There are romance manhwa where nothing happens for 100 chapters even though they’re supposedly in love with each other and where the couple even shies away from holding hands – and there is straight-up smut with mostly censored but explicit content and no plot at all. This list offers you 15 examples of something “in between.”
The kind you won’t get labeled a creep for reading on the bus, but might still hide your phone when a spicy scene hits and someone sits down next to you. These 15 romance manhwa focus on the plot, with some steamy scenes as a cherry on top. Ranked from least to most spicy.
15
Positively yours
Summary: Hee-won is heartbroken when her crush and her best friend get together, so she goes looking for a distraction and ends up spending the night with a stranger. Then she finds out she’s pregnant. When fate puts her back in the same room as Doo-joon, the father, he offers to marry her out of obligation, even though they barely know each other beyond that one night. Now Hee-won has to decide what to do. This one starts with a one-night-stand and gets spicier towards the end, but in between you won’t get much.
Check this spicy Manhwa out if you
- Like it when the male lead is being the common definition of “perfect”: rich, patient, devoted, good looking, forgiving…and so on
- Don’t mind when you sometimes want to shake the female lead cause she is so cold and stubborn
- Love when the pacing is pretty calm, except for the occasional drama
14
When Jasy Whistles
Summary: People used to believe Paraguay’s forests were full of gods and mythical creatures. Hela, who grew up on the edge of modern-day Asunción, never really believed those old stories. But when her best friend disappears – supposedly taken by the legendary Jasy Jatere – Hela learns the old myths are anything but forgotten. When Jasy Whistles is a fantasy story first and foremost, but the tensions between Hela and Jasy is great. And there are some spicy scenes along the way.
Check this spicy Manhwa out if you
- If you are into folklore stories with deities and magic
- Love reading a unique story with many twists and turns
- Like the “enemies to lovers” trope and lots of character development
13
Villainess in love
Summary: This one is nothing groundbreaking plotwise, but still a fun read. Our FL gets reincarnated as the villainess of a story and tries to stay away from the female lead in order to avoid being killed by the two love interests. So far so good. The plot twist: She sleeps with the male lead right at the beginning of the Manhwa and – of course – he falls head over heels for her. It starts with a one-night stand, and they do get intimate a bit along the way.
Check this spicy Manhwa out if you
- Don’t mind a pretty possessive (but also very thoughtful) male lead
- Like it when the main couple gets together early and has many lovey dovey moments (and more)
- Don’t mind actually feeling sorry for the original female lead in the novel
12
My Reason to Die
Summary: I-o’s shot at making the national taekwondo team slips away when she gets injured right before tryouts. In the middle of this setback, she meets Gyeol, a boy who turns her world upside down. Behind his rebellious exterior is a kind heart, and she finds it hard to stay away from him. Even years after high school. If you find tension spicy than My Reason to Die is your pick.
Check this spicy Manhwa out if you
- Like tension between the Main Couple. It doesn’t get any better than My Reason to Die
- Don’t mind when the ML seems to be a red flag and they constantly break off their relationship – and there is a timeskip
- Love when the romance isn’t the main focus, but a mysterious and tragic subplot which unfolds naturally with the story
11
My Bias Gets on the Last Train
Summary: Every night our protagonist Yeo-un gets on the last train and every night he sees a girl with a guitar that catches his eye. One night they start talking about music – turns out, that Yeo-un’s favorite indie band is none other than her, Hae-in. She doesn’t reveal her secret though. This one has a really natural and healthy approach to intimacy you don’t find often in Manhwa.
Check this spicy Manhwa out if you
- Want to read a regular slice-of-life romance story – no office romance, CEO drama, or overused tropes
- Love when the FL is the assertive one
- Like good tension between the main characters from the very beginning
10
Betrayal of Dignity
Summary: Chloe Verdier needs to find a husband for her sister to save her family – and Duke Thisse seems like the perfect candidate. But when her sister elopes, Chloe has to approach the Duke herself. If you’re willing to give this a chance, you’re in for a treat – the pacing is great, the storytelling is gripping, and the art is absolutely gorgeous.
How dark is it?
Duke Thisse is the biggest red flag ever. He’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants – even if it means manipulating Chloe and making her suffer. He does get his fair share of suffering too, though in my opinion, it could have lasted longer.
Check this spicy Manhwa out if you
- Love angst where the FL genuinely suffers – not just a little misunderstanding, but real pain
- Want a historical romance with a truly unique FL – Chloe has a limp, she’s sophisticated, and she doesn’t break easily
- Don’t mind that their first real intimate moments are basically built on lies
9
The Dawn to Come
Summary: Junyeong’s life is anything but easy. With an abusive mother and no friends at school, she retreats from the world and finds comfort in an abandoned house where she can study in peace. But her quiet escape gets disrupted when Beomjin Kwon, the school’s delinquent, stumbles into the same hideout. Just like this, they start to grow closer. This one has good tension, but only gets spicy around the end of the story.
Check this spicy Manhwa out if you
- Don’t mind a very long timeskip in between
- Like when the FL is really strong and can stand up for herself
- Love reading a modern completed romance that doesn’t drag whatsoever. After just 69 chapters, the story is wrapped up
8
I failed to oust the villain
Summary: Valeta gets reborn into a novel she once read – and she already knows how it ends: badly. Her so-called ‘house pet’ Reinhart eventually awakens his magic and kills everyone around her. His obsession with Valeta is the only reason she’s still alive. But that means that she is basically his prisoner. Reinhart is completely unhinged, so if you are into a Yandere ML who is obsessed with the FL, I think you’ll like this one.
Check this spicy Manhwa out if you
- Love when the yandere actually gets character development and the relationship becomes less toxic over time
- Like it when both protagonists had a hard childhood and try to manage it somehow
- Love two equally powerful leads – he’s the strongest mage, she’s the most powerful alchemist, and neither depends on the other to survive
7
Baroness goes on Strike
Summary: On her deathbed, Baroness Cassia is almost relieved to be free of her loveless marriage to Zester, her mercenary husband. She spent her whole life pouring energy into keeping his estate running, and now she regrets not putting herself first. Then she wakes up ten years in the past. Given a second chance, she’s determined to live for herself this time. The only question is whether she can find the courage to stand up to Zester, or whether she’ll end up repeating the same unhappy life. This one starts out pretty wholesome and gets spicier and spicier along the way. It even has R19 chapters.
Check this spicy Manhwa out if you:
- Don’t mind a very annoying and possessive guy (I won’t call him second ML) who tries to break the main couple up
- Love it when the ML blushes a lot
- Like it when both protagonists really work for the relationship and grow close pretty quickly
6
Marriage of Convenience
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. The R15 version is very wholesome while still getting the steaminess across. There is also a R19 version.
Check this spicy Manhwa out if you:
- Don’t expect the female lead to be a tactical mastermind and change everything to her favor
- 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)
- Like reading a story with many lovable characters – except the obligatory crown prince that obsesses over the FL for no reason.
5
I fell into a Reverse Harem Game!
Summary: In a twist of fate, the FL wakes up in an unfamiliar world and finds out she’s now Elvia, the Imperial Princess, with two love interests at her side. Cast as the story’s villainess, she’s surrounded by suitors. But her real problem is Arielle, the scheming maid who plays the innocent heroine while plotting against her and going after her admirers. Elvia’s one advantage: she can see Arielle’s player notifications, giving her a window into every move Arielle makes. This also has a R15 and an R19 version. The latter is obviously beyond just “steamy”.
Check this spicy Manhwa out if you:
- Love to read about an interesting twist in the usual otome game scenario, where the FL can see “the system”: She doesn’t get the choices herself but sees what the actual player is choosingI
- Like to see relationships develop from hate or submission to affection and trust
- Don’t mind reverse harem, where she gets intimate with basically everyone.
4
The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway
Summary: At six, Inés decided on the spot that the handsome heir of the Escalante family would be her future husband. Figuring all noblemen are basically the same, she picked one who was nice to look at. But Lord Cárcel isn’t ready to settle down, and spends the next fifteen years dodging marriage at every turn. That suits Inés just fine – she wants it to fall apart anyway. She even tells him to go enjoy his freedom, as long as he stays out of her business. But once she actually seems indifferent and lets him do as he pleases, Cárcel wants to win her over by proving he can be the partner she really wants. The R15 version is already spicy but this one also has a R19 version, which is NSFW.
Check this spicy Manhwa out if you:
- Like when the ML is completely obsessed over the FL (although he sleeps around before they start to get serious, but FL asked him to)
- Love it when the FL (who regressed three times already) doesn’t just shake off her trauma. But beware the flashbacks are pretty heavy. If you search for a lighthearted Romance Manhwa, better skip that one.
- Don’t mind when the female lead is VERY stubborn and emotionless – (but for a very good reason)
3
Under the Oak tree
Summary: Maximilian got abused by her father all her life and developed a stutter. She is forced to marry the unknown knight Riftan. After their first night, he disappears on a mission for three years and becomes the most famous knight on the continent. Even after three years he still is obsessed over Maximilian – but she can’t quite deal with being treated well. The steamy scenes start right from the beginning – but you probably already know this one, because it has a huge fanbase.
Check this spicy Manhwa out if you:
- Love when the FL comes from an abusive family and starts her healing journey in her new home, where everyone is kind
- 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 and why he comes off as so rough, there is a novel from his POV)
2
Childhood Friend Complex
Summary: Ha-neul and Mincheol are childhood friends with a playful, teasing dynamic. They’re completely comfortable around each other – until Ha-neul accidentally catches Mincheol touching himself. That moment sparks her curiosity, and their relationship slowly starts to shift. Childhood Friend Complex is the perfect pick if you are looking for a very spicy (it’s basically explicit) childhood friends-to-lovers webtoon.
Check this spicy Manhwa out if you:
- Don’t mind mature content. I usually don’t include mature manhwa in these lists, but Childhood Friend Complex is an exception – it’s such a fun read. The tension and chemistry between the main characters are fantastic, and it’ll have you grinning from ear to ear. It’s available on Webtoon and doesn’t feature explicit scenes, though it’s definitely on the spicier side
- Like it when the main characters get together quickly – this is the opposite of a slow burn
- Don’t mind some unnecessary drama that keeps the couple apart. With the foreshadowing at the end of season one, season two will likely lean into that, unfortunately
1
Tears on a Withered Flower
Summary: Tears on a Withered Flower is not really an “in between”, but Webtoon is censoring most of it so it can count as such. There is not much to say about the actual plot except for: “older” very beautiful woman with Barbie-proportions gets cheated on by her very dirtbag husband and starts to find comfort in the arms of a younger man who plays a role in front of her. I’m not a big fan of Tears on a Withered Flower, but this list would not feel complete without it.
Check this spicy Manhwa out if you:
- Value spice more than story
- Love when an older FL for a younger guy
- Don’t mind that the cheating ex still has a very big role in this story
