Love is Knotty

by E.M. Dark

When love comes in the form of a dating game show, can you trust your instincts and heart, or is love just a game?

"Is love true to say, 'I do?'"

Estella

I’m twenty-seven and unbonded. I'm an omega without a pack. In a world where every omega is bonded by the time they are twenty-one, I choose a different path. Where I’m from, that makes me an anomaly.

Maybe even broken.

But I’ve spent years pouring my heart into my bakery instead of chasing bonds with Alphas.

Until lately, because beneath the success and independence, there’s a hollow ache in my chest I can’t ignore.

I want a pack.

I want to know what it is like to be in love.

I want to belong.

So...

When I see that the popular reality TV dating game show “Love is Knotty” will be filming their new season in my town, I sign up. I tell myself it’s just for fun. A distraction that isn’t serious.

Then I meet them.

Four Alphas that my omega instincts scream at me to scent-match and bond. They’re everything I shouldn’t want and everything I’ve been missing. But I don’t know if I can trust them ALL with my heart to say, “I DO” on bonding day. Letting them in means risking opening my heart and trusting that love, no matter how hot it burns, won’t leave me in ashes.

520 pages, ebook

Published December 15, 2025

About the author

EM Dark is a Black Latina indie romance author who loves to write dark and spicy literary stories. She loves to write about weird, feral, unhinged, morally grey, BIPOC characters that make you laugh. She lives in Tennessee with her family and is married to the love of her life, a supportive husband.

When she isn't writing, you can find her watching her kid play hockey, binge-watching anime, coloring, drawing chibi characters, or cuddled up with her furbabies Dulce and Oreo, reading a dark romance book or manga.

EM Dark is thankful for the opportunity to share her stories that feature BIPOC characters with you.

EM loves hearing from her readers! You can reach her on social media or at authoremiliadark@gmail.com

Instagram: authoremdark
TikTok: authoremdark

Reviews

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so cute and fun!! If you like dating shows, christmas, why choose, omegaverse and so much more you will love this book! I was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC and I could not put it down! I love how strong, independent, and witty our FMC Estella is, along with seeing her growth. The men are to die for! each bringing their own individual spark to the story and the chemistry between them amazing! Fair warning this does end on a cliffhanger, but I cannot wait to see whats in store for the next book!

[Darian · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When love comes in the form of a dating game show, can you trust your instincts and heart, or is love just a game?"
Love is Knotty is a slow burn omegaverse romance story where Estella, our beautiful curvy FMC discovers that the reality TV game show "Love is Knotty" is going to be coming to her area for the next season. She decides that for a distraction and some fun she is going to sign up for this. Who knows just maybe she might find her alpha and pack after all. When she scent matches with her alphas her omega instincts scream that they are everything she's ever wanted and needed. However can she truly trust them with everything and her heart? Can she be enough to be able to say "I DO" on bonding day.
"Is love true to say, I do?"
I absolutely loved this book. The concept of the game show was interesting for me, I don't personally enjoy reality tv game shows to watch so I was curious how it was going to pan out in a book format. I loved the book so much. The characters were amazing. Every chapter you read you learn more about them all and your heart just falls for them more and more. You can't help but want all the good things to happen for these characters. Each of the alphas have their own personalities and it makes you and Estella warm to them.
Hearing the histories of Rayne and Ash, especially Ash, just gets you straight in the feels and your heart can't help but warm up to him. You see him in a different light.
The fun banter and teasing between them all is everything. I love the dad jokes from Rayne, Gabe was so protective and caring, Sylas was so romantic and sweet.
There are a few spicy scenes there to warm you up and keep you breathy and wanting more. I liked the spiciness but don't forget these are alphas and this is an omegaverse story when you get to those spicy areas.
This book absolutely kept your attention and made you want to keep reading! It was smooth and easy to read. You can easily get lost flipping the pages. Look up from your reading and not know what time or day it is.
This story was so amazing and I can't wait for more. I'm so excited. I loved this much more than I even expected to and I think the author did such a fabulous job. I absolutely would suggest reading this and I can't wait for more.
This is a more calmer romance and not too dark but I would always say before reading any book if there are trigger warnings in the front of books please read them before you start. Your mental health does matter and they are there for a reason.

[Sam’s Sagas · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I’m thankful for the eARC! The game show concept was interesting, especially in an omegaverse. Although I’ve never watched Love is Blind, I’m assuming it’s very similar to that with the dating cubes and not being able to see each other? I think Ash and Sylas are my favorites, especially Ash lol His back story is pretty sad and I feel for him :( I probably would have rated it higher but there was A LOT of repetition. Saying the same things over and over, mainly feelings/emotions and explanations of said feelings. It would have most likely knocked back 150pgs without it. Some of the dialogue was also very cringey? For example, they were discussing how dad jokes were hilarious and how she loves them, but it just turned into really really corny and not great pick up lines? That somehow resulted in everyone busting out in laughter. And then it just started being a thing that would get blurted out when she was nervous or frustrated with Ash on a couple occasions and the others would laugh and be like “oh she got you!” ….like what? Anyways, I enjoyed the concept, I just personally think dialogue and the repetitiveness made it hard to get through or I skimmed over it tbh.

[Julia Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love is Knotty is a whimsical, over-the-top reality dating show romance with a fun, high-concept setup that delivers on heart and warmth. At the center of it all is Estella, a strong, independent omega whose emotional journey is the heart of the story. I found myself really rooting for her as she stepped out of her comfort zone in search of connection, love, and the sense of belonging she’s never fully had. Her vulnerability and inner strength made her incredibly relatable and easy to care about.

The premise is a great twist on reality TV tropes, set in a world where packs and bonds define everything—and Estella’s choice to hold out for something real gave the story its emotional punch. This is the kind of book that embraces the big, bold feels and delivers a story that’s full of hope, spice, and heart. If you love character-driven romances with lots of emotional yearning, this one might just surprise you.

[Alyssa Hoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Alphas, 1 Omega & a Love is Blind-Type Reality TV Show🩷💙💙💙💙📺

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

If you enjoy Why Choose, Reverse Harem, Omegaverse Romance, Drama, Trauma, & Multiple Hot Men, this book is for you!

Meet the Alphas:
❤️Sylas - Pack Lead, Russian Accent, Amazing Listener, In Control, & Provides The Best Princess Treatment
💙Gabe - Protecter, Golden Retriever Vibes, Funny, Stalker Vibes (but in a good way🤣)
💛Rayne - BFF + Lover, Dominant, Calm, Peacemaker
🖤Ash - Trauma Fueled, Bad Boy, Loves To Tease

Meet the Omega
🩷Estella - Smart, Funny, Loves To Bake, Puts Others Before Herself, Curvy Goddess

I had lots of fun reading this silly, spicy dark romcom. If you are looking for an escape from reality, this book will provide you with a wild, fun one!

[Nita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good. I am omegaverese girly thrown through so I was all over this book because it's very different from a traditional omega versus innocence it is a game show for love like the show Love is blind. though I've never watched the show I feel like this matches up to how that show is very well. You get all the feels from this book You literally want to punch some of the alphas you want to hug some of the alphas. You just want to be all of them. and you just want to hug Ella and protect her at all cuz because she's just so sweet and she deserves the world. What I was not prepared for however is that cliffhanger from hell because why EM in the book like that.

[Sue Embers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness this was so good! If you like game shows and reality tv this is definitely the book for you. It’s witty and fun and spicy. This slow burn will have you laughing, crying, and wishing you were Pack Black’s omega. All these men are alphas in need of a love that shifts their entire world. Our FMC is perfect and real and leaves you feeling understood and seen. So often you find that stories have weak, small, damsels in distress but not in this one. This author does very well making sure her characters are well rounded and true to the real world. Her writing is clear and true. The plot is there and entertaining. You won’t go wrong choosing to see how Knotty love can be.

[Caitlin Van Dette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Estella’s character was a pleasant surprise. She was soft but also stood on her own feet. I adored that she had her own business and life prior to meeting the pack. Loved the curvy POC FMC and the different personalities between the MMCs. It was my first time reading anything omegaverse, but I appreciated Gabe, Sylas, Rayne, and Ash. Ash definitely grew on me the further into the book I got. The reality tv concept was refreshing. It was nice to see the personal connections grow without seeing each other in person right away. The dates and challenges were fun.

[DBR Editing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Estella and her men. Sylas, Gabe, Ryne, and Ash. I loved the banter between them all. The concept of the book made for a fun read. I loved that the characters were all older, and each was so different. I loved the slow build of the relationships, minus Gabe and his fun side, lol. I can't wait to see what happens in book two. But also, to see how Em builds the series with what were the side characters in this book.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book was soooo good! I absolutely love alpha and omega universes with a game show!! I love Estella she’s such a sweet omega! Gabe, Sylas, Rayne and Ash are all so different from each other but so amazing at the same time! I love them all! The cliffhanger on the book!! I already can’t wait for more!!! All I have to add is I HATE Ashley and I hope she gets what’s coming to her and I hate Bryan too! Em you wrote this book so well!! I love it so much!!

[Amy Killian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowwwwwww okay Em.. I see you..
this is my first read of EM Dark.. and let me just say girlllllllll !!
This was so good, the tension between all of them especially Ash.. ash is my favorite.. I always love a bad boy who falls to his knees for his love.. Sylas, Rayne, Gabe, all of them just amazing. Ella is adorable I love her, I can’t wait to see her come out of her shell more. My only complaint…. Girl that cliffhanger?!?!!!! Oh my god…. I need book 2 like…. NOW

[Dalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a cross between an omega verse and a dating show. This book tells the story of Estella and how she longs to find her pack. The chosen pack is unique, and they all complement each other. This is a slow burn book with banter, and it does have some mean girl energy from some side characters. This does end with a cliffhanger, but it sets the scene with all the necessary information needed for what is to come. Can’t wait for book two.

[iesha Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

i recently got into omegaverse books and this one did not disappoint.
the banter was top notch. i cant believe the cliff hanger.... like maam why isnt the next one in my hands already. lol
this book was fantastic i highly recommend. the author never disappoints with her style of writing. i didnt feel it was slow or too fast paced either.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of Love is Knotty. I thoroughly enjoyed this book it’s cozy Christmas with big strong Alphas! I also found the dating show aspect to be interesting as I have never read anything like that in an omegaverse before. I give it 3.5 stars and recommend to anyone that enjoys an omegaverse romance!

[kimiwheelielovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Gabe and Ash!! Honestly I love all members of the pack and I honestly don't know how Estella is going to handle them all. The ending?! Em how could you do this to us?! My anxiety was high and needles too say I can't stand the character Ashley 🤬🤬

[bry’s corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just WOW!! The banter between Estella and her men was great. The dates and the challenges they had were fun. But I was not expecting that cliffhanger at all.

[Sara Cayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not usually omega book reader but I enjoyed it. I like the characters Ash is my favorite. And I am sad it ended on a to be continued.. I’m ready for the next book.

[Qu33nsara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my very first Omagaverse and now i'm obsessed!!!!! This was amazing to read and also a little funny at times. Very creative twist on dating. Review by Qu33nsara

[Danielle O'Hara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and quirky while also being dramatic and spicy. Love the character development and growth in the characters/ pack.