Admit it: At least once, you’ve switched off your TV, sighed and wondered…when is *my* picture-perfect love interest going to enter stage right?
Ofc, we can’t promise a Chris Briney meet-cute IRL. But we can assure you that those onscreen archetypes—whether it’s the golden retriever boyfriend or the sassy rival-turned-crush—do exist in the real world. You just need to know how to spot them and, more importantly, how to make them swoon.
Conrad Fisher from The Summer I Turned Pretty
Find them: Volunteering for the charity bake sale (dirt bomb muffins, anyone?).
Look out for: Hopeless romantic tendencies. No matter how cynical he seems, remember this is the guy who taught Belly to ride a bike, gifted her an infinity necklace and surprised her in the literal City of Love.
Make your move: No Connie Baby can resist a down-to- earth girl. Propose a chill ‘n’ cozy hang, like conquering a crossword puzzle or watching old black-and-white movies together.
Lucas Sinclair from Stranger Things
Find them: Claiming the crown at game night.
Look out for: Unshakable courage. That scaredy-cat kiddo who once cowered during D&D is a far cry from the hero who puts everything on the line to save his friends in the show’s finale.
Make your move: Take it from Max Mayfield: Lucas types are drawn to gals who are opinionated, headstrong and unafraid to challenge them—in the arcade, the classroom or beyond.
Victor from Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires
Find them: Exploring anywhere and everywhere the breeze blows.
Look out for: A contagious, fun-loving vibe. Move over, Edward Cullen—there’s a way less brooding bloodsucker in town. He’s curious, accepting and up for adventure.
Make your move: Sure, you could cross your fingers and hope to appear in their dreams à la Nova. But it’s easier to impress them with a spontaneous invite to somewhere they’ve never been, like that new teppanyaki place or laser tag spot.
Yuri Han from XO, Kitty
Find them: Killing it on aux at every single party.
Look out for: An It girl aura. Thanks to Yuri’s well-to-do ’rents and social media stardom, she’s no stranger to the spotlight—and basically struts into every room like she owns it.
Make your move: Despite the glam exterior, the Yuri in your life might be searching for something pretty simple: a friend. Keep their secrets, give them a few genuine compliments and make them laugh, even when no one’s watching.
Peter Kavinsky from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Find them: Playing their sport of choice and looking *so* good doing it.
Look out for: Effortless charisma. You don’t end up crowned the (un)official king of the Jenny Han-iverse unless you bring 24/7 easy-going energy, with a dash of playful arrogance.
Make your move: An extrovert like Peter appreciates a bit of bravery. Go ahead and shoot your shot—although, disclaimer, we can’t in good faith recommend the love letter method. Instead, ask to grab pizza, chai or sundaes. Just don’t break their heart, Covey!
Hope from Booksmart
Find them: Making razor-sharp quips from the back row in AP English.
Look out for: A sarcastic wit and enviable confidence. If projecting an “I don’t care but deep down I actually do” attitude were a class in school, she would be scoring a spot on the honor roll, no question.
Make your move: Instead of trying to one-up Hope’s angst, reveal your vulnerable and goofy side. You’ll crack that too-cool façade, and who knows? Maybe you’ll get to borrow their hoodie (or, even better, that iconic fringe jacket).
Miller Adams from Regretting You
Find them: Geeking over their Letterboxd top four.
Look out for: A caring nature and a huge—albeit carefully guarded—heart. He shows up for Clara during her time of need, ready to listen, have deep conversations or hit the movies as a distraction (where he’s already reserved the whole theater, natch).
Make your move: Careful not to romanticize Miller’s rebellious streak. They’re sweeter than their rep suggests, so let them into your inner world by swapping playlists, including them in your crew’s hangouts and even introducing them to your family.
Peter Parker from the Spider-Man franchise
Find them: Sneaking away from the class field trip to, ya know, save the universe.
Look out for: An adorably awkward sense of humor. Somehow, the same superhero who fearlessly faces the Green Goblin straight-up melts in front of MJ. Highly relatable—and judging by Zendaya’s bling—it’s a trait that’s equally charming off-screen.
Make your move: No need to fall from a skyscraper to get their attention. Since Peter types can be on the shy side, find a shared passion (photography, comic books, Marvel movies?) that gives you two the chance to nerd out together.
Hey, girl! Just to let you know, this originally ran in our February/March 2026 issue. Read our print mag for *free* today when you click HERE!
More V-Day content, right this way…
❤️ Here’s how to host an unforgettable Valentine’s Day bash
💖 Underrated rom-coms you need to watch this Valentine’s Day
❤️ Low-key Valentine’s Day date ideas
