25 Questions to Ask Your Beta Readers

By Rachel Smith, Entrada Publishing · Published August 17, 2026

The best questions for beta readers are specific, open-ended, and tied to what you want to learn, such as "Where did you lose interest?" or "Was there a moment you were confused?" Asking "What did you think?" usually gets you "I liked it," which is pleasant but not useful.

Below are 25 questions you can copy into an email or form, grouped by topic. You do not need to use all of them. Ten to fifteen is plenty for most readers.

Why Structured Questions Work

Most beta readers are not trained editors, so they may not know what kind of feedback you want. A short list of questions gives them a path, makes their job easier, and makes sure the things you care about get covered. Structured feedback is also easier for you to compare across readers.

The Questions

The opening

1. Did the story pull you in from the first chapter? If not, where did your attention wander?
2. Was it clear who the main character is, what they want, and what is at stake?
3. Did anything in the opening confuse you or make you want to stop reading?

Plot and structure

4. Did the story hold your interest to the end?
5. Was there a point where you felt the story slowed down or you stopped caring what happened next? Which scenes?
6. Were there any plot points that felt unrealistic, convenient, or unexplained?
7. Did anything feel missing, or did any scene feel unnecessary?
8. Could you predict the ending? Did that make it more or less satisfying?

Characters

9. Who was your favorite character, and why?
10. Was the main character believable and relatable? Did you root for them?
11. Did any character's actions feel out of character or unmotivated?
12. Were any characters hard to tell apart?

Pacing

13. Where did the pacing feel too fast?
14. Where did it feel too slow?
15. Did any chapter drag, or did any scene end before you wanted it to?

Dialogue

16. Did the dialogue sound natural for the characters and time period?
17. Did any conversations feel too long, too expository, or unrealistic?

Setting and worldbuilding

18. Could you picture the setting? Were there places that needed more or less description?
19. Were there any details, rules, or terms that you found confusing?

Ending and overall impression

20. Was the ending satisfying? Did it feel earned?
21. Were there loose ends that bothered you?
22. What was the most memorable moment in the book?
23. If you had to describe the book to a friend, what would you say?
24. Would you keep reading if this were a series? Why or why not?
25. If you could change one thing, what would it be?

Adapt the Questions for Your Book

Memoir: Add "Did you feel connected to the narrator?" and "Were there any parts where you wanted to know more, or less?"

Nonfiction: Add "Was the main argument clear?", "Did any section feel repetitive or unsupported?", and "What would you do differently after reading this?"

Children's books: Ask parents or teachers who read to children, and add "Was the language right for the age group?" and "Did the illustrations and text work together?" See Beta Readers for Children's Books for more.

Genre fiction: Add questions about genre expectations, such as "Did this feel like a romance?" See our genre guides for romance, fantasy and science fiction, and mystery and thriller.

Tips for Sending Your Questions

• Send the questions with the manuscript, not after, so readers can take notes as they go.
• Keep it manageable. Choose the ten to fifteen questions that matter most to you.
• Add your own. If you're unsure about a subplot or a character's motivation, ask directly.
• Leave room for free comments. End with "Anything else you want me to know?"
• Don't explain the story first. Share the genre, length, and blurb, but let the manuscript speak for itself.
• Ask for chapter or page references so you can find what they're describing.

What a Good Answer Looks Like

A useful answer is specific and tied to the text. "I didn't understand why the protagonist trusted Marcus in Chapter 7" tells you far more than "the middle felt slow." If your readers give vague answers, see What Is a Good Beta Reading? for what to expect.

Want Structured, Detailed Feedback Without the Legwork?

Entrada Publishing's beta readers return a detailed written report covering strengths, weaknesses, plot, characters, dialogue, and more. Add your own questions and concerns when you submit and your reader will pay special attention to them. A single reader is $85, three independent readers are $150, and standard turnaround is two to three weeks.

Explore Entrada's Beta Reading Services →

Keep Reading

• How Many Beta Readers Do You Need?
• Conflicting Beta Reader Feedback: What to Do
• What Is a Good Beta Reading?
• The Complete Guide to Beta Reading