Unfortunately, the love triangle is a very popular trope in the romance genre, even though many stories could easily do without it. That’s why I’ve put together a list of romance manhwa with no second male lead – at least not one worth mentioning. Some titles on this list don’t even feature a second guy who develops feelings, which is a real breath of fresh air. The first eight recommendations mostly don’t even include other characters falling for one of the main characters, so you can enjoy them without feeling bad for any overlooked love interests.
1. Crown Princess Scandal (Completed)
Summary: Hwa-yeong was deceived by her sister and ended up in the crown princess selection at the imperial palace. From the start, she is aiming to get disqualified. However, her efforts backfire, when the crown prince takes a liking to her. If you love the enemies-to-lovers trope it doesn’t get much better than The Crown Princess Scandal.
Check it out if you:
- Like it when the ML falls first (and don’t mind if he denies it and even is convinced that the FL is the one who caught feeling – but it’s hilarious)
- Love it when the FL is funny and headstrong
- Don’t mind when the FL is oblivious to MLs feelings (but who can blame her, he doesn’t stop calling her goblin and stuff)
2. A Spell for a Smith
Summary: In a peaceful forest, a shy witch finds comfort in her cozy cottage, while a grumpy dwarf takes refuge in his blacksmith’s forge. Both are content in their solitude, yet each quietly longs for something more. Drawn to one another’s kindness, they develop a gentle chemistry, even as they keep their secrets hidden. The art is detailed, the setting magical, and the storytelling genuinely heartfelt.
Check it out if you:
- Like it when the Mc’s have trauma throughout the story and have to deal with insecurities (especially Ivy)
- Love it when the ML has integrity and doesn’t get swayed by rumors
- Finally like reading a love story where the ML is shorter than the FL
3. I Will Become the Villain’s Poison Taster
Summary: An office employee dies in a car crash and is reborn as Giselle Rozevin, a notorious villain destined to be poisoned in prison while on death row. Surprisingly, numerous attempts to poison her are unsuccessful. Strangely enough, Giselle finds that the poisons she consumes are unexpectedly delicious. With her new skill, she tries to be helpful for the ML. There is a side character that is pretty obsessed with the ML but they are enemies, so don’t worry.
Check it out if you:
- Don’t mind when the female lead is extremely clumsy and helpless sometimes – to be honest, she needs saving pretty often
- Love it when the main couple tease each other constantly – their dynamic feels natural and is fun to read
- Like when there is more to how the FL came to this world. Not just Truck-kun doing his job
4. Fallen to Paradise (Completed)
Summary: Ange, daughter of Duke Glaster, thought her future was secure with her arranged marriage to Philip Cardiner, the rightful heir to the throne. However, everything changes when Philip’s brother, William, plots against him and takes over the line of succession. To strengthen his position, William forces Ange to marry Aiden Fitzroy, an illegitimate son of the emperor and a commoner. Although they start off on the wrong foot this story is really wholesome to read.
Check it out if you:
- Love when the main couple constantly bickers
- Like it when both characters slowly grow closer while learning something from one another (the ML has some panels where he thinks how the FL grew and he learned some things from her as well – like being more open)
- Finally like reading a historical romance Manhwa where the ML isn’t a super-rich duke
5. Your Eternal lies (Completed)
Summary: This has of the most interesting premises I’ve read in a while. The protagonist, Rosen Walker, is the most infamous jailbreaker in history. After managing to escape prison twice, she’s now being transported to a maximum-security prison on an island. The story unfolds on the ship, where the male lead, war hero Ian Connor, happens to be her prison guard.
You should read if you:
- Want to feel all the feels – because with this one there is not really a right or wrong
- Escape the royalty Manhwa loop you and I are probably trapped in
- Don’t mind when the Manhwa ends with them getting together. Check out my Completed Romance Manhwa list for more
6. Love 4 a Walk
Summary: Pam has had her heart broken more times than she can count, and being dumped because of her unruly dog, Bob, was the final blow. Now resolute in her decision to care for Bob alone, how long can this hopeless romantic resist her enigmatic yet kind neighbor, Tyler – especially when he’s so great with dogs.
Check it out if you:
- Love reading a story with great art and unique character design
- Don’t mind that the ML wears clogs with socks most of the time (I personally think it’s a fun character design)
- Like it when the tension between the leads develops pretty early
7. The Perfect Contract
Summary: Junwon, a successful and charming CEO, seems to have it all. Ju-I, a confident pharmacist who knows her worth, isn’t easily impressed. The two agree to a no-strings-attached relationship with one simple rule: don’t fall in love. What begins as a calculated plan to appease Junwon’s mother soon becomes complicated as real feelings start to grow.
You should check this Modern Romance Manhwa out if you:
- Enjoy the classic setup of a contract relationship with a CEO – but done surprisingly well and refreshing
- Like unexpected plot twists and lovable side characters
- Love a strong female lead who’s capable on her own but isn’t afraid to accept help from the male lead
8. Marriage of Convenience (Completed)
Summary: The female lead Bianca de Arno regresses in time after her husband dies in war and she gets kicked out of his estate. She was known as a wicked and selfish wife and hated her life at her new home. Although the plot is nothing new, the delivery and pacing are great. It almost reads like a fairytale and the character development is top-notch.
To be fair – this does have another male character who is completely obsessed with the Fl, but she doesn’t show interest and loathes him so I included the Manhwa in this list.
You should read if you:
- Don’t expect the female lead to be a tactical mastermind
- Don’t mind an age gap of 13 years (In the novel her father married her off when she was nine but they didn’t consummate the marriage until she was 21 – at least in her first life. The flashbacks of their marriage are pretty uncomfortable but there are only a few panels and he practically left her alone – but be prepared)
- Like reading a story with many lovable characters – except the obligatory crown prince who obsesses over the fl for no reason.
9. I Married The Male Lead’s Dad
Summary: Before the female lead Aisha reincarnated into her favorite novel “Persona” she was a huge fan of Abel, the main character. After she starts her life in the novel she takes her stanning to a new level and sends him gifts. One day Abels Dad summons her because he gets wind of her actions. But there is a misunderstanding: He thinks Aisha is fangirling for him. That’s how their relationship starts. This one begins as a lighthearted Romance Manhwa and gets heavier along the way. But please don’t hesitate to read this masterpiece.
There is the annoying priest who has feelings for Asha (can’t tell you more due to spoilers) and the MLs aid also constantly blushes around her, but that’s not relevant for the story.
You should check it out if you:
- Love reading a historical Romance Manhwa with a smart female lead that actually thinks logically
- Like reading a great and refreshing story with a pretty dark side
- Love it when the male lead falls in love first (he is a great green flag ML – in my top 5 for sure)
10. How To Win My Husband Over
Summary: After dying in a plane crash, our FL wakes up as Rudbeckia de Borgia, a doomed villain from a novel, meant to be killed by her future husband, Iske van Omerta. Trapped in the troublesome Borgia family, she must marry her murderer. Her goal: To prove to Iske, his family, and their entire country that she poses no threat so that she can stay alive.
There is an annoying childhood friend of the ML in this story, but she becomes pretty insignificant.
Check it out if you:
- Love it when the characters aren’t black and white
- Like when the female lead has to actually work through her trauma and is faced with constant challenges
- Don’t mind when the male lead is pretty neglectful because he can’t communicate his feelings
11. The Dawn to Come (Completed)
Summary: Junyeong has a tough life. With an abusive mother and no friends at school, she hides from the world and finds solace in an abandoned house where she can study in peace. But her quiet refuge is disrupted when Beomjin Kwon, a seemingly notorious delinquent, discovers the same spot. Forced to share the space, the two slowly begin to grow together.
You should read if you:
- Don’t mind when the romance starts after a timeskip
- Like when the FL is really strong and can stand up for herself
- Don’t mind triggering scenes, like child abuse, mental disorders, and so on
12. My In-Laws Are Obsessed With Me
Summary: Pereshati Jahardt, a count’s heiress, faces betrayal from her stepfamily and lover, leading to her death. Miraculously, she’s revived and travels back in time before the murder. To buy time before getting her revenge, she proposes marriage to the infamous grand duke, Therdeo Lapileon, uncovering a dreadful family secret. The story unfolds around how Pereshati navigates this discovery. This historical Romance Manhwa stands out because of the great pacing and storytelling. The flow feels natural, and the feelings are depicted beautifully.
The princess is in love with the ML and threatens him throughout the story. But she is not relevant for their relationship, so this is safe for people who hate love triangles.
Check it out if you:
- Like reading a story where almost every character that gets introduced has depth.
- Love it when a Manhwa takes time to show the feelings and trauma that certain incidents cause and don’t just brush it off
- Don’t mind when the male lead seems pretty cold and is not the best at communicating, which lasts very long unfortunately
13. Maybe meant to be – Childhood Friends to Lovers without love triangle
Summary: Our protagonists Jia and Mincheol are a match made in heaven – only they don’t know about it in the beginning. They are childhood friends and decide to get married to solve both their problems: no more nagging from their parents. The story revolves around their unexpected romance and the challenges they face, while being complete dorks sometimes.
You should read if you:
- Don’t mind when the female lead is not being honest and constantly challenges or “plays” with the male lead. I don’t know how else to describe it without spoilers.
- Love reading a modern Romance Manhwa with a different vibe: the protagonists are very unusual (Jia is unemployed and tomboyish and Mincheol seems like a pretty straightforward fitness guy)
- Love the fake marriage trope
14. I Shall Master This Family
Summary: “I Shall Master This Family” is a webtoon that follows the story of Firentia, who, after being trampled by a horse while drunkenly cursing her family’s downfall, travels back in time to when she was seven years old. Armed with knowledge of the previous timeline, she aims to save her father from death and become the matriarchal leader of her family.
You should check this out if you:
- Like seeing adults being startled by a little girl – repeatedly
- Love reading a royalty Manhwa about the most lovable Manhwa-Dad in history
- Don’t mind a very very slow burn and slow pacing overall. If you are in only for the romance and don’t care for power struggles you won’t be happy with this one.
15. Not sew Wicked Stepmom
Summary: This Manhwa reinterprets Snow White with unique twists. It features an evil stepmother, Abigail, a magic mirror, and the mistreated daughter, Blanche. After reincarnating, Abigail decides not to be the villain anymore. She remains obsessed with Blanche, but now because of her cuteness. Abigail confronts everyone in the castle who mistreats Blanche, including her father. Gradually, Blanche and even the King starts to warm up to Abigail.
You should check it out if you:
- Like it when the female lead intimidates everyone with her scary face
- Love it when the former villainess gest everyone to like and respect her
- Don’t mind when the male lead is cold (but he has his reasons which are pretty heavy) and later is actually the one who is more dependent
16. Positively Yours (Completed)
Summary: This story revolves around Doo-joon and Hee-won and starts after they had a passionate one-night stand. They met at a bar, and to Hee-won’s dismay, she got pregnant. She wanted to keep the news to herself, but fate brings them together, and Doo-joon insists on taking responsibility for the baby. This is how their relationship begins.
Read my review for Positively Yours if you’d like more details before reading.
You should read if you:
- Like having your MLs being the perfect package: rich, patient, devoted, good-looking – just… good at everything
- Don’t mind when you sometimes want to shake the FL because she is so cold and stubborn
- Love when the pacing is calm, except for the occasional drama
17. Betrayal of Dignity (Completed) – no love triangle but a red flag ML
Summary: To save her family, Chloe Verdier must find a husband for her sister, Alice. She meets the handsome but arrogant Duke Thisse, who offers a solution. When Alice elopes, Chloe risks everything by seeking the Duke’s help. This story, found on Manta, is not for those seeking a wholesome read. However, it offers excellent pacing, compelling storytelling, and stunning artwork for those willing to give it a chance.
Check it out if you:
- don’t mind when the ML is obsessive, manipulative, and expresses his love in toxic ways to put it mildly. He is basically a yandere.
- love a story with a lot of angst where the FL is suffering a lot.
- want to read a historical Romance Manwha with a really strong and unique FL. She has a limp and is sophisticated and headstrong.
18. Under the Oak-tree
Summary: Maximilian has endured abuse from her father, resulting in a stutter. She is forced into marriage with the unknown knight Riftan, who leaves on a mission right after their wedding night. He returns three years later as the most renowned knight on the continent, still deeply obsessed with Maximilian. However, she struggles to adjust to his kind treatment.
You should read if you:
- Don’t mind mild sexual content (the rating on Manta is 16+)
- Like reading a Manhwa with a realistic approach to trauma (finally a female lead who doesn’t just shake it off after being abused – I really like that)
- Love it when the couple is together from the beginning (if you want to understand Riftans feelings, there is a novel from his POV)
19. First Night with the Duke (Completed)
Summary: If you are looking for a healthy relationship with honest communication and no questionable actions this story is NOT for you. If you take this one as it is – a fun work of fiction – you may really enjoy it. Ripley, our female protagonist, is quirky and likes to do things her own way. Even if that means faking and injury to get our male protagonist Duke Zeronis off her back who pressures her into marriage after they spent one drunken one night stand together. There are other main characters who like our main characters but in my opinion this still counts as a Romance Manhwa without love triangles.
You should check it out if you:
- Don’t mind some shitty behavior of both main characters: The duke doesn’t take no for an answer and Ripley doesn’t talk and tries to trick him with very questionable actions.
- Love reading a fun and quirky story, with nice art and a satisfying ending.
- Like it when almost all the characters in a story are likable. The only character who will increase your blood pressure is probably Ripley herself.
20. See you in my 19th life (Completed)
Summary: Get ready for an exciting journey with this story. The protagonist, Jieum Ban, has a unique ability to remember all her past lives. In her previous life, she befriended Seoha, a bratty boy she got along with well. Although her life ended prematurely, her ability allows her to try and reconnect with Seoha in her current life.
Check it out if you:
- Like reading a story with nice pacing (there is drama but it’s not unrealistic and not overloaded)
- Love feeling all the feels
- Like it when the female lead is assertive, and the male lead is on the receiving end
21. The Villainess Flips the Script (Completed)
Summary: The female lead reincarnates as Eudith, the villainous aunt in her favorite revenge novel “The Owner of the Winter Forest.” Tasked with caring for the novel’s male lead, Luka, she treats him well, and he becomes attached to her. When his uncle Rudiger arrives to take him away, Luka refuses to leave Eudith, altering the original story and leading her to move to Winterwald with him. Check out my list of Romcom Manhwas if you are interested in this one.
You should check it out if you:
- like reading a story with great dialogue
- love it when the female lead uses her brain
- don’t mind when the MCs don’t talk about their feelings
22. Iseop’s Romance
Summary: Mingyeong Kang, with her sharp business skills, quickly rose to become a senior manager at Korea’s top conglomerate, TK Group. After 10 years, she faces a new challenge as the secretary to Iseop Tae, the company’s heir. Their history goes back to their early days at the company, where Mingyeong outshone Iseop and bruised his pride, yet he can’t help but be drawn to her.
Before you start reading, a warning: their physical dynamic isn’t handled well. Iseop often comes across as pushy, which doesn’t reflect well on him and the rest of the story. There is also the obligatory childhood friend who has feelings for the ML. I still included this Manhwa in the list, because he doesn’t play a huge role.
Check it out if you:
- Like reading a Romance Manhwa from the perspective of a male MC (though the author switches to the FL’s perspective sometimes)
- Enjoy a secretary–boss relationship – this is a great pick for a Office Romance Manhwa
- Love reading about a relatable CEO for a change – he is childish, pushy, and indecisive
23. Sixth Sense Kiss
Summary: When our female protagonist Yesul kisses someone she gets a vision of his future. One day she kisses her strict boss Minhu and the vision she sees leaves her stunned. I won’t say more so I won’t spoil you. This story has a bit of unrealistic Drama but it’s still a nice read.
You should check it out if you:
- Like it when the main couple is kind of “fated” to be together
- Love a story with many chapters where they are just lovey dovey
- Like reading a modern Romance story with a supernatural touch
24. The villainess Maker (Completed)
Summary: Do you like tension? Then read Villainess Maker. This story is also not your typical Romance Isekai. Although our female protagonist tries to change the story, the world she lives in doesn’t let her until she acts like a villainess. In order to accomplish that she makes a deal with the mysterious warlord Killian.
You should read this completed Romance Manhwa if you:
- Actually like seeing a female lead that struggles but becomes strong in the end
- Love when the main couple has a Butler-Master-dynamic
- Don’t mind when the male lead is pretty pushy (but also very protective)
25. Eaternal Nocturnal (Completed)
Summary: Eaternal Nocturnal tells the story of Eve, a girl with chronic insomnia, who is visited by a mysterious guy that miraculously cures her sleeplessness. This leads to an unexpected connection with Dae, a dream eater who finds himself drawn to Eve. In this series there is not even an annoying second ML who caught feelings, so it is perfect for people who hate love triangles, the ending felt very rushed though. It was not exactly bad, but it wasn’t very satisfying either.
You should read if you:
- Love a webtoon with great pacing and natural interactions – the relationship feels believable and the chemistry is spot on
- Enjoy it when the male lead hides a secret identity (and don’t mind that he keeps it from the FL)
- Want to read a romance manhwa with a premise that feels fresh and truly unique
