How well should you know a comp title, and where can you research comps?

Short answer: Donovan Levine’s advice: Donovan says reading every comp in full is not always necessary, but writers must research accurately through sources such as Goodreads, Amazon, recommendation sites and Publishers Marketplace when available.

Answered by Donovan Levine, Associate Literary Agent, Neighborhood Literary.

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The agent’s answer

Summaries, reviews, retailer pages, recommendation sites and library catalogs are all places Donovan suggests looking for possible comps. His view is that a writer does not always need to finish every candidate book. The standard he gives is to do the necessary research and make sure the comp is genuinely similar to the book being pitched. A summary or reviews can provide enough information to judge whether the comparison is close enough to support.

In Donovan’s words

You don't necessarily have to have read the entire book just to comp it.
Donovan Levine, 56:11

Source: Synopsis & Comp Titles.