I bring lived experience across Jewish and Israeli diaspora, STEM and academic research, immigration, faith, and pregnancy loss to give your characters and worlds the authenticity they deserve. Human reading. Genuine lived experience. No AI.
I'm J.S. Tov, a sensitivity and beta reader with a background that spans continents, disciplines, and life experiences.
I hold a B.Sc in Physics and an M.Sc in Computer Science and have navigated the worlds of academic science, immigration, religious community, and early parenthood. I know what it feels like to be mis-read, mis-written, and reduced to a trope. I read with that knowledge.
I've experienced pregnancy and pregnancy loss, raised children across cultures, and lived the particular in-betweenness of speaking and thinking across more than one language. This is the lens through which I read your work.
I approach every manuscript with both care and candor. My goal is to help your story say what you actually mean, authentically and without harm.
Authentic representation of Jewish and Israeli diaspora experience, and cross-cultural identity.
Nuanced portrayal of Jewish faith tradition, religious community dynamics, and the inner life of belief.
Accurate depiction of research culture, lab environments, academic hierarchies, graduate school pressure, thesis and article writing, and scientific thought processes.
The texture of displacement, belonging, code-switching, second-language frustration, homesickness, and navigating bureaucracy — from the inside.
Sensitive, accurate portrayal of pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss — including the grief that doesn't end.
How it feels to live, think, and love in a second language. Authentic portrayal of English and Hebrew speakers in English-language narratives.
The reality of new parenthood, parent-child relationships across cultures, and the way identity shifts when you become someone's mother or father.
A comprehensive reader-response read focused on pacing, plot coherence, character believability, and overall story experience — from a fresh, engaged pair of eyes.
Minimum project fee: $150
A focused read through the lens of my lived experience, identifying representation issues, inauthenticity, harmful tropes, and missed nuances — with constructive alternatives.
Minimum project fee: $200
Both reads in one pass — the most thorough feedback available. Ideal for manuscripts tackling complex representation alongside ambitious storytelling.
Minimum project fee: $300
For authors who want to check a specific scene, chapter, or concept — rather than a full manuscript read. Also suitable for early-draft worldbuilding.
One-hour minimum
I accept manuscripts of all genres and ages. Turnaround is typically 2–3 weeks for manuscripts under 80,000 words. Discounts available for currently enrolled students — please mention this in your enquiry. Rates are in USD.
Fill out the form below with your manuscript details — genre, word count, the themes I'd be reading for, and your timeline. The more specific, the better.
I'll review your enquiry and respond within 3 business days. If we're a good fit, I'll confirm availability, scope, and send a simple contract and invoice for a 50% deposit.
Once the deposit is received, send your manuscript as a shared Google Doc or PDF. I leave comments directly in Google Docs, or annotate PDFs using Preview or Adobe — whichever you prefer.
I read your manuscript in full — usually one full pass and one targeted pass — leaving inline comments and building my report as I go.
You receive the annotated Google Doc or PDF and written report. We schedule a follow-up call (included in most packages) to talk through the feedback and answer your questions.
Beta reading is a broad manuscript read focused on the reader experience — pacing, plot, character, and whether the story works. Sensitivity reading is narrower and more specific: it evaluates how your manuscript portrays a particular identity, culture, or experience through the lens of someone who lives it. Both are valuable; they answer different questions. Many authors benefit from having their manuscript receive both.
No — and I won't pretend otherwise. My job is to give you information and perspective you don't currently have. What you do with it is entirely your creative decision. I flag things, explain why they land the way they do, and sometimes suggest alternatives. The manuscript is always yours.
For sensitivity reading: ideally after your first full draft, before you've made structural changes hard to reverse. The earlier the better — it's much easier to rework a character or subplot at draft stage than after line editing. For beta reading: after your second or third draft, once the story is stable enough that you want outside-reader reactions.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, contemporary, historical fiction, speculative fiction (sci-fi, fantasy, magical realism), romance, narrative nonfiction, middle grade, and YA. If you're unsure whether your project is a fit, just ask — I'll tell you honestly.
For most full manuscripts (under 80,000 words), I aim to deliver within 2–3 weeks of receiving the full manuscript. Larger projects or rush timelines are available at an additional fee. I'll always confirm an exact delivery date in the contract before we begin.
Yes. Confidentiality is standard practice for me — I include it in my contract by default. I never discuss client manuscripts publicly, and I'm happy to sign an author-supplied NDA in addition if you prefer.
Absolutely. A significant portion of my clients are indie authors who take their craft seriously. The standard of feedback is identical regardless of publication path.
I take on a limited number of projects each month to give every manuscript the attention it deserves. Fill out the form and I'll be in touch within 3 business days.