Romance Beta Reader for Act One
I’m looking for someone to beta read Act One of my dark romance novel, A Taste of Fire. It’s around 40,000 words.
This is definitely on the darker, more mature side of romance and includes explicit sexual content, strong language, darker themes, and morally gray characters, so please only apply if you’re comfortable reading that kind of material.
I’m not looking for proofreading or line editing right now. I’m mainly looking for honest reader feedback on the story itself—what keeps you interested, what drags, what feels confusing, what you love, what you do not connect with, and how you feel about the characters as the story progresses.
One of the biggest things I want feedback on is whether the story is easy to follow and makes sense from a reader’s perspective. I want to know if anything feels unclear, if there are moments where you lose track of what is happening, or if any character decisions, transitions, or plot points need more explanation. (It's a lot going on lol).
A big focus for me is also the chemistry and tension between the two main characters. I’d love feedback on whether their attraction feels believable, whether the tension builds naturally, if the pacing works, and whether the darker and more explicit moments don't feel just thrown in for the sake of it.
I’d also like to know if any scenes feel repetitive, unnecessary, rushed, too slow, or like something is missing. Since this is only Act One, one of the biggest things I want to know is whether the ending makes you genuinely want to continue into Act Two.
Inline comments and reactions while you read are very welcome because I like seeing what a reader is thinking in the moment, along with an overall summary once you finish.
The listed budget is a fixed-price starting point, but I’m open to reasonable negotiation depending on your experience and what you include in your beta read.
I’m traveling this week, so I may not respond to every proposal right away, but I’ll be going through everything and choosing someone by the end of the week.
I’d especially love someone who already reads dark romance and is comfortable giving honest, detailed feedback without turning it into a full edit.
THANK YOU! :)
