My least favorite argument when it comes to romantic relationships is "why can't they just be friends?" Well, why can't they get together and live happily ever after, Patrice? It's always so silly and so bizarre because it's not only one of the most realistic tropes, but it's incredibly organic in the way it depicts two people gradually falling for each other. The passage of time and the series of events that we also get with stories centered around this trope naturally showcase character growth in a way that allows it to feel earned and emotionally grounded, too.
And it's a trope worth celebrating on all fronts, if you ask me. From the sheer perfection that is People We Meet on Vacation (2026) to the classic, When Harry Met Sally (1989), here are some top-tier friends-to-lovers romances, as well as where you can stream them on Netflix, Prime Video, and more.
People We Meet on Vacation (2026)
Book readers have been hyped about the release of People We Meet on Vacation since we got the announcement, and in every way where it matters, it's perfect. Truly an incomparable rom-com, with a flawless cast at its helm and a thoroughly sharp screenplay to honor Emily Henry's inimitable banter. Emily Bader and Tom Blyth are sensational in their respective roles, breathing such memorable life into Poppy and Alex that I won't be getting over their story any time soon.
Perfect for anyone who loves destination movies and delicious slow burns with cozy beats and hilarious banter, People We Meet on Vacation is unlike any other rom-com we've had in the last five years. It's everything that we've been asking for, and the only other way it could've been better is if it were a TV show, so that we could spend more time with the characters.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
When Harry Met Sally is essential viewing alongside People We Meet on Vacation, as the heart of Nora Ephron's story is scattered all over the edges of Emily Henry's novel. It's a breathtaking, frustrating, and deeply realistic classic for a reason—the kind of crucial viewing for anyone who's a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope and romance in general as one of the archetypes.
Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal bring indescribable energy to the movie's titular characters, ensuring that they add layers to help us stay invested in their decades-long friendship that eventually leads to something more. It's an evocative, deeply engrossing journey that gets better and better with every viewing. If you're itching for true nostalgia in the form of an unforgettable rom-com, few things come as close as the coziness in When Harry Met Sally.
Love & Basketball (2000)
Love & Basketball also doubles as a second-chance romance, so it's especially perfect for people who'll always fight to defend both tropes. (It's me, I'm the one who's on the friends-to-lovers and second-chance romance defense squad.) If you love the vibes of One Tree Hill (2003) but always wondered what it'd be like for the women to also be in the sport, look no further than Quincy and Monica's story.
It features one of the most deliciously climactic final acts in the kind of reunion scene that's lived rent-free in my mind since I was a teenager, and the chemistry between Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps is indescribable perfection on all fronts. Like People We Meet on Vacation and When Harry Met Sally, the story's timeline is also a large part of its charm, making it an unforgettable romance from start to finish.
Win a Date With Ted Hamilton! (2004)
Win a Date With Ted Hamilton is the type of underrated gem I wish more people would talk about. Starring Kate Bosworth, Topher Grace, and Josh Duhamel, it's brimming with all the best tropes in a true showcase of why best friends often make the best partners. This movie is also entirely responsible for why I'm obsessed with the idea of one person in a pairing knowing their partner's different smiles. (Or laughs, or silences, or anything specific, really.)
At the same time, it's a quintessential part of the early 2000s rom-com era, so it delivers nostalgia gorgeously while also being perfect for people who loved the workplace romance in Superstore (2015). If you want a genuinely wholesome pairing with a dash of the celebrity romance trope and an interesting twist on the love triangle, Win a Date With Tad Hamilton delivers in spades.
13 Going on 30 (2004)
As much as 13 Going on 30 is an iconic coming-of-age classic, it's also revered as a delightful friends-to-lovers romance that sparkles with countless wholesome beats. The slow burn and glimpses of unrequited love through different points of their lives add the angst necessary to ensure the story hits, and the performances that both Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo bring make every moment gorgeously relatable and sweet.
Perfect for anyone who wants something that they'll immediately want to rewind and rewatch after finishing. There's also something delightful about the writing that allows it to hold up years later, and how the two different timelines make it a solid story about finding oneself, which is the essence of romances involving this specific trope.
Emma (2020)
Many people don't realize that Jane Austen's Emma is actually a friends-to-lovers romance, and it's the best kind. So much so that it's also the inspiration behind Clueless (1995), and if you love Cher and Josh's relationship but were somehow sleeping on Emma and Mr. Knightley, rectify this immediately. It also features what might arguably be Jane Austen's most romantic line to date, and Autumn de Wilde's version is also whimsically delightful and perfect for every season.
There are a number of versions out there, and while I firmly believe that the BBC mini series, Emma (2009), is the absolute best book-to-screen adaptation ever, the 2020 movie does the most entertaining job of showing the progression of the friends-to-lovers romance on-screen within the limited time. Run, don't walk, to watch it if you're craving a historical romance.
