What lengths would you go to in order to pursue your dreams?
Meggie Harper has been training her whole life for the Olympics, even though her omega status makes it illegal to compete.
Despite the odds, she’s determined to keep her designation a secret and make the Olympic swim team. That is, until she fails to qualify.
Just when she thinks all hope is lost, her best friend’s brother presents her with a surprising opportunity and the chance to switch sports to compete on his Olympic water polo team. The only problem? She’ll have to team up with six alphas and keep them from finding out her designation as an omega. Even worse, they all smell delicious.
As her teammates start to pursue her, Meggie’s heart and her secret are put at risk. Can she have the pack she’s always wanted and still achieve her Olympic dreams?
For fans of Sarah Blue, Ari Wright, and Elle Kennedy, this omegaverse romance will leave you laughing, swooning, and hot.
MMMMFMM OmegaverseOlympic water polo teamSix alphas and one secret omegaTeammates romanceForced proximitBest friend's brotherBiker guyHe falls firstHe falls hardestHe doesn't want her thereGroup spicy scenesSweet and swoonyFunny romcom
Tropes: why choose MMMMFMM omegaverse, swimmer FMC, water polo MMCs, Olympic training, forced proximity, hidden omega, scent matches. Rating: 4.75✨
I got hooked so badly that I didn’t realize it was 5am when I finished reading this book. I was really in the mood for a good omegaverse and this delivered. I can't wait to dive in and read the second instalment because I want more time with this pack and also because it ends with a cliffhanger.
I hated that Harrison kept dating another beta girl for the most part of the story, but I kinda understand where he’s coming from. I understand Dante’s story, I really do, but idk.. at times it felt like he was into Maggie just because Ellis was and he was smitten with her since day one. Nils, you have my heart. The fact that he was willing to hide Maggie's secrets from the rest of his pack meant a lot to me. I liked Ozren. He’s described as a playboy, but as soon as he sees Maggie, he only wants her. I’m not sure how I feel about McQuinn tho.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a perfectly fine book. It was fun, great queer and neurodivergent rep and message. Enjoyable writing. Torturous cliffhanger. I think I just need to stop reading omegaverse in general because it's too cute and wholesome for me.
I do recommend this book, though, if you're into that sort of thing.
Thea Masen is an instant read author for me, and I’m thinking Jenni Peck is going to make that list now, too. I’ve never read a book about a water polo team, never read an OV about the Olympics - ugh it’s so damn good. I did text the author immediately upon finishing the ARC essentially screaming “WHYYYYYY 😭” so needless to say I can’t wait until book 2.
I never really liked this one to begin with. I took a break and went back to it purely because I'm slacking on the why choose front. I did try and at some point it picked up, but the end just had me going Stupid. Stupid. It started off with Meggie losing her spot to Daniel in swimming and not going to the Olympics. Then comes the water polo which she has zero training for and it felt a little insulting and wishy washy. Add to that the fact that she wouldn't just screw over herself if she got caught, it was meh from the off.
With Ellis it felt like cheating vibes, even though he had discussed it with Dante. It was Ellis heavy, the golden retriever on her side, dragging along his bond mate.
Harrison was wishy washy on the ditching a girlfriend he nor the rest of his pack didn't like. He was all about scent and that was really the only thing. Other than that there wasn't anything to him except being the leader and almost losing control. I was glad he got rid of Ava, and more surprised she took it so well. I'm not sure if she was playing docile or not but her mean girl got upstaged by the replacement beta.
McQuinn, yeah no. He was antagonistic, had a will they won't they with Nils. The bet thing. WTF?
Oz, because there has to be a daddy in there somewhere.
Dante felt like he'd been dragged along by Ellis. What happened to his mom was sad, but as soon as the truth is revealed he was all in. He did still feel like the attached bond mate.
Nils. I liked Nils, he had a head on his shoulder, was calm and loyal. I liked how he handled the whole omega thing. He slipped a bit when it came to Mcquinn but he was the best guy in the pack.
It was the cover real, Nils support and the fall out that I started to rethink my opinion on this book. I liked the support and where it was going...and then she pulled the self sacrifice I can't do it before the vote, running whilst projecting she was an omega everywhere. Ends on a kidnapping cliffy. I have no desire to read the next part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
A faint whiff of brown sugar lingers in the steamy air. For a second, my alpha nature rears up, snapping at me to pay attention to her scent. There’s something different about it. Something that makes me feel primal and needy. Something that makes me want to chase her, destroy her the way she’s destroying me.
—
Rating: 5/5 Spice: 3/5
THAT CLIFFHANGER 😩😩 *throws self on the ground* It was hard to put the book down and I was hit with such a cliffy!
Meggie’s dream since she was young is to make the Olympic swim team with her best friend Emily. When she loses her qualification spot to her ex-boyfriend by mere seconds, she is ready to wallow in hopelessness. Until a second chance is presented to her by Ellis, Emily’s brother. She just has to learn a new sport, water polo. She is nothing, if not determined and hard-working. Oh, and also fight her biology and hide her omega designation. With the help of her scent blockers and heat suppressants, it should be easy, right?
This new author duo was such a discovery and a total winning formula! The pacing was great as well as the relationship developments between Meggie and each Alpha. I also loved the emotional connection between Nils and McQuinn, and Ellis and Dante. That when they got together, it wasn’t just about physical release. And the scent descriptions? Just perfect, especially when accompanied by little situations to better visualize them. It was so poetic.
The Alphas did not blend in together and there was something to love about each one. Meggie did not stand a chance!
💜Omegaverse Olympic RH MMFMMMM 💜First Person/Multi POV 💜Has MM, established relationship 💜OW drama* 💜Sport is water polo, she was a swimmer 💜One MC is a MEGA manwhore 🙄 💜One MC never been with a woman 💜One MC has a GF* 💜Attempted assault on page 💜Cliffhanger
FMC- Meggie MCs- Ellis, Dante, Harrison, Nils, McQuinn and Ozren
Can’t review further as it’s been way too long since I read this. I just remember finding Oz to be so sleazy and he ruined the book for me. And the fact that one of them had a girlfriend up until like 70% (according to my highlights) I think that’s why I put OWD, because of the GF. But also that Oz literally flirted with every female.
No one told me there would be a cliffy and now I'm a little bit dying inside!!! Whelp, at least the second part comes out my birthday week, so that's something to look forward to!
I'm also rating this book 1 star because I spent three whole days lost in a YT hole watching hot, ripped Water Polo dudes non stop. My eyeballs may fall out because somewhere around the 23 hr mark I stopped being able to blink. Remember those old screens, and if you left them on one image for too long they would "ghost" and you would forever see that image? Yeah, well, that's my eyeballs and water polo guys. Ghosted on my sight. Forever.
But this book was sooooo good! You cant skip it, it is totally worth the 3 day YT rabbit hole and eyeball ghosting!! I can't take my mind off of it! The characters are complex, and all seven of them make up such a well-rounded cast. I love how they come together, and I love the premise of the book! I am feral for these men, and absolutely need 3 or 4 of them on my life. She needs to share.
I beta-read this Omegaverse sports romance and had a blast!! This book is pure fun, low stakes romance that’s a perfect easy summer read. There are six MMCs (yes six) and yet I had no trouble distinguishing them all in my head. All the characters have distinct, memorable personalities and it’s so fun watching their relationships develop. You will also want to keep an eye out for part 2, because that ending 👀👀👀
This is a very solid Omegaverse. The underlying politics of A/B/O stories are still there since Omega treatment is a huge plot point, but this book doesn't go on long political tangents like some of the other Omegaverse books I've read do.
I only have three complaints that keep this from being a 4 star: • Then men blend together. The story could have benefited from condensing the pack to 3 or 4 members instead of 6, or flushed out each of the 6 a little more to make them feel more than a one dimensional attribute. (Like hot tempered red head.) • A sensitivity reader might have been useful. It felt like there were a few portrayals that were teetering on the edge of stereotypes. And one of the men had a very uncommon name that didn't make any sense for his heritage. It was all a little distracting, and was exacerbated by my prior point. • Last, her best friend really didn't feel like a good friend. Being that was her only friend, it really didn't sit well. The friend manipulates her and the pack into situations that are not good for either and it's for purely selfish reason.
Otherwise, the spice and sexual tension was great. The angst was fairly low. A good beach read. I will definitely read the next book.
A sweet owning your identity omega-verse RH sports romance.
⭐️ 4.5 🌶️ 4 🖤 1
This book has a little bit for everyone! Tropes include:
Enemies to lovers Friends to lovers Cinnamon Roll MMC Tattooed Motor-biker Sports romance Miscommunication MM RH Nesting Knotting Omega-verse Alpha-hole MMC Growling Alpha / Omega chemistry Touch her & 💀
I finished this book in one sitting. At 5am in the morning. That should tell you something.
I am a sucker for RH, omega-verse & anything sports romance so this book was naturally going to be up my alley! I just loved this book so much, the characters having depth on their own rights, the world building was enough that I knew who was who, the story flowing to keep interest for the readers and good character development.
I also loved the ending! I truly think it needed this type of ending, to solidly the relationships between the FMC and the alphas.
The only thing that stopped me from giving all 5 stars, is that I personally like my books darker. That’s just a personal preference though.
I’m still thinking about this book after finishing it and I’ve driven straight into Book 2!
Oh my goodness I love this omegaverse SO MUCH. Who would have thought that I needed a water polo romance? I sure didn’t until RIGHT NOW.
I’m a slot for a hidden omega designation trope and a slow burn. This absolutely nailed both! It was spicy and sweet with just enough edge to keep it fresh and interesting.
Thea takes us into an omegaverse with a team prepping for the Paris Summer Olympics. Meggie narrowly misses out on her chance to compete on the Olympic swim team. Which is a major problem because she won't be able to compete in the next one. She is running out of time.
People perfume at the age of 20, and she perfumed as an omega two years ago. She's been hiding her scent for two years and using heat blockers to prevent her heat, which all omegas reach by the time they are 23. These Olympics are her only chance to compete because omegas aren't allowed at the Olympics due to "safety" concerns.
Masked as a beta, she joins Pack Hart, a well-formed water polo team but slowly unravelling pack without an omega. Each member of the Pack come to know her in their own way and some resist this pull she has over them.
Thea has always surprised me at how well she can build a character in so few words. This isn't novella length like her other works, but it does have six (!) alphas that she manages to create and give life to in a quick span of work. Everyone is a full character. Everyone's back story and motive and chemistry is believable and full of feeling.
Read this for fun, read this for levity, and read this to cheer on the underdog.
I was blessed.. I mean BLESSED with an ARC of this book! I Loved it! I am a huge Omega-verse reader and I couldn’t put this down.. read it in a day and 1/2. And that is only because I had to work, I would have finished it sooner. It’s such a cute, fun Omegaverse with just the right amount of angst. All the characters have discernible personalities that it was easy to picture each 6 MMC! I really like Meggie (FMC). The character growth was really starting to show at the end,but ended on a tiny cliffhanger.. I can’t wait for Part 2! I definitely have to put this at the top of my 2024 list of new authors I have read and top of my 2024 favorite books this year.
Was given the opportunity to ARC read this story and I’m so glad I was! Perfect read before the Summer Olympics! I love sports romance books, and never thought I’d add water polo to the list! Lol!
Meggie dreams of nothing more than becoming an Olympic athlete despite her secret designation. With the help of 6 athletes who can never learn the truth she’s keeping from them, will she make her dreams come true or will the growing attractions between them all put an end to her goals?
Sweet, slow burn, OV, why choose sports romance. Ends on a cliffhanger. Can’t wait to read the 2nd half!
I devoured this. Wow. If you like omegaverse & sports romance I loved all of this. And the cliffhanger!!!! I’m screaming for the second one. I love Meggie she’s a take no shit omega and she’s great a queen. Excited to see some interactions with certain pack members in the next book and of course see how they do in the Olympics!
Tropes & themes: athlete MCs (swimmer FMC, water polo MMCs), Olympic training, hidden omega, forced proximity, teammates to lovers, kink: praise, spanking, power play & slight Daddy vibes. There are some darker themes related to OV, so check CWs!
Spoiler-free summary: Meggie has only ever wanted to be an Olympian, but when she presented at 20, she knew her dreams were never going to happen unless she pretended to be a beta. For two years, she’s kept her identity a secret, but when she doesn’t qualify for the Olympic swim team, she thinks her dream is well and truly dead. That is, until an opportunity arises for her to try out for the water polo team, a pack of alphas that need a female beta to actually compete.
Thoughts: Folks, I loved this one! Y’all know I am a huge sucker for forced proximity, especially when there’s secrets involved. Enter Meggie, an omega posing as a beta, having to move into a house of alphas and fake join their pack, per Olympic regulations. It’s like a drug to me.
Seriously though, I super enjoyed this! I loved all of the characters, and highly appreciated that although there are six MMCs, they were all unique and I could easily tell them apart! Meggie is also such a badass omega, and I love that she’s fighting the systems that oppress her.
I will warn you that this does end on a slight cliffy that left me BURNING for part two (coming August 9), but I am telling you that this is such an easy, enjoyable read and I definitely recommend!!
This premise is original and fresh. The writing was great -- unfussy and natural -- and hooked me right away. I read this almost in one sitting.
The building sexual and story tension was delicious. There is explicit on page spice, and when it hit it was fabulous, but it wasn't excessive in frequency which makes sense for the circumstances.
I felt for Meggie's predicament. She's dedicated, hard working, smart, and caring.
Pack Hart is wonderful. Their personalities were distinct and it was easy to keep track of who's who. I enjoyed the different established MM relationships within the group. As of now, Nils has my heart. He was so sweet to Meggie when he learned her secret.
FYI: One of the Alphas is dating a female Beta at the start of the book. It's clear this is not a deep, emotional connection for him, but I know that may turn some readers off.
I can't wait to get more relationship development in the next book and to see how this Pack fares at the Olympics. Both new and seasoned fans of Omegaverse romance are sure to enjoy this book.
Yeah, i'm gonna go ahead and need y'all to just send me part two immediately because what a perfect cliffy!!!
I love omegaverse. The hidden omega trope makes my heart happy every single time. Oz, being a total f*** boy and her ignoring him, it's hilarious to me. And him like drowning in that fact is superb. Harrisons aversion to smells as an alpha was interesting take and Ava being a snotty shit head but also kept around just for sex... meh
I like the pace. It's a tad predictable, but just like any good Hallmark movie, you know where it's going, and you're along for the ride anyway.
The existing relationships are nice. I love it when an established pack has a dynamic on its own outside of the fmc
My one thing.... As much as I love the water sports aspect of this, I really dislike that the pushing goal for this woman to go to the olympics is so emily has a friend there. I feel like that plays too much of a part rather than her deserving to go. Every time it was mentioned, it took everything not to throw my phone. I mean, this woman is an Olympic strength swimmer, and Ellis is worried that if she doesn't go, his sister's going to have a panic attack, and that's his driving force. I'll be honest. I don't care how bad of an event she had previously. I hate that. Emily's not my favorite, and I absolutely comprehend that her actions are plot drivers. I guess because her needs seem to be important here, but she's not the fmc it's making me aggravated. I mean, there were moments when Meggies skill was recognized, and yeah, I get it she's switching sports after qualifiers (suspend reality) but i struggled with this plot point so much!!!
I fear that because of this book I’m obsessed with omegaverse romances now 🫣 This was not only my first omegaverse but also my first sports romance and i was SUCKED into this world. My boyfriend was laughing at my yapping about the character, the challenges they face and the romance 🤣
But firstly, i ADORE the FMC Meggie. She is fierce and feminist and hardworking 💪🏽 then don’t even get me started on our 6 sexy MMC alphas 🥵 Harrison, McQuinn, Dante, Ellis, Nils and Oz are each so unique but wonderfully hot and sweet.
You can’t help but root for meggie & the pack to work out, and hope that they support her olympic dreams 🙏🏽 the cliffhanger ending for part one means I’ll be jumping in to part 2 IMMEDIATELY 👏🏽
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ Consumed: 📕 physical book, gifted to me by the author Jenni for no reason other than she is wonderfully sweet Read if you love: 🏊♀️ sports romance 🩵 omegaverse 🤍 MMM / MM / MMF / MF / all the combos 🩵 sister’s best friend 🏊♀️ “good girl” 🩵 pierced 🍆 🤍 grumpy x sunshine 🏊♀️ forced proximity 🩵 unique, memorable cast of characters 🤍 addicting, can’t put it down story 🏊♀️ badass FMC fighting for her rights 🩵 swoon worthy romance and spice 🤍 world building
I am really new to Omegaverse, but oh my goodness, this was incredible!
With so many MCs, I was worried I would get them mixed up, but I feel like each character had so much personality and was so well written. They were easy to remember, and all stood out on their own. I love them all, but it's just so cool how each one is so different, and they all take something different from their relationship with Meggie. I feel that's really impressive in a book with 7 MCS and under 300 pages! It didn't feel rushed either; if anything, it was a bit of a slow build! Meggie is such a sweetheart. I totally understand why she is hiding her designation. I appreciated her strong character; even with how tiring it would be to keep that secret from everyone, she kept her eye on her prize. It seemed like such a lonely way for her to survive, and I just wanted to wrap her up. She's precious. I really enjoyed the anticipation of wondering when people would start discovering her secret. This book had me really hooked; I couldn't put it down!
I got to read this as an ARC edition and I'm insanely happy to have dived right in. The authors have done a great job building likeable characters, a good OV world, and incorporating a perfectly timed release with real world event.
This book has been quick, fun and interesting. You get a core female friendship supporting a determined female lead. Guys who are red flag free (so far) and just enough spice to keep things interesting while allowing the destroy to shine. I have hopes for part 2 (and my impatient self is going to be stalking the next release)!
On a very odd note, this book was a joy to read in part due to great editing. I've run into several books lately, even some by bigger names, with horrific typos, grammar, and formatting issues. This one does not have any of those issues which allows the reader to roll through the pages without ever pulling out of the story to stumble through errors.
Mkay no one informed me this book would end on a cliffhanger, and that feels like a travesty. I’m dying for part 2.
Sports Omegaverse are a league of their own and quickly becoming my favorite genre and trope. Knot Giving Up did an AMAZING job of showing us the sport and the characters playing it and making the sport an active part of the plot. So you go girls.
This story ticked all my boxes for what I love in OV. I seriously couldn’t put it down and was DISTRACTED because I just wanted to get back to reading.
There are SIX ALPHAS and therefore SEVEN POVs in this book, which in an actual heck-ton. I don’t know how else it could have been done, and I thought the authors did a great job by putting the characters individual art at the beginning of their chapter to help distinguish who is who.
Why does Meggie HAVE to be in the Olympics?! Why can’t she go to Paris as a tourist or even buy a family ticket??? Especially if her best friend is already going she could easily get a “athlete friends and family” ticket.
She would join any team just to be in the Olympics and I’m not understanding why? She didn’t make the diving team so like 2 weeks before Paris she joins the Olympic water polo team… She wants to be in the games JUST BECAUSE and I can’t wrap my head around that.
This was so good! I went into this only knowing it was a sporty omegaverse and I was impressed! There are 6 guys! Love a larger harem! We have some super fun secret omega angst, MM, unique male leads and a super supportive bestie. And lots of good spice!! I can’t wait to read the next book, I believe it’ll be the conclusion. Overall if you’re looking for a sweet omegaverse with hot muscly swimmers vying for the Olympics, give this book a try!
Thoughts: Loved this series. Lots of spice and group scenes, great action and sports scenes and real romance with both the bonded pack members and between her and the pack members.
ARC Read: I was honoured to be given an ARC of this book, and let me tell you, it's one of my fav reads of this year! The characters are extremely believable and likeable (I have personal issues with Oz but maybe that's just me lol) which can be a problem in Omegaverse books, the plot was plotting, spice was written SO WELL. The cliffhanger was so mean I audibly gasped haha so I'm already reading the second book in the duet. Definitely recommend!
I cannot explain to you how feral I am for this omegaverse. I adore both sports romances and omegaverse romances. Add the two together and Knot Giving Up is tailor made for me. Part two of Meggie and her Alpha’s cannot get here fast enough!