[Complete] [26k] [psychological thriller novella] seeking readers
Hi, I'm looking for readers to read this within the next month or two. This story is a 26,000 word psychological thriller novella with dystopian elements. It will appeal to fans of the books: Comfort me with Apples (2021) by Catherynne M. Valente, and the seemingly “picture perfect” suburban environment of films such as Don’t Worry Darling (2022).
Blurb:
Claire Johnson wakes up in a bed that isn’t hers, in a house she cannot remember. A friendly neighbor named Gabriela reassures her, telling Claire that she had a nervous breakdown, and her memories will come back soon. As Claire begins to explore the neighborhood and ask questions, she feels increasingly unsettled by what she finds.
Claire discovers that the plants are made of plastic, there isn’t any processed food or grocery stores, and not all of the neighbors are friendly. What secrets are they hiding, and why won’t they tell her how she got there?
I'm mainly looking for high-level feedback, such as:
- Pacing
- Was the twist surprising + enjoyable?
- What did you think of the ending?
- Were the characters believable?
- Were there any parts that lagged or were boring/was there enough action?
I have a short google form survey for beta readers to fill out after they’re finished reading, to help get the most out of feedback.
Critique Swap: Unavailable now as I have 2 other novels I must read for others. But I’d be available to do it in about 3 months. I’d love to swap information and be a beta reader for you in the future. Ideally I’d love to make some lasting relationships between beta readers here, and have reliable beta readers for the future, and reciprocate and help you too. I belong to 2 writing groups and frequently give feedback so I’m happy to do so.
I am not looking for line by line proofreading, but mainly high level feedback.
If this sounds like something you’d like, DM me.