8 Proven Tips for How to Write a Romance Book Blurb That Sells

October 30, 2023

How to Write a Romance Book Blurb

Who would ever guess that composing the blurb for your romance novel would be one of the toughest parts of self-publishing your book?

It’s so funny that this short piece of writing causes so much stress and frustration among indie authors. As an editor for indie romance authors, I read A LOT of books and A LOT of blurbs, and let me tell you, a good one can make me add a book to my TBR immediately.

But why are they so important? What needs to be in a book blurb? And what makes them so difficult to write? I answer all these questions, and more in the blog. Keep reading to find out how you can write a romance blurb that helps you sell more books!

What is a Book Blurb?

A book blurb is a short piece of writing that appears on the back cover of your novel or on the web sales page where the book is listed.

Think of it as a movie trailer. It intrigues and entices potential readers without giving away too much of the story. You want readers to finish reading it and think “I have GOT to read this book!” You do that by crafting a description of your book that draws them in with essential information about the characters, world, and plot, but doesn’t bog them down with unnecessary details or side plots.

Why are Book Blurbs Important?

Your blurb might be your one chance to hook readers! Don’t overlook it and don’t think you can churn out a good one in twenty minutes.

A good blurb can increase your pre-orders and sales. A confusing blurb will make potential readers leave the sales page without clicking add to cart.

You spent so much time crafting your narrative—make sure you put the same care and thought into your description.

Having a stellar blurb for your romance book can also really help you when it comes time to market your novel during your launch. Use lines from it in videos on social media, create mood board posts and include your blurb in the caption, or utilize your hook to entice readers to go pre-order your book.

There’s no need to recreate the wheel. If you’ve already worked hard to craft a perfect blurb, repurpose it for your launch marketing efforts!

8 Tips for Writing a Romance Book Blurb

Okay, it’s time to get down to it. What does your blurb need? How is a romance blurb different from other types of blurbs? What are some general conventions authors use when creating their descriptions? Don’t stress—I’ve got all the answers for you right here!

1. Remember your genre

This is where figuring out how to write a romance book blurb is going to differ from other types of blurbs. Romance readers are used to reading tropes and definitely have their favorites. Including your main tropes in your description will help you appeal to readers who love those tropes.

This doesn’t mean that you need to explicitly spell out or list your tropes. Be subtle about it—romance readers will be able to find them (trust me!).

(There are some examples of romance blurbs below that each worked tropes in seamlessly if you’re having a hard time imagining what this might look like.)

You also need to introduce both main characters (or more if it is a poly or why choose romance). In a typical fiction blurb, perhaps only one main character would be introduced.

Think about romance beats (if you aren’t sure what beats are, check out Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes—that is an affiliate link and I may make a small commission if you purchase using it) and how they appear in your novel. You may want to work the “No Way” beat or the “Adhesion” beat into the blurb.

2. Begin with a hook

This just needs to be one or two sentences that draws readers into your story and your world. Sometimes on webpages like Amazon the first sentence or two is all that might show up at first. Work hard at creating a sentence that explains your book in an exciting and interesting way.

3. Introduce the characters and conflict

Your characters have names, and you need to use them in the blurb. Yes, first AND last names. It helps the reader identify who the main characters are and keep them straight before they even begin reading.

Since you are writing a romance blurb, you need to make sure both the main characters (or more, if this is a poly or why choose romance) are introduced somewhere in the blurb.

You don’t need to go into a terrible amount of detail when explaining the conflict. Give your readers just enough so that they understand the basic premise of the story, but not so much that they get bogged down in details or plot elements that don’t matter.

For example, if your two main characters have to work together as a condition of someone’s last will and testament… say that! DON’T give a million details about secondary plot elements that aren’t relevant to that main conflict.

4. Just say no to summarizing

A blurb is not a summary. It is a description. It is a slightly longer elevator pitch.

No one wants to read a blurb that gives it all away. The best blurbs tease and hint at information, and leave readers salivating for more.

5. Word count matters

This is one rule you absolutely must follow. A blurb’s word count should be 100-200 words.

Do NOT go over 200 words for your blurb.

Just don’t! Readers will skip it because they will recognize that it’s longer than what they’re used to seeing. There’s also a major chance that a longer blurb will give away too much information and end up confusing the reader.

This is an industry standard and not following it makes you look unprofessional or like you don’t know what you are doing.

I have actually clicked away from recommended books on Goodreads because the blurb was too long and I couldn’t keep everything straight.

6. Pay attention to these standards

Here are some general conventions to use when figuring out how to write a romance book blurb:

Write in third person. It is becoming more popular for romance descriptions to be written in first person, so if you’d like to play with this convention that’s ok. It’s not totally strange (although I believe most publishers still like their blurbs to be in third person).
Avoid cliches. You only have 200 words—don’t waste any of them on tired phrases like “in a world” or “how far would you go…”
Keep your voice consistent. If you wrote a serious romance, don’t try to make your description funny. If you wrote a romcom, don’t make the blurb all about the trauma or emotional wounds. Keep your voice consistent so readers know what they’re getting into.
Write for readers. Appeal to their emotions and write in way that is accessible for them (this means stay away from the thesaurus!).

7. Find good comps

Readers want to find books that are already a little familiar to them. Comps are important because they can help you snag a new reader if they recognize the other works you mention.

You don’t have to put comps into your blurb, but it may help you if you are a newer indie author and don’t already have a fanbase.

These do not have to be comps based on plot; they can be comps due to tone, themes, voice, or tropes! Try finishing this sentence: My book is a combination of _________________ and _________________.

Only mention comps in one place and at one time (don’t litter them throughout your blurb).

8. Edit, edit, edit

Look, it’s no surprise that the editor wants you to edit. It’s kinda my thing. 🙂

But it is important. Edit, edit, edit, and ask for feedback.

If you aren’t happy with it, write your blurb a couple of different ways and see which you like best.

How to Write a Romance Book Blurb: Four Examples

It can be tough to figure out how to write a romance book blurb when you’re writing your novel. If you’re stuck, I suggest using your resources.

Look at the books you already have in your house. What do you notice? What do you love? What doesn’t work for you?
Google best-selling authors in the romance genre and take note of how they have structured their descriptions.
Hit up the library and pull random books off the shelf to see if the blurb makes you want to take it home and read it.

Below are four examples of indie romance authors who have mastered the art of the blurb:

The links below are affiliate links and I may make a small commission if you purchase using these links.

Shucked by Kate Canterbary

This blurb is 184 words and begins by introducing both main characters by first and last name. The setting and world is introduced by the third sentence, and the paragraph continues by spelling out the main conflict. You may also notice that several tropes are introduced, although they are not explicitly named as tropes. Romance readers will pick up on these (brother’s best friend, grumpy/sunshine, just a fling) and know immediately that they are tropes.

His best friend’s little sister is not an option. No one ever accused Beckett Loew of being the nice Loew brother, especially not Sunny Du Jardin.

Stuck back home in the quirky town of Friendship, Rhode Island, Beckett is scrambling to save his family’s oyster bar and take care of his teenage brother. He doesn’t have time to deal with the beautiful, sunshine-y owner of the new cafe next door too. His best friend’s little sister may be all grown up, but Sunny’s still a distracting pain in his side.

No one expects much from Sunny Du Jardin, especially not Beckett Loew.

She’s not worried about her older brother’s tall, dark, and broody best friend or the battles he insists on waging with her every day. She’s not the same kid he teased years ago. Now, she composts his type for breakfast.

They’re all wrong for each other.

Complete opposites.

Off limits.

Except they can’t keep their hands off each other.

They tell themselves it’s nothing more than a steamy summer fling until secrets spill and real trouble comes their way.

RAFE by Rebekah Weatherspoon

This blurb is 165 words and begins with a very strong hook. Again, both main characters are introduced by first and last name. The setting and main plot points are laid out for the reader, as well as common romance tropes.

All Dr. Sloan Copeland needed was someone to watch her kids. What she found was the man of her dreams…

After a nasty divorce and a thousand mile move, Dr. Sloan Copeland and her twin daughters are finally getting the hang of their new life in Los Angeles. When their live-in nanny bails with no warning, Sloan is left scrambling to find a competent caretaker to wrangle her smart, sensitive girls. Nothing less will do.

Enter Rafe Whitcomb. He’s all of those things, not to mention good-natured and one heck of a whiz in the kitchen. He’s also tall, and handsome, and bearded, and ripped, and tatted, wrist to neck. It doesn’t take long for the Copelands to invite Rafe into their home. Just as quickly, both Sloan and Rafe find themselves succumbing to a heady mutual attraction, neither of them wants to deny. With every minute they spend under the same roof, this working mom can’t help but wonder if Rafe can handle all her needs…

Only for the Week by Natasha Bishop

This description is 119 words, and I love it because it plays a little bit with structure. It’s creatively written, but still introduces characters, tropes, setting, and conflict.

You are cordially invited to the wedding of Amerie Cross and Arnold Hightower.
And now a toast from the maid of honor, Janelle Cross!
Hi everyone, thank you for being here.
Some of you may know me as the sister of the bride.
Some of you may know me as the ex-girlfriend of the groom.
But I’m willing to bet none of you know me as the woman secretly sleeping with the best man.
I am.
I know, I’m just as surprised as you.
It was only supposed to be for the week; but every kiss, adventure, and stolen moment with Rome Martin feels like it could last forever.
Oh well. What happens in Tulum stays in Tulum.
Right?

Her Baseborn Bridegroom by Alice Coldbreath

This historical fantasy description is 123 words. I particularly love the ending of this blurb. It sets up the story, but really intrigues the reader.

Lady Linnet Cadwallader has been raised a helpless invalid in her own castle. Brought up to believe she will “never make old bones” she lives a quiet and lonely existence, hiding away her excessive freckles and red hair from a world that believes her to be hideously misshapen and ugly.

Until one day her uncle arranges a marriage of convenience for her, a marriage in name only with a young puppet groom…but Sir Roland does not show up. In his place turns up his base-born brother Mason Vawdrey. And dark, forceful Mason is no-one’s puppet.

Things are about to get interesting at Cadwallader Castle. And Linnet is about to discover that maybe a golden leopardess does not need to change her glorious spots.

Ready to write a blurb that sells?

A romance novel’s blurb is a little different from a typical fiction novel’s description. I hope after reading this you feel empowered to create a blurb that helps you sell books.

And if you want a trained editor to look it over, or to edit your novel, please contact me. I’m Kaitlin, an editor for indie romance authors, and I’d love to talk more about your project.