‘Fantastic’ rom-com staring A-list actress in ‘relatable’ role is a ‘must-watch’

If you're looking for your next rom-com binge-watch, this could just be it, as fans are praising it for its 'relatability' – unlike other 'fairy tale' romance stories.

Love Life is an American anthology series, with two series that offer different characters with new storylines – but its first season has Hollywood's very own Anna Kendrick at the heart of the show.

First released in 2020, the HBO series delves into the harsh realities of modern-day relationships, with a new man at the helm of each episode.

The show claims to follow "how the people we're with along the way make us into who we are when we finally end up with someone forever."

A five-star review on Rotten Tomatoes states: "Love Life is a fantastic, and albeit very realistic, take on what it is like being a woman in the dating world in your mid-twenties.

"With a great cast and an even better soundtrack, this HBO Max feature is a perfect watch for any woman seeking something relatable and also moderately encouraging.

"Though the issues addressed in the series are not for the faint at heart, viewers will find comfort in subjects that are seldom spoken of in typical media."

Meanwhile, another added: "It was great seeing Anna Kendrick shine in this role. I thought the show handled the various storylines very well."

Set in New York City, the first series follows a twenty-something young woman called Darby as she meets numerous romantic partners, who all offer a different kind of love life. Each episode offers a new man in her life as we watch their relationship grow and see where it all goes wrong, but how each and every one of them has played a valued role in her figuring out what she wants.

From the get-go the show isn't one to shy away from the complexities of marriage, careers, finances, and all of the things that can make a modern relationship difficult. One review says: "Refreshing and surprisingly not predictable of the usual tropes – even if the situations are totally relatable.

"It was funny with smart/witty lines and not the belly laugh kind. Had deep emotional but realistic and cringeworthy stories that show how flawed or immature humans can be. Amazing cast led by Anna Kendrick, who is really an actor with depth."

It's Kendrick's role in season one that had fans hooked from the get-go but viewers can't get used to it, as the second rendition of Love Life has a whole new person at the centre of it – and this time, it's a man. Released a year later in 2021, this season sees William Jackson Harper play Marcus Watkins as he navigates his dating life in the Big Apple.

In fact, the male perspective was deemed even more popular with viewers, as they gave it a much higher overall score on the review site – sitting at 95%.

A review reads: "William Jackson Harper is so good! A super compelling character that Harper plays beautifully. His charisma is so rooted in his vulnerability. And the writing is often real, sharp and funny af. That said, some of the characters that orbit him are wooden and predictable."

If you're looking to throw yourself into a lesser-known rom-com full of relatability and funny quirks, all episodes of Love Life are available to watch now on Amazon Prime with a premium subscription. Alternatively, you can rent both seasons on Apple TV.