Shows like Heartstopper
15 picks with a similar feel
What defines Heartstopper, going by its Boxlist taste profile: Expect a moving, realistic drama series, slow-burning rather than fast. Best if you like real life over fantasy. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of coming of age, unlikely connections and love against the odds, plus tags such as boys' love (bl), gay relationship and sapphic.
Here are 15 shows with a similar feel, ranked by how closely they match that profile. Treat them as picks to try, not a definitive list.
Based on Heartstopper (2022).
- 1
The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022)
TV8.2
Why it's like Heartstopper: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of coming of age and unlikely connections. Common ground: teen drama, romance, coming of age.
- 2
Love, Victor (2020)
TV8.7Lighter option
Why it's like Heartstopper: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of coming of age and unlikely connections. Common ground: coming out, lgbt teen, lgbt.
- 3
My Life with the Walter Boys (2023)
TV7.8Faster-paced
Why it's like Heartstopper: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of coming of age and love against the odds. Common ground: romance.
- 4
Virgin River (2019)
TV8.0
Why it's like Heartstopper: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of unlikely connections and love against the odds. Common ground: romance.
- 5
We Are Who We Are (2020)
TV8.1Darker
Why it's like Heartstopper: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of coming of age. Common ground: lgbt teen, lgbt, coming of age.
- 6
Pretty Little Liars (2010)
TV8.0Darker
Why it's like Heartstopper: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of coming of age and unlikely connections. Common ground: teen drama, high school.
- 7
Normal People (2020)
TV8.0
Why it's like Heartstopper: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of coming of age and love against the odds. Common ground: romance, high school, coming of age.
- 8
Euphoria (2019)
TV8.4Darker
Why it's like Heartstopper: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of coming of age. Common ground: lgbt, high school, coming of age.
- 9
The Queen's Gambit (2020)
TV8.6Darker
Why it's like Heartstopper: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of coming of age and unlikely connections. Common ground: coming of age.
- 10
Heated Rivalry (2025)
TV8.7Faster-paced
Why it's like Heartstopper: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of love against the odds. Common ground: boys' love (bl), gay theme, romance.
- 11
El Juego de las Llaves (2019)
TV7.4Darker
Why it's like Heartstopper: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of unlikely connections and love against the odds.
- 12
Looking for Alaska (2019)
TV7.9Faster-paced
Why it's like Heartstopper: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of coming of age and love against the odds.
- 13
Blood & Water (2020)
TV7.9More intricate
Why it's like Heartstopper: Also intimate, with themes of coming of age and unlikely connections. Common ground: teen drama, high school, friendship.
- 14
XO, Kitty (2023)
TV8.1Lighter option
Why it's like Heartstopper: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of coming of age and love against the odds. Common ground: gay theme, lgbt, high school.
- 15
Off Campus (2026)
TV8.9
Why it's like Heartstopper: Also emotional and grounded, with themes of love against the odds. Common ground: romance, love.
Boxlist compares Heartstopper with every show in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 7.2 or more from at least 150 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point. Ratings are TMDB audience scores out of 10.
Which of these suit you?
Take the taste test and every pick shows how well it matches you.
Take the taste testQuestions
- What should I watch if I like Heartstopper?
- Picks with a similar feel include The Summer I Turned Pretty, Love, Victor, My Life with the Walter Boys and Virgin River. Each shares part of Heartstopper's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 shows.
- How are these shows like Heartstopper chosen?
- Boxlist compares Heartstopper with every show in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 7.2 or more from at least 150 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point.
- Is there a lighter show like Heartstopper?
- Love, Victor has a similar feel but scores lighter on Boxlist's weightiness scale.