Ever since Horimiya‘s release, the anime that took the world by storm in 2021, many new and old fans have been looking for other rom-coms that can fill the void left by its conclusion. The series checked off all the boxes that make a great romance/slice-of-life show. It had the sweetest love story, realistic and relatable characters, powerful side characters, and an array of different friendship dynamics.
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It features the female gaze and highlights love through innocent affection, making it so much more heart-wrenching and emotional than many other anime in the same genre. However, there are plenty of incredible anime similar to Horimiya that make hearts speed up just like this one did.
Updated April 20, 2026, by Mark Sammut: Horimiya is kind of old news by this point, and I cannot imagine a scenario where the anime comes back for another batch of episodes. Consequently, fans will want to look elsewhere to scratch that itch, and each season has a couple of shows that should work. I’ve added 2 recent anime (The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity and You and I Are Polar Opposites) and an ongoing Spring 2026 show (The Ramparts of Ice).
The Ramparts of Ice
A Great New Romance Anime
The Ramparts of Ice
- Release Date
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April 2, 2026
- Network
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TBS
- Directors
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Mankyū
“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is a central theme of Hormiya, and The Ramparts of Ice covers the same ground from a slightly different angle. The introverted Koyuki was bullied during middle school, which just caused her to retreat further behind her walls. Now in high school, she has not tried at all to build a friend circle, preferring to keep to herself while occasionally hanging out with her best friend. However, one day, her world collides with two boys, Minato and Youta, who are the definition of warm and friendly.
Horimiya’s brilliance lies in its blend of romance and slice of life, with both genres building off each other to create a better whole. The Ramparts of Ice does something similar by focusing on the characters’ budding friendships rather than their romantic feelings. The latter is present, but it is bubbling underneath rather than being the goal. The series even has some pretty funny moments.
You and I Are Polar Opposites
The Closest Anime To Horimiya
- Release Date
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January 11, 2026
- Network
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TBS, MBS, CBC, Tulip Television, BSN, tys, NBC, HBC, RKK, i-Television, SBS, IBC, BSS, MRO, OBS, TUF, RSK, TUY, tbc, RKB, SBC, KUTV, RBC, UTY, RCC, MRT, atv, MBC
- Directors
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Takayoshi Nagatomo
Cast
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Sayumi Suzushiro
Suzuki (voice)
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Shogo Sakata
Tani (voice)
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Yuna Taniguchi
Watanabe (voice)
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Miyuri Shimabukuro
Azuma (voice)
This might just be the perfect alternative to Horimiya, being both similar and different enough to make it an easy recommendation. Similar to Hori and Izumi, You and I Are Polar Opposites revolves around two characters who don’t seem to have all that much in common at a glance, with Miyu being outgoing and bubbly while Yusuke is reserved. Despite clashing in class, they develop a mutual interest in each other, a love that is professed by the end of the first episode. Yeah, You and I Are Polar Opposites is another anime that actually brings together its couple quickly.
These two are absolutely adorable together, and their dynamic manages to be wholesome but also quite realistic. As the series progresses, other couples are teased and begin to take some of the spotlight, and You and I Are Polar Opposites handles this transition better than Horimiya’s first season. While not as funny, the show also has a couple of decent laughs.
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
The Best Romance Anime Of 2025
The biggest and best romance anime of 2025, The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity, is an absolute triumph for not only the genre but also the entire industry. Now, I will say that this series isn’t actually that similar toHorimiyain most areas, and I wouldn’t really recommend it to people who want something that shares the same sense of humor; however, both of them are modern classics that are likely to remain fixtures of romance anime discussions for decades.
Hailing from neighboring schools that are not on friendly terms, Rintaro and Kaoruko instantly click despite their seemingly different backgrounds. Due to his intimidating physique, Rintaro tends to be misjudged as a brute, but Kaoruko quickly recognizes and falls for his gentle soul. Every one of their scenes together is fantastic, and their relationship grows organically throughout the season.
How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer
Three Cute Couples Living Their Best Lives
Horimiya‘s success arguably comes down to its balance of romance and comedy, with both elements complementing each other rather than competing. Even the more comedic Missing Pieces manages to strengthen key relationships, all the while focusing on everyday situations during which nothing of significant note happens.
Fall 2024’s How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer strikes a similar harmony, telling a story that jumps between humor and romance effortlessly. The premise is simple: three guys go to a mixer and find three girls dressed as men waiting for them. After this awkward but cute encounter, they quickly split into three couples, while still regularly meeting as a full group. While not developing instant relationships, the anime allows the characters to regularly flirt, with the girls usually being the more aggressive. It is all wholesome and charming.
At a stretch, How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer could also be described as a slice of life. Most episodes revolve around mundane dates or meetings between the couples, and progress or drama is rarely the point.
Honey Lemon Soda
Building A Connection, Making Friends, & Finding Confidence
Honey Lemon Soda is a Winter 2025 anime that, for the most part, sticks close to the standard shojo romance formula. There is nothing wrong with that, and the show has more than enough positives to warrant a recommendation for romance lovers and, to a lesser extent, Horimiya fans. Now, this series has pretty much no comedy whatsoever, so anyone specifically craving a rom-com that leans heavily on both sides of the equation might want to look elsewhere. Conversely, anyone craving a cute story about two teenagers who gradually nurture a relationship should add Honey Lemon Soda to their watchlist.
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Bullied during middle school, Uka yearns for a fresh start in high school, but things get off to a terrible start. Targeted by three bullies, she feels herself slipping back into her previous hell, only for her to receive (harsh) encouragement from Kai, a classmate who sends mixed messages but generally has Uka’s best intentions in mind. Finding the courage to stand up for herself, Uka takes important steps forward to become the person she wishes to be, all the while getting closer to Kai and connecting with her other classmates.
While more of a straightforward romance than Horimiya, Honey Lemon Soda also focuses on Uka’s friendships with characters like Ayumi, giving the anime the feel of an ensemble cast at times.
Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
Strong Personalities Attract
Not to take anything away from Horimiya‘s supporting characters, but the anime’s popularity (mostly) comes down to Miyamura and Hori’s chemistry. They are both well-defined characters with strong and grounded personalities, paving the way to a romance that feels authentic rather than just predetermined.
Summer 2024’s Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian should be able to scratch a similar itch thanks to Kuze and Alisa, two leads who are great individually and fantastic together. Similar to Miyamura’s alter ego at school, Alisa also hides her true self, opting to speak her mind in Russian due to believing that nobody else can speak the language. However, Kuze understands every single word she says, which is slightly embarrassing as they are usually about him. Using this secret, Kuze often manages to help Alisa when she needs it the most, all the while being more than happy to engage in some light banter and teasing.
Along with slowly chronicling Alisa and Kuze’s budding romance, Alya incorporates slice of life elements by simply following the duo and a few more students at school. While not as comedic as Horimiya, Alya gets quite funny at times, making it a great all-rounder that delivers romance, drama, and humor.
Pseudo Harem
Awkward & Adorable Slice Of Life
Primarily a recommendation for Horimiya: Missing Pieces, Pseudo Harem consists of short moments that showcase Rin and Eiji’s cute friendship. The title is a reference to Rin’s acting chops, as she decides to create a one-girl harem for her senpai, Eiji. Basically, she assumes different waifu archetypes and gives Eiji a boost in confidence, all the while allowing her to mask a (very obvious) crush. Their interactions are the definition of wholesome and inconsequential.
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Presuming somebody is not seeking an overt romance, Pseudo Harem should hit the mark with fans who enjoy Horimiya‘s slice of life chapters. The anime is just pure fluff, and sometimes nothing hits the mark like a healthy dose of sugary adorableness.
Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!
Finding Joy After Heartbreak
Love does not always end with a happily ever after. Honestly, it usually ends in heartbreak, and Makeine revolves around girls who are rejected by their crushes. Somehow, they wind up gravitating around Kazuhiko, a mild-mannered guy who is far from an expert on romance. Connecting through their shared misery, the main characters slowly start the process of moving on, which involves quite a lot of cute (and often funny) slice of life escapades.
While its premise and story structure are not similar to Horimiya, Makeine strikes a similar overall tone, with both shows balancing romance, comedy, and (some) drama well. Makeine can be surprisingly hilarious at times, largely thanks to Anna, the first girl to form a friendship with Kazuhiko. For his part, the male lead glues the characters together well.
Skip And Loafer
High School Life
One of the best anime of 2023, Skip and Loafer is an absolute delight that presents a grounded rather than idealized look at adolescence. Now, before proceeding any further, Skip and Loafer only has romantic subtext, so Horimiya fans craving an official couple might not get what they want from this series. That said, Mitsumi and Sousuke complement each other beautifully, and they are somewhat similar to Izumi and Hori in the sense that they have very different personalities and backgrounds, at least at a glance.
Both shows focus on more than just their protagonists, emphasizing the relationships and insecurities of their secondary characters. Although primarily a drama, Skip and Loafer can be enjoyed as a slice of life as well, even if it touches upon heavier themes than most of the genre’s offerings. The show even has its share of funny moments that stem naturally from the characters’ well-defined personalities.
The Dangers In My Heart
Slow-Build Love Story
Starting as a fairly typical comedy before blossoming into one of the best romances in a long time, The Dangers in My Heart is something special. Kyotaro Ichikawa is an awkward teenager who keeps to himself and occasionally daydreams about killing his classmates, specifically a model named Anna. Just normal adolescent stuff. Wisely, the anime spends very little time on Kyotaro’s fantasies, instead opting to focus solely on his growing friendship with Anna. And, their dynamic is irresistibly endearing, with both characters playing their part in selling the prospect of a romance.
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Solo Leveling, The Dangers in My Heart, and Classroom of the Elite are all contenders for the best Winter 2024 anime.
Unlike Horimiya, The Dangers in My Heart focuses on setting the stage for a romantic connection, at least during its opening season; however, the series does a brilliant job exploring the students’ relationship growth. Kyotaro, especially, goes through a fair amount of development, while Anna comes across as a three-dimensional character from the very first episode. The sequel season is particularly fantastic and firmly establishes Kyotaro and Anna as an all-time great anime couple. An argument could be made that The Dangers in My Heart is the most consistent romance anime of all time.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
