Another emotional rollercoaster by Peyton Corrine (the author of unsteady). There's something so comforting when seeing authors write about mental health and learning disabilities. Reads easy like her previous book unsteady.

[ 4.75 ★ ]

“𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚.”

— my review 💌
*no spoilers*

i don’t have the words to express my gratitude towards netgalley & the publisher for granting me an arc of one of my most anticipated reads. unsteady means everything to me, and i was ridiculously excited for book two, so receiving an early copy of unloved is surreal.

anyway, into the book!

after being switched tutors, freddy’s ready to be belittled and put down yet again, but that…doesn’t happen. instead, his new tutor, ro, is different. she’s patient and calm and sees him for him, not his body. and ro…well, the book starts with her in an awful relationship, unsure of how to get out of it really. but as she spends more time with freddy, her eyes are opened to how horribly she’s treated in her relationship and she slowly realises her worth, while also falling for the sweet sad boy.

freddy, my sad soft boy 😭. this man doesn’t have a bad bone in his body. he’s such a delicate person, and that contrasted with the front he puts on is heartbreaking. he’s so gentle with ro, showing her quiet love as well as loving her loudly, and that truly just gets me. he is the perfect man, i love him so much. there’s something about peyton corinne men, i swear.

onto my rosalie. she’s so so special. she has such a big heart—almost to a fault. my poor girls kindness got used against her on multiple occasions, and all i wanted to was shake her and say “you deserve better!” luckily freddy and sadie did that for me! she’s such a gentle soul, treating everyone around her with love and care, even those who may not deserve it. ugh! i just wanted to hug her.

unloved is so beautifully written, but that’s just peyton’s writing for you. the way she brings two characters together, the way they bond and come together, is truly something incredible. their tension, this invisible string between them, it’s all woven together so perfectly—to the point where you’ll never stop thinking about the characters. and her putting her writing out into the world is something we should all be grateful for.

spice? yes.

some tropes :
★ tutor x athlete
★ to be loved is to be seen
★ found family
★ learning difference rep
★ friends to lovers
★ slow burn

Unfortunately I struggled with this one a bit. My main issue was the pacing, it dragged too much and I found myself putting it down so often that I didn't have much desire to pick it up again.

It could be a me problem because I'm quite impatient and like fast-paced books but this didn't click for me.

4.5 THE MATT FREDERICK EFFECT IS IN FULL SWING
A book that I blasted through in one sitting! Peyton is such a poet and creates such beautiful chemistry and love between her characters and I’m in awe of her writing.
I had so many emotions reading this book. I laughed I cried and I swooned so hard. I fell head over heels for these sunshine characters and they’re the type of characters I could read about all day.
It’s a very special type of book and after reading it, the title really hit me in my core and it’s book I’m going to be thinking about for a long time.
It was a butterfly in your stomach type of read , the early 2000s romcom movie feel good vibes and just a stunning book in general.

When i started this book i was thinking vehemently that it will be such a fun and easy read.
Well the jokes were on me because this book broke me and put me back together after.
I think both Matt and Rosalie were very complex characters dealing with the pressure their environment put on both of them, to be the greatest when it came to hockey and be a carefree person, whereas for Ro to be part of an elite group of people, always the smart one, always pleasing everyone.
I find their development so so endearing, they both got to grow on their own and find their place in the world, without what other people might think of it.

And the development of their character made the romance enchanting, the man was a simp, he was yearning the whole book, i love when authors give us a cinnamon roll golden retriever who yearns as MMC’s WE NEED MORE OF THEM and i fear Matt might be their leader, undoubtedly.

Rosalie, i love that she discovered on her own how worthy she is and how much she needs to be loved the way she deserved to be. She is a fierce woman and I love her so much.

And as a member of the Dead Dad Club, i did feel very seen in this book, even though my dad passed quite recently, Matt’s words resonated with me every freaking time, i m beyond proud with how this has been portrayed and i can only congratulate miss @peytoncorinneauthor for the incredible work she’s done

Easily one of my favourite books of the year, I already loved unsteady and Peyton as an author but this only solidified her as and incredible and talented author

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the publisher for the arc
This is out on 12 February 2025

This may be one of my favourite books of all time! Freddy broke my heart and put it all back together again. He is such a broken boy and deserves all the love in the world. I loved Ro. She was so patient with Freddy and I just adored seeing their relationship go from strength to strength. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

4 stars - arc review. This was such a cute book, the character development was everything and how both Ro and Matt supported each other was brilliant. I loved the friends to lovers aspect as well and seeing Sadie and Rhys. There is definitely toxic people in this book though that I would’ve happily knocked out every time they spoke but it all works out in the end. I have a huge soft spot of Archer and Elsie they would’ve been the true friends to lovers. Excited to see who will be next though I’m hoping for Bennett.

After reading Unsteady a couple of months ago, I wasn’t too sure about how I felt about Ro’s story, but wow. Unloved was everything Unsteady was and more.

Ro is a really well balanced main character, that you can’t help but to relate to in some way. She was resilient and a people-pleaser, which made her character growth all the more incredible. Her growth came from a slow recognition that led to her standing for what she believed in despite everything holding her back.

Matt (Freddy) was probably the most emotionally mature male love interest I have ever read. He is kind, caring and disadvantaged by his circumstances and belittled by the people around him. He is kind and patient with Ro, which was a beautiful dynamic to see when others were not.

The romance in this book was a well paced and beautiful slow burn. You could truly see this characters falling in love with each other slowly, and then the sudden realisation of it all. I usually am not a fan of friends to lovers, but this was a beautiful story with such a realistic romance that the friends to lovers felt nothing less than natural.

God, I hope there’s another book in this series. I would just love to see Bennett and Torren meet their matches.

This is a beautifully crafted exploration of love, self-worth, and the messy imperfections that make us human.

Matt “Freddy” Fedderic is the charming hockey player whose confidence on the ice is starkly contrasted by his struggles in the classroom, and Ro Shariff is a sweet but disillusioned romantic trying to navigate her own messy love life. Freddy’s battle with learning disabilities and Ro’s yearning for genuine affection create a rich emotional foundation for their friendship, which slowly evolves into something deeper and more meaningful.

The slow-burn romance is equal parts frustrating and exhilarating. Freddy and Ro’s reluctance to jeopardize their friendship feels real, the tension between them is undeniable and their protective instincts creates an intoxicating push-and-pull dynamic. The tender moments, like late-night phone calls and quiet, unspoken connections, make it worthwhile.

This book isn’t just a romance… It’s a story about acceptance, growth, and learning to love every part of yourself, even the parts you think are unlovable. It’s also a deeply emotional and unforgettable read that will leave you swooning, tearing up, and cheering for Ro and Freddy long after the final page.

𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 :
• friends to lovers
• opposites attract
• slow burn
• hockey romance
• forced proximity

𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 : 4.5

Thank you Peyton Corinne, Simon & Schuster UK and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy.

I loved this book!!

I love how supportive the main characters were of each other and could get really vulnerable with each other and were open with each other and discussed things they were insecure about

The spicy scenes in this book were so so good and the mouth on Freddy 👀🤭🥵

I really love Peyton's writing and the depth and layers that her stories have to them

- student x tutor
- college romance
- sports romance (college hockey)
- learning differences rep
- dual pov, first person

Ps I need Bennetts book asap, like the little bits we saw of him I'm so intrigued and have so many questions I need answering

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the eARC - all opinions are my own

this book is so beautifully real and raw - an epic friends to lovers story featuring your faves from the first book in the interconnected series.

matt 'freddy' fredderic is a hockey god playboy barely scraping by at college whilst being picked up to go pro on the ice. rosalie 'ro' shariff is the brainiac tutor best friend of sadie from the first book. she has crushed in matt since they shared a kiss at a house party in her freshman year. when she is selected to be his tutor this semester, they finally get a chance to get to know each other and work through their own baggage on the way to love.

my most anticipated reason for reading this book was the butterfly thigh tattoo .. i am a very weak woman ok?! 🫠

Reading Unloved was a fun experience, offering a tender exploration of personal growth and connection. Ro's journey throughout the book felt authentic and deeply relatable. From her insecurities to her quiet moments of courage, Ro’s inner thoughts and emotions were portrayed with a lot of sincerity. I especially appreciated her gradual character development, as it mirrored the often slow and messy nature of personal growth in real life.

One of the standout elements of Ro’s character was the beautiful imagery of butterflies in her hair. This unique and whimsical detail not only added a touch of magic to her personality but also served as a symbolic representation of her transformative journey. It’s rare to come across such a visually compelling metaphor, and I found it both endearing and memorable.

Freddy, on the other hand, provided a nice contrast to Ro’s introspective nature. He brought energy and lightness to the narrative, making for an enjoyable dynamic between the two. However, while Freddy was fun and charming, I found his character arc a bit underwhelming. Unlike Ro, his growth seemed stagnant, and by the end of the story, I was left wanting more depth and evolution from him. This was a missed opportunity, as Freddy’s potential as a character could have enriched the emotional resonance of the book.

One aspect that tempered my overall enjoyment was the pacing. While the story had its heartfelt and engaging moments, there were sections where the narrative dragged. These slower parts, unfortunately, diluted the emotional impact and occasionally left me feeling disconnected. A tighter structure or additional layers of conflict might have helped maintain a more consistent level of engagement.

Despite these critiques, Unloved remains a sweet and worthwhile read. Peyton’s writing style is gentle and evocative, capturing the nuances of her characters’ emotions with grace. It’s clear that she has a talent for crafting introspective, character-driven stories, and I’m optimistic about her future works. While I may not rush to recommend this particular series, I’ll certainly keep an eye on her next releases, as I believe her storytelling will only improve with time and experience.

In conclusion, Unloved offers a touching narrative with moments of genuine beauty, even if it falls short in some areas. For readers who enjoy character-focused stories with a hint of whimsy, this book is worth exploring.

This was giving me all the drama and I loved it It felt very reminiscent of books I read as a teen and I felt as though the sensitive topics were handled with the grace they deserved.

This book follows Ro and Freddy, two characters who's journey was hinted at during Corinne's first book, Unsteady. This is set in the same timeframe as Unsteady so you could read this as a standalone pretty easily.

Corinne's writing, as I'm coming to expect, is easy and engaging to follow, so much so that I devoured all 460 pages in under 16 hours.

I think that you'd be really easy to love

This ones for all us trauma ridden complex parental relationship boys and girlies ✨✨

What to expect?

x Reformed playboy
x Mental Health Representation
x Hockey Player x Tutor
x Broken Hero
x Slow Burn
x Healing Together
x Minor Second Chance
x He stands up for her and vice versa

I would recommend this series to any lover of a sports romance. I would advise checking the triggers before reading as this deals with some topics some may be sensitive to.

Huge thankyou to Netgalley and Simon Schuster UK for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a much anticipated read after having read Unsteady. We got to see little snippets of Freddie and Ro and I wanted to read their story so much.

It definitely lived up to the hype. It was a lovely story about two people who haven’t been shown their worth and find that they can heal each other. Freddie was just the cutest and most loveable MMC and I just wanted to hug him and tell him how special he was.

It was a joy to see the relationship between them blossom. My only downside is I think the length could have been shortened.

I absolutely loved this heart wrenching story.

It’s the perfect blend of sports romance, and emotional rollercoaster. I have t read Unsteady, but I don’t feel like it hindered my connection to the characters, in fact it’s probably left me wanting to read it so I can understand Rhys and Sadie’s story.

There’s A LOT of emotional trauma in this book - it’s portrayed and dealt with so delicately, it’s beautiful.

I don’t want to give too much away in the story as you HAVE to read it, I think Ro and Marty are going to stay with me for a long time.

I really enjoyed the pacing and chemistry within this book. You get to live in the build up of tension and in their relationship without either feeling too rushed or dragged out. Both the central and surrounding characters are well developed and
Whilst reading Unsteady I had hoped we would be getting a Freddy and Ro book and this did not disappoint. The way it linked to Unsteady without feeling repetitive was great and I am looking forward to reading more in the series and other books by Peyton.
This will be added to my list of great re-readable ice hockey romance books.

this book is so cute and I loved it!
this book was so wholesome and endearing when ro and Matty got together. there relationship never felt rushed or forced and I love how they had an existing friendship built on trust and kindness. the epilogue was so swoon worthy! it was the perfect end for the characters although I do hope to see them in the next books within this series!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this e-arc.

I was very much looking forward to Unloved. I read Unsteady last year and fell in love with Sadie and Rhys. Getting snippets of Freddy and Ro made me very excited to get to know them more. It did not disappoint.

This book has everything - likeable main characters, incredibly strong side characters, chemistry, and such emotional depth. The way Peyton has built these characters and their relationships against some hugely relatable yet difficult themes is really powerful.

The storyline does not shy away from the way that feelings of being unloved or unwanted can impact you and your future relationships with people. Freddy / Matt was a dream in this. He really stole my heart.

I highly recommend everyone to read this book!

— 5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I make a vow then to protect her, the pretty girl with butterflies in her messy curls, even if she'll never really be mine."

📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 464 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Peyton Corrine
⏳ 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡: Interconnected Standalone Series
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Simon & Schuster UK
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 4 February 2025

What you can expect:
— Adult College Contemporary Romance
— First Person X Dual POV
— Friends-To-Lovers
— Slow-Burn Romance
— Hockey Player X Tutor
— Soft Playboy Athlete X Hopeless Romantic Reader Girl
— Found Family
— Pathological People Pleasers
— Mental Health & Learning Differences Rep

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: sexually explicit content, emotional and mental abuse within a relationship, student/professor relationship (past/recounted), parental death & grief, parental survivor of a stroke & the side affects, alcohol consumption.

𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
Unloved is the second instalment in The Undone series by author Peyton Corinne. Corrine has once again ripped my heart out, tore it into tiny little pieces and then slowly mended it back together with a captivating journey that will stay with me for a very long time. The steady paced writing left me feeling enraptured in its clutches through this emotional and tumultuous tale from beginning to end, and I truly believe that every moment was beautifully crafted and built up with purpose towards that satisfying conclusion. The emotionally-driven dialogue and character interactions leave you experiencing the same emotions as our characters alongside them which creates a more immersive reading experience, which is something in my experience is not easy for an author to create. I found this book unputdownable as I experienced every emotion capable to human-kind, and I just know that I will continue to read every manner of works that this author will produce in the future.

𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
Unloved follows our two main characters in a tandem timeline alongside the first instalment of the series, Unsteady, which means that you don't need to read either book in a specific order. However for a fuller reading experience I do personally recommend reading this series in publication order to fill any gaps in the plot which you know occurs in the first book. This story follows Freddy as his struggles with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD continue to hinder his performances in his classes which are a requirement for graduation and his place on the Dallas team post-graduation. In an environment that refuses to offer him the additional support that he is has the right to demand, Freddy has begun to lose all hope and belief in himself until a beautiful young woman with butterfly clips in her hair steps in to help. Ro Shariff has experience as a tutor for individuals with learning differences and sees something in Freddy that others don't. Of course one of those things is the long-standing crush she has had on the flirty star left winger for the Waterfell Wolves. Determined to keep things professional and help secure Freddy his future, Ro does everything she can to suppress her past resurfacing feelings and offer him the support that should have been long provided. Professional distance was supposed to be the key... but what happens when Ro and Freddy find themselves connecting on a far deeper level than either could have predicated? Can Ro protect her fragile heart and assert the professional boundaries that she desperately tries to maintain, or will Freddy and his surprisingly gentle heart break through her barriers and be the person she needs after all?

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Ro Shariff is a girl after my own heart who I felt emotionally connected to at soul deep level. Her softness and gentle heart was such a refreshing experience as a reader who typically loves reading about the physically fierce and hard-headed female main characters. I adore how Ro's softness was an asset to her character and the role that she plays to the people around her. As a caretaker at heart Ro has this incessant desire to not only be wanted, but more importantly needed, by the people in her life within and out with her social circles. A lot of her self-worth resides in what she can do to be present and assist the people that she loves, and I found this to an interesting attribute of her character to be explored throughout her journey and how much of an impact this had on her personal growth. Her compassionate nature and affinity for patience made her the perfect candidate to be Freddy's personal tutor, and one of my favourite plot points was hoe adaptable Ro was based on his own personal needs. Ro never allowed Freddy to see his learning differences as a hinderance and instead worked alongside him to prove that those differences weren't an indicating factor of his overall intelligence and academic potential. As a reader I desperately wanted to be able to reach into my kindle and give Ro a long-lasting hug that I knew she desperately needed. Her belief in independence in order to not come across as a burden for others broke my heart, as there is unfortunately several instances that prove how desperately she is in need of the support of her small circle of people. My favourite part of Ro's personal journey towards growth was the recognition that her needs and wants as an individual are valid and make her the opposite of a burden. Seeing her discover her inner voice and begin to recognise her own worth and how deserving of love that she is was a cheer worthy moment, and I ended Unloved feeling nothing but pride and awe-inspiring joy for for this sweet, beautiful and compassionate girl who embraces her softness and butterfly clips with confidence.

Matt “Freddy” Fredderic is known for his notable reputation not only on the ice as the star left winger for the Waterfell Wolves but also off of it. Playboy. Always up for a good time with a pretty face. Life of the party. These are the first associations that people think of when it comes to Freddy, which is exactly what he wants them to see. His greatest fear is to not be liked by his peers and tragically Freddy isn't confident that he would be liked if he allowed his truer self to come to the surface. My heart broke for him from beginning to end on his journey filled with self-loathing and self-doubt. At his core Freddy is a deeply insecure individual that has a lot of supressed and unresolved trauma plaguing him day-by-day. That poor man desperately craved the approval of his social circle so desperately that he was willing to supress his true needs and desires out of fear of not being enough. Freddy struggled with asking for help and demanding the support that he was rightfully entitled to. His learning differences saw him face greater struggles than the rest of his class as he lost all hope and trust in his academic potential. Every moment of his internal monologue shattered my heart little by little as we are faced with the reality of just how lowly Freddy thinks of himself and his capability to receive love. All he has ever wanted was to be loved and feel love. I honestly found myself fighting back tears on behalf of this sweet, sunshine-filled boy who deserved everything and anything that he desperately wanted for himself. There is no character more loyal than Freddy and it swiftly becomes clear much his character has to give. There is no ask that is too great from the people that he cares about, and Freddy is always first to show up for the people that matter most. Seeing this beautiful man grow in strength and confidence was a beautiful progression to see that brought me so much joy as a reader. His emotional intelligence made him a wonderful friend and partner to Ro and his teammates. His backstory broke my heart time and time again, and it made me so happy to see how fierce of a champion he had gained in Ro. Seeing him begin to open up about his life with bravery was resolve was everything that I needed to see from his character, and by the end I was emotional and overjoyed by the journey that we get to follow him on. Freddy (Matty) is so deserving of all of the love and good things that finally come his way, and I was really proud to see him face his demons and start demanding the life that he deserved to live.

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
Unloved is the slowest of slow burn romances as we are taken on an emotional and gripping tale about two lonely people that find love and respect within friendship before taking that next step towards romance. I'm somebody that has a devout love and appreciation for a slow burn romance done right which I can only credit to the queen of slow burn romance herself... Mariana Zapata. Mariana Zapata has me well-trained in the art of patience and appreciating a love story that will unfold over the duration of the book with purpose. Corrine, in my opinion, handled this transition masterfully as it enabled me to better emotionally connect with our two main characters individually and a pair. The compelling journey between Ro and Freddy was clearly written with a lot of heart and intent that I will cherish and re-read for many years to come. My favourite aspect to the relationship was despite how immediate the attraction and chemistry took place, both Ro and Freddy was careful to navigate established boundaries and regard one another with heartfelt intent. I was initially concerned about an element of unhealthy co-dependency taking place within their relationship, however with the care and grace in which their relationship was addressed I personally find this to be the case. Both Freddy and Ro were granted ample opportunity to shine and grow independently outside of any romantic progression which was so important in their ability to contribute as a romantic life partner. Both main characters undergo a lot of personal difficulties throughout the story and I loved seeing how unwavering their were in their love and loyalty. Their friendship was built on patience and kindness which formed an unwavering bond built in trust. There was zero point in their journal that I did not believe in the authenticity of their relationship. Freddy and Ro could not be more perfectly suited as a couple, and I could not be left more satisfied by the end of their journey.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
I don't even think I could do this story justice with my review, however I definitely gave it my best try. Ro and Freddy are so special to me and I honestly don't think I could pick a favourite between them or Sadie and Rhys. Both couples are so different and address their own struggles differently, however both stories are emotional tales that I could not recommend any more. I'm hoping the snippets throughout Unloved are hinting towards book three being about Bennett and Paloma. There was so much material there that I hope to see come to fruition in what I suspect may be the most emotionally gripping story of the series yet. I'm afraid of saying anything more lest author Peyton Corinne sees this and takes it as a personal challenge. Please have mercy on my fragile and battered heart.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲.

I absolutely adore these books so much. they bring me so much joy and i need book 3 asap!!! i cannot get enough of these characters eeek!