I think I have to admit that omegaverse is not for me. There were a lot of things I liked about Amy Oliveira’s Knot that Simple, and that helped me realize that the element I didn’t love was the omegaverse part. Let me clarify here that just because omegaverse isn’t my cup of tea, doesn’t mean I think there’s anything wrong with liking it. I took a chance on Knot that Simple because I’ve enjoyed Amy Oliveira’s social media posts. I can tell that the smart, funny, and empathetic person I see on social media wrote this book that is sweetly funny, achingly emotional, and blisteringly spicy.
Gabriela is a single mom who has struggled to survive and raise her daughter without passing on generational trauma. A few months before the story opens, Gabriela is approached by a woman who tells her that she is an omega and is offered a free place to live while they look for her pack (of husbands). After a few months of not living hand to mouth in a village in Bolivia, her pack is found in Ireland and she, with much trepidation, agrees to pack up her daughter and go meet them. The three Irish fishermen, Lorcan, Tadgh, and Oisin, formed a pack with no real hope that they would ever find an Omega.
Gabriela is willing to take leaps of faith in order to provide a safe, happy and stable life for her daughter. She accepts the concept of being an Omega because she’s about to be evicted and some weird story about being an Omega is a small price to pay for not being homeless. She takes the chance that these three unknown men in Ireland are her fated mates because it promises a future for her daughter. She doesn’t entirely trust that they won’t be disappointed in her, because she hasn’t had much unconditional love and support in her life. Oliveira grounds Knot that Simple in the emotional journey the characters take. All four of the adults struggle with some disbelief that they will be loved and accepted for who they are and not just what they are. Those were the moments I liked best.
To a degree, though, they also reinforced where I don’t connect with omegaverse. Fated mates isn’t my favorite trope in romance. On the one hand, it was lovely to read about people who will make sure their community and family are cared for at a time when I’m reading about the social safety nets in my country being dismantled. For me, as a reader, I find less satisfaction in “we belong together because our biochemistry is compatible” than I do in “ we belong together because we choose each other.” Oliveira gave me every opportunity and reason to embrace omegaverse, and it’s just not my thing.
If you are looking for a short read with lovely characters, lovely emotions, and high spice (with some daddy kink and bondage), Knot that Simple is a good read.
I received this as an advance reader copy from the author. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.