Ashley & the A-Listers

Sweetverse #10

by Lana Kole

Ashley should be used to celebrities walking through the glass doors of All Jacked Up.
But those celebrities weren’t Cameron Thomas, Hollywood’s hottest new action star. Those celebrities didn’t need to learn kick boxing, which happened to be Ashley’s expertise.
Those celebrities definitely weren’t omegas who made Ashley’s alpha hindbrain howl.
But nothing can be easy.
Cameron is a package deal, and comes with an alpha bodyguard. A familiar one.
Dylan.
The childhood best friend, the one who got away… or ran away, over ten years ago.
And that’s not the only addition. River, the hot beta she met at the coffee shop, happens to be Cameron’s secret boyfriend.
The thing is, Ashley wants a pack. But as instinctual as it is to fall back into old habits with Dylan, a celebrity’s life is anything but easy.
As their time together at the gym comes to an end, Ashley will have to muster up the courage to go after what she really wants… once she figures out what that is.

Genres: Omegaverse, Romance, Fantasy, Second Chance, Adult, Polyamory, Contemporary

504 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 27, 2024

About the author

With a southern twang that's all charm, Lana hails from Tennessee with her four feline roommates. If one of them isn't demanding her attention, she's most likely writing. Her stories bring life to characters who don't fit the mold, romance as sweet as it is sexy, and worlds better than this one.
Author of paranormal, sweet omegaverse, monster romance, and queer love stories with a happily ever after.

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute! Felt like Dylan fell to the sidelines at the halfway point and wish Ashley’s relationships with River and Cameron had more depth.

[winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

I wouldn’t dream of skipping a Sweetverse book, so I’m stoked there’s another one out. I love female alpha A/B/O books (Bad Alpha is my favorite in the series), so I’m glad we got Ashley’s story. Here’s to hoping for even more dominant women in sequels and spinoffs!

I’m always kinda surprised that everyone doesn’t date each other in the packs, and that there’s usually only one MM relationship in each book. There’s some flirty banter now and then that I hoped would lead to more, but alas. So overall, enjoyable book. Very gay, but could be even gayer. Let River and Dylan kiss!

Spice: 4-5/5
Angst: 1/5

[Kristen ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

┈ Read this if you like ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
✦ Omegaverse
✦ Why Choose?
✦ Childhood Best Friends
✦ Second Chance Romance
✦ FMC Alphas
✦ MMFM Romance
✦ Secret Relationships

┈ MY THOUGHTS ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
- Every Omegaverse novel by Lana Kole is a guaranteed fun time. I love the complex pack dynamics, messy pasts, complex relationships, angst, etc.
- I always love it when there's female alpha representation. I couldn't help but compare Ashley to Eve from Bad Alpha (book #6). While they are both strong, independent, and protective, that's about where their similarities die 😂
- This book was so messy in some parts, especially near the end! It made for a very suspenseful page-turner!
- Overall: It's not my favorite from the series so far, but it's a fun read. I have no major issues or complaints.

┈ OVERVIEW ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
⛔️ Warning - possible spoilers below ⛔️
Emojis: 💪👟🎬🎥🍿✍️🏡
Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Overall:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Cover Art: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Format: eBook
POV: Multi 👨‍👨‍👧
Would I Recommend? 👍
Read Again? 👎
Setting / Location: N/A
Heroine/FMC: Ashley
〰️Characteristics: Alpha | 5-foot-10, dark hair with an undercut, russet colored eyes, athletic and muscular
〰️Occupation: Gym Manager @ All Jacked Up
〰️Age: 28
〰️Nickname(s): Alpha
Hero/MMC: Cameron Thomas
〰️Characteristics: Omega | Slim but square jaw, effortlessly messy hair (short around his temples but long on top), around 5-foot-10, pretty hazel eyes, megawatt smile
〰️Occupation: Actor/Movie Star
〰️Age: N/A
〰️Nickname(s): Baby, babe
Hero/MMC: Dylan
〰️Characteristics: Alpha | Chestnut hair, tall, muscular
〰️Occupation: Bodyguard
〰️Age: 28
〰️Nickname(s): N/A
Hero/MMC: River Thorton
〰️Characteristics: Beta | Mustache, messy shoulder-length blonde hair, sharp jawline, tattooed hands, smooth voice, tall, jade-green eyes
〰️Occupation: Screenwriter
〰️Age: N/A
〰️Nickname(s): Alpha
H/h virgin? No
First kiss💋: A/D: 37%/41%, A/C: 70%, A/R: 70%
First time they have sex: A/D: 47%, A/C: 71%, A/R: 98%%
First time they say "I Love You": C/R: 22%, D>A: 43%, A>D: 47%, A/C: N/A, A/R: N/A
Noteworthy Chapters🔥: 10, 12, 20, 22, 26, 31, 34, 43, 50
Kinks: Praise, dirty talk, toys, edging, no condom, 🍑 play, knotting 🪢, biting/marking, cum jammer, sub/Dom, domination, forced orgasms, hand necklace, hair-pulling, cuckolding
OW/OM Drama? No
H/h cheat? No
Time apart? Yes
Did I cry? No
Ending: HEA 🥰
Standalone/Series? Yes to both
Epilogue? Yes

[Natalie H]

Jan 2025
Kindle edition

DNF@35%. There are two female alphas in the series. Eve and then Ashley. Ashley was less badass and more pining over the past. You had the childhood friend running away because he was an alpha, you had the movie star and the boyfriend beta. It was sweet. At this stage I didn't get the jealousy on the monogamy, menage angle. The publicist sucked. At 35% you had the past regrets and memories for Ashley and the friend. It was soft but also felt hollow. A shame because this would've worked nicely for a group challenge. Pining. All around pining.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay! River was an idiot but yk what I loved Ashley, and the cameos are a dream I was so close to Lola I was kicking my feet, what a dream

[mspotts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a lot of thoughts on this one.

Usually, I love stories with female alphas and male omegas because they're so rare in this genre, but this wasn't a hit for me. This pack was messy, with a lot of miscommunication and jealousy going on, particularly towards the end.

It felt like there were 2 separate love stories going on: a second chance romance between Ashley and Dylan, and the "trouble in paradise" situation with River and Cam. Add in the celebrity storyline, and you have a lot of moving parts.

Actually, there was a 3rd romance, the budding relationship between Ashley and Cam, which was more instinct driven and so was less developed.

Ashley's reluctance to start anything with Cam was weird, since it basically meant Dylan and Cam had to urge her along each step of the way. Not very romantic IMO.

The characters were okay. I liked Ashley a lot, she was strong and vulnerable with flaws. Dylan was flawed too, but was trying to do better, and he worked towards improving himself. He was a good guy, if a little bland.

River, I liked less. He was a completely different person in his POV compared with how others saw him, and he constantly had his guard up. My least favourite was Cam. He was a selfish, spoiled brat and I can't see why anyone bothered with him, by the end.

I think Lana Kole writes omegaverse relationships at her best when they concern non-standard couples e.g. beta/omega or alpha/alpha. She doesn't write very strong cohesive packs, and that flaw was very evident in this latest book.

Oh well, on to the next one.

[Rambling Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now, one thing I will say is that I've read all of Kole's OV books, and this one is a 3.5 for me.

I'm on the eternal hunt for an OV of hers that I can give 5 stars to because I think she can do it. Even though they typically hit in the 3.5-4 range for me, I honestly enjoy her stories or I wouldn't keep coming back.

What I liked...

✔️Female Alpha (we hardly get to see those)
✔️Physically AND mentally strong leading lady (cheers for those men wanting her to flex for them)
✔️Male Omega
✔️Second-Chance Romance
✔️Alpha x Alpha in the pack
✔️Platonic Pack Affection (not everybody needs to s3x everybody else up)

Ashley: Leading lady and female alpha with the muscles and know-how to kick anyone's butt. She's sweet and attentive, and Kole lets her have her alpha instincts, which I appreciate. In a lot of OV, the FMC tends to be an omega, and there's a 50% that she also hates or is frightened by her designation. With Ashley, we get a bit of a different take. Like Kathryn Moon's Eve in Bad Alpha, Ashley has strength and firmness, but unlike Eve, she's more steady and balanced. Sure , she's got her weak spots, Dylan being one of them, but she's a regular woman who just deserves some love.

Dylan: The aforementioned "weak spot," Dylan is our second chance romance. He's an alpha too, and although he doesn't hate his designation (or at least that's not how I read him), he's got some baggage associated with it. Overall, he's a well-meaning, sweet guy who just wants to protect the people around him and make up for his mistakes.

River: As our requisite beta, River is up against a lot with two alphas in the picture, though only one of them gets romantically involved with his omega. I liked River; he's caring, kind, and just wants to be loved freely and openly. He does mess up, but I think Kole did a good job of giving enough cause so that we can see him sympathetically instead of it turning him into some kind of villain.

Cam: Like Rake from Lola and the Millionaires, Cam is a little bit ruled by his instincts. There are times where he fits the stereotype of the omega character, but he's generally a decently well-rounded character. These "designation" moments are balanced out with enough scenes where he's also just Cameron, a man who wants to be competent and loved and part of a family.

Where I struggled...

❕Dylan and Ashley's relationship is a focal point in the first major portion of the story, but once they get themselves sorted out, I feel like he fades to the background. He's still there, and he's steady, supportive, and giving Ashley the care she deserves, but I feel like once his box was "checked," there just wasn't much spotlight on him. He's also not a part of the group s3x outside of occasionally watching, and even in those moments he's not super present, so at times he just felt like an extra in the scene.
❕River and Ashley's relationship was... fine. There's admiration, friendship, and appreciation, but for me, the physical/romantic chemistry didn't quite hit the peak that I was hoping for. They had some good bonding moments, which I definitely enjoyed as a reader, but I feel like even at the end, I wasn't completely convinced/clear on what their relationship dynamic was. Were they in love with each other the way that he and Cam are or Ashley and Cam or Ashley and Dylan? Or is part of the s3xual interaction driven by the heat of the moment, and they're just affectionate packmates/friends? I'm not really sure, to be honest. I would have liked more clarity on that and more chemistry if there was supposed to be a real, deep romantic connection there. There are added complications in his jealousy of Ashley's ability to claim and mark Cam, which Kole dealt with well, but I wish there had been more in the story that smoothed this all out.

Like I said before, I keep coming back for more because I'm entertained by Kole's stories, but my wait for a five-star continues.

[Addison · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ashley & the A-Listers was an absolute delight—a perfect mix of second-chance romance, sizzling tension, and heartwarming pack dynamics. Lana Kole has once again delivered an Omegaverse story that balances emotional depth with lighthearted fun, and I was hooked from the very first page.
Ashley is a female alpha with a no-nonsense attitude and a heart of gold, working as a personal trainer at All Jacked Up. When Hollywood’s hottest omega, Cameron Thomas, walks into her gym needing stunt training, she never expects her past to collide with her present. But then Cameron’s bodyguard arrives… and it’s Dylan, the alpha best friend who abandoned her over a decade ago. As if that wasn’t complicated enough, Cameron has a secret beta boyfriend, River, who might just be the missing piece in all of their lives.
I loved Ashley. She’s a badass alpha who can throw a punch and melt hearts in the same breath. Seeing her navigate her complicated history with Dylan, while also falling for Cameron and River, was so satisfying. And let’s talk about the pack dynamics—every relationship in this book felt organic and full of chemistry. Dylan is trying to make amends for his past mistakes, Cameron is balancing fame with his own personal desires, and River is the quiet yet fierce thread that holds them all together.
This book had everything I adore in a romance. The second-chance tension between Ashley and Dylan? Delicious. The way Cameron and River’s love was celebrated rather than sidelined? Perfection. The mix of angst and lighthearted moments that kept the story moving? Chef’s kiss.
And the spice? Incredible. The chemistry between all four of them crackled on the page, and the way Ashley cared for Cameron and River while still challenging Dylan was just so good.
If you’re looking for an Omegaverse romance that delivers strong characters, a compelling slow-burn, and a found-family feel, Ashley & the A-Listers is a must-read. It’s emotional, sexy, and full of heart—I didn’t want it to end!

[JabberwockyStories · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for a free e-ARC, this is my honest review!

This is my first Sweetverse novel and I really loved all the charactes! Ashley and the A-Listers follows Ashley (an Alpha fitness instructor), Dylan (an Alpha bodyguard and Ashley's childhood crush), Cam (an Omega actor), and River (a Beta screenwriter who has a secret relationship with Cam).

I'm a sucker for a second-chance romance and I really loved waching Ashley and Dylan come back together and rebuild their relationship. However, once that relationship was rebuilt, I felt that Dylan's character took a back-seat for the rest of the story.

Cam and River's relationship was frustrating but that was kind of the point. Cam doesn't realize how much he takes for granted with River and River can't voice his feelings (...men...) to show he feels side-lined, even more so when Ashley comes into the picture.

Speaking of, I love the relationship Ashley and Cam build. It's a textbook Alpha/Omega relationship but that is not a bad thing! They are sweet and tender with one another! However I wish there was more shown with the relationship between Ashely and River. In some instances it just felt like they were acquaintances, while other times it sounded like they could build a romantic relationship.

I think all in all this was a great read and I'll be picking up more of the Sweetverse novels!

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was really sweet and fun, but i had some issues with the pacing of the book. i know that some of the book feels rushed on purpose in order to become an important plot point later, but it still felt strange to read something where so many times i was thinking "hmm this is moving too quickly."
this book is also interesting for an omegaverse pack novel, because it sort of plays with the structure of typical pack novels, but i'm not sure if it's in a way that i like or not.

i like all of the characters, but by the end of the novel, it kinda just feels like there are 3 couples. we've got ashley and dylan, cameron and river, and ashley and cameron. and even though the end of the book is really about river finding his place within the pack, it still doesn't really feel like this pack is wholly unified. and i dunno if that's just my own personal preference because i love when the whole pack is together, or if it feels actually feels as disjointed as i read it as.

even when ashley bonds river, it still feels as though this is just to form a tangible bond between cameron and river.

i dunno. i had a lovely time reading this book, so it doesn't detract that much from the book as you're reading it, but as soon as you finish it, you realize that the pack as a whole still feels somewhat incomplete.

[Mar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the main difference between the Kathryn Moon books of this series and Lana Cole ones is that with the first author there’s more plot other than the relationship itself and with the latter it’s literally only the characters themselves. It’s necessarily bad but you do need to be in the right mood for that and it does get a bit boring after a while.

It was a whatever book that I was going to give three stars to, but then the last plot happened with River doing the shitty thing of calling the paparazzi. I felt like that made no sense with his character, it was so fucking random and I see him just leaving the pack before doing that. It made the story sooo fucking annoying to read. Everyone kept blaming themselves and even though sure they did do some things, the one that fucking up royally was river.

I do believe that if everyone just talked together things would’ve worked out. But that didn’t happen bc for some reason the author wanted a last conflict in the book and I just hated that decision.

Also, even though river apologized it did feel like he was just being all high and mighty about his decision instead of taking responsibility for his actions. It was like “you made me do this” but literally no one did this was your own fucking decision.

And that is why I’m giving it two stars lol

[M Janee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is written in third person pov (she/they instead of I/us), so keep that in mind for anyone who has issues with that. For me, 3rd person isn't an instant dnf, but I usually do struggle a little to connect with characters that way and sometimes remembering whose pov it is.

I didn't really have that problem in this one though. I only had to recheck whose pov it was once.

I did mentally change one of the characters' names to Cal/Callum, so if I refer to that in this, it's now a habit. Sorry, not sorry my baby bro's name is Cameron 😅

I'm a sucker for a male omega (though personally I prefer the omega to be the centre of a pack rather than an alpha), and i really enjoyed this omega. He's cheeky and charming. I loved when he took Ash on set, knowing he was doing a steamy scene to rile her up because neither had admitted their feelings yet.

I loved that the fmc alpha in this was also the pack alpha. That rarely happens, so it was quite the treat.

The first half of this focuses on Ashley and Dylan. Their past and the betrayal of him ghosting her for a decade. With Cal and River's intervening, they finally come to gethet and start to repair that lost friendship.

[Amber Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a great mix of situations that brought this group together. Ashley and Dylan were childhood best friends turned estranged turned lovers. Ashley and Cam were a workplace romance - kickboxing trainer and trainee. Cam and River were also a workplace romance - actor and writer. Through some scheming, shenanigans, and LOTS of flirting, this group got all packed up. The tension was great, the spice was spicy (I love a good heat scene), and there was just enough angst to add some drama to the normal coziness of the Sweetverse novels. Plus I love that we got a female alpha as the main character!

[-iLovePasta · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF🚩

What's this? Within Lola's universe and we get this??? THIS??? I was made to believe FMC was this badass woman who'll make sure the person who hurt her gets to either be invisible in her life begs for their chance to be in her life again. It was LITERALLY was she said in one chapter.

BRO, SHE DID THE OPPOSITE. One word was all it took (yes, it's the magical word 'sorry') and she's all putty and and opening her legs and her life to the guy again. What???????? Where's the begging???? Grovelling???? One word and a nice explanation was all it took to forget your years of pain? WHAAT??

Trash. Wouldn't recommend this book tbh. Negative 5 stars ❌️

[my_throne_of_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun! I have loved Lana’s omega verse books and this new one was absolutely stunning.
It follows Ashley a female alpha that works as a personal trainer at a gym. One day a famous omega, Cameron, comes in to learn stunts for his new movies. Ashley is intrigued by him but then his bodyguard arrives and it turns out to be Dylan an alpha who left her all those years ago. Ashley is still angry about what happened but Dylan wants to try and earn his forgiveness. Cameron also has a secret beta boyfriend river. All for them are trying to figure out what this all means for them.
I loved Ashley! She is an absolute adorable but badass alpha and she does it amazingly. Seeing her take care of Cam and even River was so cute. But also seeing her butt heads with Dylan as he f-de up in the past was amazing sight to see. Their dynamics just worked so well I was rooting for them from the start.
Thanks to Lana Kole for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathryn Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outstanding Sweetverse entry!!!

Can I just say I adore female Alphas?! Ashley is *chef’s kiss* perfection! I loved her Alpha Dylan and that he was *just* hers but loved the pack too. I felt so very bad for their Beta River. I completely got where he was coming from and WHY he did what he did. I was even a little angry at the Omega Cameron over all of it and I never get angry at the Omegas! In the end, he completely redeemed himself and proved he was the adorable, lovable Omega I knew he was. 💜

[Zenia · Rating 2 out of 5]

sounded good but couldn’t really get into the groove

**** spoiler ahead please skip if you don’t want to see*****


I really tried to love this moved all
The other books. I loved the being like a lot ..but i feeling like after the bond with Dylan the author kinda booted his charter to
The curb and he only had a few places. All the spicy spots revolved around the omega and the beta. But never the other alpha. He’s part of the pack too but he was just left out sadly. He didn’t have much substance.

[Nika · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was hard for me to rank. Honestly it just seem to long, the end was really dragging on. I acually liked all the characters to one point - the marking in the trailer. I know most people here dont get Rivers decition, but for me it was acually pretty understandable, he was hurt and so would I if my partner didnt want to risk a little for me but he did for someone he knew 2 months. By that point i got tired of this story and struggled with finishing it. I albo dont love how even by the end, their (mostly Ashley and River) relationship wasnt clearly stated.

[Jami Kehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your everyday pack

I feel like this book has been a long time coming...and it was certainly worth the wait.

This pack is so easy to fall in love with. Each character has such a filling background and story. And it's not your everyday pack story. The alphas, beta, and omega are all one of a kind.

I loved getting glimpses of previous sweetverse characters, too!

What a great book to end the year with!

[Monica Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had all of my favourite things.

Second chance romance with an FMC that can kick your butt. Ashley proves that you can be strong and soft at the same time.

It is always wonderful when the M's MM and it is something that is celebrated and not pushed into the background.

There is angst, but the story is still lighthearted.

My only critique is that I would have preferred Dylan to have more page time and the relationship between Ashley and River to be more flushed out.

[Galina Sulaiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Betas worth

Ashley is a personal trainer Alpha who ends up training a famous omega male who comes with a bodyguard, someone Ashley used to love. Now she’s a strong woman, stronger in some ways than the alpha bodyguard. She trains the omega who developed a crush on her. Then there’s the beta screenwriter, a very real person who gets hurt, jealous,insecure and makes a mistake. This pack isn’t a conventional one, but it’s why it’s a good book.

[Ah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute second chance omegaverse romance!

The characters were all so sweet and the progression of their relationships was very well done as each one grew at its own pace. The relationship challenges the MCs faced felt very down to earth and the character growth as they worked through those challenges flowed nicely.

This was a great addition to the series overall and it was nice to see characters from previous books drop in!

[Mikayla Graves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah....

I loved the beginning. The second chance romance and themes of loss and healing were beautiful. I was ready to call every 4* review tasteless, but then the last 150 pages happened. Ah...still don't like a third act break-up. Everything that was supposed to be joyful and lovely just got to be horrible instead! Messy drama for no reason. Idk. Made me sad, honestly. Beginning was 5*. End was closer to a 3, if I'm being generous.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will never not love a book in this series, I guess. It's just perfect.

This book was very good. I love a second chance, and I don't know if Dylan deserved a second chance.. But I did enjoy watching him get one. Almost everything about this book was perfect, except what they did to River. I'm not going to spoil it, but it was hard to read.

But, per usual, they were adorable, sexy, and hilarious. I love them.

[Rachael Daley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the soft, strong, positive female alpha and I want more books with this type of character. I loved Ashely. I would have loved it more if she felt more like the main character instead of part of an ensemble cast. I loved the pack interactions. I think the biggest let down was the plot. All of the problems seemed too easily solved to provide the angst that the book wanted to portray.

[Julia Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreakingly great read from Lana Kole. Once again she’s done it she’s made me laugh and cry through a book! I love all of the sweetverse books. This one is just another amazingly achingly sweet. Thank you Lana for the ARC.

[Erica Batman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series, but this one just didn’t work. The relationship between Cameron and River was strong, as was the relationship between Ashley and Dylan. Cameron and Ashley together just felt like an excuse to make a pack. I am still confused about the feelings between River and Ashley.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I keep reading the books in this series because I'm hooked but sometimes they're hit and miss, like this one. Everyone in the book took turns hurting each other's feelings and it felt a little masochistic. I'm always down for a female alpha, no question about it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashley & the A-Listers by Lana Kole – This series is on kindle unlimited. Secrets and miscommunication are this pack’s first reaction, so if that drives you crazy be warned! I did have so much fun with Lana Cole turning om Cruise into an omega lol! Happy Reading!

[T. Pons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the characters in the story, but I found myself frustrated by the storytelling. the plot is a great concept, I'm just not sure it was properly executed. I honestly wish I had enjoyed this more considering how vibrant it is.