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Beta Testing
Colby's life is turned upside down when his best friend Ryan reveals he has a crush on someone.
At first he is worried how this new crush might affect their friendship, but Colby agrees to help his friend out anyway.
Ryan is clueless when it comes to romance. Luckily, Colby is an expert on the subject.
After helping Ryan plan the first date, Colby reluctantly agrees to beta test it with him beforehand.
The beta test was a success. No issues detected. Everything should go back to normal now, right? It's not like it was a real date or anything... Right?
At first he is worried how this new crush might affect their friendship, but Colby agrees to help his friend out anyway.
Ryan is clueless when it comes to romance. Luckily, Colby is an expert on the subject.
After helping Ryan plan the first date, Colby reluctantly agrees to beta test it with him beforehand.
The beta test was a success. No issues detected. Everything should go back to normal now, right? It's not like it was a real date or anything... Right?
- GenresYoung Adult
138 pages, Hardcover
Published July 25, 2022
2 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 5, 2022
3,5*
Das war sehr cute, aber leider auch viel zu kurz. Man merkt schon irgendwie, dass es ein Debüt ist, aber der Autor hat auf jeden Fall Potenzial.
Das war sehr cute, aber leider auch viel zu kurz. Man merkt schon irgendwie, dass es ein Debüt ist, aber der Autor hat auf jeden Fall Potenzial.
August 9, 2022
AMAZING
Literally perfect in every way. I had so much fun reading this!! Wish we had more LGBTQ books like this as a young queer teen.
Literally perfect in every way. I had so much fun reading this!! Wish we had more LGBTQ books like this as a young queer teen.
October 12, 2022
Three things in Beta Testing by Cody Burke:
1 - Gay Panic. When Colby’s best friend, Ryan, tells Colby he has a crush on someone, Colby is terrified that person is HIM. But when Ryan eventually reveals it’s one of their friends he’s crushing on, Colby realises HE is the one that likes RYAN 👀
2 - Fake Dating. Ryan comes up with a plan to “beta test” all his dates with Colby before going on them with his crush. And they go so well that Colby wishes they were real 🥺
3 - Friendship to Love. This IS a romance novella after all 😌 And friendship to love just happens to be the superior trope, do not try to convince me otherwise 😌
Also I really love that the cover is one of the dates Colby and Ryan go on together 🙌🏻
A copy of this novel was provided by the author for review!
1 - Gay Panic. When Colby’s best friend, Ryan, tells Colby he has a crush on someone, Colby is terrified that person is HIM. But when Ryan eventually reveals it’s one of their friends he’s crushing on, Colby realises HE is the one that likes RYAN 👀
2 - Fake Dating. Ryan comes up with a plan to “beta test” all his dates with Colby before going on them with his crush. And they go so well that Colby wishes they were real 🥺
3 - Friendship to Love. This IS a romance novella after all 😌 And friendship to love just happens to be the superior trope, do not try to convince me otherwise 😌
Also I really love that the cover is one of the dates Colby and Ryan go on together 🙌🏻
A copy of this novel was provided by the author for review!
October 2, 2022
this was absolutely adorable! i'm a sucker for friends to lovers and fake dating and this book had both!! i loved how the friendship was clearly established and it wasn't a quick jump from friends to lovers. the moment where both characters realized their feelings for one another felt super genuine which i appreciated a lot. overall, this was a super cute read and i definitely recommend to anyone who liked been here all along by sandy hall or hot dog girl by jennifer dugan!
*i was given a free copy of the book by the author
*i was given a free copy of the book by the author
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2023
This was predictable but super cute. It can have all the stars.
October 17, 2022
Fake dating, check. Friends to lover, check. This short endearing YA romance is the quick-gay-read you need--I devoured it in one sitting! Cody Burke nailed it in his debut.
February 20, 2026
Beta Testing is a sweet, clever young adult romance that uses tech-inspired humor to explore friendship, identity, and the fragile line between “practice” and real feelings.
When Colby’s best friend Ryan reveals he has a crush, Colby’s first reaction isn’t jealousy it’s concern. What will this mean for their friendship? Determined to help (and confident in his self appointed role as romance expert), Colby agrees to coach Ryan through planning the perfect first date. The twist? They decide to run a “beta test” of the date together beforehand.
What follows is a charming slow-burn realization that emotions don’t follow neat programming logic. The metaphor of “beta testing” works beautifully throughout the story highlighting how we try to rehearse vulnerability, script conversations, and minimize risk in matters of the heart. Of course, feelings resist that kind of structure.
At 127 pages, the novella-length format keeps the pacing tight and focused on character dynamics. The dialogue feels natural and age-appropriate, and the emotional stakes remain grounded rather than melodramatic. The tension builds not from grand external obstacles, but from the quiet dawning awareness that something has shifted between two best friends.
The story will resonate especially with readers who enjoy LGBTQ+ young adult romance centered on friendship first dynamics and gentle emotional discovery. It’s light in tone but sincere in heart.
Beta Testing is a reminder that sometimes the biggest life updates can’t be previewed, debugged, or rolled back and that love rarely follows the script we write for it.
September Withers
When Colby’s best friend Ryan reveals he has a crush, Colby’s first reaction isn’t jealousy it’s concern. What will this mean for their friendship? Determined to help (and confident in his self appointed role as romance expert), Colby agrees to coach Ryan through planning the perfect first date. The twist? They decide to run a “beta test” of the date together beforehand.
What follows is a charming slow-burn realization that emotions don’t follow neat programming logic. The metaphor of “beta testing” works beautifully throughout the story highlighting how we try to rehearse vulnerability, script conversations, and minimize risk in matters of the heart. Of course, feelings resist that kind of structure.
At 127 pages, the novella-length format keeps the pacing tight and focused on character dynamics. The dialogue feels natural and age-appropriate, and the emotional stakes remain grounded rather than melodramatic. The tension builds not from grand external obstacles, but from the quiet dawning awareness that something has shifted between two best friends.
The story will resonate especially with readers who enjoy LGBTQ+ young adult romance centered on friendship first dynamics and gentle emotional discovery. It’s light in tone but sincere in heart.
Beta Testing is a reminder that sometimes the biggest life updates can’t be previewed, debugged, or rolled back and that love rarely follows the script we write for it.
September Withers
August 13, 2023
so cute and adorable, a good quick read - just what i felt like. also - a rlly pretty cover
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews