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Leap Year (2010)
Anna is done waiting for her boyfriend of four years to propose to her and is taking the matter into her own hands. She wants to propose to her sweetheart in Dublin, following the Irish tradition where women propose on Leap Day. However, her plane gets detoured and she is stuck in the country’s outskirts, trying to get back to the capital. With a bit of Irish luck on her side, Anne’s journey is full of surprises and unexpected companionship.
Beastly (2011)
A modern twist on “Beauty and the Beast,” Beastly is the perfect amount of heartwarming and cheesy. This movie has a nostalgic 2000s vibe that feels just right. Kyle, the typical popular high school bully, gets cursed with scars and facial tattoos for pulling a prank on the class witch. He goes into hiding but only has a year to find true love to lift the curse. However, it finds him unexpectedly as he reconnects with his classmate Lindy.
Heartstopper (2022–)
Packed with an amazing soundtrack, this TV show epitomizes wholesome love and is definitely a must-watch. The first season was released in 2022, with the second season most likely being released this year. The story is based on Tumblr comics, later turned into graphic novels, and features LGBTQ+ characters navigating teen romance while finding their identities. This show is short and sweet, with eight episodes running for about thirty minutes each.
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Persuasion by Jane Austen
As Jane Austen’s last full novel, Persuasion focuses on rediscovering love. Anne Elliott, the main character, meets her admirer from eight years ago. This story features depth and bittersweet notes that other Austen novels sometimes lack. With a new Netflix adaptation to watch, Persuasion is more relevant than ever. Will the couple rekindle what they had or did the passion get lost in time?
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Filled with love quarrels and drama, this is a praised classic for a reason. Anna is stuck in a loveless, arranged marriage when she meets the infatuating Alexei Vronsky, unknowingly creating a love triangle. If reality television existed in 19th-century Russia, Love Island couldn’t even stand close to this story. If you want a real page-turner, this is it.