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My Begrudging Scent Matches

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At 26 years old, Alice Walton’s least favorite secret is that she’s an Omega. Her family, ever traditional, wants her to find a pack, settle down, and start popping out little supernatural babies at an alarming rate. It’s her destiny, they say. It’s her biology. But she’s not having it. She’s worked too hard to get to where she is in her career, even if that’s meant taking heat suppressants with increasingly annoying side effects.

Caleb Everett and Grant Jones are new at the company, working remote for three months before relocating to her office in the city. Grant is a delight, charming, handsome, and friendly, while Caleb proves to be curt, rude, and entirely infuriating in all of their email correspondence. Alice hates him before she’s even met him, hates his stupid, hot linkedIn photo, and his inability to use exclamation points, emojis, or any pleasantries.

And to top it all off, their first week in the office she realizes that not only are they both Alphas, they're her scent matches. Great.

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 9, 2024

104 people are currently reading
324 people want to read

About the author

Naomi Phillips

3 books35 followers

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5 stars
213 (26%)
4 stars
297 (37%)
3 stars
209 (26%)
2 stars
63 (7%)
1 star
10 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
Profile Image for Lyrik.
912 reviews72 followers
April 30, 2024
ARC Review: Take my review with a grain of salt because all of my dislikes of this book are based entirely on my personal preferences, and do not at all reflect the quality of the writing or the ability of others to enjoy this.

Why this wasn't my favorite: simply put, I didn't like the FMC, Alice. This is written in 3rd person but only from her POV. We do not get either of the MMCs inner thoughts or feelings about finding their scent match. I never enjoy being in the headspace of a high-strung and/or anxious character when it is not explicitly stated by the character themselves that they are this way or have this condition. And that's what this story is. Alice is a people-pleaser, is independent to the point of stubborness, and barely accepts her Omeganess. Alice could not get out of her own damn way and I hate that in books so much! From my understanding, her reluctance stems from other people's opinions and expectations rather than Alphas that aren't treating her well.

Anyway, the Alphas, Grant and Caleb, are kind and understanding and respectful, but we didn't get to know much about them. The sex scenes were explicit and well written. Overall, the story felt heavier than I would like a novella to be. I would definitely be interested in reading more from this author if the storyline was more to my taste.

Last thought: more dialogue!

For context (if it helps), I felt the same about the FMC from Office Hours by Katrina Jackson as I did about Alice.
Profile Image for Romantically Inclined Reviews.
729 reviews2,871 followers
October 22, 2025
short, sweet, and fun.
love me a one sit read.
third person present tense was jarring at first but I actually really like the vibes.
Profile Image for Stacha.
100 reviews
March 24, 2024
Ah! What a fun, spicy, Omegaverse novella!

First off, congrats on your first book, and what a fun read it was!

Alice is a workaholic and has been suppressing her first heat to focus on her career and not be tied down by her designation. She unexpectedly finds not one, but two scent matches in Caleb and Grant.

Alice is so relatable it hurts. Ha. All us people pleasers will understand her on a visceral level. 😂

Caleb and Grant are such a perfect Alpha couple to compliment Alice. I just will eat up an Alpha character every time.

My only critique, and this is VERY MUCH personal preference, but this is told in third person. I personally just LOVE being inside the head of the character as I read, but I wasn’t pulled out of the story by any means and really enjoyed this book as a whole!
Profile Image for Guiltless Pleasure.
25 reviews1 follower
April 2, 2024
Alright, folks, buckle up because Naomi Phillips has crafted a romance that's equal parts steamy and heartfelt. First off, let's talk about that voice—snappy, fun, and oh-so-conversational. You'll feel like you're chatting with your best friend over coffee.

What's really cool is how modern Alice feels. Sure, this is an omega verse tale, but Alice isn't just defined by her omega status. She's a career woman with ambitions, and watching her navigate the professional world while grappling with her unexpected attraction to Caleb and Grant is a real treat.

And speaking of attraction—whew, things get spicy! Phillips knows how to turn up the heat without sacrificing substance. The chemistry between Alice, Caleb, and Grant sizzles off the page, and their evolving relationship feels authentic and satisfying.

But it's not all steamy encounters and swoon-worthy moments. "My Begrudging Scent-Matches" also delves into Alice's personal growth. Watching her find her voice and stand up for herself—both in the boardroom and the bedroom—is seriously empowering.

So, if you're in the mood for a romance that's equal parts sexy, sweet, and empowering, do yourself a favor and pick up "My Begrudging Scent-Matches." With its witty dialogue, relatable characters, and irresistible charm, it's a book you won't want to put down. Trust me, you'll be hooked from the very first page.
Profile Image for Dana Evyn.
Author 5 books159 followers
April 15, 2024
This was SUCH a fun omegaverse read! Loved the setup, and I thought this was such a great, modern take on omegaverse, especially with such a strong female lead. The voice is so good, and I truly enjoyed getting to know the characters—not to mention the spice is just fantastic!
Profile Image for Manda.
388 reviews
April 25, 2024
What a debut from Naomi Phillips! My Begrudging Scent Matches delves into the issues surrounding biology and how it determines life choices and options.

"I don't want my scent to dictate the rest of my life. I want to choose my path, my people."

What if an omega is career oriented, and doesn't want her designation to determine the course of her life and how others perceive her? She masquerades as a beta! The most talented in the office, Alice is also a people pleaser who has trouble setting boundaries with her boss. Of course he takes advantage by passing his work on to her, making Alice overworked and overwhelmed. But finding a pack is not on her agenda.

I loved Alice's character and her journey to accepting the omega parts of herself, while coming to recognize that being an omega does not have to diminish her choices. She can still follow her dreams of owning her own business with mates who will support her.

Although this story is a novella, the character development and plot were well developed. I was so impressed with how well written this book is! If you enojy an omegaverse with a strong omega, an enemies to lovers vibe with one alpha, and another alpha whose sweetness covers his hidden dom, this book is for you! Highly recommend!

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Profile Image for Maggie T.
97 reviews8 followers
April 9, 2024
Naomi Phillips debut novel! I was chosen for this ARC! I really enjoyed the writing and am definitely excited about this author! The story really touched on so many themes but the one that stuck out most to me was how we truly need to love ourselves and see our worth to allow ourselves to be truly loved by others! Also, if you like omegaverse this is for you too!
Profile Image for Mackenzie Quinton.
5 reviews2 followers
June 3, 2024
Spicy and cute at the same time!! A very cozy read. Even though the book is short each character was fleshed out perfectly that I could picture them and their personality in my head! More stories about Grant pls!! 🌶️🔥🥵🥰❤️‍🔥
Profile Image for corriature.
197 reviews7 followers
November 4, 2024
Anyway I stayed up til 3am to finish this and I could read 100k more words about them!!!!! I NEED ANOTHER ONE ASAP!!!!!
Profile Image for Klinda.
224 reviews7 followers
March 20, 2024
Caleb and Grant are my new book bfs....... I love them sm

I received an ARC of this book and am THRILLED that I did! This was a fun, spicy little read and if you love omegaverse you may love this too ;,)
Profile Image for Kay - kayreads_romance .
373 reviews35 followers
April 13, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Find more on my IG @kayreads_romance

⚠️ !! Please be sure to check any TWs before diving in !! ⚠️

Tropes:
* Omegaverse
* MMF
* Told in third person POV
* Workplace rivals
* Bi rep
* Praise 🥰
* SunshineGrumpySunshine


Spicy chapters:
5
6
11
14


My thoughts while reading:
🚨ALERT SPOILERS AHEAD🚨

“For all the people-pleasers. I will never judge you for all the exclamation points in your emails.”
IMMEDIATELY LOVE

Love that there’s a guide to omegaverse for people that don’t know!

Okay are we getting grumpysunshine w Caleb and Alice bc he’s already giving short grumpy guy that needs some lovins

If someone replied to my emailed with “acknowledged” omggggg im raging lol

“Acknowledged. AW”
Screammmm that’s my girl

“Caleb: The photos on slides 7, 16, and 24 are outdated and distracting.

Caleb: If you ask me.

Alice: Well good thing I didn’t :)”
Omg miss Alice is getting sassy I love her!

Noooo omg the time old tale of sending a message in the wrong chat - girl we’ve all been there it’s okay!!!!

“And, wait. Is Caleb Everett. . . hot?” Oop!!!

Oh and we’ve got Grant over here that’s Mr. Sunshine to Caleb’s Mr. Grumpy okaaaay

“Alice,
Edits on your memo and incentive plan for tomorrow are attached. There aren’t many.
Caleb” oh he’s using names now instead of initials okay we’re warming up a little

“Caleb Everett isn’t just an Alpha. He’s her fucking scent match.” Screaminggggg

“Another. Fucking. Scent match.” Hehehehe

“Please, Alpha,” y’all I will not lie to you, this does it for me every timeeee

“Share,” Grant demands, which makes Caleb’s eyes darken further. Bossy.”
Ohhhhh shitttttt okay Sunshine Daddy

Have yall ever seen the tiktok that is like “I want to have two boyfriends and I want them to be boyfriends” or whatever it says? Like this is that and I love it so much

“All that,” Caleb repeats, drawing out each word.”
Sassy Caleb!!!

Grant is so precious!!!!

“Can I hold you?” Caleb blurts.” Stop don’t you make me cry rn omg 🥺🥰💕

"You sit back and let us have two, then we’ll give you what you want, you greedy girl."
Giggling & kicking my feet omgggg

Alice having her own company and bringing the boys along is such a great start to the epilogue!!!

“Alice,
You are the brightest light in my world. Grant’s too.
Love, Caleb”
LOVE A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT!! That little softie

Profile Image for Camilla.
266 reviews29 followers
March 23, 2024
ARC review.

I'm sometimes a bit hesitant to try out new authors, especially when reading ARCs. But boy am I glad gave this a try!

Naomi Phillips has written a fun bite-sized "work enemies to lovers" MMF omegaverse. Hesitant omega-in-hiding who doesn't want to find alpha or pack ends up finding her scent match in her new, annoying co-worker who seems to dislike her.

The characters were cute, the writing good and even though I was doubtful about it having enough depth considering it's 130ish pages long, it totally delivered on that front too!

The reason it's 4 stars and not 5 is because the 3rd person single POV didn't quite do it for me. I wish this had either been a multi-POV or 1st person, but as is I didn't mind too much.

Lighthearted, spicy and fun. A really great omegaverse debut and I'm excited to see where Naomi takes us next.

Thank you to the author for the ARC!
Profile Image for Raistlyn.
116 reviews
April 12, 2024
This steamy, romantic omegaverse novella is perfect for those of us with people-pleasing tendencies, who want to be taken care of but are too stubborn to admit it. Who want to be taken seriously so we do everything in our power to appear capable and not-a-mess.

Plus Caleb and Grant were all heart-swoony, so it's hard to complain.

This novella is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood's Bride, who want to dive a little deeper into the omegaverse. It serves as a good introduction into the genre while also being digestible for new audiences. There's also a guide at the beginning to let you know what all you're getting into ;)
Profile Image for Purple S.
108 reviews2 followers
April 2, 2024
I DEVOURED this book in one sitting!
My Begrudging Scent Match is such an easy, sexy and fun read, it just kept me wanting more.

Alice has been pushing off her first heat for too long, her suppressors and deodorizers aren’t really working anymore and her family is pressuring her to find an Alpha but she’s stubborn and focused on work.

She doesn’t want to be a pushover Omega, she wants to find herself and put it the work. Although she’s putting in too much work, everyone’s work really because she’s a people pleaser.

With two new hires coming in, what could go wrong?
Maybe just the fact that they’re scent matches?
Caleb and Grant are as sexy as they come. Caleb is grumpy and cool on the surface, while Grant is a beloved golden retriever.

They want her but she can’t help but push them away. Stubborn as ever. You’ll just have to see what happens 😉
35 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2024
This is my first ABO, and let me tell you, I get the appeal! This is such a fun read! I love Alice’s growth. Caleb made me laugh out loud. And Grant forever has my heart! Thank you Naomi for sharing these characters and this story with us!
Profile Image for goodgirl_meg.
67 reviews8 followers
March 28, 2024
LOVED! I have never identified with a FMC more. People pleasing overachiever who’s learning to put herself first? ✅✅✅ the MMCs are so sweet and a little bit obsessive without being overbearing. It’s a sweet office romance and such a feel good read. 💕 The spice was great for a shorter book and so perfect for the characters. Exactly what I needed for a palate cleanse after darker reads and I want more!
Profile Image for Megan Tolley.
203 reviews1 follower
March 24, 2024
ARC Review
4.5⭐️ 3🌶️
Thank you so much Naomi for sending me your debut novel! This novella was cute, spicy, and only my second time reading an Omegaverse story. Alice was independent, stubborn, but I totally understood where she was coming from with not wanting to follow the status quo and stick to her independence as long as she could. Caleb is the ultimate grump to Alice’s sunshine while Grant is a big, hunky cinnamon roll. I also love how Caleb and Grant loved each other first, giving Alice a better foundation for their relationship. They all love each other equally, not just sharing her🫶🏼
Profile Image for Kiana.
1 review1 follower
March 27, 2024
I love seeing omegaverse from writers not afraid to put their own personal flair onto it while keeping the vibe of omegaverse we all come here for. I love the deviation of the typical Alpha archetype who is possessive, territorial and goes off the handle. I much prefer these Alphas who are there to nature, protect and satisfy their Omega. Equal parts tender and sexy with lots of heart and charming characters. Was my absolute privilege to make this novella my first ever ARC and I can't wait to see what Naomi Phillips has in store for us romance readers!
Profile Image for emily .
41 reviews
March 21, 2024
My Begrudging Scent Matches is an absolutely delectable MMF omegaverse novella that I devoured in one sitting. A workplace enemies to lovers that hits the nail on the head in terms of relatability and humour. The romance is a delicious mix of kicking-my-feet fluff, ripping-my-hair-out angst, and soaking-my-undies smut. Caleb, Grant and Alice have a love that makes my yearning heart more and more jealous with every turn of the page. A definite must-read! Thank you to Naomi Phillips for providing me with an ARC copy of your book!!
Profile Image for Mel.
253 reviews4 followers
March 22, 2024
4.5 ⭐
3 🌶️

I recieved an ARC of this story and as always I am so honoured to read for an indie author!

Listen, this book was so stinking cute. Every page was adorable. Alice was stubborn and people pleasing and anxious and I loved her. Such a relatable character. Grant is confident and calm, his personality reminds me of still waters, in the best way. Caleb gives me golden retriever energy in his need to provide comfort and love. Even the side characters were great. Lily and Olivia were such great compliments for Alice.

The way Naomi managed to pack so much into less than 150 pages was amazing. I got such a sense of family and belonging and LOVE from this story. Incredibly sweet read!
Profile Image for Kimberly.
10 reviews
September 22, 2024
Let me start by saying this was my first introduction to the omega-verse. There is a brief breakdown of what this verse is if you are unfamiliar like me, but I also did a deep dive after reading the breakdown. And honestly, I. Was. Intrigued.

Our FMC is Alice, who is headstrong in what she knows, but wary of the unknown and afraid to break from the normal routine she has set for herself.

Once she thinks she’s figured out life for herself, we are introduced to ✨the boys✨, Caleb and Grant. I dunno how Alice kept it neutral, cause Caleb, sweet, sweet Caleb you have my heart.

If, like me, you are new to the omega-verse, or just wanna explore a new type of romance, this is for you. A quick read novella, that peaked my interest, and the spicy scenes, well let’s just say I was blushing while reading. 🤭

The cons: there were two parts that I had to keep rereading over and over. I dunno if it was my lack of comprehension skills, or the writing, but I couldn’t make sense of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Taelor Loftis.
11 reviews
March 21, 2024
This is such a fun & relatable office romance novella! If you are new to ABO or wanting to dip your toes into an ABO story then look no further! MY BEGRUDGING SCENT MATCHES is everything you need (& everything you didn’t know you needed) to fall in love with ABO. The story is sweet & addictive & perfect for a cozy evening in reading. Naomi Phillips brings the heat and the charm in this spiced-so-nice novella!
Profile Image for Liz.
47 reviews1 follower
March 22, 2024
The balance of sweet and spicy!! Alice, Grant and Caleb make a great trio! Alice with her hard-headed passion and stubbornness. Grant, a true alpha, sweet, in control (sir) and Caleb, no grace but straight forward. I swallowed this book up!! I wanted more of the epilogue though. Naomi, you did such an amazing job writing this book. I can't wait to see more of what you accomplish!!
Profile Image for Lora Guest.
167 reviews5 followers
May 10, 2024
I’m so thankful the author reached out about reading an ARC of this book. This was my first true omegaverse! I absolutely loved Caleb and Grant and their relationship with Alice. Even being a short novella these characters had depth and they were all very relatable.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Elaine Richards.
Author 2 books29 followers
March 21, 2024
this is my first mmf, as well as my first a/b/o verse, and i enjoyed it so much!!! and omg i love the development that alice goes through <3 idk what else to say without saying TOO much but literally go read this right now!!!
Profile Image for kase.
397 reviews11 followers
May 15, 2024
Okay this is a novella so according to my guidelines for reviews that live in only my head, this is a 5 star read.

That being said…. I wish it was a full length novel!! It successfully pulled me out of a slump and was the first book I’ve ENJOYED in almost a week.

A little bit of Omegaverse light, but so well done. Damn this is going to be hard to follow haha.

Alice, Grant, and Caleb seem good together and it was the perfect mix of sweet and hot.
Profile Image for Shasta.
351 reviews8 followers
June 8, 2024
This is just the cutest MMF Omegaverse read!

This book features:
MMF
Work Romance
Omegaverse
First heat
Reluctant Soulmates

If you are looking for a contemporary romance this one is for you! The author did an amazing job! I love a good Omegaverse read and I also love how she explains everything about Omegaverse as a whole at the beginning of the book. The spice level of this book is also spot on! I read this in one sitting and I couldn't get enough!
3 reviews
March 24, 2024
I can’t recommend this book enough. This was the first omegaverse book I’ve read and had a blast with it. SO fun and SO spicy. I couldn’t put it down and loved every second of it. Read this book!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews

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