The Knotty Omega: A Starbrook City Omegaverse Rom-Com Novel

Starbrook City Omegaverse #1

by Jessica Winters

Reached #7 in Polyamory Romance!!!

Cady has her dream job. Her dedication to her career and omega designation makes her uniquely qualified to write the advice column that’s turned into a national The Knotty Omega.

The cute beta at work keeps flirting with her, and while she wishes things could be different, the beta has a bite mark- he’s already bonded to a pack.

And a pack is the last thing Cady wants.

When her experimental drug that makes her smell bonded is literally flushed down the toilet, her position as advice columnist is called into question.

How can she give advice on pack life if she doesn’t have one?

A deal with the Editor in Chief has her searching for the one thing she never wanted.

Will the cute beta from work and his pack finally tear down her walls? Or will she forever give up her position

The Knotty Omega




The Knotty Omega is the first in a set of interconnected standalones. This is insta-love, low angst, guaranteed HEA.This romance is intended for readers 18+. It contains knotting, heat, bondings, bites, and is a why-choose MMFMMM.

Genres: Omegaverse, Romance, Why Choose, M M Romance, Contemporary, Fantasy, Spicy

333 pages, Paperback

Published March 23, 2025

Reviews

[Persephone · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a self-published work of fiction. My ARC reading team and I have done our best to catch any typos and/or grammar mistakes. However, if you do happen to catch something, please do not report it, please email me at *author's email* and I will update the file immediately.

I should've closed and returned the book at this point, before even making it to Chapter 1.

Ma'am, it is not my job to be your free editor after your book has already been released. And I could have red penciled this story to death. The author obviously didn't use anything as basic as even spell-check, considering there were blatant mistakes that any novice software would've caught on the first pass. Then there were the words used that didn't make sense or mixing up words like "you" and "your," for one tiny example of the numerous mistakes. There were also a ton of punctuation, formatting, and other errors, such as quotations beginning a sentence and never ending it.



I can deal with a mistake or two - they happen. If there are dozens? That's an easy 1-2 stars off. Authors, you are writing a book. Step one is writing, step two is editing. There is no excuse for publishing something when you don't bother to give the bare minimum of respect to your audience.



Now for the story...it was dull. I can't be nicer than that. It was simplistic, it was boring at times. I don't mind fluffy stories - I was actually looking forward to reading one. But even fluff needs a little substance to retain the shape.

The characters:

Cady - The omega. She's driven, she's avoided alphas, she has a crush on her coworker, and she does not want a pack in any way, shape, or form. This way of thinking dies a swift death when she scents her pack in person.



Archie - The beta. I liked Archie, initially, but all we really know about him is that he smells like the ocean, he has a crush on Cady, and is in a relationship with Matteo.

Matteo - Billionaire techie and head alpha. That's it. That's the amount of layering his character has. Oh, and he has a slight Italian accent.

Simon - Doctor, red hair, shy, virgin, inexplicably likes motorcycles.

Titus - Grumpy and is in the security field.

Ollie - Tattooed and owns a tattoo parlor and is the most lighthearted of the pack.

That's it. That's what we know about them. I guess the author felt that numerous sex scenes should take the place of character development. And the sex scenes weren't anything to write home about (pun intended) because they all felt copy and paste and I began skimming through them halfway through the book.



There were a few attempts to create a plot. I had hopes that Titus would offer a bit of resistance and tension, but that didn't last long. In fact, it was cleared up with a monologuing paragraph, and then he's making out with her against the wall.

The "threat" to Cady, that is supposed to be shocking to the reader that the pack that threatened her in person is the same pack that is responsible. With the annoying addition of the caricature female villain whose only motivation is that Cady is an omega with a job.



Speaking of caricatures, we get a brief glimpse of her family via a phone call, and this supposed loving existence she lived until she was 16, then flipped on a dime with no rhyme or reason as to why her parents were so desperate to see her bonded to an unsuitable pack. Literally just put in place for the paper-thin alphas to be able to coo over her horrible past, but no actual explanation as to why this happened to her. You'd think she'd want to figure that out in the following decade. I certainly would've appreciated an explanation, and not this excuse that has the substance of a tissue.



It's a first book, and for that reason alone, I'll give it two stars, even though I hovered over the one-star for a while. Editing would've brought it up to three. Any semblance of a story with developed characters would've made it a decent read. Sadly, an actual editor would've helped to flesh this out into a good book.

[Gayle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read a lot of OV. Sometimes plots and character names overlap. There's also a line to where too many stop being coincidence and turn concerning. This reminds me of another series. I flipped back through my reading journal and I can't figure out which one but the plot is similar and the characters are even more familiar. I know it's a new author. Maybe a reader prior to writing? I think some ideas from a previously written/read book slipped in here. Hopefully it gets better as she matures as a writer. I finished it and would have liked if not for the typos and things I've read before.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice, low-stress easy read.

The men are written well. They give great consent and are recognizable as different.

This book is spicy, the way that omegaverse is. Like, there's a lot of spice.

It's not a deep story but it's still sweet.

The villains are a bit over the top.

I really appreciated that the heroine is smart and fights for herself and doesn't fight against her own happiness, even if she's wary of being in a pack.

I love that her men weren't manwhores. One was even a virgin and at least another had only been with her beta.

[Lyrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very simple and straightforward story - and I mean that in good way. The writing is very readable and I was sucked in right away. The premise was fun, and the story is fast paced. There’s external drama that Cady and her Pack face, but little internal drama. This Pack falls HARD for her immediately. I liked them quite a lot - there’s a personality type for everyone (as usual). I did have to double check whose POV I was in a couple of times. I can see why this became so popular so quickly. I like this world, and the set up for future books.

MMFMMM
Cady - Omega
Simon - Alpha
Ollie - Alpha
Titus - Alpha
Archie - Beta (with Mattie)
Mattie - Alpha (with Archie)

[Zen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was very sweet with very little relationship angst. I could have done without the humanitarian award segment, but other than that, I loved it all.

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Cady & the de Lucca Pack were hella adorable but lord did they bang too much 🤣

[Cee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super sweet and fluffy with a pack that actually communicates. The hurt or conflict within the pack lasts a few chapters until they do talk it out, but it does all end up respectful.

I was literally giggling, kicking my feet, and hitting pillows from cuteness overload in the beginning. Then once she accepts them there is so, so much sex sooooo best of some world for some people? I started skimming some of it. The ending was a little OTT, but I'll forgive it because I liked the rest of the book so much.

Looking forward to reading Hannah's book!

[Cat H · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.6 stars.
This was exactly what I love in an omegaverse romance. Fluffy, sweet, smutty, very low angst and even lower angst relationship wise.
I really enjoyed all of the characters and how they interacted.
Can’t wait to read the next one.🙃

[Davina Herondale · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I just blitzed through this from 11pm to 1:15am? Ridiculous

[Moonlight_reading_29 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was such a fun read! It was funny, entertaining, and kept me hooked from the very beginning. I enjoyed every moment and couldn’t put it down.

[My_Strange_Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 70%. Too sugary sweet and got repetitive and boring very quickly.

[Kayley · Rating 1 out of 5]

yahhhhh this wasn't good. To all of y'all dirty liars who gave this anything above 2 stars and made me think this was worth it...I hope your pillow is hot on both sides. Just for a night or two, I am not cruel.

It somewhat scratches the omegaverse itch, but was not well done. The first 20% was good, held my interest and I was excited to see what was coming next. What came next? Nothing. Everything was super rushed and surface level. This book didn't know if it wanted to just be sweet & light or angsty. It was also somehow very VERY rushed and at the pace of a turtle race at the same time. I love instalove in my omegaverse as much as the next gal, but like this pushed it to crazy limits.

All the MMC's fit the standard tropes, golden retriever, billionaire (which for some reason, never meant anything at all?), grumpy dude, soft-spoken nerdy guy, and a strong & steady beta. I normally don't mind the repetitiveness of these characters types in omegaverse books, however absolutely nothing new was added here. Details that were brought up at one point were gone the next. I mean her cat was basically MIA after 40% in? Some things were left very surface level, and others were explored but not in a way that made any freaking impact.

Here's what bothered me the most:

1. Reggie is literally and figuratively forgotten in like the majority of this book. Which I get he is just the cat, but like she previously talked about him enough for people to think he was her Alpha.

2. Fully aware this is an OTT universe...but are we forgetting what Billionaire with a B means? Somehow, the pack alpha Mattie is the CEO of what equates to our worlds version on Apple. And he's a billionaire. Are we forgetting that the word Millionaire exists? Like it is just so wildly out there it took me out of the story. It didn't add anything at all to the story. I think they bought her some clothes and then pitched in to get her a car (that she never even used). WTF is the point on making a character a BILLIONAIRE and then doing nothing with it. I digress.

3. Why TF did the epilogue have Cady (the FMC) winning the equivalent of a noble peace prize for a freaking advice column???? This was brought up early and the last winner ESTABLISHED LAWS ALLOWING FOR OMEGAS RIGHTS! But yes...Cady writing an advice column is obviously on the same level. Duh.

4. Randomly making Simon a virgin...for what? He's supposed to be this insanely hot doctor, in a pack with a BILLIONAIRE, seems like a good dude, 31, and just hasn't had sex (or any variety of sex) because he's been busy???? Then they just bone & he somehow knows where the cl*t is. Makes sense.

5. There were also numerous spelling & grammar mistakes. One or two I can ignore, but I think I counted over 8.

6. Very unrealistic heat scenes. I am talking ZERO prep DP and TP. That's right, just straight going for it.

Love this genre, love these sub-genres & tropes, but hate this execution. Ranting cause I am mad I wasted my time on this one, but such is life.

[Magnafeana]

RTC, but some thoughts and plot stuff:

This had a great premise. FL uses a type of blocker that lets her smell “bonded”. I liked that. She also has trauma from her family and has gone LC/NC. There’s no reconciliation with them by the book’s end. I liked that too.

I think that was really all I liked?

I don’t like how the author used an aboriginal slur for a magazine name. A/B/O without the slashes is a slur. So. That was a jump scare.

And this was all very…easy?

I don’t know. I never really felt that any effort needed to be shown. Omegaverse and fated mate plots fall into a pit-hole with this: authors think the element circumvents any need for romantic growth, and, instead, focus on physical/sexual chemistry. And, to their credit, readers show that that’s what they want.

What would have increased my rating

- Allow there be more room for diegetic, authentic romantic intimacy and connection.

Instead of the weirdly inserted dialogue that just…explicitly explains things for no reason other than to get it out of the way, had more time been taken to imply the set up of the FL avoiding bonding and her past with her family, the FL being honest about it later would have hit harder.

Similar to her suddenly being understanding that Archie and his pack pulled strings to meet her. She just…understands because their scent matches. I wish she hadn’t been because there wasn’t a reason for her to be. There was more reason for her to be distrusting than trusting.

- Focus on non-sexual intimacy for the MMC POVs

Honestly, would have raised my rating if we could have gotten any sort of mainstay focus on the MMCs having a different intimacy than sexual with the FL. Alas. Such is omegaverse.

[Migeldy Mauri · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️

I must admit, I’m kicking myself for not diving into this book sooner. I've always seen it as a suggestion, but my mood at that time wasn't looking for a smutty omega read 😅.
The plot is a delightful rollercoaster that keeps you on the edge of your seat, with twists and turns that are unexpected for Caty but not for the reader 😂😂.Caty’s character is a breath of fresh air, her unapologetic “take no nonsense” attitude is both inspiring and refreshing, much better than having to read about a naive FMC. Watching her embark on a safe and comfortable relationship started her healing journey, and it was like witnessing a phoenix rise from the ashes, and it’s truly heartwarming. And let’s not forget her yummy Alphas and Beta each one adds a unique flavor to the story and brings something different into their relationship.

[Janie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was SWOONY WITH A CAPITAL S, no, scratch that. ALL. FUCKING. CAPS.
I know, I know. I’m predictable. But give me an Omegaverse book and I will devour it like a starved little gremlin. There’s just something about those bonds and the power dynamics that lights up my cold, black heart like a Christmas tree wired to the mains.

I usually reach for an Omegaverse story when I need a breather from the dark, unhinged chaos of my usual reads and this one? Oh baby, it delivered. Extra impressive considering it’s Jessica’s first self-published book. Like… ma’am. How dare you be this good out the gate? Rude.

If you’re into possessive dynamics, found family feels, and swoon levels that had me kicking my feet like a lovesick teenager, get this on your TBR immediately.

[Chanel Gravier · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 💕 wholesome, fast paced & smutty 😝

[Karolina Karpinska · Rating 1 out of 5]

i’m sorry but 😂 it was going so well and then.. did she win the equivalent of a nobel peace prize for writing an advice column? seriously?

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Omegaverse Rom-Com. Also, die Story ist irgendwie ziemlich platt und erinnert sehr an Lola & the millionaires ABER in lustig und ja…leichter irgendwie. War sehr lustig zu lesen 4/5 🌶️

[Linz · Rating 2 out of 5]

TLDR; I didn’t like that the cat was a plot device and then literally forgotten about and DITCHED with a neighbor. Also didn’t like how when choosing a movie they, of course, have to watch Harry Potter. Whyyyyy.

This book released.. 10 days before Trans Visibility Day. Pleeease stop bringing up that hateful bigot’s book for no good reason.




The long rant review ——v



Reggie, her (uh… beloved?) cat is the source of her being able to pretend she’s bonded to an Alpha named Reggie. As soon as her apartment is broken into very early on she FORGETS COMPLETELY ABOUT HER CAT.

Everything is ripped open, destroyed, slashed, her door kicked in.. and she never once thought “Oh right, my pet. The small creature I committed to the care of.”

She is halfway to the new home with her new pack when she goes “OH SH- REGGIE!” And texts her elderly neighbor!

The neighbor says yes she found Reggie wandering the halls so she grabbed him. FMC, instead of turning around and going GET HER CAT asks the old lady to watch him for the night. Doesn’t offer to pay or anything.. she’s in shock, so I let that pass. Like a kidney stone, but I let it pass.

Then a few DAYS LATER one of her Alphas goes back to check her apartment for evidence and the neighbor pops her head in and is like “Uh.. you mind TAKING HER CAT SHE FORGOT EXISTS PLEASE?”

WHEW BOI. After this the cat is brought to the pack house in a carrier and that is the absolute last you ever hear about him.

I’m not saying every pet needs to be a main character but excuse me??? You forgot your pet exists and then foists it on an old lady and forgets again?? The pack hangs out on the couch constantly. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH REGGIE!? No way he’s not sitting on somebody while ya’ll cuddle pile. 😭



And in the cuddle pile they watch movies. The only one brought up by name is of cooourse Harry Potter.

I don’t know why we gotta keep bringing up Harry Potter casually like this- there was every opportunity to name literally any other series in the world not written by a horrible person.

[vicki.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9/5🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I'm back in my comfort zone! Very happy I found another awesome omegaverse author.

➕
- Sweet, fluffy, spicy read! I would've finished this in one sitting if I didn't have to sleep/work. Boo!
- If you like reverse harem/why choose (MMFMMM), omegaverse, scent matches, knotting, found family tropes.
- I love that Cady is an advice columnist and the excerpts of the advice letters are fun and sweet.
- The men! They're unique but all equally lovable. We have a sunshine golden retriever tattoo artist, a quiet but thoughtful ER doctor, a grumpy and protective ex marine, a suave and soothing billionaire CEO and a sassy and wily beta.
- Fun and humorous bits! I particularly enjoyed the monster smut titles and Reggie 🐈‍⬛.

➖
- If you're looking for plot and characters with more oomph/depth, this is not it.
- As with self published works, there were a few typos and mostly spacing issues.

#bookstagram #bookreview #bookrecs #reverseharem #whychoose #omegaverse #jessicawinters #theknottyomega #starbrookcity

[Jai M {Cat Crazy Dragon } · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️’s Boring smut, with the best bits too spread out.

Not quite enough story for my taste.
The spice was too dominant, and I ended up skipping much of it.
It lacked the romance and relevance I need.

Pet Peeve: I really hate it when authors write plot points separately, particularly romances.

This was an even bigger issue here, as it was scene after scene of sex, with the drama-action plot, many chapters separated.

It was still decent enough for me to finish easily enough… but a solid edit, rearrange some scenes, and add in more sensory descriptions and sensuality, and this would be a kick butt story.
As it stands now… for me it’s slightly below average for the genre.

[Chalice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The couple: Matteo/Archie/Simon/Titus/Ollie and Cady

Romance trope: omegaverse; rh
Series: Starbrook City Omegaverse
Length: 339 pages

Plot: Cady writes a popular magazine column about alpha-omega relationships, despite not belonging to a pack herself. That's a problem, though, and her editor demands that she finds a pack or she could lose her job. So she starts looking for a pack that she might mesh with, and even though she didn't expect it, she finds her scent matches. But there's someone out to get her and her life is in danger; there's a mystery to solve before she can even begin to worry about her job.

Commentary: The mystery wasn't very mysterious. I was really confused as to why they never even thought about the possible culprits until the very end. It seemed overly obvious to me. Someone's been threatening you in print and in person? Maybe they're the people who broke into your home, sent you threatening messages, and tried to kidnap and rape you? But no, that couldn't be it! At that point, it felt like they were all dumb and deserved each other. But mostly, this story suffers from what a lot of other rh omegaverse stories do - too many people. There are too many people in the pack to develop characters and relationships beyond a surface level. I don't know why it is that all omegaverses have to be rh now, but that's what it's become, and the story development has definitely suffered. The members of the pack are caricatures, like checking off a list (The surly one who resists her? Check. The puppy dog? Got it.). There's an omega who's not like other omegas (she doesn't want a pack, guys) and she resists bonding until she smells them. It's predictable. So this wasn't bad for what it was. What it was was just underwhelming.

Next book in the series: Her Knotty Alphas: A Starbrook City Omegaverse Rom-Com Novel

[Whitney Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars — Someone Hand Me a Fan, Because The Knotty Omega Is Hotter Than a Heat Cycle in July!

Cady is serving career goals, omega realness, and a big fat NOPE to pack life in this absolutely unhinged in the best way debut from a rising queen of omegaverse storytelling. Let me be loud and clear: this is not your average “poor little omega finds a pack and gets swept off her feet” situation. No, Cady has teeth—and she uses them to chew through tropes like stale biscuits.

Our girl has the dream job, a national advice column that’s basically omegaverse Dear Abby with a side of sass and sexual tension. But plot twist! Her “smell like you’re bonded” miracle drug gets yeeted into the plumbing system, and now everyone’s side-eyeing her like she’s giving pack advice without a pack. Gasp.

Enter: the flirty beta at work with a very inconvenient bond mark, and his pack of undeniably hot, emotionally devastating alphas. Suddenly, Cady’s got a choice—fake it ’til she makes it, or face the terrifying reality of falling for the one thing she’s sworn off.

The dialogue? Sharp. The spice? Chef’s kiss. The emotional stakes? Ripped my heart out, kissed it, and put it back. This is omegaverse done right—smart, sexy, and full of messy, delicious dynamics. And Cady? She’s the blueprint for the modern omega heroine. Vulnerable but fierce, funny but raw, and not about to give up her crown without a fight.

This debut isn’t just a toe-dip into the omegaverse—it’s a cannonball off the high dive, and I am so here for the splash.

Give this woman a pack, a Pulitzer, and a Netflix deal already.

[jamlul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn‘t want to think so this was perfect and I had fun. But at about 60 or 70 % it got too lovey-dovey, everything is perfect, for me, so it felt a bit boring. And then the epilogue was just doing too much like she gets that humanitarian award too? The same one where it was earlier emphasised how hard it is to win it? And she does it in like 9 months? Also what about her family? I feel like that plot had so much potential to be further explored but it just wasn’t. Instead we got some semi-exciting threats and a half-assed kidnapping attempt. Plus how did they not connect the dots regarding Laura? Like at all? It was so obvious! The more I think about it, the more it annoys me. I mean don‘t get me wrong, this is not a bad book by far but it just feels flat and slightly superficial.

[Toni · Rating 2 out of 5]

In an attempt to switch up from my usual genres, I decided to try something “spicy.” My dear sister-in-law really enjoys them, and I figured it could be nice to read something silly and lighthearted. Unfortunately for me, I found this book to be quite boring. Smut aside, the plot dragged and the dialogue felt like it was written by a middle schooler having a sexual awakening. I didn’t care if Cady found out who was out to get her. I just wanted it to be over. I’m going back to my thrillers and domestic dramas.

[**Manjula ♥ Books** · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly don’t know why I keep doing this to myself. I keep picking up omegaverse books, convincing myself this will be the one with an amazing, well-developed plot. And every time, I’m disappointed.

Yes, I get it: there’s an omega, an alpha, a heat cycle, a pack, and an inevitable bond. But beyond the tropes, where is the story?

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww 🥲

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wash, rinse, repeat.

[Smut Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute! The plot/jeopardy was knot *too* much which was great, just a really cute wholesome omegaverse story.

[Alex booksonmoon]

cute, smut and funny. love her and the alphas