3 romantic Netflix shows to binge before Virgin River season 8

Mel and Jack returned in Virgin River season 7, but just like that, the waiting begins again once your binge-watch ends. The latest season picked back up with the newly married couple as they pursue the winding road of parenthood, and the twists and turns were so good that it's understandable if most fans watched all 10 episodes in one sitting.

Thankfully, Netflix has already renewed the fan-favorite romantic drama series for season 8, but we're going to have to practice patience once again. Virgin River season 8 isn't expected to premiere until sometime in 2027, but Netflix has plenty of romantic original series to add to our watch lists while the cast and crew work on the next chapter of the cozy and addictive show.

If you're looking for more romance, small towns, and found families, Netflix boasts some of the best series that will fill your heart as much as they will keep you on the edge of your seat. And the great news about each of the shows featured on this list is new seasons of each of them are coming this year! Whether you're watching for the first time or getting caught, add these titles to your list.

Sweet Magnolias

If you have been enjoying your time in the fictional Northern California small town of Virgin River, then head on down to the fictional South Carolina small town of Serenity! Sweet Magnolias is cut from the same cloth as Virgin River, and it's almost unimaginable that those who have watched one of the hit Netflix shows hasn't watch the other.

But if you haven't yet for some reason, Sweet Magnolias centers on a trio of long-time friends who have been taking on the highs and lows of life together through everything. Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Helen (Heather Headley), and Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott), are their for each other, their families, and their communities through thick and thin.

Currently, there are four seasons of Sweet Magnolias available to binge-watch on Netflix, meaning 30 episodes of drama, romance, and small-town cozy you can marathon. The fifth season finally makes its premiere on June 11, and the new episodes take the Sweet Magnolias all the way to New York City. Make sure to catch up before the exciting new season arrives this summer!

Ransom Canyon

From one small town to another, we're staying down in the South but heading a bit more West with the latest hit Netflix original romantic drama series Ransom Canyon. Also based on a series of popular books, the Western drama takes place in the fictional Texas town as dueling ranches battle for power and dynasty, all with an undercurrent of romance.

Ransom Canyon made its premiere on Netflix in April 2025, and like Sweet Magnolias, it's hard to imagine that there are any Virgin River fans who haven't tuned in. After all, the series is pretty star-studded with Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly in the lead and James Brolin appearing in a major role, too. And the series share a lot of the same ingredients that make them irresistible.

Virgin River often contains elements of crime and mystery, which are also in play in Ransom Canyon. You're left to wonder a character's true intentions while unraveling the truth about another character's death. It's an excellent companion to Virgin River, albeit with more edge, and the second season has already wrapped filming and should hopefully be released before the end of the year.

Ginny & Georgia

From Northern California to the South and over to Texas, we're heading up to New England for the next romantic Netflix show that deserves a spot on your post-Virgin River watch list. You might write off Ginny & Georgia as a teen drama at first glance, but the mother-daughter drama isn't solely about teenagers and touches on a lot more genres than comedy and drama than you'd think.

Ginny & Georgia initially drew comparisons to Gilmore Girls since the series tackles the close but often tense relationship between a young single mother and her teenage daughter. After moving to Wellsbury, Massachusetts, Georgia (Brianne Howey) and her two children look to start a new life, but trouble soon follows them as they set down roots and forge new relationships.

Obviously, there's a fair amount of romance featured in the series between the relationship of Ginny (Antonio Gentry) and Georgia, but like Virgin River, there are other elements to the series that make it beloved. There's murder and mystery and dark family dynamics. Season 4 recently wrapped filming and is expected to be released this year, making it the perfect time for a binge-watch!