Summer reads romance comp titles for your query letter (updated 2026)

When you’re querying a summer reads romance, choosing the right comp titles can make or break your chances of being published because 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 summer reads romance comp titles to make sure you’re always working with relevant books.

No matter if you’re writing a sweet, slow-burn summer reads 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.

1. A First Time for EverythingAuthor: K.L. WaltherYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Summer, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads, young adult
2. A Week at the ShoreAuthor: Barbara DelinskyYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, family, mystery, romance, series counter, summer reads, womens fiction
3. An Island SummerAuthor: Jenny HaleYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Summer, adult, beach reads, chick lit, contemporary, mystery, romance, series counter, summer reads, womens fiction
4. Beach House RulesAuthor: Kristy Woodson HarveyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Summer, adult, beach reads, chick lit, contemporary, family, romance, series counter, summer reads, womens fiction
5. Beach House SummerAuthor: Sarah MorganYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Summer, adult, beach reads, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads, womens fiction
6. Beach ReadAuthor: Emily HenryYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Summer, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
7. BreathlessAuthor: Jennifer NivenYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Coming of age, Summer, contemporary, realistic fiction, romance, series counter, summer reads, young adult
8. Cruel SummerAuthor: Morgan ElizabethYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, He falls first, Summer, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter, summer reads
9. Do I Know You?Author: Emily WibberleyYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Second chance, Summer, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
10. Every Summer AfterAuthor: Carley FortuneYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Second chance, Summer, adult, book club, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
11. Family of LiarsAuthor: E. LockhartYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Summer, contemporary, mystery, romance, summer reads, thriller, young adult
12. Friends to LoversAuthor: Sally BlakelyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Second chance, Summer, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
13. From the JumpAuthor: Lacie WaldonYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Summer, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
14. Good Girl ComplexAuthor: Elle KennedyYear published: 2022Genre and themes: College, Summer, adult, contemporary, new adult, romance, series counter, summer reads
15. Happy PlaceAuthor: Emily HenryYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Summer, adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
16. Heart BonesAuthor: Colleen HooverYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Summer, contemporary, new adult, romance, series counter, summer reads, young adult
17. Hello, SummerAuthor: Mary Kay AndrewsYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Summer, adult, beach reads, chick lit, contemporary, mystery, romance, series counter, summer reads
18. It Happened One SummerAuthor: Tessa BaileyYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Summer, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter, summer reads
19. It's a Love StoryAuthor: Annabel MonaghanYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Summer, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter, summer reads
20. Jackpot SummerAuthor: Elyssa FriedlandYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Humor, Summer, adult, contemporary, family, romance, series counter, summer reads
21. Just for the SummerAuthor: Abby JimenezYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Summer, adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, romance, summer reads
22. Kisses and CroissantsAuthor: Anne-Sophie JouhanneauYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Summer, Travel, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads, young adult
23. Look on the Bright SideAuthor: Kristan HigginsYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, family, romance, series counter, summer reads, womens fiction
24. Maine CharactersAuthor: Hannah OrensteinYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Summer, adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
25. Malibu RisingAuthor: Taylor Jenkins ReidYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Summer, adult, book club, contemporary, historical, romance, series counter, summer reads
26. Mansion BeachAuthor: Meg Mitchell MooreYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Summer, adult, beach reads, book club, chick lit, contemporary, mystery, romance, series counter, summer reads
27. Meet Me at the LakeAuthor: Carley FortuneYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Summer, adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
28. My Killer VacationAuthor: Tessa BaileyYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, adult, contemporary, mystery, rom com, romance, series counter, summer reads, thriller
29. My Summer DarlingsAuthor: May CobbYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Summer, adult, book club, mystery, romance, series counter, summer reads, suspense, thriller
30. On Ocean BoulevardAuthor: Mary Alice MonroeYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Summer, adult, beach reads, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, southern, summer reads, womens fiction
31. One Golden SummerAuthor: Carley FortuneYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Summer, adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
32. One Last ShotAuthor: Betty CayouetteYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Second chance, Summer, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
33. One Perfect SummerAuthor: Brenda NovakYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Summer, adult, chick lit, contemporary, family, mystery, romance, series counter, summer reads, womens fiction
34. Our Italian SummerAuthor: Jennifer ProbstYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Summer, Travel, adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, italy, romance, series counter, summer reads
35. People We Meet on VacationAuthor: Emily HenryYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Summer, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
36. Picking Daisies on SundaysAuthor: Liana CincottiYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Fake dating, Friends to lovers, Summer, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter, summer reads, young adult
37. Places We've Never BeenAuthor: Kasie WestYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Road trip, Summer, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads, young adult
38. Problematic Summer RomanceAuthor: Ali HazelwoodYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Summer, adult, contemporary, romance, summer reads
39. Seven Days in JuneAuthor: Tia WilliamsYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Second chance, Summer, adult, book club, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
40. Seven SummersAuthor: Paige ToonYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Summer, adult, beach reads, book club, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
41. Slow Burn SummerAuthor: Josie SilverYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Books about books, Summer, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
42. Summer DarlingsAuthor: Brooke Lea FosterYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Summer, adult, chick lit, historical, romance, series counter, summer reads, womens fiction
43. Summer FridaysAuthor: Suzanne RindellYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Summer, adult, chick lit, contemporary, historical, romance, series counter, summer reads
44. Summer in the CityAuthor: Alex AsterYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Fake dating, Summer, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter, summer reads
45. Summer LoveAuthor: Nancy ThayerYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Summer, adult, beach reads, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads, womens fiction
46. Summer RomanceAuthor: Annabel MonaghanYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Summer, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter, summer reads
47. SunkissedAuthor: Kasie WestYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Summer, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads, young adult
48. Sunny Side UpAuthor: Katie SturinoYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Summer, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter, summer reads
49. Swan SongAuthor: Elin HilderbrandYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Summer, adult, beach reads, book club, chick lit, contemporary, mystery, romance, series counter, summer reads
50. The Beach HouseAuthor: Jenny HaleYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Summer, adult, beach reads, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
51. The Five-Star WeekendAuthor: Elin HilderbrandYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Summer, adult, beach reads, book club, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
52. The HomewreckersAuthor: Mary Kay AndrewsYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Summer, adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, mystery, romance, series counter, summer reads
53. The Island VillaAuthor: Sarah MorganYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Summer, Travel, adult, chick lit, contemporary, family, romance, series counter, summer reads
54. The Last SummerAuthor: Karen SwanYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Summer, adult, historical, roman, romance, scotland, series counter, summer reads
55. The LayoverAuthor: Lacie WaldonYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Summer, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter, summer reads
56. The Love HatersAuthor: Katherine CenterYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Summer, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter, summer reads
57. The Paradise ProblemAuthor: Christina LaurenYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Summer, adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
58. The Roughest DraftAuthor: Emily WibberleyYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Books about books, Enemies to lovers, Summer, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
59. The Second HomeAuthor: Christina ClancyYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Summer, adult, contemporary, family, literary fiction, romance, series counter, summer reads
60. The Summer GirlAuthor: Elle KennedyYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Small town, Summer, adult, contemporary, new adult, romance, summer reads
61. The Summer JobAuthor: Lizzy DentYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Summer, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter, summer reads
62. The Summer of Broken RulesAuthor: K.L. WaltherYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Summer, book club, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads, young adult
63. The Summer of Lost and FoundAuthor: Mary Alice MonroeYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Summer, adult, beach reads, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, southern, summer reads, womens fiction
64. The Summer PactAuthor: Emily GiffinYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Summer, adult, beach reads, book club, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
65. The Summer She Went MissingAuthor: Chelsea IchasoYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Summer, mystery, romance, series counter, summer reads, suspense, thriller, young adult
66. The Summer SwapAuthor: Sarah MorganYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Summer, adult, chick lit, contemporary, family, romance, series counter, summer reads
67. These Summer StormsAuthor: Sarah MacLeanYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Summer, adult, book club, contemporary, family, romance, series counter, summer reads
68. Thirst for SaltAuthor: Madelaine LucasYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Coming of age, Summer, adult, book club, contemporary, literary fiction, romance, series counter, summer reads
69. This Summer Will Be DifferentAuthor: Carley FortuneYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Summer, adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
70. Till Summer Do Us PartAuthor: Meghan QuinnYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Fake dating, Forced proximity, Summer, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter, summer reads
71. Tourist TrapAuthor: Morgan ElizabethYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Found family, Friends to lovers, Small town, Summer, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads
72. Under a Greek SkyAuthor: Francesca CatlowYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Summer, adult, chick lit, contemporary, family, romance, series counter, summer reads
73. We Fell ApartAuthor: E. LockhartYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Summer, contemporary, mystery, romance, series counter, summer reads, thriller, young adult
74. You and Me on VacationAuthor: Emily HenryYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Summer, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter, summer reads

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 summer reads romance comp title that fits my book?

You can broaden your horizons to also include other subgenres of romance!”