When you’re querying a second chance 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 second chance romance comp titles to make sure you’re always working with relevant books.
No matter if you’re writing a sweet, slow-burn second chance 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 Lot Like AdiósYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, LGBT, Second chance, adult, contemporary, latinx, romance
- A Love Letter to WhiskeyYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Second chance, Slow burn, adult, book club, contemporary, new adult, romance, series counter
- All I Want Is YouYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Christmas, Forced proximity, Holiday, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- ASAPYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Asian literature, Second chance, contemporary, romance, series counter, young adult
- Bad for BusinessYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Billionaire, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Second chance, Slow burn, Workplace, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- BeautyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Found family, Hockey, Second chance, Workplace, adult, romance, series counter, sports
- Beneath the StarsYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, new adult, romance, series counter
- Black ThornsYear published: 2021Genre and themes: College, Dark, Enemies to lovers, Second chance, adult, contemporary, new adult, romance, series counter
- Bloodied HandsYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Dark, Mafia, Second chance, adult, contemporary, crime, romance, series counter
- Boss’s Secret BabyYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Second chance, Surprise pregnancy, Workplace, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- By Frenzy I RuinYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Dark, Enemies to lovers, Friends to lovers, Mafia, Second chance, adult, contemporary, crime, new adult, romance
- Catch the SunYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Second chance, book club, contemporary, romance, series counter, young adult
- Chasing LoveYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Billionaire, Dark, Enemies to lovers, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, smut
- Come With MeYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Cowboy, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, novella, romance, series counter
- Cowboy CasualYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Cowboy, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Second chance, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- CrashYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Dark, Doctors, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, suspense
- CrossroadsYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Cowboy, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- Dear EnemyYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Second chance, Slow burn, adult, contemporary, new adult, romance, series counter
- Do I Know You?Year published: 2023Genre and themes: Second chance, Summer, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
- Dream OnYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Celebrity, Fake dating, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Slow burn, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- Every Summer AfterYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Second chance, Summer, adult, book club, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
- Fall Too WellYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Holiday, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
- Falling Like LeavesYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Cozy, Second chance, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter, young adult
- Final OfferYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Billionaire, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance
- Finn Rhodes ForeverYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
- Flirting with DisasterYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter
- Friday Night LiesYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Basketball, Enemies to lovers, Friends to lovers, High school, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, sports
- Friends to LoversYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Second chance, Summer, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
- Hard to ScoreYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Football, Friends to lovers, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, sports
- Hate MeYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Dark, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Mafia, Marriage of convenience, Second chance, adult, romance, series counter, smut
- Hate Me Like You Mean ItYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Billionaire, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Second chance, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
- Hating the PlayerYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Basketball, College, Enemies to lovers, Second chance, adult, new adult, romance, sports
- Head Above WaterYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, LGBT, Second chance, adult, contemporary, gay, m m romance, queer, romance, series counter
- Hold Me Until MorningYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Forced proximity, He falls first, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, suspense
- I Wish I Knew ThenYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- If There's a WayYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Dark, Found family, Friends to lovers, LGBT, Mental health, Second chance, adult, contemporary, gay, m m romance, romance
- If This Was a MovieYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Christmas, Forced proximity, Found family, Holiday, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
- In a JamYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Fake dating, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Marriage of convenience, Second chance, Slow burn, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- In the Likely EventYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Military, Second chance, adult, book club, contemporary, romance, series counter
- InsatiableYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Dark, Enemies to lovers, Second chance, adult, contemporary, fantasy, romance, romantasy, series counter, smut
- IrishYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Dark, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Mafia, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- It Had to Be YouYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, family, romance, series counter, womens fiction
- It's Different This TimeYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- King of GreedYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Billionaire, Dark, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, smut
- Lawless GodYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Dark, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Mafia, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, smut
- LotusYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Dark, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Slow burn, adult, contemporary, mystery, romance, series counter
- Love ArrangedYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Billionaire, Enemies to lovers, Fake dating, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance
- Luck and Last ResortsYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter
- MadameYear published: 2023Genre and themes: BDSM, Dark, LGBT, Second chance, Why choose, adult, contemporary, erotica, romance, smut
- Merry MeYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Christmas, Forced proximity, Holiday, Second chance, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
- My Favorite Fake RomanceYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Fake dating, Forced proximity, Road trip, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- My First MistakeYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Christmas, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Holiday, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- NightfallYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Dark, Enemies to lovers, Second chance, adult, contemporary, new adult, romance, smut
- Nine LivesYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, womens fiction
- Nothing Like the MoviesYear published: 2024Genre and themes: College, Second chance, contemporary, rom com, romance, young adult
- Once More with FeelingYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
- One Last ShotYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Second chance, Summer, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
- Only OnceYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Celebrity, Second chance, adult, contemporary, new adult, romance, series counter, sports
- Perfect FitYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Second chance, Workplace, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
- PlayedYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Billionaire, Dark, Enemies to lovers, Second chance, adult, contemporary, gay, m m romance, queer, romance, series counter
- ProtectYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Firefighters, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- PS: I Hate YouYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
- Recipe for Second ChancesYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, food, italy, romance, series counter
- RedamancyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Dark, Enemies to lovers, Second chance, adult, contemporary, new adult, romance, series counter
- Resisting the GrumpYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, new adult, romance, series counter
- SaintYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Dark, LGBT, Second chance, adult, contemporary, gay, queer, romance, smut
- SashaYear published: 2022Genre and themes: BDSM, Dark, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Mafia, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- Secret HavenYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Found family, Friends to lovers, Marriage of convenience, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, suspense
- Seven Days in JuneYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Second chance, Summer, adult, book club, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
- SomedayYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Abuse, Enemies to lovers, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- Someone I Used to KnowYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter, womens fiction
- Something WilderYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Adventure, Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, mystery, romance, series counter
- Talk Bookish to MeYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Books about books, Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
- The BonusYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Billionaire, Enemies to lovers, Second chance, Workplace, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- The Breakup TourYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Music, Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter
- The Cinnamon Spice InnYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Cozy, Enemies to lovers, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- The Co-opYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Marriage of convenience, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- The EmperorYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Dark, Forbidden romance, Friends to lovers, Mafia, Second chance, adult, contemporary, mystery, romance, series counter
- The EmpressYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Dark, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Mafia, Marriage of convenience, Second chance, adult, contemporary, crime, romance, series counter
- The EnforcerYear published: 2022Genre and themes: College, Forced proximity, Hockey, Second chance, adult, romance, series counter, sports
- The Ex VowsYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- The Ex-Mas HolidaysYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Christmas, Holiday, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- The Fixer UpperYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
- The Forever GirlYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, womens fiction
- The Friendship PactYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, family, romance
- The Make-Up TestYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter
- The PairingYear published: 2024Genre and themes: LGBT, Second chance, adult, book club, contemporary, queer, romance, series counter
- The Plight Before ChristmasYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Christmas, Holiday, Second chance, adult, book club, contemporary, romance, series counter
- The RewindYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Christmas, Holiday, Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter
- The Road TripYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Road trip, Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
- The Shaadi Set-UpYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Second chance, adult, contemporary, india, rom com, romance, series counter
- The Summer I Saved YouYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, Workplace, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- The Summer We FellYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forbidden romance, Forced proximity, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, sports
- The Summer You Found MeYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Emotional, Forbidden romance, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, He falls first, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- The Way I Am NowYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Emotional, Mental health, Second chance, contemporary, realistic fiction, romance, young adult
- The Wedding MenuYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, He falls first, Second chance, Slow burn, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
- Theirs for the HolidaysYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Christmas, Fake dating, Forced proximity, Holiday, Second chance, Why choose, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, smut
- This Used to Be UsYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Drama, Family drama, Second chance, adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter
- Untamed VixenYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Dark, Mafia, Second chance, Why choose, adult, contemporary, crime, romance, series counter, smut
- UnwantedYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Billionaire, Enemies to lovers, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Slow burn, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- Well, ActuallyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, LGBT, Second chance, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- What If I Never Get Over YouYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Second chance, Travel, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
- When He TakesYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Dark, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Mafia, Marriage of convenience, Second chance, Slow burn, adult, crime, romance, series counter
- Wild and WrangledYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Cowboy, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance
- Wild CardYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Forbidden romance, Forced proximity, Second chance, Slow burn, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance
- You Better Not PoutYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Christmas, Holiday, Second chance, adult, contemporary, novella, romance, series counter, short stories
- You Deserve Each OtherYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Second chance, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
- Yule Be MineYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Christmas, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Holiday, Second chance, adult, contemporary, novella, romance, series counter
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 second chance romance comp title that fits my book?
You can broaden your horizons to also include other subgenres of romance!