The agent’s answer
The definition is simple. What comps are actually for, Donovan explains through a colleague's framing. A comp is a recent, established book with a similar premise, deployable as X meets Y or as perfect for readers of a set of authors, and its purpose is to tell the agent where the book belongs on the shelf and who reads it. He leans on agent friend Kate McKean, author of Write Through It, and her line that comps are vibes, meaning they capture aesthetic and niche appeal that a hook or synopsis might miss. A comp can even act as a hook or tagline itself, especially for high-concept books, where the comparison alone paints the picture. Throughout, he treats comps as a packaging tool: a way to make the book feel sellable and intriguing.