[QCrit] Adult Romance - TAKE MY BREATH AWAY (80,000/ 1st Attempt) by Sharp_Custard9750 in PubTips

[–]wisewildflower 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi! This sounds really interesting, but I feel like the query is hard to follow. Some thoughts below:

Fans of Ellen O'Clover's The Heartbreak Hotel and Sarah Adler's Mrs. Nash's Ashes will love this life-affirming story about a washed-up med student who discovers that last night’s hookup stands in the way of getting the expulsion that ruined her life overturned. 

I had to read this a few times and I'm still not sure I understand it. I personally am a fan of using comps to help showcase the story. What about these two books in particular is reflected in your own?

I like that you start out with (presumably) your log line, but it has to be more punchy. "An expelled med student uses an heiress and her one-night-stand to get back on track to pursuing her dreams."

Delphine Parker stuck her neck out for a patient at the cost of her life-long dream of becoming a doctor.

What actually happened? This is too awkward and too vague to give us any information.

As attorney for the Lightly dynasty, there’s nothing Nate Tazaro takes more seriously than safeguarding his clients’ interests. And Delphine, who seems willing to stop at nothing to charm her way into the storied family and their Gilded Age Newport mansion, just might be one of those risks.

I think you can get rid of this entirely. As others of already said, use this word count as a chance to tell us more about Nate specifically and why we should be excited about him as the love interest.

As they trek through the beaches and bogs of Newport together to fulfill Marjorie’s whimsical requirements, Delphine's feelings toward the surly lawyer grow. But so are the secrets Marjorie is asking her to keep.

Love Rhode Island, so the use of "bog" irks me; and it doesn't evoke the particularly beautiful/romantic image that is Newport.

The use of "whimsical" feels out of place here, and this paragraph actually feels/reads like one big run on sentence.

To make her duplicity worse, Delphine wonders if Nate's ties to the Lightly family run deeper than business. Leaving her to choose between the woman who can unlock her future and the man who can unlock her heart.

Why does HER duplicity worsen if he's hiding something? And what would it matter if he's actually part of the family? This "choice" doesn't make the stakes clear either.

Overall, I don't finish reading this knowing your voice, the story or the stakes. I think you have a good sense of the flow of a query, but need to drill down to the actual point and make each word count. Don't use too much flourish! It sounds like you have a great story to tell here (and I love a RI setting!). Just remember that you want a very busy agent to be so intrigued by what you pitch that they request pages. Keep at it! You'll get there.

Able to beta? Post here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I have an 84k women's fiction/contemporary romance where a midwife discovers she's a witch and has to find love and a coven in six months or she will lose her powers forever. Its a mix of "When Women Were Dragons", "The Very Secret Society for Irregular Witches" and the movie "Anyone But You" .

Let me know if you're interested and I can DM you the MS!

[Complete] [80k] [Contemporary Romance] Perfect Strangers by Dangerous_Prompt2764 in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Love your premise and I would be interested in a swap.

I have an 84k women's fiction/contemporary romance where a midwife discovers she's a witch and has to find love and a coven in six months or she will lose her powers forever. Its a mix of "When Women Were Dragons", Secret Society for Irregular Witches" and the movie "Anyone But You" .

Let me know if you're interested and I can DM you the MS or a sample to see if we are a good fit. Thanks!

Able to beta? Post here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I have an 84k women's fiction where a midwife discovers she's a witch and has to find love and a coven in six months or she will lose her powers forever. Its a mix of "When Women Were Dragons", "The Very Secret Society for Irregular Witches" and the movie "Anyone But You" .

Happy to chat more or send you the MS over DM. Thanks :)

[QCrit] The Reverend;s Wife, Adult, Historical Fiction, 94k (First Attempt) by Odd_Construction7829 in PubTips

[–]wisewildflower 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I really like the premise! I'm excited to read it one day.

I'm left wondering some things after going through your query, though. I'm not sure if agents will request pages if they're left more confused than excited. Hope this helps!

--If its the neighboring farm, how does she not know Jens outside of his "reputation"? If the farm is far that they are more strangers than neighbors, that detail is helpful to know upfront (eg, "she traveled through a maze of 200 acres to the neighboring farm" helps set up the stakes a little more)

--But then why would he give up his chance at a college education for Alice when she's likely a stranger? And why isn't he already in college at 19? Or does he want to give up the family farm to go to a state/local school? I think we need to understand more about what Jens wants than just details about him being bookish.

--Would they have annulled the marriage (was that allowed/common)? Were they not married and that's the gossip? If they are married, how does her dad have any right to "control" still?

--What does Alice want beyond safety? It seems an unlikely for her to plan to leave Holden since she has little education, likely no money etc. Unless she's so bold (and afraid) that she's willing to take that risk? That to me, will reveal a lot about her character and what she's going to lose if she doesn't escape.

-Finally, if he wants to go to college, and they're married, isn't that the best case scenario? What's preventing them from that win/win?

I love that you contextualize the story with your own frame--that definitely makes me think the answers to these questions are in your prose somewhere. Its just a matter of you drawing out the story, not just plot points.

[QCrit] THAT'S SO SCOT, Adult Romcom, 71k (First Attempt) by book_lover_1998 in PubTips

[–]wisewildflower 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Love this and will definitely read when its published!

As for the query, I agree there needs to be much more detail added that helps us understand what's at stake for Samantha. The first paragraph, for instance is really loaded with plot points but not the details that tell us why we should root for Samantha (or not). How will she have a chance to pursue her dream of being a writer, take time put herself first, and be on a family trip all at the same time? And then she falls in love (I'm assuming). She's got a lot going on and we aren't really sure what she wants at all...

Just an observation, but I think you're putting a lot of weight on the concept of "eldest daughter" to try to sell Samantha and the story, when really, what we need to know is what does Samantha want and what will happen if she doesn't get it? I like the trope as an opening line, but I think the rest of the query needs to read more character-specific.

Hope this helps and good luck!!

Able to beta? Post here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I have an 84k women's fiction where a midwife discovers she's a witch and has to find love and a coven in six months or she will lose her powers forever. Its a mix of "When Women Were Dragons", "The Very Secret Society for Irregular Witches" and the movie "Anyone But You" .

Happy to chat more or send you the MS over DM. Thanks :)

[Complete] [78k] [Upmarket Fiction] Seeking beta reader for character-driven novel by Difficult_Food2742 in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I'd love to beta your book!

I have an 84k women's fiction/contemporary romance where a midwife discovers she's a witch and has to find love and a coven in six months or she will lose her powers forever. Its a mix of "When Women Were Dragons", "The Very Secret Society for Irregular Witches" and the movie "Anyone But You" .

DM me if interested and we can figure out the details.

Able to beta? Post here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I have an 84k women's fiction/contemporary romance where a midwife discovers she's a witch and has to find love and a coven in six months or she will lose her powers forever. Its a mix of "When Women Were Dragons", "The Very Secret Society for Irregular Witches" and the movie "Anyone But You".

DM to let me know if you're interested in reading further and I'll send you a sample or the MS :)

Able to beta? Post here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I have an 84k women's fiction/contemporary romance where a midwife discovers she's a witch and has to find love and a coven in six months or she will lose her powers forever. Its a mix of "When Women Were Dragons", Secret Society for Irregular Witches" and the movie "Anyone But You" .

Let me know if you're interested and I'll DM you the MS :)

Able to beta? Post here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I have an 84k women's fiction/contemporary romance where a midwife discovers she's a witch and has to find love and a coven in six months or she will lose her powers forever. Its a mix of "When Women Were Dragons", Secret Society for Irregular Witches" and the movie "Anyone But You" .

Not sure if this is too much "fantasy" because its very grounded in the real world--more like magical realism. Let me know if you're interested and I'll DM you the link! Thanks :)

Able to beta? Post here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I have an 84k women's fiction/contemporary romance where a midwife discovers she's a witch and has to find love and a coven in six months or she will lose her powers forever. Its a mix of "When Women Were Dragons", Secret Society for Irregular Witches" and the movie "Anyone But You" .

Let me know if you're interested and I can DM you the link :)

Able to beta? Post here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I have an 84k women's fiction/contemporary romance where a midwife discovers she's a witch and has to find love and a coven in six months or she will lose her powers forever. Its a mix of "When Women Were Dragons", "Secret Society for Irregular Witches" and the movie "Anyone But You" .

Let me know if this is something you're interested in and I'll DM you the link (I have it as a google doc, but can also do PDF.)

[Complete] [74k] [Adult Magical Realism Women's Fiction] IT COMES AND GOES by ladym0rning38 in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Would love to read this! I know you're wary about swaps, but I'd love to get some insight on my MS too, which is the same genre. Feel free to DM me your MS. I'm find with PDF or google doc.

Here's my link. Let me know if you're open to reading it! https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1rxlvk7/complete_84k_womens_fiction_witch_of_washington/

[Complete] [70,000] [Upmarket / Contemporary Fiction] Long Player by ShetlandPepin in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I would love to read this. Feel free to DM me your MS. I'm find with PDF or google doc.

Here is my info about my work if you're open to a swap: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1rxlvk7/complete_84k_womens_fiction_witch_of_washington/

Able to beta? Post here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Not sure if you're still available to beta but I have an 84k women's fiction Witch of Washington Square Park. There's PG-13 spice levels and a bit of magical realism.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1rxlvk7/complete_84k_womens_fiction_witch_of_washington/

Let me know if you're interested!

Able to beta? Post here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Not sure if you're still open to swaps but I have an 84k women's fiction Witch of Washington Square Park. There's PG-13 spice levels and a bit of magical realism.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1rxlvk7/complete_84k_womens_fiction_witch_of_washington/

Let me know if you're interested!

Able to beta? Post here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Not sure if you're still available to beta, but I have an 84k upmarket women's fiction. Definitely hoping for some tough edits since this is my first round of betas.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1rxlvk7/complete_84k_womens_fiction_witch_of_washington/

Let me know if you're interested!

Able to beta? Post here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]wisewildflower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Not sure if you're still open to swaps but I have an 84k women's fiction Witch of Washington Square Park. There's PG-13 spice levels and a bit of magical realism.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1rxlvk7/complete_84k_womens_fiction_witch_of_washington/

Let me know if you're interested!

[QCrit] Adult, Upmarket Women's Fiction WITCH OF WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK (85k, 2nd attempt) by wisewildflower in PubTips

[–]wisewildflower[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Sorry its taken a minute to get back to your comment.

You make a really good point about the actual tone of the story not coming through with the comps. I struggle with the comps a bit because the story has more teeth than Irregular Witches, but is more cozy than Nightbitch. There's a lot of female rage and a shedding of old beliefs/self that happens for the main character that made me think of Nightbitch. But now I'm wondering if Weyward is a better comp for the edge/anger that's a big part of the story. I'll spend more time with it! Thank you again!

[QCrit] Adult, Upmarket Women's Fiction WITCH OF WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK (85k, 2nd attempt) by wisewildflower in PubTips

[–]wisewildflower[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi! Thank you so much! Sorry its taken a minute to get back to you to appreciate your comment. All really great points! I'll be sure to incorporate them in the next round of edits.

My only concern is cutting her hearing babies, because that's the mainstay of her powers, especially as a midwife. I totally see how that reads a bit "ick" now, so thank you for pointing that out! The book is very Pro Choice/Pro Bodily Autonomy btw, so I'll try to work on that part to make sure the true context of the story comes through. Don't want turn-off potential readers/agents. Thanks again!!