How I Come Up With Book Titles in Every Genre I Write

Titles are my first flirtation with the story. They’re the doorway, the dare, the whispered “you want to see what’s inside, don’t you?” And honestly? Each genre pulls a different version of me to the surface.

Here’s how I do it — broken down by the worlds I play in.

Romantic Comedy — Titles with a Wink and a Bite

For my rom-coms, the title has to feel like banter in four words or less.

I think:

• What’s the joke my main character is secretly living through?

• What’s the chaos they didn’t sign up for?

• Where’s the spark of trouble?

I chase that tiny moment where humor and desire collide, then distill it into something punchy, clever, and just a touch unhinged. A good rom-com title should feel like your best friend whispering, “Okay but listen to this mess…”

Paranormal Romance — Titles with Teeth

For PNR, I lean into danger, devotion, and the forbidden — but make it sleek, not campy.

I ask myself:

• What rules get broken in this world?

• What part of the love is a risk?

• Where does the magic bite back?

The title usually lives where intensity meets seduction. Something that hints at ritual, hunger, destiny… the kind of words that make you lower your voice when you say them out loud.

Contemporary Romance — Titles with a Pulse

My contemporary titles are my softest — but never meek.

I follow:

• What is the emotional wound or longing at the center?

• What’s the moment that changes everything?

• What’s the truth they don’t want to admit yet?

I look for a phrase that feels like an inhale before a confession. Smooth, intimate, and quietly sexy — like a hand brushing yours on purpose.

Romantic Mystery — Titles with Secrets

For romantic mystery, I want the reader to feel tension before page one.

I think in layers:

• What secret is the story protecting?

• What lie does the love depend on?

• What happens when desire complicates the truth?

The title becomes a breadcrumb — a hint of something hidden, dangerous, or about to unravel. Not loud. Not dramatic. Just enough to make you wonder why?

Romantasy — Titles with Magic + Yearning

Romantasy titles are my most cinematic — the ones that feel like they deserve a soundtrack.

I look for:

• What part of the world is worth fighting for?

• What does the love demand or destroy?

• What element of magic shapes their fate?

These titles usually braid together power + longing. They’re lush, evocative, and meant to taste like prophecy on your tongue.

B.A.R.