Choosing the right African American comp titles for your query letter 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 African American romance comp titles to make sure you’re always working with relevant books.
No matter if you’re writing a sweet, slow-burn African American 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.
- A Worthy LoveYear published: 2022Genre and themes: African American, adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, friends to lovers
- Can't Get EnoughYear published: 2025Genre and themes: African American, adult, book club, contemporary, he falls first
- Capri 1.5Year published: 2024Genre and themes: African American, adult, contemporary, dark, friends to lovers, novella
- Capri 2Year published: 2024Genre and themes: African American, adult, contemporary, dark, friends to lovers
- Capri 3Year published: 2024Genre and themes: African American, adult, contemporary, dark, friends to lovers
- Christmas in Spite of YouYear published: 2024Genre and themes: African American, adult, christmas, contemporary, forced proximity, holiday
- Colliding With FateYear published: 2022Genre and themes: African American, abuse, adult, contemporary, friends to lovers, mental health
- Hostile TakeoverYear published: 2023Genre and themes: African American, adult, billionaire, contemporary, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, marriage of convenience
- Plus Size PlayerYear published: 2025Genre and themes: African American, adult, contemporary, forced proximity, workplace
- Sinful VowYear published: 2022Genre and themes: African American, adult, contemporary, crime, dark, mafia, marriage of convenience
- The Boyfriend ProjectYear published: 2020Genre and themes: African American, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com
- The Hookup PlanYear published: 2022Genre and themes: African American, adult, chick lit, contemporary, enemies to lovers, rom com
- The House of EveYear published: 2023Genre and themes: African American, adult, book club, historical, race
- This Could Be UsYear published: 2024Genre and themes: African American, adult, contemporary, friends to lovers, slow burn
- What Passes as LoveYear published: 2021Genre and themes: African American, adult, book club, historical, race
- Wild Women and the BluesYear published: 2021Genre and themes: African American, adult, book club, contemporary, historical, music
- Wild, Beautiful, and FreeYear published: 2023Genre and themes: African American, adult, book club, historical, retellings
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 African American romance comp title that fits my book?
You can broaden your horizons to also include other subgenres of romance!