There’s nothing quite like kicking your shoes off and settling into a binge-worthy show when the sun’s knocking at your door. Whether it be weekends or late-night weekdays, sometimes the best way to beat the heat is to lie on your couch with a good series that matches the weather’s vibe.
YourNetflixsummer watch list doesn’t have to be filled with only the new shows you find on your Netflix app, when there are many summer shows to explore. Here are 10 Netflix shows that will be the perfect additions to your watch list as the temperature rises.
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40
Status
Ongoing
If you’re trying to find a high-stakes hunt for lost treasure riddled with themes like class conflict and law,Outer Bankscan be your next watch. This mystery teen drama, set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, follows the tensions between two young social groups: the Pogues (the working-class) and the Kooks (the elites). Tensions flare up as the Pogues' ring leader, John B, asks his friends to help uncover the mystery behind his missing father, while chasing a treasure linked to his disappearance. Along the way, the group of friends deals with romance, friendship, and betrayal, while avoiding run-ins with the law.
Outer Banks’final season is set to be released sometime in 2026. An interactive game,Netflix Stories: Outer Banks,is available to play through the Netflix mobile app.
2021
1
16
Ended
One of the highest-rated dramas on Korean cable television,Hometown Cha-Cha-Chais a staple watch for anyone getting into K-dramas. This slice-of-life romcom, set in the fictional seaside village of Gongjin (shot in Pohang), follows Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a) as she moves from Seoul to the village on her late mother’s birthday. Leaving behind her successful career in Seoul, Hye-jin sets up a small dentistry clinic in the village and meets Hong Du-sik, a charming handyman who helps his neighbors regularly. Their polar opposite personalities clash, but romance blooms nonetheless.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Chabecame one of Netflix’s most popular non-English-language series upon its release, occupying spots in the Top 10 chart for television series for several weeks. It also had a significant impact on Pohang’s tourism and has cemented itself as an important part of Korean pop culture. The series is a good comfort show to watch (and rewatch) when you feel down, with its slow pacing and wholesome moments.
2024
14
One Dayis one of those love stories that just tugs at your heartstrings perfectly. Based on David Nicholls' novel of the same name, this romance miniseries captures the 14-year relationship between Emma Morley (Ambika Mod) and Dexter Mayhew (Leo Woodall) after a fateful encounter during their graduation ball. Despite their differences, the two hit things off, but go their separate ways only to find their paths crossing in the future. Each episode sees a time skip of one year, taking the audience through Emma and Dexter’s lives, both with and away from each other. You might recall the movieOne Day, starring Anne Hathaway, that came out in 2011, which the series drew inspiration from.
Within a week of its release, this limited series garnered over 10 million views on Netflix. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish, and is a short watch that will have you grabbing tissues from both the tooth-rotting fluff and emotional twists.
2021-2023
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26
Nothing beats a classic friendship story, andFirefly Lanedelivers a heartwarming two-season run that you can binge-watch in a week. The decades-long friendship between two Seattle-based women, Kate Mularkey (Scrubs' Sarah Chalke) and Tully Hart (Grey’s Anatomy’sKatherine Heigl), from their meeting as teenagers up until their 40s, takes center stage in this romantic drama.Firefly Laneis based on Kristin Hannah’s novel of the same name, and is loosely inspired by her own experiences.
Within 28 days of its release on Netflix, the series was watched by over 49 million people. While it can seem like a generic friendship story at first,Firefly Lanewill keep you hooked, both with its coming-of-age focus and chemistry between the protagonists.
10
Unconventional romance stories with insane chemistry between the lead characters are always an entertaining watch, especially if they’re short and sweet.Nobody Wants Thisexplores the unlikely romance between a short-tempered agnostic podcaster, Joanne (The Good Place’sKristen Bell), and a rabbi, Noah (Adam Brody), after the two are introduced to each other by Joanne’s best friend. Along the way come hurdles like their extremely different lifestyles, meddling families, and varying belief systems.
Nobody Wants Thisearned three Golden Globe Awards nominations, with Adam Brody winning a Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. The second season of the show is set to premiere on Netflix on October 23 this year.
2022 - 2024
3
24
Based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novel and web comic of the same name,Heartstopperis a British queer romance drama that blurs the lines between the coming-of-age and young adult romance genres. The series takes you through the love story between Charlie Spring (Agatha All Along’sJoe Locke) and his classmate Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) as they navigate the trials of high school and young love. The lives of Charlie and Nick’s friends, along with their sexualities and identities, are also explored.
Heartstopperbecame one of the most-watched Netflix series at the time of its release. With animation elements seen in its source material and a soundtrack that fits right into its setting and story,Heartstopperis more than just its cast performance and adorable storyline. It’s a feel-good romance that is a must-watch if you’re interested in LGBTQ+ media. While it has been confirmed that there will not be a fourth season of the series,it’s been reported thatHeartstopperwill conclude with a feature filmto air on Netflix.
2015 - 2022
7
94
Kick your summer watch list off on a light note with this acclaimed sitcom.Grace and Frankiefocuses on the odd yet hilarious friendship between retired cosmetics mogul Grace Hanson (Jane Fonda) and artist Frankie Bergstein (Lily Tomlin), after their divorce-attorney husbands fall in love with each other and leave them. Their lives are thrown off track, but the women find themselves living together and navigating personal and familial conflicts as their friendship slowly blossoms.
Grace and Frankiereceived five Primetime Emmy Award nominations and a Golden Globe Award nomination in its eight-season run. While its first season received average ratings, the succeeding seasons of the show were met with largely positive reviews, given the cast’s performance, plot, and writing.
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Even if you’re not a big fan of reality shows, you don’t want to miss out onLove on the Spectrum. Based on the original Australian show, this American version uses a similar documentary-style format and follows people on the autism spectrum as they try to find love. The show highlights how they navigate the evolving world of dating and relationships while forming new connections.
Love on the Spectrumwon five Primetime Emmy Awards for casting, directing, and the award for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program. Critics have praised it for its humanized portrayal of autistic people. However, there has been slight criticism about certain aspects of the show, including the date settings and the lack of insight into established autistic couples, which was explored more in the show’s Australian counterpart. The show has been renewed for a fourth season.
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For a wholesome anime to watch this summer,Spy X Familyis an entertaining, family-friendly show that will have you hooked on its premise. Based on one of the best-selling mangas of all time, the comedy show is about the eccentric Forger family—an undercover spy father, a secret assassin mother, and a telepathic daughter.
Being tasked with building a family to keep his disguise intact and getting close to a notable political figure, Agent Twilight takes on the name of Loid Forger and enrolls his adopted daughter, Anya, in the same school as his target’s son. Hilarity (and emotions) ensues as the Forgers protect their secrets from each other while trying to function as a relatively normal family.
The series has won several Japanese film accolades and has consistently received high ratings. A film,Spy x Family Code: White, was released in 2023, and a third season of the series is slated to release in October this year.
2020 - 2023
Never Have I Everis one of Netflix’s most popular comedy-drama shows, with plot points reminiscent of early 2000s high school shows. What makes it different, however, is that the story is steeped in cultural identity and family dynamics that are a bit different from your typical young adult stories.
Created byThe Office’s Mindy Kaling andBrooklyn Nine-Ninewriter Lang Fisher,Never Have I Everis about an American-Tamil teenager, Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), who copes with life after losing her father. Her relationship with her mother, a messy love triangle between her two crushes, and her friendships send Devi (and the audience) on a rollercoaster ride. Meanwhile, the story explores South Indian culture from the diaspora point of view, through Devi’s family members and their stories.
The show features guest narration fromSNL’s Andy Samberg and model Gigi Hadid, which aims to break the fourth wall and connect the audience to the characters' thoughts. Within two months of its release, the show was viewed by over 40 million households.
If you want to find more shows on your summer watch list while searching for a specific genre, like romance or comedy, you can useNetflix’s Secret Codesin your app’s search bar to filter out genre-specific titles. This makes finding new (and sometimes underrated) shows much easier than simply surfing your Home tab.
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