Rom-Com Royalty

Rom-Com Royalty Crown

The 50 Biggest Names in Romance Right Now

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Seth (Drama King Books) Headshot

Seth (Drama King Books)

Content Creator

The book influencer, known as @DramaKingBooks, has made romance books the center of his online platforms. He has quickly garnered the attention of notable authors in the romance community. The Bookstagrammer just celebrated his one-year “bookstaversary,” and from the impact he’s made in just 365 days, Drama King Books is a name we’re not going to forget. “I love connecting with others over romance as a genre and how it cultivates hope in all of us, especially when we see ourselves in the pages or on the screen in the characters, like a mirror reflecting back at us,” he says.

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Most Romantic TV or Movie Line: “I’ve spent most of my life not knowing what right was supposed to feel like. And then I met you and everything changed. You make me feel right.” — Schitt’s Creek

First TV or Movie Crush: Danny Phantom

Last Romance Book You Read: The Lovers by Rebekah Faubion

Song That Makes You Swoon: “Cornelia Street” by Taylor Swift

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Jenny Han Headshot

Jenny Han

Author

The author has built a kingdom of romance on the page and on the screen. The adaptations of her To All the Boys trilogy made Netflix a go-to destination for romance. Her Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy has been adapted as a sun-soaked TV series for Prime Video, with the third season set to premiere in 2025. The author is a genius at exploring the beauty and complexities of young love, one’s first heartbreak, and growing up.

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Kierra Lewis Headshot

Kierra Lewis

Content Creator

The content creator became a BookTok superstar after taking viewers along her often tear-filled journey of reading the Harry Potter book series for the first time, but her roots are in romance. Her spicy romance reviews have made her a go-to BookTok source. Now, she’s expanding her resume by signing a podcast deal with Alex Cooper’s Unwell Network.

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Lauren Moore Headshot

Lauren Moore

Content Creator

Moore is the founder of Book Huddle, a thriving community of over 315,000 readers worldwide. With over 20 million monthly impressions from engaging content, Book Huddle has become a leading platform for readers and book recommendations, with a virtual book club that has over 480 members. Her highly sought-after reading retreats sell out in minutes. Moore has dedicated her platform to bringing people together, elevating new stories, and celebrating the joys of diving into a great book.

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: When Harry Met Sally

Most Romantic TV or Movie Line: “Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.” — The Princess Bride

First TV or Movie Crush: Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Last Romance Book You Read: This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

Song That Makes You Swoon: “King of My Heart” by Taylor Swift

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Caroline Klidonas Headshot

Caroline Klidonas

Actor/Writer

Klidonas has become a social media sensation with her parodies of Hallmark movies, Grey’s Anatomy, and more. Her TikTok videos have amassed 40 million views and counting. Her razor-sharp accuracy and the creativity she pours into her hilarious homages celebrate the rom-coms and romantic tropes we love so much. Klidonas is primarily a one-woman show, and the amount of chemistry she has with herself as she takes on different roles makes her one of the best performers on the internet.

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: A Knight’s Tale

Most Romantic TV or Movie Line: “I wanted it to be you.” — You’ve Got Mail

First TV or Movie Crush: Xena

Last Romance Book You Read: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Song That Makes You Swoon: “You Are in Love” by Taylor Swift

45
Caroline Spiegel Headshot

Caroline Spiegel

CEO

Romance is in its audio era, and Spiegel is leading the way. She founded Quinn, a subscription-based app dedicated to audio erotica. Quinn has already nabbed notable stars to lend their sultry voices to sexy stories, including Andrew Scott, Jesse Williams, and Victoria Pedretti. Quinn strikes a perfect pleasurable balance in providing a unique sensory experience that leaves you both satisfied and wanting more.

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Moira Walley-Beckett Headshot

Moira Walley-Beckett

Producer

The Emmy-winning producer and writer of Breaking Bad, as well as Anne With an E, is headed into the world of romantasy. She will serve as the showrunner for the highly-anticipated Fourth Wing TV series at Prime Video. Bringing Basgiath to life will be no easy feat, but with Walley-Beckett at the helm, this adaptation is going to be TV’s next big hit.

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Taylor Graysen and James Mitchell Neal Headshot

Taylor Graysen and James Mitchell Neal

Actors/Content Creators

Succession may be over, but the actors (who also happen to be engaged) are just getting started. Their parodies of shows like the HBO drama, Yellowstone, and The Bear are spot on, but it’s their creation of the viral “love story” between the fictional Bailey Jones and Jesse Lee Brown that shows the vast range of their talent. Their chemistry and creativity make them a romance power couple on the rise.

Taylor: 

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: It’s Complicated

Most Romantic Movie Line: “In another life, I think I would have really liked just doing laundry and taxes with you.” — Everything Everywhere All At Once

Song That Makes You Swoon: “The Night We Met” by Lord Huron

James: 

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: The Wedding Singer

First TV or Movie Crush: Sarah Michelle Gellar

Song That Makes You Swoon: “Daisy May” by Leon Bridges

42
Nicola Coughlan Headshot

Nicola Coughlan

Actor

When Penelope Featherington stepped away from the wall and into the spotlight, Coughlan confidently embraced the moment. Her radiant performance in Bridgerton‘s third season showcased her effortless comedic timing and just how wonderful she is as a leading lady. The Netflix series may be moving on from Penelope and Colin to the next Bridgerton sibling, but the impact this Irish actress had on the Regency romance series won’t be forgotten any time soon.

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Rebecca Yarros Headshot

Rebecca Yarros

Author

The novelist has taken the romantasy genre by storm with her Empyrean novels. Fourth Wing, her first book in the series, spent a whopping 65 weeks on The New York Times best sellers list. Fourth Wing is currently in development as a Prime Video series. Yarros will release Onyx Storm, the follow-up to Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, in January 2025. Outside of the Fourth Wing universe, she’s releasing her new contemporary romance, Variation, on November 19.

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Jonah Feingold Headshot

Jonah Feingold

Director

The New York-based filmmaker has made romance the heart of his work. He’s already directed four romantic comedies: Dating & New York, EXmas, At Midnight, and the upcoming 31 Candles. He recently founded a new media company called Romantical. In addition to feature films, the director is focusing on creative approaches to storytelling in the digital age. With New York City as his canvas, Feingold is embracing the ups and downs of modern love with his art.

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: It’s a toss-up between Billy Wilder‘s The Apartment and When Harry Met Sally.

Most Romantic TV or Movie Line: “Shut up and deal.” — The Apartment

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” — When Harry Met Sally

First TV or Movie Crush: Princess Leia and Summer Roberts

Last Romance Book You Read: What Is Love? by Jen Comfort

Song That Makes You Swoon: “I Happen To Like New York” by Cole Porter and “If We Were A Movie” by Hannah Montana

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Christina Lauren Headshot

Christina Lauren

Authors

The coauthors (Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings) have written 30 books and counting. Their latest, The Paradise Problem, is a sexy rom-com that’s hilarious and heartfelt. Their 2018 romance Love & Other Words became a BookTok phenomenon. With each new release, this dynamic duo proves they’re the ultimate romance writing team right now.

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: You’ve Got Mail

Most Romantic TV or Movie Line: “My affections and wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love… I love… I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.” — Pride and Prejudice

First TV or Movie Crush: Jack Deveraux from Days of Our Lives (played by Matthew Ashford)

Song That Makes You Swoon: “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift

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Matthew López Headshot

Matthew López

Director/Writer

Following his stellar achievements on Broadway, López made his directorial debut with the film adaptation of Casey McQuiston’s queer romance Red, White & Royal Blue. The hit Prime Video movie, which López co-wrote, earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie. He’s co-writing the highly-anticipated sequel alongside McQuiston. Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry’s love story remains in good hands.

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: It Happened One Night

Most Romantic Movie Line: “Snap out of it!” — Moonstruck

First TV or Movie Crush: Mario Lopez in Saved by the Bell

Last Romance Book You Read: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Song That Makes You Swoon: “Futile Devices” by Sufjan Stevens

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Sam Heughan Headshot

Sam Heughan

Actor

The Scottish actor has played romance’s ultimate leading man, the loyal and loving Jamie Fraser, on Outlander for a decade. The second half of Season 7 will premiere in November. Outside of Outlander, he’s still embracing projects centered around romance in various forms, like Love Again and The Couple Next Door. With the STARZ drama ending with Season 8, the dynamic performer will be saying goodbye to the role that catapulted him to worldwide fame, but Jamie and Claire’s epic love story will have a lasting impact for years to come.

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Tia Williams Headshot

Tia Williams

Author

The beauty editor turned novelist has become a leader in championing Black love stories with dynamic heroines at the center — The Perfect Find, Seven Days in June, and A Love Song for Ricki Wilde, to name a few. The authenticity and emotional force of her stories bring us right into the worlds that she’s created. The Perfect Find has already gotten the adaptation treatment, and a TV series of Seven Days in June is in development. Now, she’s expanding on the latter with the YA romance novel Audre & Bash Are Just Friends, out in 2025.

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: When Harry Met Sally

Most Romantic TV or Movie Line: “I love you. And that’s urgent like a motherf**ker.” — Love Jones

First TV or Movie Crush: Corey Haim

Last Romance Book You Read: Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

Song That Makes You Swoon: “Kiss It Better” by Rihanna

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Erica Cerulo and Claire Mazur Headshot

Erica Cerulo and Claire Mazur

Publishers

This power duo is creating a romance-filled empire. The founders of the romance fiction company 831 Stories just published their first book, Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff, a delightfully sexy novella that will make any fangirl swoon. But the best friends and business partners aren’t stopping there. They know romance isn’t just found in the pages of a book. It’s a lifestyle. In addition to publishing, the entertainment company is dedicated to building a community of romance lovers with events, trope-centered merchandise, fanfiction, and more.

Claire:

Most Romantic TV or Movie Line: I’m currently fixated on the moment in Nobody Wants This when Adam Brody‘s hot rabbi character Noah tells Kristen Bell‘s Joanne: “I can handle you.” That one was a real gift to the ladies who are a lot. (Me.)

First TV or Movie Crush: The way I dwelled on A.J. in Empire Records. In retrospect, it probably had something to do with relating to the high-strung energy of his love interest, Corey, played by Liv Tyler. Also, he was hot. That cardigan?!

Song That Makes You Swoon: I love in “Overdrive” when Post Malone sings: “I’d remove my tattoos if that’s cool to you, I’d do anything to be cool to you.” The way it captures the intensity of the crush phase.

Erica: 

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: Notting Hill, featuring two of the most charming actors of our time (including my personal GOAT Hugh Grant), a celebrity/normal person story, and a Richard Curtis screenplay.

Most Romantic TV or Movie Line: “But mostly I hate the way I don’t hate you. Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.” — 10 Things I Hate About You

Last Romance Book You Read: Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young. The first three chapters are especially iconic.

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Joe Locke Headshot

Joe Locke

Actor

The young actor is a revelation as Charlie Spring in Netflix’s Heartstopper. As one half of the show’s beating heart, the 20-year-old opens himself up for the audience in his terrific performance as the sensitive teen who falls for Nick Nelson. The third season is now streaming.

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Sarah Jessica Parker Headshot

Sarah Jessica Parker

Actress

Sex and the City remains the blueprint for romantic comedy series over 25 years after its premiere. Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw is synonymous with romance and designer shoes. The spinoff series And Just Like That… will return for Season 3 in 2025, and viewers are still just as hooked on Carrie’s love life as they were in 1998. The long-standing interest in Carrie is a testament to Parker’s enduring performance.

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Reese Witherspoon Headshot

Reese Witherspoon

Producer

After decades in front of the camera, the Oscar winner has expanded her range with her production company Hello Sunshine and Reese’s Book Club. Witherspoon is a leader in amplifying women’s stories and championing book-to-screen adaptations like Daisy Jones & the Six and Tiny Beautiful Things. When you get Witherspoon’s seal of approval, it’s an automatic win.

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Carley Fortune Headshot

Carley Fortune

Author

The Canadian author made a splash with her 2022 debut novel Every Summer After, a perfect romance beach read. The rising romance star’s second novel, Meet Me at the Lake, is being adapted by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s Archewell Productions. In 2024, she published This Summer Will Be Different and will focus on Charlie, a fan favorite Every Summer After character, in the upcoming novel One Golden Summer.

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: A tie between Clueless and 13 Going on 30

First TV or Movie Crush: Brad Renfro

Last Romance Book You Read: Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

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Mindy Kaling Headshot

Mindy Kaling

Creator/Producer

The Emmy nominee has made romance a key component of her storytelling. First with The Mindy Project, then Never Have I Ever, and currently, Sex Lives of College Girls. The third season of the Max comedy series is out this November. When it comes to portraying relationships on TV, Kaling always finds that sweet spot with her relatable heroines. Under her new media company, Kaling International, the mogul continues to elevate unique stories and underrepresented communities.

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Harriet Herbig-Matten Headshot

Harriet Herbig-Matten

Actor

The 21-year-old had her breakout moment alongside Damian Hardung in Maxton Hall — The World Between Us. Playing the headstrong and spunky Ruby Bell, Herbig-Matten has become one of Gen Z’s newest leading ladies. She recently wrapped the second season of the Prime Video series based on Mona Kasten’s novel Save You.

First TV or Movie Crush: Captain Jack Sparrow

Last Romance Book You Read: Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

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Damian Hardung Headshot

Damian Hardung

Actor

Maxton Hall — The World Between Us has become one of Prime Video’s biggest sensations, garnering the largest first week global viewership for an international title in the streamer’s history. The success of the German language romance series is largely due to the electric chemistry between Hardung and costar Harriet Herbig-Matten. The 25-year-old is one of Hollywood’s hottest rising stars after his breakthrough as the brooding James Beaufort. He’ll return for the second season and also star alongside Queen Charlotte‘s India Amarteifio in the coming-of-age romance Into the Deep Blue.

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Lindsay Lohan Headshot

Lindsay Lohan

Actor

The actress is millennial royalty and has made her triumphant return to Hollywood with recent rom-coms Falling for Christmas and Irish Wish. She’s showing off those comedic chops we know and love in this exciting new era of her career. The Freaky Friday alum already has another rom-com on the books, Netflix’s Our Little Secret, which will debut this holiday season. LiLo’s back and embracing her 2020s rom-com queen status.

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Luke Thompson Headshot

Luke Thompson

Actor

Benedict Bridgerton’s love story is on the horizon. The English actor will be stepping into the main Bridgerton spotlight with the upcoming fourth season. The next season doesn’t have a premiere date yet and only just started filming, but Thompson is still one of the most talked-about names in the world of romance. Even as a supporting presence over the last three seasons, Thompson has become a fan favorite. Just imagine what will happen when he takes center stage.

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Tessa Bailey Headshot

Tessa Bailey

Author

She’s known as the “Queen of Dirty Talk,” and Bailey has mastered the art of writing a smutty scene. The romance author has been writing since 2015 but became a BookTok phenomenon with her 2021 novel It Happened One Summer, which is being adapted for the big screen. She’s now dabbling in the world of sports romance with Fangirl Down and The Au Pair Affair. Her successful run of undeniably sexy page-turners has reached full speed, and she’s not slowing down.

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Grant Ellis Headshot

Grant Ellis

Reality Star

The 30-year-old day trader from The Bachelorette proves nice guys finish first. After a relationship with Tran didn’t work out, Ellis was quickly announced as the lead of The Bachelor Season 29, which will debut in 2025. He’s the second Black lead of the franchise. His positive attitude and emotional intelligence have already endeared him to Bachelor Nation.

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: Love Don’t Cost a Thing

First TV or Movie Crush: Christina Milian

Song That Makes You Swoon: “Simple Things” by Miguel

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Andrew Garfield Headshot

Andrew Garfield

Actor

We Live in Time is the English actor’s first dip back into the romance genre since 2010’s Never Let Me Go. Garfield and Pugh’s onscreen pairing feels like it was manifested from the moment they presented at the 2023 Academy Awards, their instant chemistry visible to the millions of viewers at home. The Oscar nominee’s effortless charm and earnestness will, without a doubt, make us laugh and sob while watching the A24 romance.

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Florence Pugh Headshot

Florence Pugh

Actor

The Oscar nominee’s first true romance film will be one for the ages. The English actress is collaborating onscreen with Andrew Garfield in We Live in Time, out October 11. Pugh and Garfield play a couple challenged by the limits of time. The 28-year-old is a scene-stealer in every single role, and We Live in Time features another magnificent Pugh performance.

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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Headshot

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce

Power Couple

The most famous pop star in the world and the Super Bowl champ feel like a real-life rom-com playing out before our eyes. The pandemonium continues to reach new heights (Kelce pun intended) with each moment of Tayvis PDA. From NFL games to Eras Tour concerts, their high-profile romance is everywhere. The It Couple of the moment has the world captivated by their love story, and we’re all just rooting (and waiting) for them to get their happily ever after.

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Jordan Fisher Headshot

Jordan Fisher

Actor

The actor was a romantic rival for Noah Centineo as John Ambrose McClaren in To All the Boys: P.S. I Love You. Years later, he’s still dabbling in the romance department, this time with BookTok. Despite being a full-time Broadway star, he’s become a BookTok darling. He’s gone viral for his videos about reading the A Court of Thorn and Roses book series, and the community is anxiously awaiting whatever romance book this voracious reader picks next.

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: Love Actually

First TV or Movie Crush: Amy Jo Johnson as the Pink Ranger

Last Romance Book You Read: House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

Song That Makes You Swoon: “Ass Like That” by Victoria Monét

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Casey McQuiston Headshot

Casey McQuiston

Author

Their 2019 debut novel, Red, White & Royal Blue, is one of the best modern-day romances. After selling millions of copies, McQuiston’s book was adapted into an Emmy-nominated Prime Video movie. They are co-writing the sequel and recently published The Pairing, a delicious bisexual love story told through stops along a European culinary tour. With their four books, the author has become one of the most impactful queer romance novelists of the 2020s.

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Jonathan Bennett Headshot

Jonathan Bennett

Actor

He first stole our hearts as Aaron Samuels in Mean Girls, and he’s continued to embrace his romance leading man status. In 2022, Bennett made Hallmark history with The Holiday Sitter, the network’s first Christmas movie featuring a leading gay couple. He’s been a leader in Hallmark’s inclusivity evolution. Later this year, the 43-year-old will star in The Groomsmen trilogy with Tyler Hynes and B.J. Britt for the network’s new streaming platform Hallmark+ and host Finding Mr. Christmas, the network’s first reality competition series about the search for the next Hallmark hunk.

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: The Proposal

Most Romantic TV or Movie Line: “If you’re a bird, I’m a bird.” — The Notebook

First TV or Movie Crush: Ryan Phillippe in Cruel Intentions

Last Romance Book You Read: Say You’ll Be Nine by Lucy Lennox

Song That Makes You Swoon: “Our Song” by Jaymes Vaughan

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Kristen Bell Headshot

Kristen Bell

Actor

In Nobody Wants This, the Veronica Mars alum returned to TV in her first series regular role since 2022. She teamed up with Adam Brody in the Netflix romantic comedy series about an agnostic woman who falls for a rabbi. Bell is no stranger to the rom-com genre, and she brings the perfect mix of snark and sizzling chemistry to the Netflix show.

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Ana Huang Headshot

Ana Huang

Author

The author is diving into the world of sports romances with the first novel in her Gods of the Game series, The Striker, out October 22. Huang has blessed readers with her new adult and contemporary romances, the Kings of Sin, Twisted, and If Love series. The Bookstagram and BookTok sensation recognizes the power of social media and has accumulated more than 770,000 followers on Instagram and over 12 million likes on TikTok.

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Leah Kateb Headshot

Leah Kateb

Author

The 25-year-old is one of the breakout stars of Love Island USA Season 6. Her confidence, energy, and unfiltered takes made her the most entertaining Islander to watch. Before the season ended, Kateb garnered over one million followers on Instagram and now has over three million. She came in second place with her boyfriend, Miguel Harichi, and fans are just as interested in their proclaimed “people’s princess” as they were when she was in the villa.

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Adam Brody Headshot

Adam Brody

Actor

The actor first snatched our hearts as clever, comic book-loving, and snarky Seth Cohen on The O.C. over 20 years ago. He returned to his TV roots in Netflix’s Nobody Wants This, playing a charming rabbi who falls in love with Kristen Bell‘s character. This is a tailor-made role for Brody. Who better to help lead the rom-com resurgence than the man who was many a millennial’s first crush?

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Tyler Hynes Headshot

Tyler Hynes

Actor

The “Hallmark hunk” has cemented himself as one of the network’s most popular stars. With his effortlessly cool charm, Hynes has amassed a legion of fans dubbed “Hynies.” He costars alongside Hunter King in the upcoming Hallmark rom-com Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. Hynes will also reprise his role in the Three Wise Men and a Baby sequel with Andrew Walker and Paul Campbell. If Lacey Chabert is the “Queen of Hallmark,” the Canadian actor is well on his way to becoming the “King of Hallmark.”

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: Notting Hill

Most Romantic TV or Movie Line: “Kiss me, my girl, before I’m sick.” — Phantom Thread

First TV or Movie Crush: Brooke Burke

Song That Makes You Swoon: “Hot Dreams” by Timber Timbre

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Colleen Hoover Headshot

Colleen Hoover

Author

The author is one of the most influential names in romance—on the best sellers list and BookTok. Hoover has sold over 20 million books, and now she’s making a name for herself in Hollywood. The adaptation of her 2016 novel It Ends with Us, starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, earned over $325 million at the box office. Film adaptations of Verity and Regretting You are currently in development, and she has a wealth of romances that will likely get the onscreen treatment.

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Emily Bader Headshot

Emily Bader

Actor

Bader is the romance world’s newest darling. The 27-year-old had her breakout moment in Prime Video’s beloved but short-lived romantasy series My Lady Jane. Fans have rallied around the show after its abrupt cancellation, hoping the streamer will reverse its decision. Her radiant performance has not gone unnoticed. She stars alongside Tom Blyth in People We Meet on Vacation, Netflix’s upcoming Emily Henry adaptation.

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Sarah J. Maas Headshot

Sarah J. Maas

Author

She’s emerged as the leader of the romantasy genre and BookTok with her three book series: A Court of Thorn and Roses, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City. With more than 38 million books sold and counting, Maas’ reign over the literary world is getting stronger by the day. An ACOTAR television series has been in development at Hulu since 2021. It’s only a matter of time before Maas’ rule extends over Hollywood.

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Yulin Kuang Headshot

Yulin Kuang

Author

The romance virtuoso released her debut novel, the excellent How to End a Love Story, in April 2024 and will be adapting two of Henry’s novels for the big screen. Kuang will direct and write Beach Read and penned the screenplay for People We Meet on Vacation. When she puts her pen to paper, romance magic happens.

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: You’ve Got Mail

First TV or Movie Crush: Dimitri from Anastasia

Last Romance Book You Read: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. It is my dream adaptation.

Song That Makes You Swoon: “I Remember Everything” by Zach Bryan featuring Kacey Musgraves

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Joan Vassos Headshot

Joan Vassos

Reality Star

The 61-year-old mom of four is looking for a second chance at love in her golden years on the inaugural season of The Golden Bachelorette. Vassos made her Bachelor Nation debut on The Golden Bachelor but had to leave the series early due to a family emergency. The senior citizen-led spinoffs have revived the franchise, and Vassos’ season is one of the most talked-about shows of the fall.

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: Pretty Woman

Most Romantic TV or Movie Line: “You had me at hello.” — Jerry Maguire

First TV or Movie Crush: Rob Lowe (I still have a crush on him!)

Last Romance Book You Read: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Song That Makes You Swoon: “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers

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Serena Page Headshot

Serena Page

Reality Star

Love Island USA became the show of summer 2024. Viewers were captivated by the 24-year-old Texan and her love story with Kordell Beckham. Page and Beckham’s growing popularity earned them the title of Season 6 champions. Page left the villa with a massive social media following, two million Instagram followers and counting. She is paving the way for a new era of reality TV stars.

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Kit Connor Headshot

Kit Connor

Actor

The 20-year-old’s breakthrough turn in Heartstopper has made him the ultimate heartthrob for Gen Z. His tender performance as the beloved Nick Nelson in the queer teen love story has set him down the path to superstardom. In addition to the third season of the Netflix series, Connor made his Broadway debut as the ultimate loverboy in Romeo & Juliet.

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Lacey Chabert Headshot

Lacey Chabert

Actor

The actress is a mainstay on the Hallmark Channel every holiday season. Chabert has been dubbed the “Queen of Hallmark Christmas Movies” and is celebrating her 15th Hallmark Christmas movie this year. In their first Hallmark movie as costars, Chabert teams up with Kristoffer Polaha in The Christmas Quest. The Mean Girls alum constantly steps into different roles for the network, but when you think of cozy romances, you automatically think of Chabert.

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Jenn Tran Headshot

Jenn Tran

Reality Star

The 26-year-old didn’t find love on The Bachelor, but she got the opportunity of a lifetime to become the first Asian American lead of The Bachelorette. Season 21 was must-watch TV in the summer of 2024 as Bachelor Nation watched Tran search for her soulmate. From her ex’s surprise appearance in the middle of the season to that shocking finale confrontation, Tran made her season one to remember and became one of the fandom’s most empowering figures.

Best Rom-Com of All-Time: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

First TV or Movie Crush: Tom Welling in Smallville

Last Romance Book I Read: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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Glen Powell Headshot

Glen Powell

Actor

The 35-year-old has solidified himself as the King of the rom-com renaissance. His 2018 romance Set It Up is now a modern-day classic. Powell and Sydney Sweeney helped revived the rom-com genre in post-pandemic Hollywood with 2023’s Anyone But You, which became the first R-rated romantic comedy to earn $100 million since 2016. In 2024 alone, he released Hit Man, one of the sexiest movies in years, and the long-awaited sequel Twisters, where Powell’s character didn’t just chase tornadoes, he also chased love with Daisy Edgar-Jones. The actor has recognized the power of romance on the big screen, and he isn’t shying away from it.

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Lily Collins Headshot

Lily Collins

Actor

Emily in Paris has become TV’s ultimate guilty pleasure, with Collins leading the way as star and producer. The romantic comedy series continues to reel in viewers and top Netflix charts season after season as the stylish Emily Cooper navigates her career, friendships, and romance in the City of Love. Season 5 has already gotten the green light from the streamer. A decade after Love, Rosie, Collins is right where she belongs — in the rom-com world.

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Emily Henry Headshot

Emily Henry

Author

The author’s meteoric rise began with her segue into adult romance with the 2020 novel Beach Read. Since then, Henry has published four more romance novels in quick succession. She is now working on her sixth adult fiction novel, Great Big Beautiful Life. Her books have sold over seven million copies, and Hollywood has taken notice. Film and TV adaptations for five of her adult romances are currently in the works, with Netflix set to adapt both People We Meet on Vacation and Happy Place.