Having read fanfiction all my life, I snatched up this book when I saw it was Omegaverse. I was a bit surprised and hesitant to realize that the characters were not shifters, as I had come to expect from the label. But I stuck with it, and I’m glad I did. At times, I was uncomfortably empathetic with Cleo for her experiences with mental illness (trauma and ptsd). And I didn’t love the sexism and misogyny, but it did add to the world-building and was a societal problem not an individual one. Overall, I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to people looking for a dystopian romance.

In this book, there are some illustrations, I think there are 7 of them (if I don't misremember), and they were sooo cute!
This was also my first omegaverse, and I was a tad confused for a good part of the reading, mostly because I thought we would be dealing with werewolves, or werewhateveranimalshaveyou, and it took a bit to process that the characters, all of them, were humans. But that's on me, not on the book.
And it wasn't really a big deal, I mean, the story works, and the worldbuilding is sufficient for what we're getting here. Sure, it's not the most complex and developed worldbuilding, and I would have loved a tad more explanations here and there, but overall, it's good enough.
This is a post-apocalyptic book, with some deeply traumatized characters in a deeply traumatizing world, and people are not helping matters here at all.
But our group of characters managed to build something that works, and the found family here is pretty good.
This was, for me, an okay book. I wasn't overly taken by anything, but everything worked fine together, so even if it didn't make a lasting impression, I am not regretting the time I spent reading it.
Cloe is an interesting character and I loved her bluntness, it was refreshing, but I think my favorites were Kael and Jenny, they are two great characters, and together they are just sooo cute!!

I really enjoyed this! I loved Cleo and thought that the OCD, PTSD, and anxiety was written very well. The found family was spectacular, and watching Cleo learn to trust them was super heartwarming. That was probably my favourite part of the book. I also loved the illustrations in this! They fit the vibe really well and definitely helped bring the story to life.

This book has one of the best romances I've ever read. The characters seemed so right together and the tension between them was magnificent. I am usually not a fan of spice, but I wish there was more of it in this book, because what we did get was so good.

The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because the ending felt a bit drawn out. It felt like there were two seperate third act conflicts. I really dislike most "third act breakups" so I think that me giving this book a high rating proves how good it was lol

Though I wasn't sure what the omegaverse was, after a quick google search I pretty much realized I was in the wrong aisle at the book store. That is, I probably wouldn't have gotten this if I knew, but because I already had it, I absolutely did, and I'm glad I did. A book about humans who live in packs like wolves, Everyone has their own place on the pyramid, and their own special territory that they create for themselves. Unfortunately, where Cleo, our main character lives, it's rough out there, and she's desperately looking for a way to survive.

Cleo is a low level female alpha, meaning that she's infertile, and that means useless for the pack. That also means that she doesn't get any food or supplies for life, and she has to fend for herself in a desolate city. One day after volunteering for a scavenging mission to another pack outside of the city, she realizes that not everyone lives like her, and she doesn't have to if she doesn't want to. She's been kidnapped by other packs, but after trying to steal from the wrong one, she's imprisoned in a cellar on the acreage of a farmhouse.

Surprisingly, this pack is run by a female alpha, just like her. No one is starving, and especially no one is forced to be a mother for the good of the pack. As Cleo starts to relax around the small pack, she's eventually moved up into the house with the rest of them, though she is still tied up. She even finds herself developing feelings for the leader, Tori. Especially when Cleo's pack in the city declares that they don't care about getting her back, and that she's not worth the trouble it would take to save her. But after this, Tori's pack elders start to wonder what's wrong with her.

A lot of this book is Cleo trying to work through her pasta traumas. She obviously has PTSD, and suffers panic attacks frequently at the beginning. Though she is tied up for most of the book, she learns to live with the pack after they whole heartedly accept her as one of their own, even if she's terrified. Eventually she's able to open up and accept who she really is, inside and out. I really thought this book was wholesome, and included zero sex scenes, but some romance between the characters. I also am always a sucker for post apocalyptic books. Safe for work, I think this is a great book, and something a lot of people would enjoy reading, if they gave it a chance.

Ivy Lovell's Defective was a unique read for me. I haven't had much reading experience with the Omegaverse genre, and my limited information had me thinking they were all related to shifters. This non-shifter Omegaverse story takes place after an apocalyptic climate event decimates the Earth.

Humans have evolved and adopted a pack mentality and characteristics, revolving around fertility. They believe that becoming an Alpha or Omega is determined by blessings from the sun and moon goddesses.

Lovell skillfully constructs a rich world and complex characters while exploring themes such as mental health, pack dynamics, survival instincts, urban-rural social structures, and the human need for family and belonging.

I believe Cleo is neurodivergent and suffers from OCD, PTSD, and panic attacks, and her experiences make it difficult for her to trust. I appreciate the dynamic between Tori and Cleo; however, as another reviewer noted, their connection could have been more explicitly developed within the narrative. They are both likable for their differences. As harsh as the dystopian environment is in this novel, it is filled with so much gentleness and nurturing. The farm pack dynamic is lovely.

I was confused a little in the beginning, but by the third chapter, I was committed to the journey. There were a few places where I felt like I was missing something, but it wasn't enough to prevent me from enjoying the story.

This was overall an easy fun book and i enjoyed Cleos character and the representation of ocd and ptsd as well as the anxiety rep; however, I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style, it felt a bit flowery and the story felt a bit slow through the middle. The romance was sweet!

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for a copy of this book!
I had a fun time with this. Cleo and Tori were so homely. I really liked Cleo’s relationship with Jenny too. So wholesome.
The illustrations were very beautiful, I loved seeing some of the scenes drawn out.
Two things that made this a 3 star rating:
The emotional factor. I didn’t fully connect with the characters. I wasn’t torn up over sad or emotional moments.
Confusion. Are they werewolves, because they are alphas and omegas in a pack? Or are they something else?

-Read trigger warnings before reading
-Alphas and omegas
-Queer
-Apocalyptic
-Neurodivergent MC

3.5 stars

**Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

Basics

Author: she/her (Canada?)
Genre: post-apocalyptic cosy fantasy
Setting: post-apocalyptic omegaverse
Themes: hierarchy, trust, family
Vibes: prickly then cosy

Characters

Main
🍋‍🟩 Cleo - prickly omega-disguised-as-alpha thief (smells like lime)
🍋 Tori - gentle alpha pack leader (smells like lemon)

Farm Pack
🍒 Jenny- omega who likes to cook and care for others (smells like cherries)
🍆 Kael - Jenny's alpha mate (smells like roast eggplant)
🥒 Soren - alpha who likes to bicker (smells like cucumbers)
🌿 Lucas - alpha who loves to help (smells like basil)

Pros

+ romance tropes: hidden identity, alpha/omega, f/f, captive/captor, cosy romance, fade-to-black
+ f/f omegaverse is rare to read! I'm happy this exists ☺️
+ found family vibes in the new farm pack (5 members + 1 thief)
+ hydroponic garden system 🌱🌿 (love to see it, especially in post-apoc/dystopian genres)
+ surly, prickly omegas are one of my favorite character types 🐈‍⬛️
+ neurospicy rep: hair-plucking (trichotillomania), OCD tendencies (food/item sorting), autistic tendencies (texture issues, aversion to loud noises, bluntness, not understanding nuance/social cues)
+ no suppressants! uh oh 😏
+ when one person courts the other, but they don't realize it 🤭💝
+ other nice elements: puzzles, cooking, cats, chickens, plants, crocheting/knitting, whittling, cuddling

Neutral

/ For post-apoc, it is very cosy. I think people who like cosy romances with cats would like this.
/ Constant daydreams/comments/dreams about lemons and thick thighs. I'm not against that in theory, just the amount they are repeated.
/ Love pheromone scents in omegaverse. But basil, cucumber, roast eggplant? What???
/ 🌶 = fade to black

Cons

- the author over-explains a lot
- a few spelling/punctuation errors
- too much use of the verb "screaming" for the tone and genre
- the writing could use more polishing (cut down repetition, rephrase awkward lines, tighten verbose sections)
- inconsistent tone (sometimes joking in very serious scenes, sometimes screaming for no reason)

TW

hair-plucking (trichotillomania), OCD tendencies, disassociation, trauma, autistic tendencies, kept captive, rope burn wounds, death of a parent (off-page), danger/threat of death

It was really interesting seeing the omegaverse outside of fan fictions- but It's an interesting concept and the author was able to tie it pretty naturally into the story. I didn't really enjoy Lovell's writing style though, as it was kind of repetitive and hard to follow. The ending was also quite rushed, and this could have definitely used a couple more chapters to pull it out a little more.

Overall a pretty fun read with some mental health issue representation that I really appreciated.

A reading that made me explore a little more other types of themes such as the omegaverse and that touches on relevant issues such as disability, trauma and disease.

It's been a jumble of emotions reading this story and exploring different circumstances in which the characters are involved, and how this herd system works in which they have implemented for survival.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC.

Thanks to the publisher for this review copy. This one didn't work for me, in my current mood. I wanted to love it but I was unable to finish it.

This was my first omega verse book and I’m sure how I feel about it. I loved the OCD, anxiety and PTSD representation and the character were relatable.

Ivy Lovell's Defective was my first omegaverse read. The world building was something I hadn't come across before so overall enjoyable read.

Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I was really excited about this one, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations.

I loved the sapphic romance, how different each of the various characters felt, and how the author explored Cleo's trauma from how she has been treated by her old pack and how she comes to terms with being around a pack so incredibly different from what she is used to. The world was also interesting.

However, the writing style wasn't for me. It felt a bit clunky, awkward at times, and repetitive. I also felt like the pacing was off. For the most part this felt more of a cozy style of book, but then you get to the end and it felt rushed and like a few things were thrown in just to make it more interesting. It's not an overly long book, and I felt like the last parts could have been fleshed out a bit more.

Side note, I absolutely loved the illustrations in this book!! They were beautiful and I feel like they really added to the experience of reading the book.

I am not gonna lie, it was such an interesting thing to dive into this world, I have not seen many omegaverse books, but it was a good surprise! I enjoyed the world building and lmao the relationship between Cleo and Tori was so interesting to explore,e and of course, the found family couldn't be missing.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it has since come out. This is a not really spicey sapphic omegaverse story that deals with themes of disability, neurodivergenty and mental illness/trauma. I got invested pretty fast and got hooked on the accuracy in which trauma got portrayed. It wasn't treated as an easy fix.

Ivy Lovell’s Defective was a unique read for me. I haven't had much reading experience with the Omegaverse genre, and my limited information had me thinking they were all related to shifters. This non-shifter Omegaverse story takes place after an apocalyptic climate event decimates the Earth. Humans have evolved and adopted a pack mentality and characteristics, revolving around fertility. They believe that becoming an Alpha or Omega is determined by blessings from the sun and moon goddesses. 
Lovell skillfully constructs a rich world and complex characters while exploring themes such as mental health, pack dynamics, survival instincts, urban-rural social structures, and the human need for family and belonging.
I believe Cleo is neurodivergent and suffers from OCD, PTSD, and panic attacks, and her experiences make it difficult for her to trust. I appreciate the dynamic between Tori and Cleo; however, as another reviewer noted, their connection could have been more explicitly developed within the narrative. They are both likable for their differences. As harsh as the dystopian environment is in this novel, it is filled with so much gentleness and nurturing. The farm pack dynamic is lovely.
I was confused a little in the beginning, but by the third chapter, I was committed to the journey. There were a few places where I felt like I was missing something, but it wasn't enough to prevent me from enjoying the story.
Oh, and cats!
The cover and the illustrations are beautiful and add a little something extra. 
Once I realized the characters weren't shifters, I was skeptical, but I ended up enjoying this a lot more than I thought I would. I would put this on my "buy a physical copy" list. I am giving it 4.5 stars, rounded up.
#omegaverse #nonshifter #dystopian #postapocalyptic #neurodivergent #OCD #PTSD #survival #panicattacks #copingmethods #catsonthecover

Defective is really good. I have to admit that I was once again seduced by a cover. It just looks like fun and Brandi Warren does a delightful job of capturing these two characters. Plus all of the additional illustrations in the book add additional emphasis to the action happening on the page.

Ivy Lovell goes deep and hard in this story. There are so many triggers in this story because even though this takes place in a different world, it is very reminiscent of the society we live in now and one some would like us to live in permanently. Cleo is on the spectrum plus is suffering from trauma when she is caught stealing from a farm. During her time working off her debt, new trauma is created, but she also heals from the blows life has kept giving her. It’s complicated, but so is life.

What I love most about this book, other than Cleo kicking Soren’s butt all the time (chuckle), is family. We create our own family - especially if we are queer. In Cleo’s case, she has no one. She ends up in a community that genuinely cares for each other and she doesn’t trust it, but she wants it and it scares her. Lovell has created this amazingly horrific world and placed these thoughtful and sensitive (with the exception of Soren (chuckle)) characters in and Cleo stumbles upon them.

I love Tori and Cleo. I love Jenny and Cleo. I even find Soren and Cleo bickering all the time really cute. They all come from different backgrounds, yet they come together by choice to make a family. I love it.

There are tough conversations that happen. I’m not going to lie there is so much sexism in this book, but it’s the world they live in. Think the Handmaid’s Tale and you’ll be pretty much on the mark except of course this a post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel (chuckle).

I adore Defective. It has diversity, humor, romance, and realism that I connect with on many levels. I wish I had read this one sooner. I already want to re-read it again. (chuckle)

4/5 ★
I really enjoyed this book, especially the depth of Cleo's character. Her struggles with OCD and PTSD were portrayed in such an authentic way and it was really enlightening to read about it.

The artwork throughout the book was another highlight. The illustrations were beautifully drawn and added to the overall reading experience.

I would have loved a few chapters from Tori's perspective to give the readers a fuller understanding of the story from both sides. While the romance in the story was enjoyable, I did wish it had started a bit sooner. Alternatively, I would have appreciated if the book had been longer so that the romance between Cleo and Tori could have been explored further.

Overall, defective was a really enjoyable read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

3,5⭐️

[Scroll down for the English review]

🇪🇸Este libro me dio lo que más amo del omegaverse; las desigualdades sociales. Me gustó mucho la construcción del mundo, en la parte del omegaverse y en la parte postapocalíptica, aunque quizá faltó un poco más de profundidad en esta última.

Amé los personajes, todos tenían sus personalidades distintivas y me encantaron sus relaciones. Se sentía como si fueran familia de verdad. Me cayeron bien las protagonistas y su romance se me hizo bastante creíble.

La representación de los problemas de salud mental fue increíble y aprendí mucho sobre el TOC leyéndolo.

Lo que no me gustó fue el final, se sintió súper apresurado y como que muchas de las cosas que pasaban eran por pura conveniencia para la trama. Algunas no tenían sentido alguno.

En resumen, disfruté mucho del libro hasta el 80%, luego se me fue un poco pero igualmente es una lectura que merece la pena.

¡Gracias a Netgalley y la editorial por el ARC!
｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

🇺🇸 This book gave me what I love most about omegaverse; the social issues. I loved the worldbuilding, the omegaverse side and the postapocaliptic side even though I would've liked a little more depth on that last one.

The characters were amazing, they all had distinctive personalities and I really liked their realtionships. They were the perfect found family. I also liked the romance, I could feel the chemistry they had.

The representation of mental health problems was incredible and I learnt a lot about OCD.

The thing I disliked was the ending, it felt rushed and like a lot of the things that happened were for plot convenience. Some of them even lacked coherence.

In conclusion, I enjoyed the book up until the 80% mark but I still think it's a book that's worth reading.

A big thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC!