Magical realism romance comp titles for your query letter (updated 2026)

When you’re querying a magical realism romance, choosing the right comp titles can make or break your chances of being published because agents and publishing house editors use comp titles as a quick way to gauge the genre of your book along with its market potential.

I regularly update this list of magical realism romance comp titles to make sure you’re always working with relevant books.

No matter if you’re writing a sweet, slow-burn magical realism romance or something fast and spicy, you’ll find titles below to help you write a killer query letter!

If you’re looking for something a bit more specific, check out my romance comp database.

1. A Far Wilder MagicAuthor: Allison SaftYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Magic, fantasy, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter, young adult
2. A Love Song for Ricki WildeAuthor: Tia WilliamsYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, fantasy, historical, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
3. A Novel Love StoryAuthor: Ashley PostonYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Books about books, adult, chick lit, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
4. A Sea of Unspoken ThingsAuthor: Adrienne YoungYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, mystery, romance, romantasy, series counter, thriller
5. AftertasteAuthor: Daria LavelleYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Ghosts, adult, book club, fantasy, food, horror, magical realism, paranormal, romance, romantasy, series counter
6. BitterAuthor: Akwaeke EmeziYear published: 2022Genre and themes: LGBT, contemporary, dystopia, fantasy, magical realism, queer, romance, romantasy, young adult
7. Black Woods Blue SkyAuthor: Eowyn IveyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Retellings, adult, book club, fantasy, historical, literary fiction, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
8. Cassandra in ReverseAuthor: Holly SmaleYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Time travel, adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, romance, romantasy, science fiction, series counter
9. Circus of WondersAuthor: Elizabeth MacnealYear published: 2021Genre and themes: British literature, adult, book club, fantasy, historical, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
10. CrossingsAuthor: Alex LandraginYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Books about books, Time travel, adult, book club, fantasy, historical, magical realism, mystery, romance, romantasy, series counter
11. Darling GirlAuthor: Liz MichalskiYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Retellings, adult, book club, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, mystery, romance, romantasy, series counter
12. Expiration DatesAuthor: Rebecca SerleYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, magical realism, romance, series counter
13. How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the UniverseAuthor: Raquel Vasquez GillilandYear published: 2021Genre and themes: LGBT, contemporary, latinx, magical realism, realistic fiction, romance, series counter, young adult
14. I Am Not Jessica ChenAuthor: Ann LiangYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Asian literature, Dark academia, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter, young adult
15. In a Thousand Different WaysAuthor: Cecelia AhernYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, fantasy, ireland, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
16. In Five YearsAuthor: Rebecca SerleYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Time travel, adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, magical realism, romance, series counter
17. Instructions for DancingAuthor: Nicola YoonYear published: 2021Genre and themes: contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter, young adult
18. Magic LessonsAuthor: Alice HoffmanYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Magic, Witches, adult, fantasy, historical, magical realism, paranormal, romance, romantasy, series counter
19. Meant to Be MineAuthor: Hannah OrensteinYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Jewish, adult, chick lit, contemporary, magical realism, romance, series counter
20. Meet Me on the BridgeAuthor: Sarah J. HarrisYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Time travel, adult, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, romance, romantasy, science fiction, series counter
21. My Name Is Emilia del ValleAuthor: Isabel AllendeYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, book club, fantasy, historical, literary fiction, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
22. Once Upon a DecemberAuthor: Amy E. ReichertYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Christmas, Holiday, adult, chick lit, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
23. Other BirdsAuthor: Sarah Addison AllenYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Ghosts, adult, book club, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, mystery, paranormal, romance, romantasy, series counter
24. Shark HeartAuthor: Emily HabeckYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, fantasy, literary fiction, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
25. Somewhere Beyond the SeaAuthor: T.J. KluneYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Cozy, LGBT, Magic, adult, fantasy, magical realism, queer, romance, romantasy
26. Sounds Like LoveAuthor: Ashley PostonYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Music, adult, chick lit, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
27. The Amalfi CurseAuthor: Sarah PennerYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, book club, fantasy, historical, italy, magical realism, mystery, romance, romantasy, series counter
28. The Book of DoorsAuthor: Gareth BrownYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Books about books, Magic, Time travel, adult, book club, fantasy, magical realism, mystery, romance, romantasy, series counter
29. The Book of Lost HoursAuthor: Hayley GelfusoYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Books about books, Time travel, adult, fantasy, historical, magical realism, romance, romantasy, science fiction, series counter
30. The Book of LoveAuthor: Kelly LinkYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Magic, adult, book club, fantasy, magical realism, mystery, romance, romantasy, science fiction, series counter, thriller
31. The Bookstore SistersAuthor: Alice HoffmanYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Books about books, adult, contemporary, family, fantasy, magical realism, novella, romance, romantasy, series counter, short stories
32. The Circus TrainAuthor: Amita ParikhYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, book club, fantasy, historical, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter, world war ii
33. The Crescent Moon TearoomAuthor: Stacy SivinskiYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Cozy, Magic, Witches, adult, cozy fantasy, fantasy, magical realism, mystery, romance, romantasy, series counter
34. The Dead RomanticsAuthor: Ashley PostonYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, paranormal, romance, romantasy, series counter
35. The FamiliarAuthor: Leigh BardugoYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Magic, adult, fantasy, historical, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
36. The Good PartAuthor: Sophie CousensYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Time travel, adult, chick lit, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
37. The Hundred Loves of JulietAuthor: Evelyn SkyeYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Retellings, adult, chick lit, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
38. The HusbandsAuthor: Holly GramazioYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
39. The Invisible HourAuthor: Alice HoffmanYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Books about books, Time travel, adult, book club, fantasy, historical, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
40. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRueAuthor: V.E. SchwabYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, fantasy, historical, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
41. The Island of Missing TreesAuthor: Elif ShafakYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, fantasy, historical, literary fiction, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
42. The Kindred Spirits Supper ClubAuthor: Amy E. ReichertYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, paranormal, romance, romantasy, series counter
43. The ListenersAuthor: Maggie StiefvaterYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, fantasy, historical, magical realism, mystery, romance, romantasy, series counter, world war ii
44. The Lost BookshopAuthor: Evie WoodsYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Books about books, adult, book club, fantasy, historical, magical realism, mystery, romance, romantasy, series counter
45. The Lost StoryAuthor: Meg ShafferYear published: 2024Genre and themes: LGBT, Magic, adult, book club, fantasy, magical realism, mystery, romance, romantasy, series counter
46. The Love Elixir of Augusta SternAuthor: Lynda Cohen LoigmanYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, book club, fantasy, historical, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
47. The Love of My AfterlifeAuthor: Kirsty GreenwoodYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, paranormal, romance, romantasy, series counter
48. The Other Side of NowAuthor: Paige HarbisonYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Time travel, adult, book club, contemporary, fantasy, ireland, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
49. The Second Chance CinemaAuthor: Thea WeissYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Relationships, adult, book club, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
50. The Second Chance YearAuthor: Melissa WiesnerYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Christmas, Holiday, Time travel, adult, chick lit, contemporary, magical realism, romance, series counter
51. The Seven O'Clock ClubAuthor: Amelia IrelandYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Grief, adult, book club, contemporary, fantasy, literary fiction, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
52. The Seven Year SlipAuthor: Ashley PostonYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Time travel, adult, book club, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
53. The Two Lives of Lydia BirdAuthor: Josie SilverYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
54. The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and MagicAuthor: Breanne RandallYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Cozy, Halloween, Magic, Witches, adult, fantasy, magical realism, paranormal, romance, romantasy, series counter
55. The Unmaking of June FarrowAuthor: Adrienne YoungYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Time travel, adult, book club, fantasy, historical, magical realism, mystery, romance, romantasy, series counter
56. The Wishing GameAuthor: Meg ShafferYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Books about books, adult, book club, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, mystery, romance, romantasy, series counter
57. This Spells LoveAuthor: Kate RobbYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, adult, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, paranormal, romance, romantasy, series counter
58. TwiceAuthor: Mitch AlbomYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Time travel, adult, book club, contemporary, fantasy, literary fiction, magical realism, romance, romantasy, series counter
59. Water MoonAuthor: Samantha Sotto YambaoYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Cozy, adult, book club, fantasy, japan, magical realism, mystery, romance, romantasy, series counter
60. When Haru Was HereAuthor: Dustin ThaoYear published: 2024Genre and themes: LGBT, contemporary, fantasy, gay, magical realism, queer, romance, romantasy, series counter, young adult
61. When the World Tips OverAuthor: Jandy NelsonYear published: 2024Genre and themes: LGBT, contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, queer, romance, romantasy, series counter, young adult
62. When We Were BirdsAuthor: Ayanna Lloyd BanwoYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, fantasy, literary fiction, magical realism, paranormal, romance, romantasy, series counter
63. You Were There TooAuthor: Colleen OakleyYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, magical realism, romance, series counter, womens fiction
64. You've Reached SamAuthor: Dustin ThaoYear published: 2021Genre and themes: contemporary, fantasy, magical realism, paranormal, romance, romantasy, series counter, young adult

Other resources to assist with your querying journey

Comp titles are only a small piece of the querying puzzle! Here are other resources I offer to help writers achieve their dreams of publishing their novels:

• Developmental editing services
• Pre-querying package
• Publishers accepting manuscript submissions this month
• Romance tropes list
• Random romance trope generator

Frequently asked questions

How recent do comp titles need to be?

Comp titles should be published within the past five to seven years so it is representative of the current market potential of your manuscript.

Can I use bestselling books as a comp title?

Yes, you can! However, the bestselling books aren’t always the most suitable options. While it’s integral that a comp title has sold well, it’s better to choose a comp title that’s sold less well but closer represents the tone and overall vibe of your own book.

How many comp titles should I include in my query letter?

You should aim for two comp titles in your query letter. You can include three, but agents would expect more than one.

Can I use a series as a comp title?

You can, but it’s best to pick a specific book within that series that best represents your manuscript.

What if I can’t find a magical realism romance comp title that fits my book?

You can broaden your horizons to also include other subgenres of romance!”