There seems to be a lot of misery related to dating these days: unreciprocated energy, commitment issues and swiping fatigue (to name a few).
We previously reported that many singles prefer to meet romantic prospects organically while out and about. And, while there are hot spots where meeting new people is common, some of the most romantic encounters happen — what’s that cliché again? — when you least expect it.
That seems to be the case for the roughly 120 submissions we received in response to our call out for summer meet-cute stories. Readers shared stories of locking eyes at cooking classes, seminars, soccer league games, museums and airports. Many met their lovers abroad.
While the narrative of the horror that is the dating scene in 2024 feels inescapable, here are 10 delightful stories about meeting someone special this summer that might make you believe in love again.
Submissions have been edited for length and clarity.
A Museum Meet-Cute
I was visiting Washington, D.C., and randomly decided to go to the National Gallery of Art. I caught myself looking at a girl, and she must have been looking at me, too. We both smiled at each other. Emboldened, I asked her to take a picture of me in front of a couple of Rothko paintings. That turned into a 15-minute conversation about where we went to college and graduate school, then more pictures, and then a trip to the botanical garden. What stood out to me is that meeting someone in person is so much better than meeting someone online. Our connection was instant and felt genuine. It also was unexpected — something missing from modern dating.
We are definitely still friends — we exchanged numbers and followed each other on Instagram — but I am not sure if I’ll ever see her again. If I am ever in her city, I’ll certainly text her, and I said, “If you ever find yourself in my neck of the woods, we should meet up.”
— Louis Shaheen, Columbus, Ohio
Falling in Love in Italy
For my birthday this year, I wanted to take a memoir-writing workshop in Assisi with Nancy Balbirer, the author of “Almost Romance,” which had helped me to heal from two devastating breakups back to back. On July 12, I sat next to a painting instructor. At the end of the meal, another participant asked if I was in a relationship or married, and in an effort to be funny, I declared, “No one wants to marry me.” I went to bed early, and the painter asked the other guests about me — they all agreed they saw something between us.
The next night, we weren’t sitting together, and she passed behind me at the end of the evening, lightly touched my shoulder and gave me a gentle nod. As soon as we were away from the group, she invited me to take a walk with her. That’s how it all started. Two days later, we were planning a romantic getaway at a beautiful Tuscan seaside property. By the end of the week, we had fallen in love.
Neither of us can believe it’s been only seven weeks. Since the time we spent together in Italy, we have gone on separate trips around Europe and gotten to know each other over the phone. She joined me in Vienna for the Eras Tour, which ended up being canceled. It’s a love story we know Taylor Swift would approve of, no doubt. We are going to see each other again for her birthday in September and her art show in New York City in October, and we will see what happens from there.
— Christine Sipple, Chattahoochee Hills, Ga.
When the Plus-Ones Mingle
We met at a birthday party for someone neither of us knew. She was a plus-one, and I was the plus-one of a plus-one. My friend and I took control of the aux at the bar we were at in the West Village, Automatic Slim’s, and started playing some Latino music that we could dance to. When we started dancing, she and I locked eyes from across the bar. What stood out to me first was how beautiful her smile was when we first saw each other. She later went outside to text a friend, and I followed after her to talk. We spent that night together dancing, and she came over to a friend’s party with me the next day. We spent every day since then talking. We went on our first actual date the following Wednesday, and we started officially dating on July 29th.
— Daniel Bastidas, Queens
Flirting in the … Hospital Bed?
Unfortunately, this summer I was diagnosed with a 6-millimeter kidney stone. After the diagnosis, I waited an agonizing 24 hours before I could get into surgery. I was cringing in the hospital bed around hour nine, when the nurse staff shifted duties. In walked the most handsome, bubbly caretaker, in uniform no less. I was immediately invested. He was so kind and intelligent, concerned and attentive. His shift ended while I was in surgery, and I thought I’d never see him again.
Three days later *bing* — I received a text from him asking me out on a date. We’ve been on multiple dates since, and I’ll never forget the experience of meeting Robbie for the first time doubled over in that hospital bed!
— Jordan McHenry, Colorado Springs
Finding Love at the Supermarket
One afternoon, I arrived at my local market hall to do some grocery shopping. I walked with purpose to the egg and cheese stand, where I was on friendly terms with the woman who was usually behind the counter. Upon arriving at the stall, I said an enthusiastic “hello” only to look up and realize that I was at the wrong stand: the Italian stand. I explained my mistake, walked to my intended destination, one stand to the right, and waited for someone to occupy the vacant counter.
To my surprise, one of the men working at the Italian stand came over to say hi while I was still waiting to be served. He told me that after I got my eggs, I should come back over for a glass of rosé. Fifteen minutes later, I did just that, and it wasn’t more than five minutes after that we were on the terrace sitting together with glasses of rosé. He told me how much he liked to cook, and I asked him if he would teach me how to make one of his favorite dishes. He obliged and taught me how to make asparagus risotto. I’ve been eating homemade Italian deliciousness ever since.
After many lovely picnics and evening walks, Antonino and I made our relationship official in August 2024.
— Kellie Jones, Berlin
Sparks Fly at a Cooking Class
While traveling in Italy with my best friend, I signed up for a cooking course, hoping to immerse myself in Italian culture (and better my cooking skills). When I arrived (late), I found only one seat left — next to an attractive guy traveling solo. What started as a casual conversation over pasta making quickly turned into something much more appetizing.
We soon discovered we had an uncanny amount in common: We are both Black American, Duke M.B.A.s, mutual friends, ambitious — him in consulting, me in tech — living on the West Coast and first-generation college students raised by single moms in the Northeast. What stood out most was how natural our conversation felt — as if we were old classmates catching up over gelato.
After the class, he and I aimlessly wandered the streets of Milan, joking and talking until 4 a.m. on the steps of Duomo di Milano, immersed in the whimsical moment. A month later, he surprised me by flying to Seattle from L.A. just to take me to dinner. We hiked, went to the zoo and sailed in Puget Sound. The time together was laughter-filled, picking up right where we left off in Milan. While we’ve taken romance off the menu, friendship is still the main dish — cheering each other on with work, and shooting the occasional text or call when life gets interesting.
— Rachelle Olden, Seattle
Bonding Over Soccer
I met Majo two weeks after my mom died. We were randomly assigned as teammates in D.C.’s gay summer soccer league. As we biked home after the first game and I revealed my recent loss, she shared that she lost her mom a few years ago as well. Majo began to develop feelings for me almost immediately. I actually spent most of the summer going on dates with other women. She and I would play weekly soccer, watch the U.S. women’s national soccer team games and occasionally grab a postgame beer. While I felt drawn to her quiet, comforting presence, I had no idea what buzzed beneath the surface.
Two months after meeting, I invited Majo to my birthday party (as a friend). I happily obliged when she asked for a midnight kiss, but I lumped this with the many other late-night drunken kisses I had with cute women this summer. It wasn’t until a week later, when she invited me over for homemade tacos for lunch, that she revealed her summer-long crush and desire to take me on a date. We kissed, we went on a proper date that weekend, and by the following Monday I realized I was falling for her. She may have played the long game, but we both won gold in the end.
— Kirby Callaway, Washington, D.C.
Reliving Summer Camp Love
As a kid, the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth summer program changed my life. I went back this year to teach. It was the first place I fell in love, and this summer, it happened again.
I taught writing and imagination, and David taught philosophy. The kids had just left, and we had a meeting with new staff members. I saw him walk in, and I had that feeling — the feeling! Like I was 16 again. I stared at him throughout the meeting. After the meeting, I introduced myself. I used as an excuse that I was reading Kierkegaard.
And I relived my camp experience — sneaking out at night, gabbing about boys, swaying to “American Pie” at the weekly dance, meeting surreptitiously in the dining hall under prying eyes. It was magical. Partly because U.C. Santa Cruz is magical. I am 30 years old, and the last time I felt this way was when I was 14. Except this is real — or at least, I think so.
David has changed my life. I don’t know where it will go, since he lives in Boston, but it’s amazing. He’s 25, and I am 30 — a new age gap for me. But he has taught me so much, fundamentally altered the way I see the world, inspired me to pursue a Ph.D. in theory/philosophy and made me believe in things again.
— Camille Goering, Tallahassee, Fla.
There Was More Than One Good View at a Sunset Picnic
We met in August at a going away party for a new friend I had met only once. It was a surprise sunset picnic at Gas Works Park, on a grassy hill overlooking the party boats cruising around Lake Union. I remember seeing her as I walked down the grassy hill toward the lake. I first noticed her nose ring and light blue Hawaiian print dress with pink flowers. I told her one of the boats on the lake reminded me of a carabiner and asked if she would be down to climb with me sometime. She asked for my number, and we took matching selfies.
After the picnic, we all went to a local bar, and she made sure to sit next to me. What stood out to me was how incredibly funny she was. Our banter was amazing, and we made bets on who would have to sing what karaoke song publicly after losing at Uno.
I went rock climbing with her four days after we first met. She invited me to trivia with her friends after climbing, and I was a little anxious it would be awkward because I didn’t know anyone but her. However, she sat next to me and help me get to know her friends by making sure I was involved in conversations. I found that attention really sweet and appreciated that she made that extra effort.
— Sophie Conti, Berkeley, Calif.
A Late Night at a Summer Retreat
After a game of croquet at a summer education program called Inspiring Oxford, the night ended with a group of us in a 500-year-old dorm room sharing a last bottle of wine. That included Sara, a lawyer from Miami who stole my heart.
We were together with a group for a little while before she stood out. We both had our eyes on each other. But the key moment was the next day when we started sharing life stories and backgrounds. It was that moment that I realized she was the smart, witty and playful person I’d always dreamed of.
For the next week in Oxford and several weeks later in London, we were shameless tourists, relentless gourmands and the happiest people together. I have never smiled and laughed so much in my life.
Sara continued in the U.K. and Europe for another month of travel, but we chat multiple times every day. We’ll see if a long-distance Miami-Houston relationship bears fruit.
— Thomas McGuffey, Houston
The post 10 Unexpected Places Romance Blossomed This Summer appeared first on New York Times.
