Beta Testing


Young Adult - Romance
127 Pages
Reviewed on 07/29/2022
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Manik Chaturmutha for Readers' Favorite

Beta Testing by Cody Burke is a young adult coming-of-age story of two boys, Colby and Ryan, and them coming to terms with their feelings. Colby and Ryan are best friends and are just enjoying each other's company when suddenly Ryan announces that he has feelings for someone. This statement leads to Colby being in a state of panic, thinking that Ryan likes him and it might be the end of their friendship. When Ryan confesses that it is not Colby but someone else, Colby should feel relief, right? So why does he feel sad and hurt? It shows the perfect journey a teenager goes through to come to terms with their feelings, and when the said feelings are toward their best friend, things are supposed to be chaotic.

The story starts well and grabs the reader's attention from the very first page. It effectively captures the feelings of all teenagers who have a crush on someone. Cody Burke's writing is straightforward and distinct, making reading it relatively quick. In addition, the characters are so relatable that they can successfully make anyone remember the feeling of falling in love or having a crush for the first time. By making the characters feel so relatable and sassy, the author captured the humor, tension, anxiety, and love perfectly in such a short book. In addition, it has a beautiful LGBTQ representation.

Another thing that the author did so well was showing supportive parents. Generally, books in this genre often either don't have a good parenting figure, or the parents are dead, and having a friendly and supportive parent was like a breath of fresh air. Finally, the thing that this book did admirably was representing anxiety and panic attacks. Not many books targeted at a younger audience show this, and it is appreciated. Beta Testing is like a ray of sunshine. Anyone having a bad day can read this book, and the story will lift their spirits. This book is perfect for lovers of romance and Young Adult books.

Jennie More

Beta Testing by Cody Burke is a love story about two 17-year-old boys, Colby and Ryan, best friends, neighbors, and classmates. After Ryan realizes that he is bi-sexual, he starts developing feelings for their mutual friend, Danna. Excited about Danna admitting that she likes him, Ryan asks her out on a date but is clueless about where to take her. Colby, who knows his friend's frantic nerves about new experiences, agrees to beta test a couple of dates with Ryan while also helping him with ideas for the dates. Unwittingly, Colby starts developing romantic feelings for his best friend and tries to ignore it, but it becomes impossible as their worlds are so closely intertwined.

Beta Testing by Cody Burke is a beautiful love story. The scenes and emotions of each character, especially Colby, are very expressive, leaving you enthralled in Colby's whirlwind of emotions. As with most love stories, it was easy to relate to the feelings expressed by Colby and Ryan, but the innocent, sweet and tasteful way Burke conceived the story was particularly heartwarming and delightful. I experienced all the emotions that Colby and Ryan went through and enjoyed watching in anticipation as the story developed. Beta Testing is a deeply thoughtful book, clearly showing the beauty and excitement of first love. The plot was stimulating and suspenseful. The dialogue between the characters was realistic, and all the scenes and events throughout the story are relatable, making it both real and romantic. Beta Testing was an entertaining and enjoyable book.

Pikasho Deka

Beta Testing is a young adult romance novel by Cody Burke. Colby and Ryan are best friends and complete opposites. While Ryan is obsessed with video games and plays the lead in the school play, Colby loves to read and is a hopeless romantic to his core. However, things change when out of the blue, Ryan reveals to Colby that he has a crush on someone. Initially shocked that the 'someone' might be him, Colby heaves a sigh of relief when Ryan tells him that he wants to date their mutual friend Danna. But when Ryan asks him to help beta test a date before his actual date with Danna, Colby realizes he has feelings for Ryan. How will Colby cope at seeing his crush with someone else? Will he find the love that he deserves?

A charming romantic comedy, Beta Testing is an engaging novel for young adult romance aficionados. Author Cody Burke's fast-paced story of two best friends finding a new dynamic in their relationship is a breeze to go through. Complemented by likable characters and a plot full of romance and drama, Burke takes readers to a nostalgic time of their first love during their teenage years. Colby and Ryan's relationship is the primary focus of the narrative, with the side characters playing a supporting role to the two of them. The banter and quick back-and-forth between Colby and Ryan feel organic, and it was one of my favorite aspects of the story. If you're looking for an adorable young adult LGBTQ romance novel, I suggest Beta Testing.