Choosing the right comp titles for your erotica romance’s query letter can make or break your changes of being published.
If you’re wondering what the purpose of a comp title is, it’s to allow agents and publishing house editors to quickly gauge the genre and market potential of your book.
I regularly update this list of erotica romance comp titles to make sure you’re always working with relevant books.
No matter if you’re writing a sweet, slow-burn erotica 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 Lady of Rooksgrave ManorYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, erotica, fantasy, monster, paranormal, smut, vampires, why choose
- CataclysmYear published: 2021Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, erotica, friends to lovers, smut, why choose
- Den of VipersYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, erotica, fantasy, smut, why choose
- Desolation RoadYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, erotica, fantasy, paranormal, suspense
- Done RightYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, billionaire, contemporary, dark, erotica, m f romance, novella, smut
- Gabriel's PromiseYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, drama, erotica, new adult, smut
- Gilded CageYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, erotica, mafia, new adult, smut
- GravesYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, forced proximity, smut, why choose
- Heartless HeathensYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, dark, dystopia, erotica, fantasy, gothic, horror, smut, why choose
- Highest BidderYear published: 2023Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, billionaire, contemporary, dark, erotica, forced proximity, smut
- Liars Like UsYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, billionaire, contemporary, dark, erotica, forced proximity, marriage of convenience
- Lords of PainYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, college, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, erotica, new adult, smut, why choose
- Love UnexpectedYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, age gap, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, erotica, forbidden romance, smut
- MadameYear published: 2023Genre and themes: BDSM, LGBT, adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, second chance, smut, why choose
- MercyYear published: 2022Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, forbidden romance, smut
- Mind to BendYear published: 2023Genre and themes: BDSM, abuse, adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, smut
- Morning Glory Milking FarmYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, erotica, fantasy, monster, paranormal, smut
- NyxYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, erotica, smut
- Own MeYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, billionaire, contemporary, dark, erotica, smut
- PraiseYear published: 2022Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, forbidden romance, smut, workplace
- Queen Takes RoseYear published: 2020Genre and themes: LGBT, adult, dark, erotica, fantasy, lesbian, queer, retellings, smut
- Reckless HeirYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, mafia, marriage of convenience, smut
- Reckless RoadYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, fantasy, paranormal, suspense
- Royal SavageYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, new adult, smut
- SabotageYear published: 2022Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, college, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, erotica, smut
- Stalked by the KrakenYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, erotica, fantasy, magic, monster, paranormal, romantasy, smut
- StrandedYear published: 2023Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, christmas, crime, dark, erotica, forced proximity, holiday, novella
- Tease Me OnceYear published: 2021Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, crime, dark, erotica, mafia, smut
- Tell Me You Want MeYear published: 2021Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, enemies to lovers, erotica, smut, workplace
- That Sik LuvYear published: 2023Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, erotica, smut
- The ArchitectYear published: 2021Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, smut, why choose
- The BeastYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, dark, erotica, fantasy, monster, novella, paranormal, retellings, smut
- The Company of FiendsYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, erotica, fantasy, historical, monster, paranormal, smut, why choose
- The Danger You KnowYear published: 2020Genre and themes: abuse, adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, erotica, suspense
- The Four LeafYear published: 2022Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, friends to lovers, holiday, novella, smut
- The Frat BoyYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, college, contemporary, enemies to lovers, erotica, forced proximity, new adult, smut
- The Good Girl EffectYear published: 2025Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, forbidden romance, forced proximity, smut
- The HunterYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, dark, erotica, fantasy, monster, novella, paranormal, retellings
- The LawyerYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, billionaire, celebrity, contemporary, erotica, smut, workplace
- The Pool BoyYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, age gap, contemporary, erotica, forbidden romance, smut
- Tutoring the DelinquentYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, college, contemporary, erotica, new adult, novella, smut, sports
- UnfurlYear published: 2023Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, smut
- UnhingedYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, book club, erotica, fantasy, novella, paranormal, smut
- ViperYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, aliens, erotica, fantasy, monster, paranormal, science fiction, smut
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 erotica romance comp title that fits my book?
You can broaden your horizons to also include other subgenres of romance!”