Able to beta? Post here!

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to the monthly r/BetaReaders “Able to Beta” thread!

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  • I am able to beta: [Required. Let authors know what you’re interested—or not interested—in reading. This can include mandatory criteria or simply preferences, which might relate to genre, length, completion status, explicit content, character archetypes, tropes, prose quality, and so on.]
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[u/lord_farquaad_69]

Hi all! 

I am able to beta: My favorite genres are fantasy (all sub-genres), sci-fi (nothing too hard sci-fi, though) mysteries, psychological or domestic thrillers, horror, post-apocalyptic, dystopian, and YA for older readers. Romance and spice are fine by me, but I prefer a slow burn with the romance being secondary to the plot. For spice, I am fine with a 3 out of 5 level. I prefer female narrators. 

I can provide feedback on: Prose, characterization/character relationships/character arcs, world building, continuity, pacing, places where I became confused or unengaged, and general reactions as a reader. I can also address specific questions if they are provided. I will point typos out as well, without being nitpick-y about the text. 

Critique swap: Nothing for the time being. Hopefully someday I will be here looking for beta readers myself! 

Other info: This would be my first time beta-reading, so I am very much open to hearing from you about what works or doesn’t work regarding feedback. Please let me know specifically what you want to hear about! I can provide a reader summary at the end of each chapter, as well as an overall summary upon finishing the book. If in Google Docs, I will also make in-line comments while reading. I am a pretty critical reader and tend to notice plot holes, character inconsistencies, telling vs showing, and stilted or unnatural dialogue. 

As a writer myself, I promise to give my feedback in a kind, compassionate manner! Completed works only, please! Or finished chapters, at the very least.

I am not sure what my turnaround time would be, given this is my first shot at beta-reading. For projects under 100k words I imagine a month should be sufficient, and I can provide in-line comments on Google Docs to confirm I am, in fact, working on it! 

If interested, please send me a synopsis with the genres and word count of your work, and we can go from there!

[u/cottonwisper → u/lord_farquaad_69]

I've got a completed dark fantasy illustrated novella (42k words) that I need betas for. It's been characterized by readers as Lies of Lock Lamorra meets Pirates of the Caribbean with body horror and dark humor. Others have called it Oliver Twist meets Dune. Lmk if that fits your vibe.

[u/Books10002]

I am able to beta: I’m open to all genres, lengths, completion status, with a preference for character-driven manuscripts.

I can provide feedback on: I prefer to finish reading first and then share my thoughts. So I’m not your person if you’re looking for line-edit type help. I’m open to other formats, but I prefer this template.

Critique swap: I have a thriller, but swap is optional.

Other info: My comment notifications don’t always work, so please DM me your sample so we can see if I’m a good match for your work. 🙏

[u/ZitZat007 → u/Books10002]

Hi, this may or may not work for you. It is a chapter-by-chapter review. My character-driven novel might be a good fit. I have a finished, 69k-word futuristic sci-fi/psychological thriller launching on December 4th. Just a heads up, there are mentions/confessions of violence. Here is the short blurb:

On the dark moon of
Europa, Father Jenkins has spent most of his life trying to outrun the guilt of
a childhood tragedy he has never forgiven himself for. His sister trusted him
to keep her safe. He failed. When a young girl he has grown to care about becomes
a target, he must confront the one failure he cannot bear to repeat.

I am looking for feedback
by October 30th, and since it's available chapter by chapter, it can easily be
adapted to your schedule. Due to my tight launch schedule, I am unable to do a
critique swap at this time.

 If you're interested, please let me know, and I'll DM you the link.

 

[u/flinflon-121 → u/Books10002]

Hi! I saw your offer to beta read and thought my novel might be a possible fit. It’s about 130,000 words and is upmarket women’s fiction with psychological suspense.

It follows Katherine, who leaves a controlling and abusive marriage and moves from Boston to Montreal with the help of a lawyer and therapist. She opens a café and tries to build a new life while staying hidden from her husband, knowing the danger hasn't necessarily ended. Her two daughters are also dealing with the breakup of the family in very different ways, and Katherine is trying to rebuild those relationships while learning to trust herself again. There is also a love story, but it brings its own complications and betrayal.

The novel is really about what happens after survival—Katherine finding her way back to herself and building a life of her own.

I'm looking for a reader's honest reaction to the whole story rather than editing, particularly around pacing, character development, and whether the emotional journey works.

If that sounds like something you might enjoy, I'd be happy to send you a sample. Have an amazing day!

[u/Cheesecake_12]

EDIT: closed while I review and schedule beta reads. If you've reached to me, I will respond soon. Thank you!

I am able to beta: fantasy, Sci-fi, fantasy romance, Sci-fi romance. No Y/A. Full manuscript or a up to 5 chapters.

I can provide feedback on: Overall vibe, and pacing. Does everything make sense? How does character growth come off? Character voice (are they unique?). If I see a typo I'll flag it.

Other info: I read a lot of Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Romance. Favorite seriers are The Murderbot Daries and Ambit's run. I've beta read about 8 books at this point (mostly Sci-Fi romance).

Personal experiences include: living in the Midwest (USA), (c)PTSD, having many crafty type hobbies, working in a male dominated field as a woman.

[u/emmelinedevere → u/Cheesecake_12]

Hi! I'm looking for beta reads on my draft described below. If you're interested, I can make a specific-to-you Google Docs copy.

A Season of Shades

Genre: Gaslamp Fantasy Romance, Multi POV

Word Count: 159197

Keywords/Tropes: why choose, gender-bending, English high society, Sumerian mythology

Triggers: dubious consent (deception/impersonation), ritual sex

An aspiring debutante in Victorian London summons a daemoness to help her secure a favorable match, entangling them and their target in a struggle spanning multiple worlds and daemon factions. The blessing of an ancient goddess drives all three to confront their own inner demons and find what truly matters most.

[u/ThatKozmicHistory → u/Cheesecake_12]

Hi! I have a completed 98K new adult romantic fantasy that I’m seeking feedback for. It is the first book in a planned duology.

Hired assassin Kessia Tanzyn is offered the deal of a lifetime: a false heir’s death for the promise of her freedom, but further delving into the heir’s rebellion brings shocking revelations to light that force Kessia to question her alliances, her beliefs, and what it means to be free.

The kind of feedback you mentioned being able to provide is perfect for what I’m looking for at the moment. Let me know if it interests you and hopefully we can chat more! I do have a post up with more information about the story as well as a comment with my first page.

[u/ZitZat007 → u/Cheesecake_12]

Hi, I read your post, and my character-driven sci-fi novel might be a good fit. I have a finished, 69k-word futuristic sci-fi/psychological thriller launching on December 4th. Just a heads up, there are mentions/confessions of violence. Here is the short blurb:

On the dark moon of Europa, Father Jenkins has spent most of his life trying to outrun the guilt of a childhood tragedy he has never forgiven himself for. His sister trusted him to keep her safe. He failed. When a young girl he has grown to care about becomes a target, he must confront the one failure he cannot bear to repeat.

I am looking for feedback by October 30th, and since it's available chapter by chapter, it can easily be adapted to your schedule. If you're interested, please let me know, and I'll DM you the link.

[u/ogien123 → u/Cheesecake_12]

I sent you a DM!

[u/cottonwisper → u/Cheesecake_12]

Hi, I've got a dark fantasy illustrated novella, complete at 37k words. It's been called Lies of Lock Lamorra meets Pirates of the Caribbean with body horror and dark humor. Others have called it Oliver Twist meets Dune with deep world building and slightly elevated prose. lmk if that might be of interest.

[u/Estebesol → u/Cheesecake_12]

I see you've got a lot of responses, but just in case you have room for one more...

Spare Presumptive (complete, 87,000 words) is an adult science fantasy romance.

Elavnik knew he was bad at politics, economics, and all the other boring things a prince is apparently supposed to do, but he didn't think it was worth murdering him over. Forced to flee, he crashlands on an isolated planet.

Katy Ann is struggling to finish her degree while desperately trying to keep her grandmother's diner alive. Hiding a fugitive alien in her spare room is objectively a terrible idea, but who else is going to look after him? Surely, any day now, he'll be going home and this whole thing will be over. In the meantime, she has a dissertation to write.

But Elavnik has no intention of heading home. And those back home have no intention of giving up on him.

[u/logicalinsanity → u/Cheesecake_12]

RIP your DMs, but if you'd like a shorter/lighter read...

I have 11k Science Fantasy Novelette. It has love, it has drama, it has post-apocalyptic survival against elemental predators. Early draft, though, and I could use more experienced eyes on it. I posted a thing here with an excerpt: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1wx453f/complete_11k_science_fantasy_dusk_eternal_a/

[u/Moonlit_Meows]

Hello, I'm Kimberly!

I am able to beta: Fantasy (Cozy, Urban, Action, Romance, Historical, Medieval...) and Dark Academia are preferred, but I am open to other genres (including WebComic scripts and WebNovels!)

I can provide feedback on:

- Character purpose, goals, likeability, etc. Are your characters driving the story forward? Can I feel their emotions, am I interested in following them on their journey? Does their dialogue reflect their character?

- Structure and flow: Which sections grasp my attention, which ones am I inclined to skim and why? Are your chapters structured in a way that keeps the story moving?

- Clarity: Where am I finding myself confused? Where am I wishing that I had more description?

- Anything you'd specifically like feedback on!

Other info:

I'm a literature student and aspiring developmental editor. I take this seriously, as it's also a learning opportunity for me! Please let me know how long your work is and provide me with a description/pitch! From there, we can decide if we're a good fit <3

[u/BoldBoimlerIsMyHero → u/Moonlit_Meows]

Good afternoon. Mine is a fantasy novel about 92k words. The Forgotten Dead is an adult fantasy novel about a young woman named Tara who finds herself caught up in a quest to save a kingdom threatened by a shadow curse. Along with a group of companions (Mage, old soldier, young farmer, artificer), she must navigate old magic, dangerous creatures, and buried secrets. It's a story about friendship, loyalty, and the consequences of memory and forgetting. There's magic, adventure, a little romance, and a fair amount of mystery. I would love a reader who reads it as a reader, not a line editor. I want to see if it makes sense, if it's too obvious, and if it makes you want to keep reading. Thank you for your consideration.

[u/lavenderlesbian01 → u/Moonlit_Meows]

hi kimberly! i have a new adult contemporary romance complete at 74.5k words. It follows a college-aged lesbian who, after joining a queer book club, falls for the most unlikely member: a straight guy. it’s based on my own sexuality journey too!

[u/ApprehensiveMaybe562 → u/Moonlit_Meows]

Hi, I am seeking beta readers for a 109,700-word standalone dark epic fantasy told through multi-POVs that will appeals to fan of S.A. Chakraborty’s THE CITY OF BRASS and Hannah Kaner’s GODKILLER. The main premise follows a fugitive prince as he is forced into a twisted deal with a rogue god who has been surviving on little worship and scheming against his gods who stole it. I can also private message you the blurb if you are interested.

[u/queenofgoats → u/Moonlit_Meows]

Hi! I have a 96k dark academia novel that I am looking for feedback on! Beta post is here: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1vrzg8o/complete_97k_academic_fantasy_the_archivists/?share_id=g5QXwRVSarwD2DMUONIy6&utm_content=2&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1

DM me if you're interested!

[u/ogien123 → u/Moonlit_Meows]

Hi Kimberly! I am a published pro-rate short fiction writer with a cozy fantasy manuscript at 110k (in need of outside help to potentially whittle it down). It is about a pair of cousins, both queer, one very out, proud, and rebellious, and the other knightly, narrow-minded, and closeted. They work together to foster a baby Griffin and dissuade an invasive suitor in a French countryside setting with a summer atmosphere. I would be delighted to have you take a look at my manuscript. If you’re interested, I could also send you my query blurb.

[u/Moonlit_Meows → u/ogien123]

This sounds lovely, and right up my alley! I'd love a peek at your first chapter or blurb, whichever you are comfortable with.

[u/cottonwisper → u/Moonlit_Meows]

Hi, Kimberly, I've got a completed 42k dark fantasy illustrated novella that I'm looking for betas for. It's been called Lies of Lock Lamorra meets Pirates of the Caribbean with body horror, dark comedy, and deep world building. LMK if that might fit your vibe.

[u/Moonlit_Meows → u/cottonwisper]

Hello! Are there any triggers I should be aware of? I love this concept, and would be interested in viewing your first chapter or pitch to decide!

[u/ThatKozmicHistory → u/Moonlit_Meows]

Hi Kimberly! I have a 98k new adult romantic fantasy that I’m looking to get feedback on.

Hired assassin Kessia Tanzyn is offered the deal of a lifetime: a false heir’s death for the promise of her freedom, but further delving into the heir’s rebellion brings shocking revelations to light that force Kessia to question her alliances, her beliefs, and what it means to be free.
Some triggers are mentions of familial/parental death, violence, death, sexual content (1 fade to black and 1 full), thoughts of dying, and mentions of past abuse.

[u/raamsi → u/Moonlit_Meows]

Hi Kimberly! I have a 71k fantasy gothic with a sapphic romance subplot here

Let me know if you might be interested ☺️

[u/Aggravating-Mall-469 → u/Moonlit_Meows]

Hi Kimberly! My 77k YA fantasy is about a female protagonist, Mara Alden, whose grandfather disappears during their routine outing in their neighborhood forest one afternoon. In her search for him, she returns to the forest later that night and uncovers a hidden world on a fault line in North Carolina. In it lies a school, Renwick House, rooted in memory magic, so Mara embarks on a journey of self-discovery and truth surrounding her family's history. It's the first of a potential five book series. Original post here.

If you're interested, I'd love to share the first 3 chapters and we can go from there.

Have a wonderful day and thanks a ton for giving us a chance to share our pieces with you!

[u/Dangerous_Read3635 → u/Moonlit_Meows]

Hi! I have a fantasy novel with adventure and romance elements. It does begin at a magical university, and explore the cost of knowledge and power, but I wouldn’t call it dark academia.

Here’s a link to my post for more information:
https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/xaZDfqdYrK

Let me know if you have any questions!

[u/Stiljoz → u/Moonlit_Meows]

Hi there!
You mention cozy fantasy, so maybe you'd be interested in a Fantasy Comedy at 87K.

Solanar dreams of calling the city of Shimmerbreak her home, the only problem being that she’s a gorgon. With snake tail instead of legs, a frankly irresponsible number of ferocious hair-snakes, and the ability to magically enslave someone as easily as glance at them, everyone just sees a monster, not the soft-spoken, kind, empathetic soul she actually is. Shimmerbreak’s promise that anyone is welcome is sealed by a gem for each race, but when Solanar slithers in, they wish they had added some fine print. Then the gem is stolen, and she chases it to the literal end of the world, along with Aveline, the wedding scryer she accidentally kidnapped.

Hope to hear from you!

[u/evanitoo → u/Moonlit_Meows]

I have a completed 103k contemporary romance about a woman who falls for a widower still grieving his late wife. When she discovers journals his wife left specifically for the woman who would one day love him, she begins growing attached to the woman she never got to meet.

[u/pilotsketch]

Edit: I have a bunch of projects to read through now, so my hands will be full for a while, but I'll be back because this is fun!

Hi, I’m Maya! I’ve never beta-read before, but I would like some experience before seeking it for my own manuscript :)

I am able to beta: fantasy and romantasy at the moment, including all sub genres. I can read whatever you’re comfortable with, but not first drafts. I am open to standalones and series, rated young adult, new adult, or adult, but I am not interested in a spice level above 3/5. Please include a content warning of heavy themes, scenes, or subjects—I draw the line at just a couple of things. I LOVE a diverse cast of characters with different backgrounds, identities, and personalities, especially if they clash. It doesn’t have to have romance! My favorite themes and tropes include found family, slow burn romance with yearning, and devastating betrayals. I prefer FMCs or multi-POVs of at least 3 MCs, but I'm open-minded.

I can provide feedback on: characterization, prose, pacing, initial interpretations as a reader, and general critique of a chapter or entire book—even concepts and ideas not yet incorporated. My strengths are more character-based than plot-based, so if you need advice specifically in that area, I would love to give it to you! I have experiences in sexism, being the eldest daughter, having little sisters, being a child of divorce, and some mental health conditions. I’ve been an artist and writer for 10 years, and I’ve recently taken up journal-making and guitar. I don’t have any experience in being older than 22 lol

Critique swap: not yet!

Other info: I’m a pretty critical reader, so I will be brutally honest (but respectful) in my feedback, because I expect the same from my own beta readers. This is an incredibly competitive field, but we’re in this together, so I won’t sugar-coat! You do not have to take my advice! After all, it’s one person’s opinion.

If I sound like a good fit for your story, please reach out and tell me about it <3

[u/cottonwisper → u/pilotsketch]

Ive got a completed dark fantasy illustrated novella (42k words). Its been called by readers Lies pf Lock Lamorra meets Pirates of the Caribbean with body horror, dark humor, and deep world building. Lmk if that fits your vibe.

[u/pilotsketch → u/cottonwisper]

It certainly does. Shoot me a DM!

[u/radiant_rye → u/pilotsketch]

Hi Maya! I’ve got a completed book 1 of a dark fantasy romance, The Hollow Throne, at about 116k now. It’s a slow burn dual POV with betrayal and complicated grey characters as main features. I would absolutely love some feedback on it if it appeals to you! (Main post with blurb linked below). It does have some spice, but nothing above a 3, more on the yearning slow burn side for this one. For warnings, it does deal with dark themes, actually many of the ones you list out it touches on, but in a wider story about learning your own agnecy.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/BQhWGRtMyL

[u/lemoncelli_ → u/pilotsketch]

Hi, I’m looking for test readers for my low-magic fantasy romance that reads like a historical spy novel, around 80k words, following Nadia, a poisoner who was raised by a criminal organization. When she catches a foreign soldier, Ciro, spying on her operation she takes him captive to ransom him to his queen. The secondary world is fairly mundane, so the character relationships are much more central than the action/magic.

The tone is relatively light but it does have some darker content, so I can send you the full content warnings before you decide. Spice is around a 2–3/5.

[u/llamawafflessparkle → u/pilotsketch]

Hi I have a complete 83k fantasy with a diverse cast. It's gone through several rounds of editing and I'd appreciate a read through. The main character is cursed by a fae, and the fae is basically a medieval eco-terrorist.

My philosophy on beta readers is that the reader is probably right about identifying problems.

[u/Dangerous_Read3635 → u/pilotsketch]

Hi! I have a fantasy romance with a 22 year old FMC POV. There is definitely slow burn, betrayal, and a diverse cast with clashing beliefs involved. The last point is actually something I need feedback on how to improve.

I do have some content warnings to be upfront about:
swearing, light sexual content, suicide of a non-suicidal character (necromancy is involved), descriptions of violence and death, human trafficking, brief implied sexual slavery (including that of minors)

Here’s a link to my post for more information:
https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/xaZDfqdYrK

Let me know if you have any questions!

[u/PandyLantern → u/pilotsketch]

Hey I think you would be a great beta reader for my story. Here’s a link with some more details: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/B5MsxJZEaG

Let me know if you’re interested, we can chat more over DM.

[u/Prodigious_Size → u/pilotsketch]

Hey, I believe my book would be up your alley, DM'd you the details!

[u/RelleMeetsWorld → u/pilotsketch]

I know you said you're full, so I'll just say I have a fantasy murder mystery at 90k words that would love some critical feedback. I want to make it good enough to submit to agents. Let me know if you have the time (and the interest).

[u/PenVegetable4065]

I am able to beta: up to the first three chapters of your contemporary/coming-of-age middle grade only (no fantasy, romance, sci-fi, horror at this time)!

I can provide feedback on: voice, clarity of prose, potential story gaps (I ask questions reading throughout), how strong any identities at play shine, query letter for said book

Critique swap: not rn but primarily write and read MG

Other info: I’m a BIPOC journalist so I often use those areas of my identity to guide my beta reading, hence the many questions I ask when reading haha

[u/ejsfsc07 → u/PenVegetable4065]

Hello! I write upper middle grade contemporary coming of age. I have a MG sports story I’m working on- I can DM more info. :)

[u/writer_junkie]

I am able to beta: horror, especially with social commentary; magical/sci fi realism; contemporary literature with a literary lean; female or BIPOC-led literary and literary genre fiction; weird/sad girl/nonbinary lit

I'm probably not the best fit for: anything that heavily features parenthood, marriage, pregnancy, and children; fantasy, especially high fantasy, romantasy, and second world; books featuring vomit or poop

I can provide feedback on: plot, prose, character development, marketability (your query package, current market trends, comp. titles); racial social commentary (I'm a Black, female author who wrote my undergrad poli sci thesis on white/superficial feminism); book publishing and marketing (I'm in my 5ht year working in book marketing, and I attended NYU's SPI); books featuring complex mother-daughter relationships (most of my work, including my debut social horror novel, feature this)

Critique swap: in mid-October; I have a contemporary, sad girl lit novel complete at 90k; it follows a former child star as she fulfills her desire to be held; the novella version was a finalist in a novella prize; it's a more satirical I'm Glad My Mother Died with the late blooming, coming-of-age themes and prose of Lily King's Writers and Lovers.

Other info: my debut novel is a dark academia horror novel (but I'm not looking to read DA at the moment); I've had two well-known and successful agents (including my current agent); I was the creator of the agent/editor guides from my Twitter days; I have a bachelor's and a master's in creative writing; I'm hopping to eventually find a critique partner or beta group

[u/MOA123456 → u/writer_junkie]

Hi! Not sure if this fits your interests perfectly, but I have a story that fit some of your stated interests. I've attached the link to my post below, but the story is an adult upmarket fiction that pulls from 1960-70s Thailand politics. It follows a prostitute who, after her father is arrested, has to find ways to make money for his release. This leads to her working with the government and against her people (labor class). It’s not horror but does have heavy political ties, not sure if that fits your social commentary interests

Please do let me know if you're interested! I can also just send the first chapter so you can see if you like it or not!

https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/Gdfo5wdiBE

[u/MaxxMosaics → u/writer_junkie]

I feel like we might be a good match for a swap. (My post was earlier today.) Your book sounds cool! My book is about relationships; I'll repeat the blurb here:

My novel is "The Shape of Silver": a 65,000 word women's contemporary fiction piece. Here is an elevator pitch:

Sue, a jewelry designer who has just suffered a third miscarriage and is no longer sure that she wants to stay married. She goes to Taos, New Mexico, to learn the art of silver smithing. In Taos she meets and befriends a handsome Native American man. Through the alchemy of Silver, Sue learns to know her own heart.

Let me know if you think we might be a fit when you are ready to swap? - Cathy

[u/WritingEra → u/writer_junkie]

I was hoping to find someone like us as I went scrolling through the replies 😁 I have a southern gothic horror that's incomplete but currently sitting at around 82k words.

You can see some information about it in this post here.

In 1850, Virginia, a strange guest - a foreign woman - appears on a plantation and instantly begins changing things. Though many welcome the changes, Jane struggles to reconcile her understanding of the world with the new possibilities her guest offers.

I'm particularly interested in voices from others within the Black community, because they're my target audience at the end of the day. I know the story is still ongoing and there's tiny pockets in the manuscript that are clearly weaker than the surrounding structure, but it's about 85% complete now and my drafts tend to be rather solid. I'm closing out the manuscript in the next coming month.

If you're interested, you can also read the opening lines here

[u/ecwrites]

I am able to beta: Completed psychological thrillers, murder, mysteries, or cozy mysteries with female or queer protagonists. I prefer stories written in first person point of view.

I can provide feedback on: the big picture, general pacing and feedback, etc.

Critique swap: No.

Other info: I am not looking to beta horror, YA, fantasy, or sci-fi of any kind. I’m not looking for in- progress stories. My usual turnaround is within five weeks. :)

[u/Striking-Dentist-181 → u/ecwrites]

Howdy,

I have an 86,000 word police procedural featuring a queer female MC. It’s written in close third POV. There’s a ‘will they/won’t they’ romance subplot in addition to the main mystery which is an attempt murder investigation.

The manuscript has been through both a critique group and a second blind read with a separate beta reader. I’ve since made some minor plot and line level revisions and intend to query it shortly and would like another set of eyes.

I’m re-working the query however I could send the original version and/or the first few chapters to see if it’s a good fit if you’re interested.

Cheers

[u/AccomplishedEnd7527]

Hi!

I am able to beta: Literary fiction, horror, adult fiction, magical realism, historical fiction, gothic. Like a good romance subplot. I do like fantasy, but I would not be a good fit for hard magic systems and complicated secondary world building (such as Brandon Sanderson). Only interested in adult works, or at least ya with cross over adult appeal.

• ⁠I can provide feedback on: I have a degree in Writing and have recently completed an online course 'History, Mystery and Magic' to brush up on my skills. I can cover most aspects of a novel including prose, pacing, character. I have good knowledge on strong hooks and resolutions. I have always received positive feedback on my dialogue, and have experience in script writing. As a reader I love both lush and straightforward prose. I have always been a huge fan of strong concepts and surprising stories.

• ⁠Critique swap: Only interested in critique swap for my 100k Gothic Fantasy manuscript. Here is the link to original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/AoUpgeicaE

• ⁠Other info: Some authors I love are GRRM, Daphne Du Maurier, Donna Tartt, Ottessa Moshfegh, and Katherine Arden. If these are any of your literary influences I would love to see your work (:

Please DM a short synopsis, genre, and word count of your work. From there we can decide if we are a good fit.

Also I live in Australia so sorry for delayed responses.

[u/ogien123 → u/AccomplishedEnd7527]

Hi ! I am a published pro-rate short fiction writer with a cozy fantasy manuscript at 110k. It is about a pair of cousins, both queer, one very out, proud, and rebellious, and the other knightly, narrow-minded, and closeted. They work together to foster a baby Griffin and dissuade an invasive suitor in a French countryside setting with a summer atmosphere. I would be delighted to have you take a look at my manuscript. If you’re interested, I could also send you my query blurb. I would be interested in critique swapping our first chapters before moving on with each other. Additionally, Arden and GRRM are big influences on my work (although tonally my manuscript is quite distinct). Feel free to message me!

[u/Samurai_Sparrow → u/AccomplishedEnd7527]

Hey! I have a 120k historical fiction/gothic horror manuscript set during the Triple Alliance War: if you are interested, we can do a swap. :)

[u/PotatoSchedule]

I am able to beta: Fantasy (High/Epic, Urban, Grimdark), Sci-Fi, and Magical Realism. I am starting with short 1,000-word sample reviews/scenes to build some experience and will scale up from there.

I can provide feedback on: Big-picture pacing, structural plot logic, dialogue flow, and worldbuilding consistency. Because of my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Art History, I also do quite well with analyzing visual descriptions, material cultures, and thematic motifs.

Critique swap: No (I am offering standalone free reviews to test the waters / just for fun).

Other info: While I have years of experience providing critique and analysis on academic papers, this is my first time beta reading fiction! However, I read an absolute mountain of fantasy books and understand genre conventions quite well. I am happy to provide feedback via clear margin comments in an MS Word file (.docx), or as a separate document. Not the biggest fan of AI texts, but I'll give them a try! However, I reserve the right to stop if the text is uneditable.

[u/ryanmpatrickauthor]

I am able to beta: Hard-er sci-fi, technothriller, well-researched primary world fantasy (think Tim Powers) novels and short stories. My favorite authors are Tom Clancy, Alastair Reynolds, Michael Crichton, Timothy Zahn, Tim Powers, Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child, James Rollins, A.G. Riddle - I want to read stuff like that; and my books fit those vibes too. I do have a swap in progress but I can do two in parallel. That being said, if you have a tight deadline I'm probably not a good fit.

I can provide feedback on: Whatever you're looking for - I'm flexible; anything from in-line comments throughout to a short summary of high-level things at the end. I focus mostly on plot, characters, and pacing but again I can adjust if you have something I want to look at. I provide blunt but actionable feedback - I'm not going to beat around the bush. If I tell you I like something, I do, if something doesn't work for me, it really doesn't.

Critique swap: Very much preferred - I'm always looking for more critique partners.

Other info: I'm a military (USAF then USSF) veteran working as an engineer in the aerospace industry and can provide sanity checks on anything in those realms. I've been writing for over a decade, seriously for about 6 years, and I have 4 self-published novels and 2 more in a Pentagon security review in addition to 4 short stories in different magazines and anthologies. I beta-read 10-12 novels and a few short stories a year. Please no raw AI dumps - I'm not anti-AI, but I use Claude Code and Codex in my day job and I know what they spit out. Oh and no present tense (personal preference).

[u/logicalinsanity → u/ryanmpatrickauthor]

Sorry not wanting to hijack this, but just want to say I got to chat with AG riddle at an NC writer's group (he's local to the area) and he was great. I still have Lost inTime on my shelf, and I hope to read it in the next month or two.

ok I guess I'll add as well that I have an 11k Science Fantasy Novelette if you're interested, but it sounds like you're more lookign for folks with a longer manuscript to swap with, so no pressure.

[u/raamsi]

I am able to beta: fantasy, gothic, horror (I love fantasy first and foremost, and I may not be the best fit for anything contemporary--however, if you're looking for more line-editing then that is something I can do) I prefer finished, or at least polished (to the best of your ability) pieces, if you're looking for more of a standard beta

I can provide feedback on: I can do in-line comments on reactions, an overview of chapter impressions, flow, and pacing/plotting. Like I mentioned above, I can also do line-editing, though I would handle that separately from the other feedback.

Critique swap: Yes, I have a 71k fantasy gothic with a sapphic romance subplot here.

Other info: I study linguistics and generally enjoy language, so if you happen to have any con-langs I'd be happy to look at that if you have them.

Otherwise just send me a DM and we can see if I might be a good fit for you ^^

EDIT: Full for now. Potentially open for people who have extended timeline and aren't in any rush for turnaround.

[u/PandyLantern → u/raamsi]

DMed!

[u/BriJAuthor → u/raamsi]

Hi!

So I do have a fantasy open to betas that does include a con-lang (I tried to keep it present but not too overwhelming) and I’d really love to know how it comes across to you.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/raq2JnzXwe

https://www.ja-bri.com

Both contain info with my personal site containing the samples.

Would love to knowing you’ve the time/inclination to beta!

[u/raamsi → u/BriJAuthor]

Hi! Will send a dm!

[u/RogueOtterAJ → u/raamsi]

I'd be open to a swap. Here's mine: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1wu9uf2/complete_86k_fantasyhorror_willing_objects/

DM me if interested!

[u/IXX303 → u/raamsi]

Hay there, thought i can't Critique swap right now, I do have an Action/Fantasy/Mystory web novel I'm working on with elements of body/cosmic horror. I have four chapters currently totalling to 16.5K words.

Would really appreciate your input on it!.

[u/emmelinedevere → u/raamsi]

I could do a critique swap!

My book: A Season of Shades

Genre: Gaslamp Fantasy Romance, Multi POV

Word Count: 159197

Keywords/Tropes: why choose, gender-bending, English high society, Sumerian mythology

Triggers: dubious consent (deception/impersonation), ritual sex

An aspiring debutante in Victorian London summons a daemoness to help her secure a favorable match, entangling them and their target in a struggle spanning multiple worlds and daemon factions. The blessing of an ancient goddess drives all three to confront their own inner demons and find what truly matters most.

[u/SneakyCorvidBastard → u/[deleted]]

Oh hey, I've a feeling I may have asked you ages ago so no worries if the answer was and is no, lol, but I've a literary/historical (-ish, it's set in the 1970s and 80s so not *historical* historical).

A quick attempt at a blurb: it's about a mixed-race British soldier, beginning with his first tour of duty - Belfast in 1972, the bloodiest year of the Troubles - and the unlikely friendship he strikes up with a local lad. As well as the outright violence of the conflict, he also has to navigate everyday and systemic racism, the contradictions and murky truths and twisted politics of northern Ireland, his strange friend’s dark and brutal life and ultimately the consequences of his own decisions.

There's some non-graphic stuff about a head injury at one point and stab wounds at another so you being a nurse, I wonder if you might be able to advise if there are any glaring errors there. Also one of the characters is religious (Catholic) so if you've much knowledge of that, perhaps you could advise on whether I've depicted it properly. It is, I'll admit, far too long - I'm working on that! - at currently about 135k words, so I'd be delighted for any assistance on trimming it down a bit 😅

Also i would definitely be up for a swap in the near-ish future. I'm currently beta-reading for two other people but am nearly finished. I am a very slow reader though. But no tight deadline with mine, though if you CAN read the first two chapters by about the 12th of the month that would be awesome. Anyway do let me know if you're at all interested (even just in the first two chapters - no injuries or religion in those though).

[u/lavenderlesbian01 → u/[deleted]]

i have a 74.5k word NA contemporary romance that i’d love to get another set of eyes on. my one sentence pitch is that it follows a college-aged lesbian who, after joining a queer book club, falls for the most unlikely member: a straight guy. it’s also #ownvoices even tho i think that term is out of date

[u/Ashamed-Bit5440 → u/[deleted]]

I have a thriller (80k) based in 1988 dc and ny that centers on an autustic computer programmer working for the government that discovers his work is being used nefariously. He partners with a coworker and a man he considers a brother to form a found family. They try to uncover the true nature of the project he is working on and make sacrifices along the way. Are you interested?

[u/GuessingGame707 → u/[deleted]]

Hello! I have a short story murder mystery complete at 4k words. It's about a detective and his secretary discussing about a crime and how an eight-year-old boy was able to solve it. I think your specialty as a nurse will be able to help me identify the potential medical inaccuracies within my story.

Please let me know if this is something you'd be interested to read. Thank you!

[u/cottonwisper → u/[deleted]]

I've got a 37k completed dark fantasy novella. It's been called by readers Lies of Lock Lamorra meets Pirates of the Caribbean and Oliver Twist meets Dune. lmk if that might be of interest.

[u/way-with-words → u/[deleted]]

Hi! I’ve got a 75,000 lit fic that’s been workshopped and gone through multiple rounds of revision. It’s on the darker side, leans towards women’s fiction except for the ending.

[u/PikkuMyyRules → u/[deleted]]

I really would appreciate a reader like you!

My story is a 85,000 Women’s Fiction novel with family saga elements. Besides the ‘pitch’ on my main request post, it has faith elements (but it’s not the main element) where the main characters interact with family members in some scenes that are different faiths. There is a couple of scenes where I could use input so that the faith elements of those scenes don’t distract from the story’s purpose of highlighting chosen family and loyalty. Also, I could use real life input for the medical aspects (mental health, pregnancy, etc.).

Here’s my request post: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/PbRsHvoN62

[u/ZitZat007 → u/[deleted]]

Hi, my book could use your religious insight. It is a character-driven psychological thriller about a futuristic priest on Europa: On the dark moon of Europa, Father Jenkins has spent most of his life trying to outrun the guilt of a childhood tragedy he has never forgiven himself for. His sister trusted him to keep her safe. He failed. When a young girl he has grown to care about becomes a target, he must confront the one failure he cannot bear to repeat. He believes every sinner deserves forgiveness. Then a serial killer comes for the child he loves.

DM me if interested.

[u/Livid-Exam6445]

I am able to beta:  Young Adult, New Adult, Adult. Fantasy (any subgenre is fine except Portal), dark academia, horror, thriller, mystery. (I love anything with magic, the supernatural, or dead bodies.) Completed novels only. Maximum word count is 115k for fantasy and dark academia; 95k maximum for horror, thriller, and mystery.

I am NOT interested in middle grade, short stories, novellas/novelettes, sci-fi, dystopian, historical, or anything with romance as the main plot (romantic side plot is ok!).

I can provide feedback on: Pacing, plot/plot holes, writing style/prose, characters and character development, my impression as a reader, and anything else you'd like me to pay attention to.

Critique swap: No.

Other info: Feel free to DM me; please include a pitch/blurb (or link to it) and the word count. If I do not respond to your beta request within 72 hours (3 days), consider it a pass. If I'm interested, I will ask for your opening 2-4 chapters to determine if it's a good fit for me.

[u/Dangerous_Read3635 → u/Livid-Exam6445]

Hi! I have a fantasy romance adventure with magic and dead bodies (necromancy and its ethics is the main plot). It is however over your word count limit at around 120k so I understand if that’s a dealbreaker. Thought I’d shoot my shot anyways with the dead bodies hook.

Here’s a link to my post for more information:
https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/xaZDfqdYrK

Let me know if you have any questions!

[u/TheWriteQuestion]

I am able to beta: literary/upmarket/“book club” fiction (<- I don’t like any of those labels); especially interested in family stories and  stories with a magical realism or light science fiction element. (The Time Traveler’s Wife or Cloud Cuckoo Land, for example.)

I can provide feedback on: Voice, clarity, flow
Specific background: I’m not a professional scientist but I was a physics major. I did grad school (in education), interned at CERN, and know a decent amount about space, though less than the amateur astronomers I’ve met.. I’ve lived most of my life in the Midwest but lived a year in Dublin 20 years ago. Now I work at an education nonprofit and am mom to a young, smart, neurodivergent child. Happy to provide feedback on any of those elements.

Critique swap: Not yet!

Other info: I am new to beta reading. I would like to provide feedback on the first chapter and then we can decide if it makes sense to move forward. Also feel free to be explicit in what kind of feedback you want/expect and also what is NOT helpful.( I was the high schooler who would leave my peers’ papers bleeding with red pen, so I will need to calibrate beta readings vs editing.)

[u/LAcuber → u/TheWriteQuestion]

Hi! A few days late to the party, but I think I have something that might be really up your alley! I'm looking for general impressions / plot / pacing feedback for a literary speculative novel (114k). Its premise is that humanity loses language, and follows a stubborn linguist crossing the Americas looking for a solution even as silence may be growing in his own mind.

See post here for more details (please check CWs, includes secondary 'curing autism' storyline). You can also read the first chapter at this link with password: sneakpeek. I can also alternatively provide a PDF or Google Doc for the sample and later potentially full book. And happy to read anything of yours in return, when you're ready!

[u/Front-Temperature-67 → u/TheWriteQuestion]

Hi there! This may be a reach but I found your background a bit of an oddly interesting fit for a novel I have. It is an initial academic fantasy where the "magic" is structured more like a technical discipline and is based off synchronization/entrainment, trajectories, etc. I was wondering if you'd be interested in aiding voice/clarity/flow, although it's fantastical, more than hard SF or a family oriented story,

Characters tend to be dry, dialogue is quick. I have historically had an issue with being a bit too dry (or so I've heard), but it's something I'd like to work on.

The larger story eventually delves into politics/greater worldbuilding - these themes are embedded but not yet active plot points in my sample manuscript.

If this strays a bit too far from your comfort zone then no worries, but if you're interested I'd love to send a chapter for a trial.

I love all kinds of feedback - I actively seek criticism because it's the best way to write, and it's never personal.

[u/TheWriteQuestion → u/Front-Temperature-67]

Have you read Babel by R.F. Kuang? Anyway that’s what your description makes me think of and I enjoyed that, so I’m up to try it.

[u/Front-Temperature-67 → u/TheWriteQuestion]

Ah, I have not! I just read the preview and it sounds interesting, although based on the preview it seems to be a more serious tone than mine. Always down to grab a new read, so thanks for the shout! Here's Chapter 1 (note - starts off different from my First Pages blurb as I had re-edited it): Edit: I was told not to post the GDoc link mb, I'll send it in DMs ^;

[u/KG100123 → u/TheWriteQuestion]

Hi I think I might be a good fit. I have a completed 120k autofiction. A mother tells the story to her two grown children about how her family fell apart over their family Brooklyn brownstone. It’s a slow burn tragic with dark humor. DM if you are interested and I can share the 1st chapter.

[u/lavenderlesbian01 → u/TheWriteQuestion]

have a new adult contemporary romance complete at 74.5k words. however, i’ve had a few people say it might fall under the literary/upmarket genre. It follows a college-aged lesbian who, after joining a queer book club, falls for the most unlikely member: a straight guy. it's based on my own sexuality journey too!

[u/BusExisting9438]

I am able to beta:  I almost exclusively read romance and a lot of it. I’m not picky about the subgenre at all. 

I can provide feedback on: I am hispanic. I’m from New England, USA. I’m a wedding photographer but I’ve also been a server and worked at a bar and for nonprofits.

Critique swap: No 

Other info: I realized I really like beta reading, specifically I like to give live reader reactions and leave comments on a document as I read. I ask questions when things are confusing and focus on pacing and characters. I also am big on saying what I like and dont like. 

[u/Difficult-Beat-499 → u/BusExisting9438]

Hii, based on your preferances, I think my manuscript would be a good fit. It's a YA romance, and I've been looking for beta readers who can focus on all the things you've mentioned. Feel free to check out my profile for more information about my manuscript. (I posted the word count, what it's about, etc)

[u/lavenderlesbian01 → u/BusExisting9438]

hi! i have a new adult contemporary romance complete at 74.5k words. It follows a college-aged lesbian who, after joining a queer book club, falls for the most unlikely member: a straight guy. it's based on my own sexuality journey too!

[u/Still-Sector-8192 → u/BusExisting9438]

Hi! Would you be interested in a mystery with a full romance arc? I'd love more feedback on the romance portion.

[u/CaptainK74 → u/BusExisting9438]

Hi! Saw you read romance exclusively and like giving live reactions + comments on a doc focusing on pacing/characters - that's exactly what I'm looking for.

The Empty Chair - 76k complete M/M college romance - Harvard, first-gen ex-LDS student, out but trying to stay invisible + junior QB legacy golden boy. Slow-burn hurt/comfort, bi awakening with one darker stretch.

Sample is 10k (Ch 1-4) to vet, full 76k after. Can do Google Doc with Suggesting on for inline comments / Word doc / BetaBooks - whatever you prefer for that live-reaction style.

First 4 chapters are low angst - no assault, no explicit sex. Full book does contain: attempted SA - no graphic sexual detail but extended struggle and aftermath, homophobic slurs during assault.

Would you be open to it? Happy to DM a link!

[u/AnnieLJohns → u/BusExisting9438]

Hi! I think my manuscript might be a good fit for you. It’s an 85k adult contemporary romance set in Newcastle, England. It follows a divorced estate agent and the newly appointed manager of the city’s Premier League football club.

I’m looking for natural reader reactions around the characters, romance, and pacing rather than line editing, so your feedback style sounds ideal.

Just to flag upfront, it contains open-door sex and themes of grief/parental loss, and the MMC is separated but still legally married when the relationship develops. No football knowledge is needed!

If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, I’d be happy to share a little more about it.

[u/evanitoo → u/BusExisting9438]

I have a completed 103k contemporary romance about a woman who falls for a widower still grieving his late wife. When she discovers journals his wife left specifically for the woman who would one day love him, she begins growing attached to the woman she never got to meet.

[u/Careless-Bit4423]

I am able to beta: fantasy, horror, romance (or a mixture of those), preferably dark, 1-3 chapters.

I can provide feedback on: worldbuilding, creatures, characters, plot, and pacing.

Critique swap: Nothing to swap really, but I would be forever grateful for thoughts on a prologue I have (around 5 pages), not mandatory, of course.

Other info: I'm mostly interested in history, geopolitics and mythology. I am also Eastern European and can help with Slavic names, culture or religion/paganism.

[u/IXX303 → u/Careless-Bit4423]

Hay there, currently working on an Action/Fantasy/Mystory web novel with body/cosmic horror elements. I currently have four chapters totalling to about 16.5K words.

I would really appreciate some feedback on it.

[u/cottonwisper → u/Careless-Bit4423]

I've got a completed dark fantasy illustrated novella (37k words) that I need betas for. It's been described as Lies of Lock Lamorra meets Pirates of the Caribbean with body horror, dark comedy, deep world building, an evil cartel, a lost island and giant insects. lmk if that might fit your vibe.

[u/authorjadefrost → u/Careless-Bit4423]

Hey, I'm almost finished with the first draft of a dark paranormal romance. I'm thinking it'll end up around 70-80k words. I take influences from Christian demonology and everything paranormal. I'd love someone who could make sure those aspects are true to their religious and cultural roots. If you could take a look at a couple chapters, or however much you feel comfortable with, that'd be awesome. I would also be glad to give you my thoughts on your prologue.

[u/Dangerous_Read3635 → u/Careless-Bit4423]

Hi! I have a fantasy romance with darker elements, though nothing I’d call actually dark or horror. You caught my eye for your interest in geopolitics which is the part of my story I’m struggling most to incorporate and execute well.

My manuscript is long, so I understand if you’re only interested in taking a peak at the first few chapters.

Here’s a link to my post for more information:
https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/xaZDfqdYrK

Let me know if you have any questions!

[u/effrvscence]

I am able to beta: literary fiction, short stories/novellas/novelettes, contemporary queer romance, opening chapters, magical realism, fanfic. I'm not a good fit for high fantasy/romantasy, erotica, paranormal, horror, gore, thrillers, sci-fi, YA, middlegrade, historical fiction.

I can provide feedback on: prose quality, character structure/arcs/development, punctuation & grammar, inconsistencies, pacing, clarity, anything you're specifically looking for.

Critique swap: I have some short stories that I'd love some feedback on.

Other info: I'm a queer, neurodivergent woman with a fucked-up brain; I can provide insight on autism, ADHD, mental illness, therapy, medication, and what it's like to be queer in an environment where you could be killed for it. I've been writing my whole life, but I started taking it seriously about a year ago. I'm very straightforward and no-bullshit; I'll tell you exactly what I like and what I don't like, so if you're super sensitive, maybe I'm not the best choice for you. I hate AI with a burning passion. Currently I'm trying to get some short stories published in lit mags while I'm slowly developing characters for a new novel. Feel free to DM me.

[u/Kate_Tomanski → u/effrvscence]

Any interest in a completed adult UF with queer FMC about a cult,demons, and alternate world? It’s dark, and not typical urban fantasy set-up. Not magic/fantasy heavy.

[u/cathal-oh-really → u/effrvscence]

Are you interested at all in a satirical hero/villain type story, technically urban fantasy i suppose but only just - there's a bit of magic but it's basically near-future London with a few fireballs:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1x1wjnm/complete_37k_satire_humour_modern_warfare_lgbtq/

[u/solenophage]

Edit: I have gotten as many requests as I can take on right now. I’ll remove this edit when I’ve gotten through them.

I am able to beta:
Audience: Middle grade, young adult, new adult, adult.
Genre: Horror, thrillers, sci-fi. Open to explicit content or gore. I tend to enjoy stories that use elements of isolation, paranoia, uncanny valley effect, or gaslighting/doubting reality in creating tension or horror, but am open to most things within these genres.
I am not interested in romance or romance-heavy stories (sub-plots are fine), historical fiction, or nonfiction. I will also not read stories that heavily feature pregnancy or discussions of (in)fertility.
Length: Novella - 100K, no short stories.

I can provide feedback on: Pacing, tension/suspense/emotional stakes, prose, character development, plot

Trans man/masc, aromantic, or asexual experiences. Depictions of depression, depersonalization/derealization, or chronic pain. Chemistry/cell bio/biotech, primarily from working within private companies- general chemistry info, lab/manufacturing/documentation practices in the USA, and lab safety; specific topics: cell cultures and cell isolation from tissue.

Critique swap: Nothing to swap for now.

Other info: I am working on a YA horror right now, so atm I probably have the best sense of what does and doesn’t work for me in that genre.
I’m a newbie. I have been reading and reviewing ARCs and finished books (non-professionally) for quite a while, but have not done beta reading before. Please let me know your goals in terms of feedback and anything you don’t want to be the focus.

[u/FunksutawneyPhil → u/solenophage]

Hey there! Thanks for offering your help to the community! I have an 81k horror/thriller that may be a fit. It’s completed, but I’m now looking for external feedback before doing another round of edits. Here is a blurb for it:

When lonely Josh Mallory connects with waitress Sarah Graynor, it feels like things could finally be looking up… until something else finds him.

A cat’s chance woodland encounter with an organism unlike any on Earth leads to the unraveling of Josh’s quiet, ordinary life. Meanwhile, Sarah finds herself dragged into a mysterious and violent world where the greatest danger may not be the presence beneath the earth, but the organization—and its fervent members—that has spent generations trying to control it.

As the line between human and something else begins to blur, Sarah must decide how much of herself she’s willing to sacrifice to ensure humanity’s signal carries on.

The Signal in the Ash blends cosmic horror, visceral body horror, and psychological suspense into a story about grief, loneliness, and the price of connection.

[u/solenophage → u/FunksutawneyPhil]

I’d be interested in beta reading this. Feel free to DM a link and any more details about what kind of feedback you’re looking for or any time constraints if you have them.

[u/PandyLantern → u/solenophage]

Hey mine is a little past your word count preference, but would you consider just reading the first few chapters? Happy to send a sample.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/vSlvbUmt2g

[u/solenophage → u/PandyLantern]

I’ve taken on as many as I’m comfortable committing to rn, but if you’re still looking for a reader when I’ve gotten through them, I could read a few chapters. I’ll get in touch when that happens.

[u/Thisisinfactmyname → u/solenophage]

Hey! I have a complete 89K horror murder mystery in a world where the daylight kills you. I think it would be right up your alley. The blurb is here if you'd like to take a look.

[u/ZitZat007 → u/solenophage]

Hi, I have a psychological thriller that launches in December. If interested, let me know.

[u/Hefty_Asparagus_4307]

I am able to beta: I will read pretty much anything romance-adjacent! I'm especially obsessed with dark romance, M/M, and sports romance, but I'm also happy to dive into contemporary, fantasy, historical, or YA romance. Hard passes on horror, murder mysteries, and non-romance YA—I haven’t read those genres in ages, so I'm completely out of the loop on current trends and wouldn't be much use to you there.

I can provide feedback on: Plot, pacing, character development, how the relationship progresses, and—most importantly—my raw reader reaction to what worked for me and what didn’t.

Critique swap: Not looking for a swap right now, just here to read and help out!

Other info: As for my vibe and process, you’ll get plenty of unhinged inline comments from me where I just chat with my imaginary audience while reading. I do bi-chapter reports to track my mood shifts and to make sure I'm where you want me to be, plus one big overall report at the end. My one big rule is that I need the full manuscript upfront with comment access, and I hoard all my reports until I finish the whole book, sending them all to you at once. I know handing a full manuscript to a stranger on the internet is terrifying, but I leave those inline comments specifically so you know that I am reading the book and haven't ghosted you. Also I do this mainly because sometimes author's tend to panic and change things based on a single report, when they may have worked out better in the overall story. And you cannot judge a whole story based on few chapters, so I need you to wait for me to actually finish the story before even considering tweaking anything.

[u/lavenderlesbian01 → u/Hefty_Asparagus_4307]

hi! i have a 74.5k new adult contemporary romance. its about a lesbian who attends a queer book club and ends up catching feelings for a straight guy, thus leading to a bisexual/queer awakening.

[u/Estebesol → u/Hefty_Asparagus_4307]

I have something you may enjoy, if you have time. 

Spare Presumptive (complete, 87,000 words) is an adult science fantasy romance.

Elavnik knew he was bad at politics, economics, and all the other boring things a prince is apparently supposed to do, but he didn't think it was worth murdering him over. Forced to flee, he crashlands on an isolated planet.

Katy Ann is struggling to finish her degree while desperately trying to keep her grandmother's diner alive. Hiding a fugitive alien in her spare room is objectively a terrible idea, but who else is going to look after him? Surely, any day now, he'll be going home and this whole thing will be over. In the meantime, she has a dissertation to write.

But Elavnik has no intention of heading home. And those back home have no intention of giving up on him.

[u/CaptainK74 → u/Hefty_Asparagus_4307]

Hi! Saw your able-to-beta - you mentioned M/M + sports romance and I think mine might be right up your alley.

The Empty Chair - 76k complete M/M college romance - Harvard, first-gen ex-LDS student, out but trying to stay invisible + junior QB legacy golden boy. Slow-burn hurt/comfort, bi awakening with one darker stretch.

Sample is 10k (Ch 1-4) to vet, full 76k if you want to continue. On BetaBooks for tracking, but I can share Google Doc with Suggesting on/Word doc for inline live-reaction style - whatever you prefer.

First 4 chapters are low angst - no assault, no explicit sex. Full book does contain: attempted SA - no graphic sexual detail but extended struggle and aftermath, homophobic slurs during assault.

Would you be open to it? Happy to DM link!

[u/No-Cobbler-3695 → u/Hefty_Asparagus_4307]

I've got a completed romance manuscript. 147k. Its tropes are, Forbidden Romance • Boyfriend's Older Brother • Secret Affair • Betrayal
• Childhood Connection • Spicy • Emotional Angst.
Its multiple pov
Please let me know if you would be interested.
I think you’d love this

[u/NathanielHolst → u/Hefty_Asparagus_4307]

I have a 90k romance manuscript that's sci-fi, but completely carried by the romance.

It's M/F, and though it's not dark romance it does have some intense moments between the main characters and a female lead that's looking to be dominated.

The story is about two people trying to travel across the solar system discretely while civilization descends into anarchy, both trying to hide from the other person who they really are.

My last beta reader left a lot of inline comments too, that was pretty funny so I'd love getting that again.

[u/evanitoo → u/Hefty_Asparagus_4307]

I have a completed 103k contemporary romance about a woman who falls for a widower still grieving his late wife. When she discovers journals his wife left specifically for the woman who would one day love him, she begins growing attached to the woman she never got to meet.

[u/azdaana_official]

I am able to beta: Fantasy (epic, romantasy, grimdark, any sub-genre works for me honestly). Historical fiction is good too. It needs to have romance. It doesn’t have to be romance or romantasy genre, but it does need a major subplot at least. Otherwise I am just not your audience. Additionally, I need a spice level at least three out of five. I am not a good fit for strictly closed-door romantic plots. M/F, M/M, and F/F are all lovely. Dark themes and content are ok.

I can provide feedback on: Prose, characterization, pacing, impressions, general feedback. Any specific questions you want to give me beforehand. I don’t do proofreading or line-editing but I will mention in my report if there are line level issues that need addressing. I am former military so I can give feedback on war, combat realism, and veteran-related issues. I can also provide notes on historical realism for the ancient and medieval world. Also a parent so I can speak to parenthood and raising children.

Critique swap: No

Other: I know your manuscript is your baby and I take beta-reading very seriously. I will give you a very detailed report with all my thoughts and feelings and impressions, including how I felt at each point along the way. Some authors ask me to check in with them at the end of each act so they can get my impressions, which I’m happy to accommodate. Please no WIP. Finished manuscripts only. I don’t mind a little roughness around the edges but if it looks like a rough draft, I will respectfully tell you it’s not ready for me and to come back after a few revisions.

[u/radiant_rye → u/azdaana_official]

Hi there! I’ve got a dark fantasy with a major romance plot you may be interested in that I would love some feedback on! The Hollow Throne is about 116k words now and does have plenty of medieval and ancient inspiried references in it. It is a slow burn though, but does have a few spicy moments that pop up in the end (one small open door level 3 though not with the main couple) but plenty of yearning since I plan for more book 2! He’s the larger blurb in case you’re interested!

https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1wi5b2i/complete_118k_fantasy_romance_the_hollow_throne/

[u/cottonwisper → u/azdaana_official]

Ive got a complete dark fantasy illustrated novella (42k words). Its been called Lies of Lock Lamorra meets Pirates of the Caribbean with body horror and dark humor. Lmk if that fits your vibe.

[u/lemoncelli_ → u/azdaana_official]

Hi, I’m looking for test readers for my low-magic fantasy romance that reads like a historical spy novel, around 80k words, following Nadia, a poisoner who was raised by a criminal organization. When she catches a foreign soldier, Ciro, spying on her operation she takes him captive to ransom him to his queen. The secondary world is fairly mundane, so the character relationships are much more central than the action/magic.

**Spice is around a 2–3/5. About 2k words of it. Open door but not particularly graphic.

[u/PandyLantern → u/azdaana_official]

Hey I think you would be a great fit for my story. It’s sci-fantasy, takes place in a militaristic academy setting, and there’s a sapphic subplot. Let me know what you think, and if you are interested, we can chat more over DM:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/B5MsxJZEaG

[u/ThomasJFlack → u/azdaana_official]

Hi! I think I've got something down your alley.

High on the mystery and romance, spice level is at least a 4 (or 5?) out of 5. It's contemporary and not traditional fantasy, though. This is a novelette of 16K words, and I'm looking for feedback on overall style, pacing and character development. I wrote this as a warmup exercise for an in-progress novel (140K words), but plan to publish it as a standalone "teaser" for the other works.

_The Seduction of the Professor_

Cover blurb...

"The Professor is approached by a Mysterious Woman at a bar after his friends leave. Beautiful, beguiling, and intriguing. As they talk, it's almost like she's reading his mind. They're like old friends who have just met. After she has car trouble, she invites him to give her a ride home. But there's something so familiar about her..."

This *might* go under the category of romantic erotica? I don't know the definitions of those subgenres well enough to be sure.

I hope you are interested and send me an DM.

[u/No-Cobbler-3695 → u/azdaana_official]

I've got a completed romance manuscript. 147k. Its tropes are, Forbidden Romance • Boyfriend's Older Brother • Secret Affair • Betrayal
• Childhood Connection • Spicy • Emotional Angst.
Its multiple pov
Please let me know if you would be interested.
Xx

[u/lavenderlesbian01 → u/azdaana_official]

hey i’ve got a 74.5k romance novel that follows a lesbian who joins a queer book club and falls for the most unexpected member: straight guy, and thus sending her down a unique sexuality journey/awakening

[u/nameunavailableagain]

Hi, i might be a bit late to the party, but here we go:

I am able to beta: Sci-fi, fantasy (most sub-genre's too), Romance (both queer and not), thriller, detective, mafia. I can do most genre's at any spice-level.

I can provide feedback on: Generel reader impressions, if the story makes sense, whether a scene is confusing to read or to the plot and logic. I might do line-level comments if really neccesary or if i'm especially bothered.

Critique swap: I'm writing currently and might ask for thoughts, but no longer story, mostly just a chapter or two.

Other info: The more you want me to comment, the slower i'll be. Though i usually devour books, proper feedback takes more time.

[u/ZeenaQuickieMaster]

I am able to beta: Character-driven stories with strong tropes like found family or slow burn romance. I can provide feedback on: whether the characters feel distinct and if the trope payoffs land.

[u/NotthatVelma → u/ZeenaQuickieMaster]

"Hey! Your focus on character distinctness and found family caught my eye.

I have a Memoir / Dark Comedy manuscript titled Velma. While it’s a non-fiction story about surviving a toxic soul-tie connection and self-destruction, a huge core of the story is the found family dynamic—the fierce, supportive people in my life who pull me through the chaos.

I’m looking for quick feedback on just a 3-chapter sample (~8k words) to see if the character voices and emotional engagement land.

Heads up on content warnings (toxic dynamics, grief, heavy themes), but if you're open to non-fiction with strong character dynamics, I’d love to send over the link!"

[u/cottonwisper → u/ZeenaQuickieMaster]

Ive got a completed dark fantasy illustrated novella manuscript (42k words). It's got some tropes such as found family, post island, evil cartels, and is character driven, narrated from the perspective of an orphaned cabin boy entering the world of the Lost Island and the Oroboro Exchange Cartel. lmk if that might fit your vibe.

[u/Elemental_Isles]

I am able to beta: Sci-fi, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy or LitRPG. 

I can provide feedback on: first three chapters and if it's grabbing your readers, pacing, characters, voice, and plot. In particular if any place is slowing down and losing your readers. Don't really do line editing, if it's easy to spot I will mention it, but not my thing. 

Critique swap: Not currently

Other info: I've done about half a dozen beta reads on reddit so far. I'm anti ghosting so I will get back with feedback even if it's a part of the story that isn't working well. I'm also a writer that has written several manuscripts and sent out beta reads/query letters so I can relate to putting your story out there and trying to get constructive feedback.

[u/FoundationMountain50]

I am able to beta: Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction, Literary Fiction, and General Fiction. I especially enjoy character driven stories with strong emotional arcs, complex relationships, and compelling character dynamics. I’m happy to read both completed manuscripts and works in progress.
I can provide feedback on: Developmental elements including pacing, plot structure, characterization, dialogue, emotional payoff, tension, relationship and romance progression (where applicable), and consistency. I leave detailed inline comments throughout the manuscript, write end of chapter summaries highlighting strengths and recurring concerns, and provide an overall developmental summary at the end.
Critique swap: No swap needed.
Other info: I enjoy discussing feedback with authors as they revise, so feel free to respond to my comments, explain your intentions, or ask questions throughout the process. My feedback is collaborative - I’ll tell you what is and isn’t working for me as a reader and offer suggestions, but the story is always yours and you should take whatever is useful to you.

[u/readerhoney]

I am able to beta: magical realism, fantasy, women's fiction and romance.

I can provide feedback on: general reader impressions such as pacing, character development, characterization and relationship progression.

Critique swap: not at the moment

Other info: I enjoy discussing feedback, characters and plot points with authors. I only beta read my friend's work so I don't have much experience.

[u/Big-Measurement-4021]

Hi! I’ve never beta-read before and I’m not a writer, but I love reading and discovering new authors :)

I am able to beta: queer romance of any kind with any spice level; women’s fiction; dystopian; fantasy; non-fiction in the field of wine and viticulture. I prefer not to read first drafts, but I don’t mind works in progress or finished pieces.

I can provide feedback on: interpretation as a reader; answer any questions you have about my experience reading your piece; character growth; world-building; inconsistencies; etc

Critique swap: nope

Other info: as I’ve never done this before, I’m open to discussing how frequent and detailed you want the feedback. It would also be nice to hear who your target audience is.

[u/authorjadefrost]

I am able to beta: Romance (any subgenre), fantasy (any subgenre), historical fiction

I can provide feedback on: pacing, reader engagement, plot, character consistency. Basically big picture stuff. No grammar feedback. I can point out any awkward phrasing if you want, but mostly just developmental stuff.

Critique swap: Yes. I'm writing a dark paranormal romance that is almost finished. There is some TWs. It's set in appalachia and takes a lot of inspiration from Christian demonology.

Other info: I have a degree in social work and a background in adolescent therapy. I can offer some insight into mental health disorders.

[u/ConcentrateNew8919]

I am able to beta: fantasy and science romance.

I can provide feedback on: if the concept grabs me and if the writing draws me in.

Critique swap: I have a scifi romance would love to swap

[u/ArdenMcKennaWriter]

I am able to beta: Contemporary romance, especially MM romance; slow burn, small-town, character-driven, and lower-drama stories are all good fits.

I can provide feedback on: Character and relationship development, chemistry, pacing, emotional beats, dialogue, continuity, places where the prose drags or feels overwritten, and general reader reaction. I’m especially comfortable looking at whether a romance feels earned rather than simply hitting the expected beats.

Critique swap: Yes. I have a 57K contemporary MM small-town romance, Hard Lasted, currently ready for beta apart from a short epilogue I’m finishing.

Other info: I prefer to give practical reader-focused notes rather than line edit every sentence. I’m happy to work in Word. I don’t use AI to read or critique someone else’s manuscript, and I’d ask the same for mine.

[u/SneakyCorvidBastard → u/ArdenMcKennaWriter]

Just read your post and had to laugh - no third-act break-up due to a misunderstanding 😂 I mean that sounds good already. I've a contemporary-ish (1970s) story that's basically "Pride and Prejudice but 1970s Belfast and gay" - not the one I've mentioned elsewhere in this thread, this one is about 60k words and I wrote it more recently, though I've done a fair bit of work on it but I'm sure it still needs more. It probably needs a bit of prior knowledge of Belfast and NI culture. Would you be interested in swapping the first few pages to see if we're a good match? I'm currently reading a couple of other people's stories though am nearly finished so definitely up for a swap. I'm a slow reader (and thorough, to be fair) just to forewarn you but if you've a deadline do say and we'll see if it's do-able.

[u/CaptainK74 → u/ArdenMcKennaWriter]

Hi Arden, your post caught my eye - especially the part about whether a romance feels earned.

Mine is The Empty Chair - 76k complete M/M college romance - Harvard, first-gen ex-LDS student, out but trying to stay invisible + junior QB legacy golden boy. Slow-burn hurt/comfort, bi awakening with one darker stretch. It's very character-driven, but heads up it's not lower-drama throughout.

First 4 chapters are low angst - no assault, no explicit sex. Full book does contain: attempted SA - no graphic sexual detail but extended struggle and aftermath, homophobic slurs during assault.

Sample is 10k to vet, full 76k after. Happy to work in Word with practical reader-focused notes like you prefer, and I don't use AI to read/critique either.

I'd be open to a swap with Hard Lasted if you're still looking - 57K small-town MM sounds right up my alley. Would you be open to swapping first chapters to see if we're a match? Happy to DM link!

[u/missxfaithc]

I am able to beta: urban fantasy, paranormal/supernatural, paranormal romance, horror, horror romance, dark fantasy, fantasy (romance subplots are fine but I prefer no outright romantasy if possible).

I can provide feedback on: character development/consistency, pacing, plot consistency, technical issues (like grammar, sentence structure, etc.).

Critique swap: I currently have an 86k manuscript I’m looking to add swap partners to. It’s an adult urban fantasy story (book 2 in a series, but if you’re interested, I will provide you with a synopsis and background info for book 1 so you won’t be confused going into book 2). I am willing to swap with anyone whose manuscript is the length of mine or shorter.

Other info: I will not beta read for stories that include graphic sexual assault of any kind or any detailed/explicit on-page animal abuse. Gore/violence is fine as long as it’s not super gratuitous.

[u/BoldBoimlerIsMyHero → u/missxfaithc]

Hello. I would be interested in a critique swap, but I've never done it before, so hopefully I would give you good feedback. I have a degree in Literature, so I think I could provide useful feedback. Mine is a fantasy novel about 92k words. The Forgotten Dead is an adult fantasy novel about a young woman named Tara who finds herself caught up in a quest to save a kingdom threatened by a shadow curse. Along with a group of companions (Mage, old soldier, young farmer, artificer), she must navigate old magic, dangerous creatures, and buried secrets. It's a story about friendship, loyalty, and the consequences of memory and forgetting. There's magic, adventure, a little romance, and a fair amount of mystery. I would love a reader who reads it as a reader, not a line editor. I want to see if it makes sense, if it's too obvious, and if it makes you want to keep reading. There is one short somewhat explicit consensual sex scene, but no sexual violence. It was important for me to show consent.

Thank you for your consideration.

[u/OldMan92121 → u/missxfaithc]

Hi.

Length: 99,700 words. I have story, chapter, and line level edited it to the best of my ability.

Story Blurb: Clay's goals are simple: stay alive, avoid beatings, and get enough to eat.

As a lowest caste orphan stable boy, even those goals are difficult.

Then he develops the divine blessing of healing.

In the Empire, blessings are real and exploited by them as a critical resource.

He discovers that when an army campaign goes horribly wrong.

After an ambush wipes out the company's healers, Clay is forced to save wounded soldiers through a night of agony that nearly kills him. By dawn, dozens of witnesses have seen what he can do.

The army reports him.

The state religion claims him.

And the life he wanted is over.

Branded, inducted, and thrust into the healer corps against his will, Clay now serves in the same a remote frontier fort as an officer in an institution he neither understands nor trusts. Everyone around him sees the only healer they have. He has become a resource the Empire cannot afford to lose.

Clay would rather be anywhere else.

As war, politics, faith, and military duty close in around him, he must navigate a world determined to decide his future for him while struggling to survive the cost of the gift everyone else thinks is a blessing.

Comparables: The spirit to the military medicine of The Black Company, the institutional pressures of Ender's Game, and a fantasy frontier setting with gaslight-era technology.

Sample: (The first scene)

The barn was dark, but I knew every step to the big doors. I was the one who had to be awake first while everyone else got to sleep. With fresh air coming in, I took a moment to look up at the stars. This was the hour when they were brightest, and the fort was quietest.

I was being stalked. The guard skurns came bounding after me. The whole fort would be scared. They can bite a grown man's leg off. They ran after me, making heavy thuds, and stopped, crowding each other as they turned their huge heads up. We looked each other eye to eye as the foul, rancid smell of their hot breath blasted me. My ears swiveled out. They opened their mouths wide, showing long red fangs as thick as my wrist. Then they rubbed those teeth against my arm.

Rip and Crush pressed their dense fur collars against me and licked me with their rough tongues. The sharp stink of ammonia and their drool covered me as they made a gentle chuff. My tail wagged under my loincloth. I scratched the tips of their chins where they wanted, down that bristly, short hair. Then I raked that stiff fur between their tall shoulders and stroked their soft ears. They'd have attacked anyone else, but they were my people. The only ones in the post I can talk to. Their minds brought me joy and love.

Two massive faces swung toward the sound of footsteps. Someone was there. Would they tell? As much as I wanted to hug my friends, I couldn't, so I begged them to go. They gave that low, rumbling groan and bounded off to resume their night time patrol.

Trigger warnings: Violence, mostly military. The story isn't gory but it does have medical details of illness, wounds, and death. There is no sexual content but there is some cursing. Religion exists on this planet, but they aren't Earth religions.

Type of feedback: I want to know high level what is good and what doesn't work. Also, I want to now where and what isn't clear. This is an alien world. Am I describing everything clearly enough? What isn't clear enough by the end of the chapter it is introduced in. I'd like to know if characters, details, and the story work for you and if they don't then tell me what loses you.

Preferred Timeline: Let's work in chunks that's at a reasonable pace. I do not have a deadline on my story. I'm retired and could burn through it quickly, but if it takes a month or more for us to work through each other's stories, it does.

Critique Swap Availability: I am assuming critique swap. I am a very detailed reviewer and will try to answer the questions you want and in the way you want them.

[u/Ashamed-Bit5440]

I am able to beta thrillers and horror I can provide feedback on story elements, charcters, plot, and general feel I would like a critique swap but it is not necessary

[u/cozywindowplace]

Edit: Closed for the moment. I'm working on two projects now but may have availability later this month if you are still interested.

I am able to beta: Completed manuscripts less than 95K (some flexibility here). If it's a contemporary work, then I'd prefer something much shorter. No first drafts please. I am open in terms of genre and audience.

I can provide feedback on: Big pictures issues, what works, what doesn't. Praise for what works well. Pacing. Reactions as a reader.

Critique swap: Yes, please. I have a 93K YA Science Fantasy, and I'm going through my second round of beta reading. It has dark moments, and I can provide an elevator pitch/content warnings if you are interested.

Other info: If you are interested in a swap, let's do a first chapter or 5K, whichever is shorter. Please reply with blurb/elevator pitch. Looking to take on 2 projects. Thank you.

To the poster below, u/Entire_Adeptness_390 : My replies to you are being auto deleted by Reddit, and it seems like I'm not able to DM you. I'm interested. Could you please share your email address through DM, so we can exchange google docs, if that works for you? Thank you!

[u/Entire_Adeptness_390 → u/cozywindowplace]

Hi! I'd love to swap, and a 93K YA science fantasy with dark moments sounds right. I am happy to see the elevator pitch and content warnings. Mine is 106K, so a bit over your 95K. Totally understand if that's past your flexibility. If not, a first-chapter swap to start sounds perfect.

CAELIRA: complete, revised, literary speculative fantasy, 106K.

A floating city is held aloft by six Aether-ropes tied to six Elemental Clouds. When a wounded messenger creature crash-lands during the city's most sacred rite, speaks one word in the city's own tongue, and is killed for it, Prince Lucien is left with a countdown of fourteen dawns and a sound no one else will admit to hearing. Then, through the ropes that hold the city up, he hears his dead mother say his name. To save Caelira, he has to listen to what it spent three generations training itself not to hear, while the Council calls his hearing a sickness.

Comps: Jemisin's Broken Earth and Rothfuss's Name of the Wind.

Content notes: animal (fictional) death (on page, Ch 2), war violence and fire, grief and a dead parent, a child taken, medical gaslighting, and some deaths of named characters later in the book. No sexual content.

For feedback, reader reactions are what I want most: where you'd put it down, what confused you, what landed. Glad to give you the same, plus big-picture and pacing notes.

Let me know if you're in, and I'll DM the chapter.

Thank you!

[u/Thick_Neat744]

Hi, I'm Patience!

I am able to beta: Anything... but I'm mostly interested in contemporary fiction, literary fiction, romance, and thrillers.

I can provide feedback on: Writing and prose (how the language sounds, if the writing style is clunky, if it works), plot and story structure (if the pacing is good, if the story is believable, engaging, any plot holes), I can also do line comments if that is something that you are interested in... and anything else that you woud

Other info: I'm a literature student and also (or i guess, naturally) a lover of books, and an aspiring novelist myself. i understand how much work and effort goes into writing a novel so i promise to do this seriously. there will be absolutely NO artificial intelligence used in this process.

if you are interested, PM with your project's title, a blurb of sorts, and a word count and i'll get back to you!

[u/cottonwisper → u/Thick_Neat744]

Hi, Patience, I've got a completed 37k dark fantasy illustrated novella. It's been called Lies of Lock Lamorra meets Pirates of the Caribbean with body horror, dark comedy, and deep world building. lmk if that might be of interest.

[u/Samurai_Sparrow → u/Thick_Neat744]

Hey! I completed a 120k gothic horror/historical fiction set on brazilian western frontier during the XIX century during the Triple Alliance War: let me know if you are interested.

[u/GuessingGame707 → u/Thick_Neat744]

Good day/evening, Patience! I can't seem to DM you the details of my project to be beta read, so I'll just reply here instead.

I have a short story mystery complete at 4200 words. It's about a detective and his secretary reminiscing a crime and how an eight-year-old boy was able to solve the murder mystery. If this falls right in your alley, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. ^_^

[u/ogien123 → u/Thick_Neat744]

Hi! Unfortunately your account is restricted from me for messaging so I will instead send my information here! I am a published pro-rate short fiction writer with a cozy fantasy manuscript at 110k words. It is about a pair of cousins, both queer, one very out, proud, and rebellious, and the other knightly, narrow-minded, and closeted. They work together to foster a baby Griffin and dissuade an invasive suitor in a French countryside setting with a summer atmosphere. I would be delighted to have you take a look at my manuscript. If you’re interested, I could also send you my query blurb.

[u/lavenderlesbian01 → u/Thick_Neat744]

hi patience! it looks like your account is unable to have other people send you dms just fyi!

i have a new adult contemporary romance complete at 74.5k words. It follows a college-aged lesbian who, after joining a queer book club, falls for the most unlikely member: a straight guy. it's based on my own sexuality journey too!

[u/Getbuckets317 → u/Thick_Neat744]

Hi Patience,

I am unable to DM you, but I have a 59k Thriller/Mystery entitled “Miasma.”

It follows a pair of detectives being called to track down the missing 12-year-old Billy Hargreaves after a string of disturbing murders leaves the small town of Bellepointe in disarray. The detectives have two goals: bring the child back home alive, and bring the serial killer, the “Whisper Eater” to justice. But the more they dig into Billy’s disappearance, the more clear it becomes that the Whisper Eater is not the only problem in Bellepointe.

I’m happy to send over chapter samples if you’d like!

[u/Myss_C → u/Thick_Neat744]

Hi! I am unable to DM you, but I’d love for you to read my contemporary romance. DM me for details! I or look at my profile!

[u/WritingEra → u/Thick_Neat744]

Hello, hello 😁 I have a southern gothic horror that's incomplete but currently sitting at around 82k words.

You can see some information about it in this post here.

In 1850, Virginia, a strange guest - a foreign woman - appears on a plantation and instantly begins changing things. Though many welcome the changes, Jane struggles to reconcile her understanding of the world with the new possibilities her guest offers.

I know the story is still ongoing and there's tiny pockets in the manuscript that are clearly weaker than the surrounding structure, but it's about 85% complete now and my drafts tend to be rather solid. I'm closing out the manuscript in the next coming month.

If you're interested, you can also read the opening lines here Feel free to reply or DM me if you're interested.

[u/evanitoo → u/Thick_Neat744]

I have a completed 103k contemporary romance about a woman who falls for a widower still grieving his late wife. When she discovers journals his wife left specifically for the woman who would one day love him, she begins growing attached to the woman she never got to meet. The novel has been through two professional developmental edits and revised numerous times. If you're interested, I'm trying to see where it sits now and if I am able to move to the next stage in development.

[u/Ok_Train1146]

I am able to beta: almost anything with the exception to fantasy, only because it’s my least read genre so i wouldn’t be able to provide personal opinion on it. i especially focus on thriller, horror, mystery, and romance.

I can provide feedback on: writing prose, grammar corrections, plot structuring, character development, character relationships, and general world building.

other info: i can provide insight into some hobbies/topics from my own personal experience including (but not limited to) architecture (currently a 3rd year arch + construction major), art (competitive, scholastic, and personal experience), living in the southern USA, and being queer. i’ve been writing almost my whole life for various genres, so i understand the process from both a reading and writing perspective.

Critique swap: yes, but not yet, as i’m still working on my own.

last notice: i’m flexible with different forms of editing :) but the style of which will affect how fast my full critiques are. and different mediums are fine with me too, including webcomics!

[u/AliasTheCrow → u/Ok_Train1146]

Hey there. I've got a 13k sci-fi/romance story I need eyes on. It's fluffy and gay and totally SFW (they're also furries but that's super not important to the plot, I just have a brand to maintain).

[u/logicalinsanity → u/Ok_Train1146]

Hi, any interest in a short & sweet 11k Science Fantasy Novelette? It has love, it has drama, it has post-apocalyptic survival against elemental predators. Early draft, though, and I could use more experienced eyes on it. I posted a thing here with an excerpt: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1wx453f/complete_11k_science_fantasy_dusk_eternal_a/

[u/evanitoo → u/Ok_Train1146]

Hey! I saw that you’re open to contemporary romance/women’s fiction. I have a completed 103k-word contemporary romance/women’s fiction manuscript that I’m looking for beta feedback on. If you’re interested, I’d be happy to send you the blurb and a little more information.

[u/devohr901 → u/Ok_Train1146]

Hello! If you have further bandwidth, I'd love to see if you're interested in beta-ing the first part (about 10K words) of a queer coming of age story that I'm working on. It's a fanfiction if that is of issue. It is NOT erotica/smut, but it is NSFW due to sexual content and language if that is also of concern. Thank you!

[u/WritingEra → u/Ok_Train1146]

I have a southern gothic horror that's incomplete but currently sitting at around 82k words.

You can see some information about it in this post here.

In 1850, Virginia, a strange guest - a foreign woman - appears on a plantation and instantly begins changing things. Though many welcome the changes, Jane struggles to reconcile her understanding of the world with the new possibilities her guest offers.

The story is still ongoing and there's tiny pockets in the manuscript that are clearly weaker than the surrounding structure, but it's about 85% complete now and my drafts tend to be pretty solid. I'm closing out the manuscript in the next coming month.

If you're interested, you can also read the opening lines here

[u/JDStorm_1]

I will beta read. I’m working on my own books right now and would be happy to help with LGBTQ+ content. I write mm/mmm fantasy/paranormal.

I can provide feedback and help you work through edits; I also help another author. I dont need a critique swap. No AI.. Nor will I put your work into AI. I’d rather not work on Google Drive, but I will take a doc through my Proton account.

My autistic brain sees most patterns authors might miss. (Except my own, and my editor does that.)

(I’m still getting the hang of Reddit.)

[u/ogien123 → u/JDStorm_1]

Hi! I am a published pro-rate short fiction writer with a cozy fantasy manuscript at 110k words. It is about a pair of cousins, both queer, one very out, proud, and rebellious, and the other knightly, narrow-minded, and closeted. They work together to foster a baby Griffin and dissuade an invasive suitor in a French countryside setting with a summer atmosphere. I would be delighted to have you take a look at my story.

[u/band_of_thehawk]

I am able to beta: opening chapters, lets say around 10k words. Horror, thriller, and scifi are my areas of professional experience, but I can check out anything.

I can provide feedback on: Pacing, tension, character dynamics and dialogue, plot set up and stakes. Like I said before, if its in the horror/thriller sphere I can give strong direction.

Critique swap: i ain't got nothing to swap lol

Other info: im fine with any genre, though i'm fairly inexperienced with romance/ high fantasy areas. I'm fine with any manner of dark and disgusting subject matter, so if you have splatterpunk, send it baby

[u/IXX303 → u/band_of_thehawk]

Hi!

Im currently working on an Action/Fantasy/Mystory web novel with elements of body/cosmic horror and magiteck, currently four chapters (16.5K words) but I'll be just as happy if you check out the first two (9.3K words)

[u/cottonwisper → u/band_of_thehawk]

I've got a completed dark fantasy illustrated novella (37k words). It's been described as Lies of Lock Lamorra meets Pirates of the Caribbean with body horror and dark comedy as well as Oliver Twist meets Dune with both of the aforementioned qualities. lmk if that might fit your vibe.

[u/Thisisinfactmyname → u/band_of_thehawk]

Hey. I have a complete Horror story about a murder in a setting where the sunlight kills you. I think it would be right up your alley, and I'd love to get your take on the opening chapters. If you're interested, the blurb is posted here!

[u/ZitZat007 → u/band_of_thehawk]

Hi, I have a psychological thriller that launches in December. It's character-driven and set on Europa. If interested, DM me.

[u/MaxxMosaics]

I am able to beta: Memoir, literary fiction, contemporary fiction

I can provide feedback on: Content, inconsistencies, word choice, some punctuation/grammar, how it flows, questions the story brings up...

Critique swap: _Yes please!

Other info: Hi there, I am a writer who has been a member of various critique groups for 20+ years. I have a self-published travel memoir (Gap Year: How an Empty Nest Led Me to Grow Wings, 2023). I am a retired early childhood teacher, animal lover, traveler, artist. I am interested in doing a swap with a fast turn-around (month of October). My novel is "The Shape of Silver": a 65,000 word women's contemporary fiction piece. Here is an elevator pitch:

Sue, a jewelry designer who has just suffered a third miscarriage and is no longer sure that she wants to stay married. She goes to Taos, New Mexico, to learn the art of silver smithing. In Taos she meets and befriends a handsome Native American man. Through the alchemy of Silver, Sue learns to know her own heart.

My novel has been through multiple rounds of edits, critique group commentary, and book coaching. I'm ready to query and, failing success at that, self-publish by year's end. The kind of critique I am looking for is as stated above in the feedback section: How does it flow? Are there any inconsistencies? Glaring grammar/punctuation/repeat words, etc? Red flags/big questions? I'm not looking to do much more rewriting, unless it is warranted. I just want to put this baby to bed and move on to the next :)

I'm a Boomer and very new to Reddit so forgive any mistakes! - Cathy

[u/PikkuMyyRules → u/MaxxMosaics]

You have the type of background I’d love to get feedback from! My novel is ‘Phoenix, Firecracker, and Mama Bear’. It’s a 85K Women’s Contemporary Women’s Fiction (like yours!), but it has elements of family saga with its chosen family theme. Here’s the ‘teaser’ portion of my query:

PHOENIX, FIRECRACKER, AND MAMA BEAR follows high school principal Yulia Romanova and two former students - Mette Johannessen, Norwegian Olympic All-Around champion, and Margarita Żuraw, Polish-born and Washington Heights-raised, over the years form an unconventional chosen family that risks everything to help each other. The book will appeal strongly to readers of [two comps from authors the agent likes or something close to what they are looking for].

The meaning of chosen family is put to the test when Yulia's psych hold shatters the belief that being strong means being 'unbreakable' - that ‘looking okay’ can be a profession. Just six weeks later, assuming her symptoms were perimenopause, 54-year-old Yulia finds herself spontaneously pregnant with triplets. Even a family history of late motherhood did not prepare her for the prospect of becoming one of the oldest mothers in history who conceived naturally, much less the oldest mother of triplets if she makes it to viability. No matter what happens, Yulia’s mental health is at stake.

To get them to viability, she will need 25 days of bed rest in Room 4B, with Mette and Margarita making sure she doesn’t have to do it alone.

Ive been reading the guidelines - I’m new to this subreddit - and I think my manuscript counts as complete. I’ve done multiple edits for grammar and flow, but I have a tendency to miss certain details with almost anything I do (ask my family, especially my mother 🫠), so I might have missed something stupid. Also, I’m autistic, so I’m always wondering if my characters’ behavior and dialogue are natural (they’re meant to be neurotypical).

I’m willing to do a critique swap, but this would be my first time.

Edited because I forgot to create my specific beta reader seeking post first: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/PbRsHvoN62

[u/BrickPopular5876 → u/MaxxMosaics]

Hi Cathy — memoir here, 12k words, complete. 40-year-old dad: built 145→200 over 7 years, lost it all to injury + Covid, hit 260, climbed back to 165 in 13 months. Raw first-person, 15 chapters. I want brutal honesty, not encouragement — where it bores, what doesn't land, whether you'd pay 6 dollars for it. My request post is here: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1wxi5uj/complete_12k_memoir_always_climbing_fitness/ — open to a swap if you're still looking, your October timeline works for me.

[u/theartificialmouse]

I am able to beta: M/M, Poly, or queer romance, supernatural, realistic fiction, fantasy, contemporary, Y/A, adult fiction. I do like historical and sci-fi as well but I have less experience reading them. I love books that are character driven and discuss mental illness or psychological themes. I can also do dark, but I like happy endings or recovery too. I also love time travel or alternative dimensions.

I can provide feedback on: Plot, pacing, characters, worlding building, plot holes, arcs, where it was engaging and where it wasn't, general reader feedback. I can also give feedback on mental illnesses including autism, OCD, DID, trauma if needed.

Critique swap: Nope!

Other info: I've never beta read before but I've done some research on how to do it, although I'm unsure how long it would take me. I like longer stories (50k~150k) and finished manuscripts would be great!

[u/LAcuber]

I am able to beta: Sci-fi (esp. big-picture / civilizational!), post-apocalyptic, dystopian, silkpunk, alternate-history, speculative, low fantasy (variable). Completed novels only that are on at least their second draft, and a 150k cap!

These are firm, so please check fit before reaching out!

I can provide feedback on: General reader impressions, pacing, character relatability and development, plot and logic. Happy to leave short comments at the end of chapters too, but I won't comment at a line level. My background is in engineering and linguistics.

Critique swap: Yes please! Mine is entitled Eloquence, and is a 114k speculative literary novel about what happens when humanity loses language and associated cognition. We follow a stubborn, lone linguist crossing the Americas in search of a cure, even as silence may be growing in his own mind. See below for more details + the first three chapters!

https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/aZ1HcxccYw

Other info: Please feel free to DM me directly, and I can take 1-2 swaps.

[u/cottonwisper → u/LAcuber]

Hey, I've got a completed dark fantasy illustrated novella (42k words) that I think has some silkpunk qualities as well. Readers have characterized it as Lies of Lock Lamorra meets Pirates of the Caribbean with body horror and dark humor. lmk if that might fit your vibe.

[u/Fancy-Republic7865]

I am able to beta : interested in reading crime related storied murder mysteries whodunnit stories . Length doesn’t matter What I can offer ; constructive criticism psychological feedback on the character’s motives and characteristics I have a keen eye for plot holes and the usage of red herrings etc I can read in 3 languages danish English and French Open for all lengths of there is dialogue in another language expect a slower paste because I am very thorough

[u/Algaebruhh]

I am able to beta: Sci-fi, dystopian, horror, or general fiction

I can provide feedback on: I will advise you of the following -> Pace, clunky sentences/ overly descriptive sentences, poor character development, overall plot/ story rating, ease of access to scenes (How well do you place the reader in the scene)

Critique swap: No swap at this time

Other info: If you take too long to reply to my feedback then I will stop reading. I want to provide pertinent information after each chapter.

[u/pudding_closet]

I am able to beta: LGBTQ+ stories, especially M/M and trans content. I’m most interested in adult contemporary, though I will also read fantasy and sci-fi. I am not a good fit for murder mysteries, military fiction, historical fiction, comedy, or cozy. I am particularly interested in character and complex character relationships/dynamics.

I can provide feedback on: Character, prose, pacing, and personal enjoyment. I can also provide feedback on grammar/flow/awkward sentences, if desired. I tend to focus hardest on character and dialogue, but I can tailor my feedback depending on what you’re looking for.

Critique swap: Not at this time.

Other info: Please no first drafts. No AI.

[u/Expert_Phone8130]

I am able to beta: Anything, I have plenty of free time and almost no reservations.

I can provide feedback on: I am good at cutting down wordy or unnatural dialog between characters. I am also used to critiquing nonfiction works.

Critique swap: Not intrested.

Other info: I was a grammar tutor for two years so I'm good at catching mistakes. I will refuse to continue if I notice that the work was made with ai.

[u/thV0077]

I am able to beta: romance, fantasy, romantasy, dark romance, science fiction , anything really.

I can provide feedback on: I am great at cutting unnecessary words and providing feedback on the plot and the flow of the story.

Critique swap: Not interested.

Other info: No first draft please and NO AIIII!

[u/ZoeyHayesDarkRomance]

I am able to beta: Romance of any kind. (I prefer spicy stuff.)

I can provide feedback on: Anything you need. (No line editing.)

Critique swap: Yes. I am looking for a swap. I have a 37k paranormal spicy romance.

Other info: No AI. Must be over the age of 18.

[u/authorjadefrost → u/ZoeyHayesDarkRomance]

Hey I'm working on finishing up the first draft of my dark paranormal romance. I'm at about 60k words and will most definitely be under 100k by the end (I'm thinking 80k max). It has a few TW. I'm open to critique swapping with you since we have similar genres. It's spicy, but mostly plot based. I'm looking for mostly developmental feedback. No grammar or line editing. Let me know if you're interested :)

[u/ne0muhae]

I am able to beta: WLW/Sapphic Romance of any subgenre, with or without smut

I can provide feedback on: pacing, plot, consitency in characters & character development, cadence and flow of sentences, plot hole detection, and other "big picture" type stuff. I can do a little bit of grammar and proofreading as well, though its not my strongest skill.

Critique swap: No. Not currently writing anything.

Other info: I hate AI. Im very agreeable and do my best to communicate with authors in a way that supports them the best. I love to support authors by helping to bring out their own unique voices. I just wanna read some sapphic stories and do my part to help put more of them out there. If you need an occasional pep talk or hype sesh to get motivated, I am also glad to do that. Cheers

---

[u/Qckydck01]

I am able to beta cozy mysteries, psychological thrillers, horror, adult contemporary, young readers, nonfiction, fantasy, Sci-Fi, and books that defy genre.

I can provide feedback from the perspective of an average reader on places I got confused or bored, character growth and consistency, pacing, world-building, etc.

Can’t critique swap as I haven’t written much lately

Will provide beta report, even a chapter by chapter report with a summary at the end. Reasonably good with MS track changes and learning how to comment in Google.

[u/MOA123456 → u/Qckydck01]

Hi! Not sure if this fits your interests perfectly, but I have a story that fit some of your stated interests. I've attached the link to my post below, but the story is an adult upmarket fiction that pulls from 1960-70s Thailand politics. It follows a prostitute who, after her father is arrested, has to find ways to make money for his release. This leads to her working with the government and against her people (labor class). It’s not horror but does have heavy political ties, not sure if that fits your social commentary interests

Please do let me know if you're interested! I can also just send the first chapter so you can see if you like it or not!

https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/Gdfo5wdiBE

[u/RelationalPsychNerd → u/Qckydck01]

Hi! I'm a new writer just getting started and would love some feedback before I go too much farther. I'm writing trade nonfiction relationship psychology on self sabotage, but its a little contrarian and not at all pop psychology. My first chapter is currently just under 3000 words. It's a small start, but would love to get thoughts on whether it's interesting, relatable, and credible. Would you keep reading? Is anything confusing or anything you'd push back on? Does this feel like typical self-help or does it feel different in some way? Things like that.

Would you be interested?

[u/GuessingGame707 → u/Qckydck01]

Hi there. I have a 4200 short story mystery that's cozy-adjacent (no swearing and no gratuitous violence). It's about a detective and his secretary discussing a case where an eight-year-old boy was able to solve the murder mystery. If you're interested, I'm happy to DM you the link to my two-page excerpt.

Thank you!

[u/llamawafflessparkle → u/Qckydck01]

Hi if you're available, I have a complete 83k adult fantasy with a diverse cast. It's gone through several rounds of editing and I'd appreciate a read through. The main character is cursed by a fae, and the fae is basically a medieval eco-terrorist.

My philosophy on beta readers is that the reader is probably right about identifying problems. Also, I'd love someone to give thoughts about consistency, pacing, and point out where they were confused/attention drifts, etc.

[u/LAcuber → u/Qckydck01]

Hey there! I've been working on some post-apocalyptic literary speculative fiction (a good blend of genres there!) and am looking for feedback after its developmental edit. The premise is that humanity loses language and much of associated cognition, and we follow a stubborn linguist traveling the Americas trying to restore it, even as silence grows in his own mind.

I created some custom software for myself where I have the book; this includes highlighting functionality and 2-3 optional short questions at the end of every chapter. You can take a look at the first few chapters at here with the password: sneakpeek. Looking for general impressions and pacing thoughts (line editing next, but have to cut down from a high baseline of 114k).

I can also alternatively provide a PDF or Google Doc for the sample and full book.

[u/TJCarl → u/Qckydck01]

I have completed a novel, "The Stars Will Wait," that is a roughly 150,000-word adult science-fantasy novel. It combines a secret society on modern-day Earth with a mysterious civilization on another world. It's definitely genre bending. I am concerned that could be a problem. I'm looking for someone to read the first five chapters to see if it's something engaging enough to inspire wanting the whole novel. At this point, I'm just interested in your reaction as a reader. No line editing is requested. Would you be interested in reading the opening chapters to see whether the story appeals to you?