When you’re querying a realistic fiction 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 realistic fiction romance comp titles to make sure you’re always working with relevant books.
No matter if you’re writing a sweet, slow-burn realistic fiction 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 Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and TomorrowYear published: 2020Genre and themes: contemporary, realistic fiction, travel, young adult
- A Storm of Infinite BeautyYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, drama, historical, realistic fiction
- All My RageYear published: 2022Genre and themes: book club, coming of age, contemporary, family, historical, realistic fiction, young adult
- Amelia UnabridgedYear published: 2021Genre and themes: books about books, contemporary, grief, mystery, realistic fiction, young adult
- An American BeautyYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, book club, chick lit, drama, historical, realistic fiction, young adult
- BreathlessYear published: 2020Genre and themes: coming of age, contemporary, realistic fiction, summer, summer reads, young adult
- Charming as a VerbYear published: 2020Genre and themes: coming of age, contemporary, realistic fiction, young adult
- Chasing HeadlinesYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, drama, realistic fiction, young adult
- Colton Gentry's Third ActYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, music, realistic fiction
- Darius the Great Deserves BetterYear published: 2020Genre and themes: LGBT, coming of age, contemporary, mental health, queer, realistic fiction, young adult
- Dating and DragonsYear published: 2024Genre and themes: contemporary, realistic fiction, rom com, young adult
- Felix Ever AfterYear published: 2020Genre and themes: LGBT, contemporary, queer, realistic fiction, transgender, young adult
- Four Days of You and MeYear published: 2020Genre and themes: contemporary, enemies to lovers, high school, realistic fiction, young adult
- FuriaYear published: 2020Genre and themes: coming of age, contemporary, feminism, latinx, realistic fiction, sports, young adult
- Give Me a SignYear published: 2023Genre and themes: coming of age, contemporary, disability, realistic fiction, summer, young adult
- Here's to UsYear published: 2021Genre and themes: LGBT, contemporary, gay, m m romance, queer, realistic fiction, young adult
- How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the UniverseYear published: 2021Genre and themes: LGBT, contemporary, latinx, magical realism, realistic fiction, young adult
- If Only I Had Told HerYear published: 2024Genre and themes: contemporary, friends to lovers, mental health, realistic fiction, young adult
- Kate in WaitingYear published: 2021Genre and themes: LGBT, contemporary, friendship, queer, realistic fiction, young adult
- Kiss & TellYear published: 2022Genre and themes: LGBT, contemporary, gay, music, queer, realistic fiction, young adult
- Kiss & TellYear published: 2022Genre and themes: LGBT, contemporary, gay, music, queer, realistic fiction, young adult
- Loveboat, TaipeiYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Asian literature, coming of age, contemporary, realistic fiction, young adult
- Moment of TruthYear published: 2020Genre and themes: contemporary, high school, realistic fiction, young adult
- My Return to the Walter BoysYear published: 2025Genre and themes: contemporary, realistic fiction, young adult
- Nineteen StepsYear published: 2023Genre and themes: World War II, adult, drama, historical, realistic fiction, young adult
- Stay GoldYear published: 2020Genre and themes: LGBT, contemporary, queer, realistic fiction, transgender, young adult
- The Bridge to RembrandtYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, drama, historical, realistic fiction
- The Gravity of UsYear published: 2020Genre and themes: LGBT, contemporary, gay, m m romance, queer, realistic fiction, young adult
- The Pink CadillacYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, drama, realistic fiction, young adult
- The Way I Am NowYear published: 2023Genre and themes: contemporary, emotional, mental health, realistic fiction, second chance, young adult
- Tokyo DreamingYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Asian literature, Japan, contemporary, realistic fiction, royalty, young adult
- We Are InevitableYear published: 2021Genre and themes: books about books, contemporary, family, friendship, realistic fiction, young adult
- What I CarryYear published: 2020Genre and themes: coming of age, contemporary, family, friendship, realistic fiction, young adult
- What I Like About YouYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Jewish, contemporary, realistic fiction, young adult
- What You Wish ForYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, realistic fiction, womens fiction
- When You Get the ChanceYear published: 2022Genre and themes: contemporary, enemies to lovers, family, realistic fiction, young adult
- Wish You Were HereYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, historical, literary fiction, realistic fiction
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 realistic fiction romance comp title that fits my book?
You can broaden your horizons to also include other subgenres of romance!