The Best Summer Romance Movies to Watch in 2026
Discover the Best Summer Romance Movies to watch in 2026. Perfect for book lovers and fans of summer romance movies.. This Summer is an absolute goldmine for book lovers who also love a good binge watch. Whether you’re looking for a lakeside romance to watch on a rainy afternoon, or the emotional conclusion to a love story you’ve been following for years, you’ll find your perfect series.
Summer Romance Movie Adaptations Streaming Now!
These adaptations are already live and perfect for your summer watch list. If you haven’t caught up yet, now is the time.
People We Meet on Vacation (Netflix )
Based on: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
The story: Poppy and Alex are polar opposites who somehow became best friends after sharing a college car ride home. For a decade they’ve spent one week of every summer on vacation together — until two years ago, when something broke between them and they stopped speaking. When Poppy convinces Alex to take one last trip together, she’s hoping to fix what she ruined. What she hasn’t admitted yet is why it broke in the first place.
Why you’ll love it: Emily Henry’s friends-to-lovers slow burn is practically made for screen adaptation. The sun-drenched locations, the friendship, and flashback structure. This book always reminded me of When Harry Met Sally, and watching the adaptation just reinforced it. I loved the casting. This is already streaming on Netflix (for some reason they released it in January when it is CLEARLY a summer movie.
Read the book first? Maybe. A lot of EmHen fans were disappointed at the adaption, which streamlined out some of their favorite scenes. So if you have not read PWMOV, it might be better to watch first!
If you loved this, read: Beach Read, Happy Place, or Book Lovers — all Emily Henry, all eventually coming to a screen near you.
The Summer I Turned Pretty (Prime Video)
Based on: The Summer I Turned Pretty series by Jenny Han
The story: This beloved YA series with one of the most iconic love triangles in contemporary YA has been a huge hit with those of us who read The Summer I Turned Pretty series back in the 2010s.
Why you’ll love it: All three seasons are available to binge all at once — which, honestly, is the way to do it. Grab tissues. Buddy watch with a friend! This was one of the most heavily discussed series among Millennial and Gen Z women. They had watch parties and vigorously debated #TeamConrad vs #TeamJeremiah (I’m Team Conrad.)
Bonus: A The Summer I Turned Pretty feature film is also in development at Prime Video — no release date yet, but worth keeping an eye on.
If you loved this, read: I have a list of Books to Read Like The Summer I Turned Pretty.
We Were Liars Season 1 (Prime Video)
Based on: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
The story: Cadence Sinclair Eastman returns to her family’s private island off Martha’s Vineyard one year after a mysterious accident left her with no memory of what happened. The Sinclairs are East Cost Old Money: polished and perfect on the surface, but with resentment and secrets seething underneath. Nobody will tell Cadence the truth. Not her family. Not The Liars (her cousins Johnny and Mirren and her first love Gat). Not even herself.
Why you’ll love it: One of the most beloved YA mysteries of the last decade finally got the adaptation it deserved. I LOVED this adaptation, which really captured the vibe of the book. The island setting (Canada standing in for New England) is gorgeous, the family dynamics are deliciously dark, and the twist ( even if you know it’s coming) — is DEVASTSATING. The series has been renewed for Season 2, which will be based on Family of Liars.
Read the book first? I think either order works. I watched after reading the books back when they came out. The twist is shocking, even if you see it coming.
If you loved this, read: Family of Liars by E. Lockhart, The Cousins by Karen M. McManus, or The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. And check out my post on the We Were Liars Aesthetic!
NEW Summer Romance Movies Coming 2026
Off Campus (Prime Video: May 13 2026)
Based on: The Deal by Elle Kennedy (Off Campus series, Book 1)
The story: Hannah is a music major at Briar University who wants nothing to do with hockey players. Garrett Graham is the star of the hockey team, charming and cocky and in serious danger of failing a class. Their solution: Hannah tutors Garrett, and Garrett takes Hannah to a party to make her crush jealous. A totally fake arrangement. Completely transactional. Absolutely no real feelings whatsoever. (Hahaha. Of COURSE there are feelings.)
Why you’ll love it: The Off Campus book series was VERY popular when it came out, then became a BookTok phenomenon. for years. Think of it as the hockey romance version of Bridgerton: one couple per season, big ensemble, very swoony. (But no period costumes or string quartet pop, sadly.)
Heads up: This one is more new adult than YA: college-aged characters, more spicy content.
If you loved this, read: The rest of the Off Campus series by Elle Kennedy, or Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. Also check out all my Favorite Romance Books Set in College: Sweet to Spicy
Every Year After (Prime Video: June 10 2026)
Based on: Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
The story: For six summers, Percy and Sam were inseparable at his family’s lake house in Barry’s Bay, Ontario. Then one moment tore them apart and Percy never came back. A decade later, when Sam’s mother dies, Percy returns to Barry’s Bay for the funeral. And suddenly the feelings she’s spent years running from are as undeniable as they ever were. Six summers to fall in love. One moment to fall apart. One weekend to get it right.
Why you’ll love it: If running out of episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty left a hole in your heart, this is my prescription. (I’m hoping it works for me!)
This Summer’s It Show! Fans are already calling it the show of the summer, and the TSITP energy is very much present.
If you loved this, read: Every Summer After then One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (it follows Sam’s brother Charlie, set in the same town). And then check out my list of Books Like Every Summer After!
Lucky (Apple TV: July 15 2026)
‘Based on: Lucky by Marissa Stapley, a Reese’s Book Club pick!
The story: Lucky is a sharp, resourceful con artist — and she’s very good at her job. When a multi-million-dollar heist goes sideways, she finds herself hunted by both the FBI and a ruthless crime boss, forced to reckon with her past and figure out if she can ever really escape it.
Why you’ll love it: No, this isn’t a romance but a) we love Anya Taylor-Joy, b) her casting as Lucky is perfect and c) everyone needs to mix it up now and then!
If you loved this, check out my Favorite Books About Con Artists and Grifters.
Romance Movies to wait for in 2026
Heartstopper Forever (Netflix: late 2026)
Based on: Heartstopper Volume 6 by Alice Oseman (publishing July 2, 2026)
The story: The final chapter of Nick and Charlie’s love story, arriving as a feature film. Production has wrapped. Oseman has confirmed the book comes out first (Volume 6 will be on shelves on July 2) and the film will follow later in 2026. The story picks up as Nick prepares to leave for university and both boys face the question of who they’ll be without each other.
Why you’ll love it: The full original cast is back, and Oseman described it as “an exploration of time, memory, love, pain, the changing of the seasons, endings and beginnings.” If you need a good cry, this will provide it. Read the book first, as Oseman has been very clear that’s the intended order.
If you loved this, read: The full Heartstopper graphic novel series by Alice Oseman, Radio Silence (also Oseman; I reviewed it here).
Your Summer Romance Movie 2026 Binge Plan
If you’re trying to time this perfectly, here’s the order:
ASAP: If you haven’t already, binge We Were Liars on Prime Video and People We Meet on Vacation on Netflix.
May 13: Off Campus drops on Prime Video
June: Read (or re-read) Every Summer After before Every Year After premieres.
June 10: Dive into Every Year After on Prime Video!
July: Read Heartstopper Volume 6 (or the whole series) before the movie drops
Happy summer watching!
