Horror romance comp titles for your query letter (updated 2026)

Choosing the right comp titles for your horror romance’s query letter can make or break your changes of being published.

If you’re wondering what the purpose of a comp title is, it’s to allow agents and publishing house editors to quickly gauge the genre and market potential of your book.

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

No matter if you’re writing a sweet, slow-burn horror 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 Deadly EducationAuthor: Naomi NovikYear published: 2020Genre and themes: dark academia, fantasy, horror, magic, urban fantasy, young adult
2. AftertasteAuthor: Daria LavelleYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, book club, fantasy, food, ghosts, horror, magical realism, paranormal
3. AnathemaAuthor: Keri LakeYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, dark, dark fantasy, fantasy, gothic, horror, romantasy
4. Anatomy: A Love StoryAuthor: Dana SchwartzYear published: 2022Genre and themes: fantasy, gothic, historical, horror, mystery, young adult
5. Angels Before ManAuthor: Rafael NicolásYear published: 2022Genre and themes: LGBT, adult, fantasy, gay, horror, mythology, queer, retellings
6. Behind a Closed DoorAuthor: J.D. BarkerYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, crime, horror, mystery, suspense, thriller
7. CapturedAuthor: Lauren BielYear published: 2023Genre and themes: abuse, adult, dark, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, horror, smut
8. Carving for CaraAuthor: Melissa McSherryYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, halloween, holiday, horror, novella, smut
9. Dating After the End of the WorldAuthor: Jeneva RoseYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, dystopia, fantasy, horror, paranormal, post apocalyptic, thriller
10. Don't Let the Forest InAuthor: C.G. DrewsYear published: 2024Genre and themes: LGBT, dark academia, fantasy, gothic, horror, mystery, queer, young adult
11. Don't StopAuthor: Lauren BielYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, dark, halloween, horror, novella, serial killer, smut
12. Eat the Ones You LoveAuthor: Sarah Maria GriffinYear published: 2025Genre and themes: LGBT, adult, fantasy, horror, lesbian, queer, thriller
13. For You and Only YouAuthor: Caroline KepnesYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, horror, mystery, thriller
14. Haunting AdelineAuthor: H.D. CarltonYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, dark, enemies to lovers, fantasy, horror, smut, thriller
15. HazelthornAuthor: C.G. DrewsYear published: 2025Genre and themes: LGBT, fantasy, gothic, horror, mystery, queer, young adult
16. Heartless HeathensAuthor: Santana KnoxYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, dark, dystopia, erotica, fantasy, gothic, horror, smut, why choose
17. Hemlock & SilverAuthor: T. KingfisherYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, fairy tales, fantasy, horror, magic, mystery, retellings
18. Hemlock & SilverAuthor: T. KingfisherYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, fairy tales, fantasy, horror, magic, mystery, retellings
19. Her Soul for RevengeAuthor: Harley LarouxYear published: 2021Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, dark, demons, fantasy, horror, paranormal, smut
20. Her Soul to TakeAuthor: Harley LarouxYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, dark, demons, fantasy, horror, paranormal, romantasy, smut
21. House of Roots and RuinAuthor: Erin A. CraigYear published: 2023Genre and themes: fantasy, gothic, horror, mystery, thriller, young adult
22. Hunting AdelineAuthor: H.D. CarltonYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, horror, smut, thriller
23. Hurricane GirlAuthor: Marcy DermanskyYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, horror, humor, literary fiction
24. Immortality: A Love StoryAuthor: Dana SchwartzYear published: 2023Genre and themes: fantasy, gothic, historical, horror, mystery, young adult
25. Leather & LarkAuthor: Brynne WeaverYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, horror, marriage of convenience, thriller
26. Leather & LarkAuthor: Brynne WeaverYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, horror, marriage of convenience, thriller
27. Lucy UndyingAuthor: Kiersten WhiteYear published: 2024Genre and themes: LGBT, adult, fantasy, gothic, horror, lesbian, queer, retellings, vampires
28. My HusbandAuthor: Maud VenturaYear published: 2021Genre and themes: France, adult, book club, contemporary, horror, literary fiction, mystery, thriller
29. PhantasmaAuthor: Kaylie SmithYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, dark, fantasy, gothic, horror, paranormal, romantasy
30. RafaelAuthor: Laurell K. HamiltonYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, fantasy, horror, magic, paranormal, shapeshifters, urban fantasy, vampires
31. Salem's FallAuthor: Rektok RossYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, book club, dark, halloween, horror, mystery, paranormal, thriller
32. Silver Under NightfallAuthor: Rin ChupecoYear published: 2022Genre and themes: LGBT, adult, fantasy, horror, paranormal, queer, vampires
33. Small FavorsAuthor: Erin A. CraigYear published: 2021Genre and themes: fantasy, historical, horror, mystery, retellings, young adult
34. Someone You Can Build a Nest InAuthor: John WiswellYear published: 2024Genre and themes: LGBT, adult, book club, fantasy, horror, lesbian, queer
35. Soul of a WitchAuthor: Harley LarouxYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, dark, demons, fantasy, horror, paranormal, smut, witches
36. Starling HouseAuthor: Alix E. HarrowYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, book club, fantasy, gothic, horror, mystery, paranormal
37. The Bachelorette PartyAuthor: Camilla StenYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, horror, mystery, suspense, thriller
38. The CompanionAuthor: Katie AlenderYear published: 2020Genre and themes: contemporary, gothic, horror, mystery, suspense, thriller, young adult
39. The HaarAuthor: David SodergrenYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, book club, fantasy, horror, paranormal, thriller
40. The Hunting MoonAuthor: Susan DennardYear published: 2023Genre and themes: fantasy, horror, magic, paranormal, urban fantasy, young adult
41. The Last GraduateAuthor: Naomi NovikYear published: 2021Genre and themes: dark academia, fantasy, horror, magic, urban fantasy, young adult
42. The PoisonerAuthor: I.V. OpheliaYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, dark, enemies to lovers, fantasy, gothic, horror, paranormal, romantasy, vampires
43. The Possession of Alba DíazAuthor: Isabel CañasYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, fantasy, gothic, historical, horror, paranormal
44. The Six Deaths of the SaintAuthor: Alix E. HarrowYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, fantasy, historical, horror, novella, short stories
45. The Thirteenth ChildAuthor: Erin A. CraigYear published: 2024Genre and themes: fantasy, gothic, horror, retellings, romantasy, young adult
46. The ThrashersAuthor: Julie SotoYear published: 2025Genre and themes: contemporary, horror, mystery, paranormal, thriller, young adult
47. The Whispering DarkAuthor: Kelly AndrewYear published: 2022Genre and themes: dark academia, fantasy, horror, mystery, paranormal, urban fantasy, young adult
48. To Kill a ShadowAuthor: Katherine QuinnYear published: 2023Genre and themes: fantasy, horror, magic, romantasy, young adult
49. Two Twisted CrownsAuthor: Rachel GilligYear published: 2023Genre and themes: fantasy, gothic, horror, magic, romantasy, young adult
50. You Love MeAuthor: Caroline KepnesYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, horror, mystery, suspense, thriller
51. Your Blood, My BonesAuthor: Kelly AndrewYear published: 2024Genre and themes: fantasy, gothic, horror, magic, paranormal, romantasy, young adult
52. ZomromcomAuthor: Olivia DadeYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, fantasy, horror, paranormal, vampires

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 horror romance comp title that fits my book?

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