If you’re into the college setting, you probably want the whole shabam: group dynamics, deadlines, drinking nights together, and the group projects nobody wants to be a part of. Well, look no further, because these 12 recommendations will scratch that itch, I promise you. I have read them all, and they fit the trope perfectly.
12
My Clueless Love Diary
Summary: Cho-eun, heir to the powerful underground clan Hongsal, just wants a normal college life with new friends and no drama. But four mysterious guys keep showing up around her, getting closer to her.
My Clueless Love Diary is one of those Manhwa where you sort of have to trust the process. The first 25 chapters are basically a parade of new guys popping into Cho-eun’s life, and then it just ends…So if you get into it knowing it beforehand, I still think it’s an entertaining read.
You should read if you:
- Love reading a Romance Manhwa with godlike art
- Don’t mind when the first 25 chapters are basically just a carousel of new guys developing an interest in the FL
- Like a strong FL who can hold her own – physically and mentally
11
To Love Your Enemy
Summary: Yeonhee and Yikyung start off on the wrong foot because the FL was involved in a scam where the ML’s mother lost money. From there, they bicker constantly, and what I love is that the ML is actually the bashful one in the relationship, while the FL is the more direct half – even if she gets flustered here and there. There’s a miscommunication stretch in the more recent chapters, but it doesn’t drag out forever, thankfully. The ending feels weird and rushed, but it’s still a fun read overall. If you like this vibe, check out my other Completed Romance Manhwa recommendations. If you like this vibe, check out my other Completed Romance Manhwa recommendations.
You should read if you:
- Like seeing a romance develop from a really rough start
- Love it when the ML is the shy one for once
- Are specifically here for the college life setting
10
Want to See My Cat
Summary: Chayeong Mun had the life – husband, three cats, two dogs, the full package. Then she dies saving a student and gets handed a second chance: ten years back in time. Now she’s on a mission to marry her husband all over again and build that life from scratch.
What makes this one stand out is Chayeong. She’s calm, she’s direct, and she knows exactly what she wants. The art is also super distinctive, and the ML being a little emotionally constipated but visibly smitten is just fun to watch.
You should read if you:
- Like it when the FL is straightforward and calm instead of flustered and passive
- Love isekai but want a different flavor of storytelling
- Enjoy unique art styles and an ML who isn’t honest with his feelings but is absolutely cute about it
9
Ex Love Review
Summary: Ex Love Review has a genuinely interesting premise: after Giju gets thrown down the stairs by her trashy ex, something shifts. She wakes up in the hospital and starts seeing weird reviews floating above people’s heads – left by their former lovers. Then she meets Heil, the school’s supposed womanizer, whose reviews are all one star.
Great hook, right? The thing is, it doesn’t quite reinvent the wheel from there. The outcome is fairly predictable if you’ve read enough of the genre. But it’s still a solid read with gorgeous art, and I was hooked enough to keep going.
You should read if you:
- Don’t mind a predictable outcome in a Romance Webtoon
- Love reading a modern Romance with gorgeous art
- Enjoy an obsessive, misunderstood ML (and don’t mind a very close golden retriever second ML lurking around)
8
Falling for it
Summary: Falling for it is the new work of Our Secret Alliance’s creator cakenyam, which is why it’s getting a little boost in my book. And honestly, it needed the boost – because the dynamic in Falling for it is subtle, and sometimes genuinely uncomfortable. The premise: Sujeong writes romance novels but has zero real-life experience. When she meets Seunghyeon through a group project, they get closer because he likes to mess with her. Spoiler: he turns out to be very untrustworthy.
You should read if you:
- Are in it for the long haul, because both leads use each other – it’s a push-and-pull romance with mixed signals all the way through
- Love well-written tension. Seunghyeon lays it on thick and drops cheesy lines constantly, but cakenyam still manages to create good tension
- Don’t mind that the FL uses ChatGPT. Seriously. The first time it happened I thought it was a joke, but she turns to GPT constantly for relationship advice and actually acts on it. That really threw me off
7
Here U Are
Summary: Hyeonu is the cheerful, chatty type who’s always surrounded by people. Jaehwan barely talks and walks around with a permanent scowl. Not exactly an obvious match. At first they really can’t stand each other, but the more time Hyeonu spends around Jaehwan, the more he realizes there’s a soft, caring person behind all that seeming coldness. Their relationship builds slowly and feels incredibly real – lots of small moments with genuine connection. Of course, there are obstacles that test them along the way.
You should read if you:
- Love stories where the tension between the main couple does the heavy lifting
- Don’t mind a “we can’t be together because of [silly reason]” arc
- Enjoy stories that follow more than one couple
6
My Lucky Strike
Summary: Siru is an absolute menace. She’s loud, she throws punches, and she wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s crushing on her guy friend and ends up accidentally kissing someone else. The next day at university, two guys show up with swollen lips.
My Lucky Strike is a genuinely refreshing read, even with its flaws. The ML’s backstory is tragic but gets wrapped up way too fast, and we barely get any of the lovey-dovey payoff, so the ending feels only mid on the satisfaction scale. Still, it’s a fun ride. If you want the full breakdown: What happened to My Lucky Strike?
You should read if you:
- Want an FL who can absolutely hold her own in a fight
- Don’t mind a rushed ending (the second ML also gets brushed off in about two chapters)
- Love tension, because the ML exudes it
5
Semantic Error
Summary: Sangwoo Choo has one setting: follow the rules. So when the rest of his group project decides to coast and contribute nothing, he makes an executive decision and leaves their names off the final submission. That call costs college senior Jaeyoung Jang his graduation. And Jaeyoung isn’t about to take it quietly, he decides to make Sangwoo’s life miserable as payback.
Semantic Error hooks you immediately. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is chef’s kiss, and watching Sangwoo slowly crack open is genuinely satisfying. If the college setting is your thing, this one is the perfect pick.
You should read if you:
- Love when Webtoons have spice (the full version is available on Manta)
- Don’t mind a miscommunication “let’s distance ourselves” arc. Season 3 turns up the drama, and honestly, the ending could’ve used a few more chapters
- Love the stoic loner x popular extrovert dynamic
4
Seasons of Lovesome
Summary: Seasons of Lovesome is the continuation of Seasons of Blossom, so you get to reunite with all your favorites while meeting a new cast too. It’s set in university and, like Seasons of Blossom, it doesn’t stick to one couple – the POV shifts around a lot, and the story juggles multiple characters.
You should read if you:
- Like romance with characters who actually have depth
- Don’t mind a story that splits its focus across several relationships
- Love it when characters heal each other and work through trauma together
3
Childhood Friend Complex
Summary: Ha-neul and Mincheol are childhood friends with that effortless, teasing kind of closeness. They’re totally comfortable around each other – until Ha-neul walks in on Mincheol touching himself. That one moment flips a switch, her curiosity spikes, and the whole dynamic between them starts shifting. Season 2’s release date is confirmed. Season 2 puts some distance between them (mostly Mincheol’s doing), but it’s still a great pick – both for the college setting and as a romance overall.
You should read if you:
- Don’t mind mature content. I usually skip mature Manhwa in these lists, but Childhood Friend Complex is an exception – it’s just too much fun. The tension and dynamic between the leads will have you grinning the whole way through. It’s on Webtoon with no explicit scenes, but it’s firmly on the spicy end of the spectrum
- Like it when the leads actually get together fast – this is the polar opposite of a slow burn
- Can tolerate some unnecessary drama, keeping the couple apart
2
Something About Us
Summary: Han Woojin and Doh Gahoyung are best friends, and they click so naturally that even their close friends keep asking if they’re secretly dating. Neither of them has ever genuinely considered being romantic – until Woojin comes back from military service and it all kicks off with a little badump.
Want the full breakdown? Here’s my Something About Us Review.
You should read if you:
- Like a Manhwa with great pacing and calm, confident storytelling
- Love best-friends-to-lovers (is that a spoiler at this point?)
- Like a story that’s more about the feelings than about crazy plot twists
1
Romance 101
Summary: The story follows Bareum and her university life. Sounds dull? It really isn’t. Romance 101 is a genuinely fun read where the main couple starts out with some friction and slowly finds their way to each other. It’s lighthearted, there’s no dragged-out drama, and the relationships feel real.
Also: the ML is the greenest flag you’ll ever read. The art and color palette are also really distinctive, which is a rare treat. Just read it.
You should read if you:
- Don’t mind the FL having a crush on someone else at the start
- Love a fun story with minimal drama and a whole cast of lovable characters
- Enjoy it when the main couple starts out on the wrong foot
That’s the list. If you made it through all 12 and still want more, the college setting tends to overlap a lot with enemies-to-lovers and completed romance picks, so those lists might be worth a look next.
Happy reading!
