Choose Comp Titles for Your Query (Painlessly-ish)
Comparative titles – aka comp titles – are one of the most critical (and despised) parts of a query letter. Welcome to another ring in the Query Hellscape. Here we are again. Social media or a real person somewhere told you that you need something called “comp titles.”
Welcome to the part of your proposal where you have to talk about other people’s books… to prove yours is worth publishing.
Yay!
Let’s clear the air: comp titles are a hoop to jump through. But when done well, they prove you understand your market, your reader, and exactly where your book fits on the shelf – or where it should fit, if the industry would ever-so-kindly catch up to your brilliance.
Good comps can tell the agent a lot about you, your confidence, and your professional aptitude. Remember, query letters are sales letters that aim to convert the reader through TRUST.
This guide will show you how to pick and present comp titles without selling yourself short or sounding like you just googled “books kinda like mine.”
What Are Comp Titles – and Why They Matter
A comp title is a book that shares some DNA with yours.
Tone, audience, structure, subject matter, sales trajectory – it all counts. Comp titles help publishers and agents understand two main businessy things:
- Where your book belongs in the market
- How your book is different (read: better) than what’s already out there
If you skip this section or phone it in, you’re sending a big fat signal: “I don’t know where my book fits. And I don’t care.” Not cool.
How to Choose Strong Comp Titles
1. Focus on Books Published in the Last 5 Years
The industry evolves fast. If you’re comping to books from a decade ago (or worse, classics), you’re implying your book might already be dated. Stick to books that show you’re in touch with current trends. Under the hood, this can also signal that you are a delusional, pompous ass or at best inexperienced.
📌 Tip: 2–3 years is the sweet spot. 5 is your upper limit. Anything older than that is an antique.
2. Use Traditionally Published Titles
Self-pubs, we love you however – unless the indie title went viral and sold serious copies, it won’t give your proposal the market context you need. Publishers want to see how your book compares to books that followed the same distribution and sales pipeline you’re aiming for.
Think HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Hachette, or strong indie presses like Graywolf or Sourcebooks.
3. Avoid the Blockbusters
If you say, “My book is the next Atomic Habits,” you’ve just lost half your credibility. Choose titles that are successful, but not stratospheric. You want to show market potential – not delusional pomposity.
- ✅ Yes: Books that hit lists, won awards, or have steady sales
- ❌ No: Harry Potter – for the love of God, The Bible, anything with its own Netflix deal (unless your book is a literal spinoff)
Where to Find Comp Titles That Aren’t Terrible
Here’s where to do your homework without losing your mind:
- Bookstores: Really go. IRL. See where your book would live. Look at shelf neighbors.
- Amazon: Sorry, I said the A-word. Use “Customers Also Bought” and bestseller subcategories.
- Goodreads: Read reviews. Pay attention to reader expectations and themes.
- Publisher websites: Publishers aggressively promote recent releases on their websites.
- Publishers Marketplace: Goldmine for sales info.
How Many Comp Titles Do You Need?
Two to four. Four is pushing it – but if that extra comp really knocks out the grand slam do it.
Too few = not enough data. Too many = you look indecisive. Keep it tight, and make each one earn its place.
Cross Media Comps
This concept is still somewhat contentious. But this is where your gut instinct and targeted research will support you. Know your agents!
Agents tend to love stories in any form. Podcasts. TV series. Movies. If a title from another media format really, really hammers home your concept, do it.
Just know, as with anything, some agents will dig it and some won’t. But, in my opinion – better to be memorable to some than memorable to none. Did that sound wise?
You know what best represents your voice and story. Try it. You’re not gonna break anything.
Get some index cards and write out the craziest ideas you have. Write subtle ones. Pin them up on the wall and stare, read, read aloud. Repeat. You will sort out the winner. Just own it and be confident!
How to Write About Your Comps
You’re not here to trash other books. You’re here to highlight what’s been done and what your book adds to the conversation.
Here’s the formula:
“[Your Book Title] explores [core topic or method] for fans of [Book 1]. My book builds on that foundation by crossing [Book 2] with [Book 3].”
- ✅ Respectful
- ✅ Strategic
- ✅ Confident
But be ‘voicey’. I know, we are all tired of hearing the ‘voice’ sermon every day. But let me show you how you can take that boring foundation (do that part first) and mutate into your very own little gremlin.
“For fans HBO’s Righteous Gemstones, [Your Book Title] baptizes them in the menopausal alchemy between Catherine Newman’s SANDWICH and the familial tension Lynn Steger Strong’s FLOAT TEST. “
Right, so this is pretty crystalized for example’s sake – you don’t have to add all those layers of details BUT it’s memorable right? Voicey? Damn right. And I think it also screams the concept loud and clear:
A modern, humorous take on religion, menopause, and family.
I’m interested.
Just make sure the voice matches your query letter and your manuscript. Read aloud. Read aloud. Read everything aloud.
Whether this comp block speaks to your soul or not, hopefully you can see how you can say A LOT in one sentence about other people’s work. This is the kind of strategic formation that conveys you are very comfortable with wordsmithing + have good taste + know your industry = confidence = trust.
Reminder: The ultimate goal of the query letter is to be MEMORABLE and earn TRUST.
After rereading that comp breakdown, I really want to read that story now. Steal it then write one for me?
What to Avoid (Seriously, Don’t Do This)
- ❌ The Humblebrag: “This book was great, but mine’s better.”
- ❌ The Unicorn Claim: “There’s nothing like my book!” (Translation: I haven’t read in my genre.)
- ❌ Dusty Old Titles: See above. If it came out before Instagram, it’s probably not useful.
- ❌ Fiction comps for nonfiction: Apples and carburetors.
What Agents and Editors Actually Want
Spoiler: they’re not expecting perfection. They’re looking for:
- Clear understanding of your audience
- Familiar but fresh content
- Evidence that your book has a place in an existing (but not overcrowded) market
- And.. ahem voice.
If your comp section nails that? You win.
FAQs
Q: What are comp titles, and why are they important?
A: Comp titles show how your book fits into the current market. They give agents and publishers a frame of reference and signal that you know your space.
Q: Can I use a self-published book as a comp?
A: Only if it has significant sales, press, or a cult following. Otherwise, stick with traditionally published titles.
Q: How many comp titles should I include?
A: Aim for 3–5 strong, recent comps. Quality over quantity.
Q: What if I can’t find anything just like my book?
A: That’s okay. Find partial overlaps – tone, structure, audience – and explain the comparison clearly.
Q: Do I need to love the comp titles I pick?
A: Nope. You just need to understand them. Bonus points if you can analyze both their strengths and limitations respectfully.
Final Thoughts
Choosing comparative titles is a strategic move. It’s your chance to show that you’re not just a sharp writer – you’re also a savvy pro who knows where your book fits and why it matters.
When you sit, comps in hand, to write your comp masterpiece remember the wise words of Ray Bradbury from Zen in the Art of Writing: “Work. Don’t think. Relax.”
And for the love of publishing, don’t comp yourself to Malcolm Gladwell. Or Harry Potter. Or Hunger Games.
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