Where Do I Find Beta Readers, and How Many Do I Need?

A beta reader is someone who reads your nearly finished book and tells you, privately, what worked and what did not. Aim for 3 to 5 of them at one time, found in writing groups and among readers of your genre, and send them a short list of questions. Below is how that fits with editors and review readers, where to look, and how to spot feedback that is not worth paying for.

What is a beta reader, and how is it different from an editor or an ARC reader?

A beta reader reads the whole book near the final draft and gives feedback on the story and characters. An editor comes after, to polish the text, and an ARC reader comes last, to write public reviews before launch (The Book Designer, 2018). Beta readers are not there to catch every typo, and ARC readers “aren’t there to suggest changes or point out plot holes” (Draft2Digital, 10-May-23).

So the order is beta readers, then your edit, then launch readers. If you want the editing step explained, see how to hire a professional book editor. For the review readers, see how to set up an advance review team.

Where do I find beta readers?

Start with other writers and readers in your genre. Jericho Writers suggests an author community, Facebook writing groups, local writing groups and social media hashtags such as #WritingCommunity, and says to look for writers in your genre at a similar stage to you (Jericho Writers).

Be careful with friends and family. The Book Designer advises against them because they may soften their feedback (The Book Designer). If you already have an email list, your own readers are a good pool too, because they have chosen your topic. That is one more reason to start a list early.

How many beta readers do I need?

Three to five at the same time is the usual advice. Jericho Writers says to ask “at least three to five” readers at one time (Jericho Writers), and The Book Designer’s chart says 2 to 5 (The Book Designer).

The point of having several is the overlap. If one reader dislikes a chapter, that is one opinion. If three of them stumble at the same place, fix it. Recruit one or two more than you need, because some people will not finish.

What should I ask my beta readers?

Keep the list short and send it with the book. Questions suggested by Jericho Writers include whether the first three chapters are engaging enough to keep reading, whether the characters are interesting, whether the pacing sags or rushes, and what they enjoyed and what did not work (Jericho Writers). Add questions of your own about your goal for the book.

Tell them what you do not want. At this stage, spelling and grammar are for the editor and proofreader, so ask for the big picture. Give a deadline, say what they get in return, such as a thank-you in the book or a free copy, and ask them to keep the manuscript private.

Should I pay a beta reader?

Normally not. Beta reading is usually unpaid, and Novlr’s Pamela Koehne-Drube says she has never used a paid reader and that “you should never work without a contract” when money is involved (Novlr, 26-Feb-26). A written agreement says what you get, by when and for what fee, and it filters out people who will not sign.

Paid professional feedback on a manuscript is an editorial assessment, which is a different service from beta reading.

How can I tell if beta feedback was written by AI?

You cannot be sure from the text alone. Novlr lists far too formal or robotic language as a warning sign, but says that on its own it is no guarantee of a scam. Novlr describes feedback mills that run manuscripts through AI tools and return “surface-level observations any chatbot might produce” presented as personal analysis (Novlr). Its other warning signs are:

1. Unsolicited contact from someone you have never dealt with.
2. Guaranteed outcomes, such as an agent or a publishing deal.
3. Pressure tactics, such as “only taking three more clients”.
4. A vague or brand-new online presence.
5. A payment request before anyone has discussed your book.

A simple test you can run yourself: a real reader can answer a follow-up. Ask what they felt in a particular scene, or why a character did something. Someone who read the book answers in a sentence. If a reader cannot, do not act on the report.

What do I do with the feedback?

Collect all of it, look for what two or more readers said, and ignore taste that only one person has. Fix the story problems first, then send the book to an editor. Do not ask beta readers to review the book publicly, because that is a different job and a different group.

If you would like the full path from first draft to launch in one place, grab my free 12-step self-publishing checklist.

Start with the free checklist

The checklist is the 12 steps I follow for every book I publish, from choosing a profitable niche with keyword research to setting up the marketing machine. It is free, and you get it straight away.

Get the free checklist