explore each other and themselves in their college years, their relationship likewise evolved.

The realistic characters and heartwarming interactions set Something About Us apart from others, in spite of its common premise. While there are more than a few unique romance manhwa, that doesn't mean a series inherently needs a killer premise. Strong writing and romantic chemistry can be more than enough for most readers, as proven by Something About Us.

3 Bring the Love

By Zestkyo

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Set in Germany, Bring the Love by Zestkyo follows the eldest children of two noble families, Leah Hildebrandt and Roxant Kroemer and is sure to swoon fans of historical romance manhwa. Leah and Roxant's paths cross when Leah unexpectedly runs into the latter naked at a lake while on a walk. The story takes off when Leah finds herself thrust into the marriage mart to secure her family's position and at her most desperate moment, Roxant unexpectedly steps up.

That said, while Leah is well respected for her valor as a knight and her contribution to the war, Roxant is feared as a tyrant and a merciless killer, making them quite an unlikely pair. However, the two quickly find they have surprisingly a lot more in common than they initially believe. Though Leah initially finds Roxant cold and stoic, she quickly discovers the various shades of emotion hidden in his frowns, and before she knows it, finds herself in love with Roxant. The relationship that subsequently blossoms between them is wholesome and full of communication, which is quite a rarity and makes Bring the Love a refreshing change of pace.

2 Seasons of Blossom

By HONGDUCK & NEMONE

Seasons of Blossom follows not one, but multiple different love stories. With all of these stories taking place between adolescents just learning what life and love are about, Seasons of Blossom succeeds not only as a romance story, but also as an exploration of youth in general, depicting themes such as mental health and bullying.

Above all else, Seasons of Blossom remains a brilliant and touching study of love, with all of its ups and downs. From the happy moments and precious memories, to the turmoils of romance and the complicated nature of interpersonal relationships, the genuine and realistic characters portrayed here experience all ranges of emotions.

1 Who Made Me a Princess

By Plutus & Spoon

Who Made Me a Princess is a fairly typical isekai romance story of a woman from modern-day Korea who finds herself as the secondary character of a novel she was reading. Now known as Athanasia de Alger Obel, a secondary character in "The Lovely Princess", she must find a way to change the story, as her fate is initially a tragic one, of dying at the hands of a father who, due to her mother dying in childbirth, never showed her any affection. In the midst of trying to ensure her survival, Athanasia also manages to develop friendships and romantic relationships in this new magical world.

Isekai stories focused on characters being transported to the world of a game or story they're reading have become quite common, which is why it's so remarkable that Who Made Me a Princess stands out. The series has an incredibly compelling plot and Athanasia is a fun protagonist. With all of its strengths put together, Who Made Me a Princess is the best romance manhwa and every fan of love stories should give it a read.