Romance Web Novel Recommendations: Destined Love Stories
As a long-time web novel fan, I’ve already read thousands of web novels throughout the web. Still, there’s a specific genre that just keeps getting bigger. Yes, you’ve guessed it right—it’s romance.
Thus, I’ve gathered all the best romance web novels I’ve ever read. Just a heads up, it’s not an exhaustive list. It might have missed a few gems, but here are my top picks.
My Top 15 Romance Web Novels You Must Binge Read
- To Be A Virtuous Wife
- Eight Treasures Trousseau
- Three Lives, Death Exists Not at the River of Oblivion
- Villains Are Destined to Die
- The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage
- You’ve Got The Wrong House, Villain
- Transmigrator Meets Reincarnator
- In This Life, I Will Be The Lord (I Shall Master This Family)
- Common Sense of a Duke’s Daughter
- My Disciple Died Yet Again
- Fields of Gold
- The Times Spent in Pretense
- Like Pearl and Jade
- Greetings, Ninth Uncle
- Lucia
1. To Be A Virtuous Wife
What does it take to become a virtuous wife? Some say it’s keeping peace with nasty mother-in-laws. Others say it’s offering a wide berth to nosy concubines and traitorous husband.
But for Qu Qing Ju, an ill-fated transmigrator, she has other plans. Better be single than bear an atrocious husband and nagging in-laws. After all, she’s a modern woman and has zero plans to become masochist.
My Rating: To Be A Virtuous Wife is a well-crafted romance web novel worth a 10/10. This masterpiece boasts striking prose, gripping storyline, and immersive world-building.
Add punchy face-slapping moments and honey-sweet romance into the mix, and you’ll get a must-read. The best of it all? It’s already completed. Binge read it all you want.
2. Eight Treasures Trousseau
Xian Junwang is the nation’s number one bachelor. He is handsome, rich, and influential in the royal court. There’s even a long line of gorgeous ladies willing to marry him if he wishes.
So imagine everyone’s surprise when he suddenly marries the Yi’an Marquis’ trashy daughter. The twist? This infamous lady has a big secret: she is a transmigrator.
My Rating: Eight Treasures Trousseau is a must-read romance web novel worthy of a 10/10. It stands tall with its fluffy plot, witty characters, and a unique narrative style. Its ancient China setting is also well-portrayed.
I might have spent days reading this, but it’s all worth it. Yes, it takes time to get used to its prose, but bear with it and you’ll find a gem.
3. Three Lives, Death Exists Not at the River of Oblivion
Imagine what happens when a heavenly stone and an ice-cold war god fall for each other. Sounds impossible, right? Ask anyone in the immortal realm, and they’ll all say it’s a lost cause.
But for our protagonists, there’s nothing that can stop their love. Be it a heavenly punishment or multiple lifetimes, their love shall blossom against all odds.
My Rating: Three Lives, Death Exists Not at the River of Oblivion deserves a 10/10 and my full-blown recommendation. It grips you with lovable character, crisp prose, and a buttery pacing. It’s short, but intense.
Plus, its plot is so well-written it can bring men to tears. I’ve read tons of romance web novels, but this tale is on a tier of its own. I recommend this masterpiece to fans of redemption and tragedies.
4. Villains Are Destined to Die
A neglected lady finds solace in an otome game, then suddenly becomes its villainess, Penelope Eckhart. Faced with a tragic fate, she rebels against the story’s design.
With bad endings looming over the horizon, can Penelope rewrite her destiny? Or will her efforts all end up in vain?
My Rating: Villains Are Destined to Die isn’t a Mary Sue story. No, it’s not filled with rainbows and fluffy stuff like most of its peers. Instead, this story suffers from misunderstandings, toxic family drama, and self-centered heroine.
How do I say this? This tale feels human. It’s raw, ugly, and filled with disappoints. Yes, it’s imperfect, but that’s what makes this tale interesting. Overall, I’ll give this romance web novel an 8/10.
5. The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage
Empress Shen Miao is a model empress. Through her wit, she has helped her husband sit on the dragon throne. Her repayment? Betrayal and death.
Still, the gods of regression have seen her plight, and she returns to the past. Wearing vengeance on her sleeves, she slowly schemes in the shadows to make her backstabber’s pay.
My Rating: I’ve read hundreds of romance web novels, and The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage stands atop them all. It has a gripping revenge plot, top-standard pacing, and striking dialogue.
The main heroine isn’t just another Mary Sue. No, she’s ruthless, passionate, and calculating. Her character growth deserves an applause. Quality-wise, I’ll give this masterpiece a10/10 and a must-read stamp.
6. You’ve Got The Wrong House, Villain
Despite being a reincarnator, Yuri has no choice but to live in a crime-infested land. Her life turns for the worse when she suddenly finds herself transported in a mysterious facility. No, it’s not an orphanage, but a cruel experimental facility.
Still, every suffering has an end and she escapes. Now, she’s working in a coffee shop at day and as an assassin at night. The problem? Well, the story’s hunky antagonist is now lying before her door half-dead.
My Rating: You’ve Got The Wrong House, Villain is a romance web novel worth an 8/10. What makes it fun to read is its kuudere-meets-bad boy theme. The sweet interactions between the main couple are just precious.
Quality-wise, it has a clear narrative style, fantasy sci-fi plot, and straightforward character arcs. Though it offers nothing unique, I find it a smooth read.
7. Transmigrator Meets Reincarnator
Chu Lian mocks a shoujo novel’s cheating villainess, then bam! She’s in her shoes. Well, it’s not that bad. After all, this villainess has a super hot husband.
Still, life is full of twists. Instead of meeting Prince Charming, her newfound husband turns out to be a cold jerk. Can Chu Lian thaw her icy husband and save her marriage? Or will her isekai love story end as quick as it started?
My Rating: Transmigrator Meets Reincarnator is a romance web novel deserving of a 9/10. It has a hilarious power couple, entertaining narrative style, and crisp face-slapping theme.
If you’re looking for a web novel about cooking and business management, then you’re going to love this tale. I recommend this to all readers who enjoy slice-of-life romance stories.
8. In This Life, I Will Be The Lord (I Shall Master This Family)
Firentia is out of her wits. After all, the once-glorious clan of Lombardi her grandfather has raised up has finally met its demise. No, it’s not by any acts of god, but through the incompetence of her uncle.
With no support or power in the clan, she can only watch it fall into ruins. But what happens when she suddenly regresses into the past? Well, the answer is simple—kick her uncle off the stage and scheme her way into becoming the master of the house.
My Rating: Though more popular for its manhwa adaptation, In This Life, I Will Be The Lord has a solid romance web novel under its belt. It offers a simple yet clear prose, striking business management plot, and good ol’ family drama.
Quality-wise, this tale deserves an 8/10. My only issue about this goodie is its sentences are too simple and lacks depth. Of course, it might just be me and my biases.
9. Common Sense of a Duke’s Daughter
Life has lots of surprises, and a young lady working in the tax office has got a taste of it. Instead of getting killed in a traffic accident, she awakens inside her favorite otome game. No, not as the protagonist, but as the villainess.
The twist? She has arrived too late and this already about to get thrown in countryside for her evil deeds. Well, who cares? She might as well live her own life and start anew.
My Rating: I’ll give Common Sense of a Duke’s Daughter a 9/10 and a stamp of recommendation. I might be biased, but I enjoyed its crisp face-slapping scenes and business-focused subplot.
If you’re looking for a web novel with a well-written romance plot, then you’re in for a treat. The best of it all? It’s already completed so you can binge-read it all you want.
10. My Disciple Died Yet Again
Reverend Yu Yan’s 16,000-year wait for a disciple ends with a fateful twist. After all, his new pupil defies logic, rapidly gaining power before meeting untimely ends.
Worse, this peculiar disciple keeps reincarnating as mythical or comical beings, much to his chagrin. Can this old immortal unravel the mystery behind his student’s bizarre cycle of life and death? Or will he give up and just let heaven take its course?
My Rating: I’ll give My Disciple Died Yet Again a 9/10. This romance web novel is a delightful mixture of comedy, action, and cultivation themes. But what makes it stand out is the humorous protagonist and her death-seeking antics.
If you’re looking for a xianxia web novel with a master-tier humor, then this is for you. I promise it’s going to make you cackle like mad.
11. Fields of Gold
Lin Xiaowan is in deep trouble. After all, she has transmigrated into the body of a poor little girl from a downtrodden fishing village. Worse, her new grandmother is a selfish witch, making her days extra harsh.
Her goals? Escape poverty and live a more prosperous life. How? By conquering these ancient people’s taste buds with modern delicacies.
My Rating: Fields of Gold stands out with its mouth-watering cooking sub-plots. It also has a funny cast, sleek narrative, and a poor-to-rich plot.
If you’re looking for a mixture of romance and transmigration, then don’t miss this cookie. Quality-wise, I’ll give this romance web novel an 8/10.
12. The Times Spent in Pretense
Hua Liuli is the only daughter of the valiant Marquis Hua. Plus, she’s also a sickly beauty that everyone in the capital can’t help but care for.
But behind her frailty lies a secret only her family knows. She’s a two-faced, calculative lass with big courage to match.
My Rating: The Times Spent in Pretense is a romance web novel worth a 9/10. It hooks you with its candid face-slapping scenes, two-faced characters, and buttery prose.
Plus, it’s loaded with comedic dialogue that’ll make you roll in laughter. If you’re looking for a well-done love story set in Ancient China, then this is for you.
13. Like Pearl and Jade
Gu Ru Jiu might look like a beautiful and innocent flower from the outside, but she’s definitely not. Rather, she lives like a wolf wearing a sheepskin. Worse, this she-wolf has a mysterious air of modernity.
But life is full of surprises and she soon meets her match—a calculating, two-faced prince dead-set on pursuing this clever beauty.
My Rating: Like Pearl and Jade is a romance web novel worthy of a 9/10. It stands tall with its lighthearted plot, eastern regency concept, and witty character interactions.
Though filled with tropes, this tale is unexpectedly well-executed. As for its weakness, it takes time to build momentum.
14. Greetings, Ninth Uncle
Cheng Yujin’s love life is full of thorns. With a nagging mother-in-law, her marriage is far from peaceful. Worse, her husband has dared to cheat. With whom? No one but her green-tea twin sister. In the end, she dies full of grievance.
Still, destiny has seen her sad plight, and she earns a chance to redo it all. But this time, Yujin has no plans of being a tragic heroine. If anyone tries to mess with her, they’re in for a world of hurt.
My Rating: I’ll give Greetings, Ninth Uncle a solid 8/10. This romance web novel is a delightful brew of comedy, drama, and regression tropes. It has crisp narrative, complex character interactions, and an intriguing political plot.
The best of it all? The heroine isn’t just another cardboard Mary Sue. Instead, she has agency, grit, and smarts to overcome her situation. If you like eastern historical romance, then don’t miss this.
15. Lucia
Lucia’s life is one tragedy after mother. Though a princess, the royals treat her as non-existent. Worse, upon the death of the emperor, her brothers soon sell her to the highest bidder.
Her ending? Misery, death, and an unexpected regression. Thus, she has no plans to waste this second chance. Even if it means marrying the infamous Northern Duke, she’ll do it for safety’s sake.
My Rating: Lucia is a gripping romance web novel deserving of a 9/10. This tale has fiery plot, gritty depth, and gritty character progression. The prose also flows like butter, pulling you deeper into the story.
I’m not a fan of historical love stories, but this goodie makes me read from start to end. I recommend this to all fans of josei romance. It also has a manhwa if you prefer reading comics.
Final Thoughts About Romance Web Novels
And that wraps up this romantic list! I’ve read each one and promise an extra sweet experience. So I hope you find this recommendation helpful.
Anyway, I’ll continue updating this list when new top-tier goodies pop-out. For now, let’s begin this long binge-reading quest.