When you’re querying a short stories romance, choosing the choosing the right comp titles can make or break your chances of being published.
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 short stories romance comp titles to make sure you’re always working with relevant books.
No matter if you’re writing a sweet, slow-burn short stories 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.
- All Wrapped Up in YouYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, christmas, contemporary, holiday, novella, short stories
- Beautiful NightmareYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, fantasy, halloween, monster, novella, paranormal, short stories
- Big FanYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, novella, short stories
- FallingYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, fantasy, halloween, novella, paranormal, short stories
- Fiona and JaneYear published: 2022Genre and themes: LGBT, adult, book club, contemporary, literary fiction, queer, short stories
- Games Untold: An Inheritance Games CollectionYear published: 2024Genre and themes: contemporary, fantasy, mystery, short stories, thriller, young adult
- Hot for SlayerYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, enemies to lovers, fantasy, novella, paranormal, romantasy, short stories, vampires
- Love & Other KillersYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, novella, serial killer, short stories, thriller
- Love & Other KillersYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, novella, serial killer, short stories, thriller
- MementoYear published: 2020Genre and themes: fantasy, novella, science fiction, short stories, space, young adult
- Merry and BrightYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, christmas, contemporary, fake dating, holiday, novella, short stories
- My Boyfriends Are All MonstersYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, fantasy, halloween, monster, novella, paranormal, short stories
- Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are MadYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Africa, adult, contemporary, humor, literary fiction, short stories
- Snow Place Like HomeYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, christmas, contemporary, friends to lovers, holiday, novella, short stories
- Space VampireYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, aliens, fantasy, novella, paranormal, science fiction, short stories, vampires
- Spicy Little CursesYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, fantasy, halloween, novella, paranormal, romantasy, short stories
- Stuck with YouYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, novella, rom com, short stories
- The AnthropologistsYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, literary fiction, novella, short stories
- The Bookstore SistersYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, books about books, contemporary, family, fantasy, magical realism, novella, short stories
- The Mistletoe MysteryYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, christmas, cozy mystery, holiday, mystery, novella, short stories, thriller
- The Six Deaths of the SaintYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, fantasy, historical, horror, novella, short stories
- What Does It Feel Like?Year published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, family, novella, short stories
- You Better Not PoutYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, christmas, contemporary, holiday, novella, second chance, short stories
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 short stories romance comp title that fits my book?
You can broaden your horizons to also include other subgenres of romance!
