u/Infamous-Olive-15

Hi all - I really appreciated everyone’s help on my last attempt and was hoping to get feedback on my updated draft. I’m still researching a second comp that is more recent/has similar themes so would also appreciate any thoughts there.

Dear [Agent]

Stephanie “Stevie” has a one-track mind, the partner track. After a decade of 60-hour (minimum) work weeks the promise of promotion is within reach, but she receives bad news - her father has suffered a stroke. Stevie travels back to Lewiston, her hometown that has never quite felt like home. A quick trip becomes an extended stay when her father’s path to recovery requires her presence, but Stevie’s absence from the halls of her firm threaten to negate years of hard work during a particularly cutthroat partnership promotion cycle.

While visiting her father in the hospital, Stevie reconnects with Julian, her once gangly childhood best friend turned competent nurse. Their easy friendship picks up where it left off. Julian’s steady presence anchors Stevie amid the turbulence of balancing her father’s care, her career, and other obligations. Before Stevie’s homecoming Julian had made plans of his own to escape Lewiston, tempering any chances of a future between them, but not necessarily tampering their growing feelings.

Lucas, former high school royalty, current divorcee comes to Stevie’s rescue, and then, when he asks her out on a date it's a request she can’t refuse (who could turn down their high school crush, especially when he still looks so good?). Lucas proves that teenage dreams can come true and his grand romantic gestures are a welcome distraction from the stressors in Stevie’s life. But, since Stevie's time in Lewiston (hopefully) has an expiration date, Stevie struggles with defining their relationship as it veers from fun and games into something more serious.

As the summer fades into fall, it isn’t spreadsheets but her heart that Stevie must analyze to determine what, where, and most importantly, who will lead her to her happily ever after.

Complete at [65,000] words, [Between Promises and Promotions] is a contemporary romance novel. It will appeal to readers who enjoy a competent female protagonist navigating her career and love like that in Clare Gilmore’s Love Interest and complex life logistics and emotional growth like that of the female protagonist in The Flatshare.

Hi all - Below is my first attempt at a query for a contemporary romance. I’m finding identifying the right comps to be particularly challenging so welcome ideas there, but would appreciate any and all feedback.

My book also has a character who I could potential write a follow-up novel for and wanted to ask if I should include that information in the query as well?

Thank you!

***

Dear [Agent]

Stephanie “Stevie” Halligan has a one-track mind, the partner track. She has spent the past decade solving her client’s problems as she worked her way up through the ranks of Allistair Group, a premier consulting firm. With the promise of promotion in reach she receives bad news, her father has suffered a stroke. She travels back to Lewiston, her hometown that has never quite felt like home. A quick trip becomes an extended stay when her father’s path to recovery requires her presence, but Stevie’s absence from the halls of Allistair threaten to negate years of hard work during a particularly brutal partnership promotion cycle. 

Stevie’s trip home gets off to a rough start after an awkward encounter with Julian Durand, her once gangly childhood best friend turned hot traveling nurse. Stevie and Julian smooth things over and pick up their friendship where it left off. Julian’s steady presence anchors Stevie amid the turbulence of balancing her father’s care, her career, and other obligations, but Julian has his own plans to escape Lewiston at the end of the summer. 

Lucas Wilson, former high school royalty, current divorcee comes to Stevie’s rescue when her father’s pick-up breaks down. When he asks Stevie out it's impossible for her to refuse her former high school crush. Lucas proves that teenage dreams can come true and his grand romantic gestures are a welcome distraction from the stressors in Stevie’s life. But Stevie struggles with defining their relationship as it veers from fun and games to something more serious.

As the summer fades into fall, it isn’t spreadsheets but her heart that Stevie must decipher to solve her own problems. Should she choose Julian or Lucas? Should she return to her career in the city or remain with family in Lewiston? Or, perhaps the answer to her happily ever after lies with option C - none of the above.

Complete at [59,000] words, [Lewiston Love Triangle] is a contemporary romance novel. It will appeal to readers who enjoy a competent female protagonist navigating small-town life like in Book Lovers by Emily Henry and complex life logistics and emotional growth like that of the female protagonist in The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary.