Small town romance comp titles for your query letter (updated 2026)

When you’re querying a small town 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 small town romance comp titles to make sure you’re always working with relevant books.

No matter if you’re writing a sweet, slow-burn small town 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 Very Merry MistakeAuthor: Lyra ParishYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Christmas, Forced proximity, Holiday, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
2. Against a WallAuthor: Cate C. WellsYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Fake dating, Humor, Slow burn, Small town, adult, contemporary, new adult, romance, series counter
3. All Rhodes Lead HereAuthor: Mariana ZapataYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Slow burn, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
4. At Whit's EndAuthor: Bailey HannahYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Cowboy, Forced proximity, Found family, Friends to lovers, He falls first, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
5. Beg, Borrow, or StealAuthor: Sarah AdamsYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Small town, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance
6. Beneath the StarsAuthor: Emily McIntireYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, new adult, romance, series counter
7. Beneath the WreckageAuthor: Catherine CowlesYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Small town, Workplace, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, suspense
8. Bring Me BackAuthor: Kristen GranataYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Mental health, Slow burn, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
9. Chasing ForeverAuthor: Piper RayneYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Found family, Friends to lovers, He falls first, Slow burn, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
10. Chasing the WildAuthor: Elliott RoseYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Cowboy, Dark, Forbidden romance, Forced proximity, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
11. Come With MeAuthor: Brooke MontgomeryYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Cowboy, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, novella, romance, series counter
12. Cowboy CasualAuthor: Holly ReneeYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Cowboy, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Second chance, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
13. Crazy in LoveAuthor: Laura PavlovYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Billionaire, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Found family, Slow burn, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
14. Crimson RiverAuthor: Devney PerryYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Small town, adult, contemporary, mystery, romance, series counter, suspense
15. CrossroadsAuthor: Devney PerryYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Cowboy, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
16. Delicate EscapeAuthor: Catherine CowlesYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Found family, Friends to lovers, He falls first, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, suspense
17. Done and DustedAuthor: Lyla SageYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Cowboy, Enemies to lovers, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
18. DownpourAuthor: Maggie C. GatesYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Cowboy, Forced proximity, Found family, Small town, Westerns, Workplace, adult, contemporary, disability, romance, series counter
19. Drive Me WildAuthor: Melanie HarlowYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Small town, adult, contemporary, new adult, rom com, romance, series counter, sports
20. DukeAuthor: Jessica PetersonYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Cowboy, Forced proximity, Found family, Friends to lovers, He falls first, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
21. Dust StormAuthor: Maggie C. GatesYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Cowboy, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Found family, Small town, Westerns, Workplace, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
22. Eleven ElevenAuthor: Micalea SmeltzerYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Forbidden romance, Forced proximity, Found family, He falls first, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
23. Fall at OnceAuthor: Nora EverlyYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Firefighters, Halloween, Holiday, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
24. Fall Too WellAuthor: Erin BranscomYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Holiday, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
25. FightAuthor: Sloane St. JamesYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Firefighters, Forced proximity, Small town, Workplace, adult, contemporary, romance
26. Finding YouAuthor: Lena HendrixYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Military, Small town, Workplace, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
27. Finn Rhodes ForeverAuthor: Stephanie ArcherYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
28. Fire LineAuthor: Maggie C. GatesYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Cowboy, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Found family, He falls first, Small town, Westerns, Workplace, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
29. FlawlessAuthor: Elsie SilverYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Cowboy, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, sports
30. Freeing the WildAuthor: Paisley HopeYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Celebrity, Cowboy, Forced proximity, Found family, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
31. GunnerAuthor: Rebecca SharpYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Dark, Forced proximity, Small town, adult, contemporary, mystery, romance, series counter, suspense
32. HeartlessAuthor: Elsie SilverYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Cowboy, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance
33. Hold Me Until MorningAuthor: A.L. JacksonYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Forced proximity, He falls first, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, suspense
34. Holding the ReinsAuthor: Paisley HopeYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Cowboy, Friends to lovers, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, sports
35. Honeymoon PhaseAuthor: Amy DawsYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Marriage of convenience, Small town, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
36. I Wish I Knew ThenAuthor: Jessica PetersonYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
37. If It Makes You HappyAuthor: Julie OliviaYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Cozy, Friends to lovers, Slow burn, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
38. If This Was a MovieAuthor: Morgan ElizabethYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Christmas, Forced proximity, Found family, Holiday, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
39. In a JamAuthor: Kate CanterbaryYear 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
40. In Your DreamsAuthor: Sarah AdamsYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Small town, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
41. Juniper HillAuthor: Devney PerryYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Found family, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance
42. Like You Love MeAuthor: Adriana LockeYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Fake dating, Friends to lovers, Marriage of convenience, Small town, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
43. Lost and LassoedAuthor: Lyla SageYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Cowboy, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance
44. Love and Lattes at Pumpkin HollowAuthor: Victoria WaltersYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Cozy, Halloween, Small town, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter
45. Love ArrangedAuthor: Lauren AsherYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Billionaire, Enemies to lovers, Fake dating, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance
46. Love Next DoorAuthor: Helena HuntingYear published: 2021Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Small town, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
47. Love You, Mean ItAuthor: Laura PavlovYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Found family, He falls first, Slow burn, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
48. Maggie Moves OnAuthor: Lucy ScoreYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Small town, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
49. Mistletoe Meet CuteAuthor: Bella MatthewsYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Christmas, Football, Forced proximity, Holiday, Small town, adult, novella, romance, series counter, sports
50. Mixed SignalsAuthor: B.K. BorisonYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Fake dating, Friends to lovers, Small town, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance
51. More Than I CouldAuthor: Adriana LockeYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Small town, Workplace, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
52. Mountain GrumpAuthor: S.J. TillyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Marriage of convenience, Small town, adult, contemporary, plus size, romance, series counter, smut
53. Part of Your WorldAuthor: Abby JimenezYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Small town, adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
54. People WatchingAuthor: Hannah Bonam-YoungYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, LGBT, Small town, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance, series counter
55. Practice Makes PerfectAuthor: Sarah AdamsYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Fake dating, Friends to lovers, Small town, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance
56. ProtectAuthor: Paisley HopeYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Firefighters, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
57. Resisting the GrumpAuthor: Ashley MunozYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, new adult, romance, series counter
58. Rewriting the StarsAuthor: Claire KingsleyYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Firefighters, Forbidden romance, Friends to lovers, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
59. Riven KnightAuthor: Devney PerryYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Marriage of convenience, Slow burn, Small town, adult, contemporary, mystery, romance, suspense
60. RootboundAuthor: Tarah DeWittYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Cowboy, Forced proximity, Slow burn, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
61. SawyerAuthor: Jessica PetersonYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Cowboy, Found family, Friends to lovers, He falls first, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
62. Secret HavenAuthor: Catherine CowlesYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Found family, Friends to lovers, Marriage of convenience, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, suspense
63. Seven Year ItchAuthor: Amy DawsYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Small town, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
64. Sleigh Bells and SnowstormsAuthor: Claire KingsleyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Christmas, Holiday, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, suspense
65. SomedayAuthor: Willow AsterYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Abuse, Enemies to lovers, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
66. Soul SearchingAuthor: Lyla SageYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Small town, adult, contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, romance, romantasy, series counter
67. Story of My LifeAuthor: Lucy ScoreYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Small town, adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
68. Sunday MorningAuthor: Jewel E. AnnYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Forbidden romance, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, new adult, romance, series counter
69. Sweet TemptationAuthor: Bella MatthewsYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Football, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, He falls first, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, sports
70. Swift and SaddledAuthor: Lyla SageYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Cowboy, Forced proximity, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance
71. TemptAuthor: Melanie HarlowYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Age gap, Forbidden romance, Military, Small town, adult, contemporary, plus size, romance, series counter, smut
72. The Bright Side of ChristmasAuthor: Morgan ElizabethYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Christmas, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Holiday, Small town, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
73. The Cinnamon Bun Book StoreAuthor: Laurie GilmoreYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Cozy, Small town, adult, chick lit, contemporary, mystery, romance
74. The Cinnamon Spice InnAuthor: Harper GrahamYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Cozy, Enemies to lovers, Second chance, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
75. The Honeycrisp Orchard InnAuthor: Valerie BowmanYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Cozy, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
76. The Strawberry Patch Pancake HouseAuthor: Laurie GilmoreYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Cozy, Forced proximity, Small town, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance
77. The Summer GirlAuthor: Elle KennedyYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Friends to lovers, Small town, Summer, adult, contemporary, new adult, romance, summer reads
78. The Summer I Saved YouAuthor: Elizabeth O'RoarkYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, Workplace, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
79. The Sweet SpotAuthor: Adriana LockeYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Baseball, Friends to lovers, Slow burn, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter, sports
80. The Sweetheart ListAuthor: Jill ShalvisYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Small town, adult, chick lit, contemporary, family, romance, womens fiction
81. Things We Hide from the LightAuthor: Lucy ScoreYear published: 2023Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Slow burn, Small town, adult, chick lit, contemporary, romance
82. Things We Never Got OverAuthor: Lucy ScoreYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Fake dating, Small town, adult, book club, contemporary, romance, series counter
83. TimelessAuthor: Devney PerryYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Billionaire, He falls first, Slow burn, Small town, adult, contemporary, novella, romance, series counter
84. 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
85. Training the HeartAuthor: Paisley HopeYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Cowboy, Forced proximity, Small town, Westerns, Workplace, adult, contemporary, romance
86. What Happens at the LakeAuthor: Vi KeelandYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Small town, adult, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter, sports
87. When in RomeAuthor: Sarah AdamsYear published: 2022Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Small town, adult, chick lit, contemporary, rom com, romance, series counter
88. When You BlushAuthor: Kristen ProbyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Forced proximity, Found family, He falls first, Small town, Surprise pregnancy, Workplace, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
89. Wild and WrangledAuthor: Lyla SageYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Cowboy, Friends to lovers, Second chance, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance
90. Wild at HeartAuthor: K.A. TuckerYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Small town, adult, chick lit, contemporary, new adult, romance, series counter
91. Wild CardAuthor: Elsie SilverYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Forbidden romance, Forced proximity, Second chance, Slow burn, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance
92. Wild EyesAuthor: Elsie SilverYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Cowboy, Forced proximity, Friends to lovers, Small town, Westerns, adult, contemporary, romance
93. Wild RiverAuthor: Laura PavlovYear published: 2024Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Found family, He falls first, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, series counter
94. Wild SideAuthor: Elsie SilverYear published: 2025Genre and themes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Found family, Marriage of convenience, Small town, adult, contemporary, romance, sports

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 small town romance comp title that fits my book?

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