When you’re querying a forbidden romance 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 forbidden romance romance comp titles to make sure you’re always working with relevant books.
No matter if you’re writing a sweet, slow-burn forbidden romance 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.
- Burning DaylightYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, fantasy, forbidden romance, retellings
- By Sin I Rise: Part TwoYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, mafia, new adult
- Chasing the WildYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, cowboy, dark, forbidden romance, forced proximity, small town
- Eleven ElevenYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forbidden romance, forced proximity, found family, he falls first, small town
- Empire of DesireYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, forbidden romance, marriage of convenience, smut
- June FirstYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, emotional, forbidden romance, friends to lovers, new adult, slow burn
- King of PrideYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, billionaire, contemporary, dark, forbidden romance, smut
- Kiss Now, Lie LaterYear published: 2022Genre and themes: contemporary, enemies to lovers, football, forbidden romance, high school, sports, young adult
- Love UnexpectedYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, age gap, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, erotica, forbidden romance, smut
- Masked SinsYear published: 2024Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, smut
- MercyYear published: 2022Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, forbidden romance, smut
- OlderYear published: 2024Genre and themes: abuse, adult, contemporary, dark, forbidden romance, found family, slow burn
- PraiseYear published: 2022Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, forbidden romance, smut, workplace
- Quarterback SneakYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, college, contemporary, football, forbidden romance, forced proximity, sports
- Revenge EraYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, celebrity, contemporary, forbidden romance, novella, sports, workplace
- Rewriting the StarsYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, firefighters, forbidden romance, friends to lovers, small town
- Sin BinYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forbidden romance, forced proximity, friends to lovers, hockey, sports
- Sunday MorningYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Westerns, adult, contemporary, forbidden romance, new adult, small town
- TemptYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, age gap, contemporary, forbidden romance, military, plus size, small town, smut
- The EmperorYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, forbidden romance, friends to lovers, mafia, mystery, second chance
- The Good Girl EffectYear published: 2025Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, forbidden romance, forced proximity, smut
- The Pool BoyYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, age gap, contemporary, erotica, forbidden romance, smut
- The Summer We FellYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, forced proximity, second chance, sports
- The Summer You Found MeYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, emotional, forbidden romance, forced proximity, friends to lovers, he falls first, second chance
- The Trouble With LoveYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, college, contemporary, dark, forbidden romance, friends to lovers, smut
- Thorne PrincessYear published: 2023Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, forced proximity, slow burn
- Venomous KissYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, forbidden romance, smut
- Wild CardYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forbidden romance, forced proximity, second chance, slow burn, small town
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 forbidden romance romance comp title that fits my book?
You can broaden your horizons to also include other subgenres of romance!