Saagar Kote
Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Love Me Love Me’ revolves around the trials and tribulations of a young girl named June (Mia Jenkins). For academic purposes, she travels to Italy after her brother’s death and aims to become familiar with Saint Mary’s, her new school. Her seemingly mundane life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with fellow students named James (Pepe Barroso) and Will (Luca Melucci). While James is a fighter willing to risk it all in the ring, Will is an excellent student, calm and determined. Caught between her romantic feelings for both of them, June finds it difficult to handle the situation.
To truly understand the meaning of love, June may first have to confront her own insecurities while facing complex revelations. Directed by Roger Kumble, the Italian romantic drama, in the English language, is a tender love story that deals with the passion and uncertainty of youth. If you are looking for films like ‘Love Me Love Me’ that also delve into romantic stories, this list is for you.
8. The Half of It (2020)
‘The Half of It’ deals with the life of Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis), a Chinese-American student, who is known for her studious nature. She runs a small scheme, helping fellow students write essays in exchange for money. A boy named Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) approaches her to help him write romantic letters to Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire). Ellie initially helps him capture Aster’s attention through her beautiful letters, but also develops romantic feelings for the girl. As Paul and Ellie become close friends, they have to deal with the complications of their love for the same girl, while also understanding the nature of their bond. Helmed by Alice Wu, the Netflix comedy drama, like ‘Love Me Love Me,’ is a love triangle that delves into the insecurities, passion, and the magic of youth.
7. Alex Strangelove (2018)
Netflix’s ‘Alex Strangelove’ chronicles the adventures of Alex Truelove (Daniel Doheny), a high school student who dates a girl named Claire (Madeline Weinstein). The romcom follows Alex as he decides to get intimate with Claire and finally lose his virginity. However, this leads to more questions than answers, as Alex wonders if he likes girls or not. Confused with his own sexual and romantic thoughts, he goes through a journey of self-discovery, while also developing an emotional bond with a boy named Elliot (Antonio Marziale). To truly be free and live his best life, Alex may have to face his own insecurities. The Craig Johnson directorial, akin to ‘Love Me Love Me,’ is a story of three people in a puzzling love triangle, which also sheds light on identity and friendship.
6. Love & Gelato (2022)
Based on Jenna Evans Welch’s eponymous novel, Netflix’s ‘Love & Gelato’ is the story of Lina Emerson (Susanna Skaggs), an American teenager who travels to Italy after her mother’s passing. She is there to retrace her mother’s past in Italy and honor her last wish. In the foreign country, she faces an unexpected complication when she develops romantic feelings for Alessandro (Saul Nanni) and Lorenzo Ferazza (Tobia de Angelis). She must now choose between the two, while also transforming her life amidst the endless beauty of the country and its gelato. Directed by Brandon Camp, the romcom, like ‘Love Me Love Me,’ is a tale of finding oneself, choosing love, and facing the trials and tribulations of being a young adult.
5. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
‘10 Things I Hate About You’ follows Katarina “Kat” Stratford (Julia Stiles), a young girl who hates socializing. New student Cameron James (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) at Padua High, falls for Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik), a sophomore who is only allowed to date if her sister Kat also dates someone. To date Bianca, Cameron must find Kat a potential lover. He seeks help from the Australian boy named Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to take Kat out and charm her. As Kat, James, Patrick, and Bianca become part of a puzzling love equation, their romantic fates may depend on destiny. Adapted from William Shakespeare’s play ‘The Taming of the Shrew,’ the romantic comedy, due to its portrayal of complex love stories, school life, and the value of friendship, is connected to ‘Love Me Love Me.’
4. Sierra Burgess Is a Loser (2018)
Directed by Ian Samuels, ‘Sierra Burgess Is a Loser’ revolves around the ups and downs in the life of unpopular high school student Sierra Burgess (Shannon Purser). She has great ambitions in life and wants to get into Stanford. But she’s constantly ridiculed by her schoolmates for being a hopeless loser. When a handsome student named Jamey (Noah Centineo) mistakenly texts her, thinking she is cheerleader Veronica (Kristine Froseth), Sierra develops texting chemistry with him. She seeks Veronica’s help in maintaining the illusion, while also hoping to eventually woo Jamey. But to truly achieve what she wants, she has to accept herself first. Inspired by the play ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ by Edmond Rostand, the Netflix comedy-drama, like ‘Love Me Love Me,’ is a layered love triangle, a story of choice, self-discovery, and the passion of school life.
3. The Perfect Date (2019)
The Netflix romcom ‘The Perfect Date’ follows Brooks Rattigan (Noah Centineo), a young boy who wants to get into Yale. To fund this dream, he acts as a chaperone and date to Celia Lieberman (Laura Marano). Realizing he can portray any role, he sets up an app where girls can hire him to act as their date and assume a fictional persona. He begins dating Shelby Pace (Camila Mendes) in real life, but also develops complex feelings for Celia. As Shelby leads him in a different direction, Brooks must understand who he really is and what his dreams really mean. However, making a choice is not as simple as he thought it would be. Based on the novel ‘The Stand-In’ by Steve Bloom, the Chris Nelson directorial explores a love triangle, the cost of ambition, and youthful spirit, in ways similar to ‘Love Me Love Me.’
2. The Kissing Booth (2018)
‘The Kissing Booth,’ based on the eponymous novel by Beth Reekles, delves into the life of Elle Evans (Joey King), who is best friends with Lee Flynn (Joel Courtney). She hides the fact that she has a crush on Lee’s older brother, Noah Flynn (Jacob Elordi), so as to maintain her friendship with Lee. To secure some funds, she organizes a kissing booth contest, where people randomly kiss on stage. When she ends up kissing Noah, her feelings deepen, and she intends to date him. Stuck between friendship and love, and between the egos of two brothers, Elle must resolve the chaos of her soul by making a difficult decision. Helmed by Vince Marcello, the Netflix romcom, akin to ‘Love Me Love Me,’ is a story of choice, doubt, passion in school life, and the layers of a relationship triangle.
1. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
Netflix’s ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,’ based on Jenny Han’s eponymous novel, centers on Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor), a socially awkward teenager who writes letters about her romantic fantasies. She develops crushes on Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) and other boys over the course of years, but never acts on them. Stuck to her unposted letters, she lives a lonely life, with just the mental image of love. Things take a turn when her younger sister Kitty Song-Covey (Anna Cathcart) finds the letters and posts them. Lara must now go on a tumultuous journey of self-discovery and bravery as she faces all the boys she had a crush on. Directed by Susan Johnson, the romantic comedy reflects the spirit of ‘Love Me Love Me’ through its depiction of teenage insecurities, secret desires, school awkwardness, and the tender feelings of young love.
Read More: Is Love Me Love Me a True Story?
