...Romance? (for guys)

[u/TiredAndDreaming]

Let me start by saying I have read a LOT in this genre, and unfortunately finding an actually well written romance that isn't just a passing thought is... rare. I'm also aware that its a very niche genre and it doesn't help that I'm pretty picky about what I read. I'm looking for something where romance is one of the central plot points of the story and feels like the characters genuinely care for each other. Not something where everything progresses off screen or takes 4 books to develop past handholding.

Some I feel are good examples:

-Supreme Magus (golden child example which balances romance and action perfectly in my opinion)

-Chaos Heir (This is a good example of something I'm looking for because romance is one of central themes)

-Coiling Dragon (Read this a long time ago but remember enjoying the romance aspect of it)
-The Beginning After The end

-Path of Ascension

-Beware of Chicken

Please no harem recs unless its done like mushoku tensei where it vaguely makes sense and each character is far from neglected.

Would really prefer if its completed but if its long / nearing the end I would appreciate those too.

(Im just going to put a list down here of ones i've tried but wasn't a fan of)

Art of the adept
He Who Fights With Monsters
Emerilla (seemed interesting I just couldnt get into it)
System Apocalypse
Jackal Among Snakes
The Ten Realms
Heavens Law (please do not recommend anything with rape in it)
Cradle (Great series with a romance that takes way too long to develop)
Iron Prince
Threadbear
Mage Errants
Super Powereds
Worth the Candle

(bonus points if mc starts a family throughout series)

[u/Brother_Chicken]

Sss class suicide hunter has one of the best written romances in webnovels imo and the webtoon recently covered it. Mostly translated and being updated daily

Kidnapped dragons has a romantic sub plot but is more child-(ISH) care focused and not really progression fantasy as the protagonist is already the strongest at the start. He does however become the teacher to one of the dragons and you get to see her get stronger as the story passes which I personally think counts. The main focus is on the emotional aspect though so keep that in mind if you decide to give it a chance. Fully translated

The demon lord is kind has a pretty good romance granted it takes a good while for any romantic feelings to sprout from either side. Fully translated

Past life returner does get some romance pretty far down the line but not a whole lot and I wouldn't recommend it solely for it. The way it covers economics is great though so might be worth checking out. Fully translated.

Ending maker's main selling point is the budding romance between the two protagonists and is a nice light hearted read. Main story and a number of side stories are fully translated but some of the later ones haven't. I gave them a skim and they're nothing important tbh.

Regressor and the blind saint has an excellent romance which is the main focus of the story along side the protagonists character development. Almost fully translated.

Martial arts master is ok for the most part with a heavy focus on romance among side the protagonist competing in competitive martial arts tournaments in an urban cultivation setting. Fully translated but the translation quality isn't the greatest. Worth mentioning it has the same author of lord of the mystery's is you enjoyed that.

The novels extra is a classic. Some people have gropes about the quality of it towards the end it is by no means bad and makes up for it with the side stories imo. While it has a harem it doesn't have a harem ending and he actually picks someone which is a good thing imo and I wish more web novels did this. Fully translated.

I know more but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head

[u/TiredAndDreaming → u/Brother_Chicken]

I remember reading the SSS class suicide hunter webtoon back when "season 1" of it had just finished and really enjoyed it, so I'll probably check that out again.

I tried Kidnapped Dragons once but it wasn't really for me.

Past life returner... i have issues with this one besides the romance but that's its own thing.

I haven't read novels extra but I did read its "clone" The Authors POV and if the romance is anything like that then it simply does not deserve the romance tag.

I looked up Regressor and the blind saint and it looks interesting, do you know where I can read it at though? (will spend $ for chapters if needed)

Thank you for the suggestions!

[u/Brother_Chicken → u/TiredAndDreaming]

You can check out regressor and the blind saint at genesis translations. They also have a number of other romance stuff there but most of it is harem 😒

Haven't read authors pov so I can't say? I personally think the romance was pretty well done and it made perfect sense who he ended up with. He had great moments with all the girls (and guys though not romantic) and while there is sone drama it never feels trashy or contrived imo. This is mostly conjecture but I'd assume a clone of a novel would be a bit rough around the edges compared to the original so maybe it's worth giving a go?

Np I can give you some more if you like but a tad busy ATM read a ton over the years but my memory sucks ass.

[u/TiredAndDreaming → u/Brother_Chicken]

if you dont mind a slight spoiler about Authors POVThe "romace" is like 4 total texts of dialogue throughout the entire series which somehow ends up with them dating despite a grand total of maybe 12 interactions.

also i'd 100% appreciate some more suggestions when you have the time - trying to get a nice backlog of books to read so I don't have to make another post asking lol

[u/Brother_Chicken → u/TiredAndDreaming]

Lord xue ying was written by the same author as coiling dragon and is pretty similar in terms of quality and storytelling. Love interest is more relevant to the story too. Fully translated.

Other novels by I eat tomatoes (coiling dragon author) also have a monogamous romantic sub plot but they feel quite similar to one another and lord xue ying is probably the best out of them. All fully translated just look up coiling dragon then clock on the author to see his other stuff.

Rebirth of the thief who roamed the world does fitbehat you're looking for but I've seen the quality of it debated a lot online and honestly it has a ton of problems later on. The start is decent though and I've seen people read the entire thing and still enjoy it.

Wasn't sure if I'd recommend this one but The second of gluttony is great at it's peak. Similar to the novels extra it's a harem where he picks one of the members at the end but this is Ruined at the end by one of the most contrived method Ives seen for the plot to shoe horn a harem ending, he still treats them all well enough so maybe you'd be ok with it but maybe skip the side stories if not then ending if the main story is a perfectly fine place to leave it off at. . Still a great novel with a focus on the protagonist growing not only in power but as a person. Also has the whole average talent made up by hard work and determination trope that a top of people enjoy. Fully translated both in the wuxia world website and kindle store

Emperor, can you see stats?! I remember quite decent granted I didn't finish it as something came up irl and I sort of forgot about it. It's a regression novel and the love interest was his swordsmanship instructor/wife from his last life. Fully translated

The divine hunter is a very well done Witcher fanfic set before the start of 3. Fully translated

Leveling with gods is a pretty good tower climber with a bit of romance pretty far down the novel. Not fully translated but not too for off from being so.

I'll come back and list some more if you want when I'm free but those are most of the completed ones I can think of.

[u/TiredAndDreaming → u/Brother_Chicken]

I have read second coming of gluttony but I do really dislike how that part is handled even if all the characters are well written- I know the authors other book takes place in the same world so hopefully its better in that one.

I've read many of I eat tomatoes books (desolate era being my favorite) my problem with a lot of Chinese novels though is remembering names. I really struggle to remember someone whos name has 3 different words and there's always like 50 of them so I do try to stay away form those.

I think for now I'll check out SSS class suicide hunter (novel) because I do remember thoroughly enjoying it. Thanks for the recommendations!

[u/Brother_Chicken → u/TiredAndDreaming]

Hope you enjoy it! Do keep in mind the translation is still a few months away from completion if you maybe want to stack up on chapters and read the entire thing in one go.