Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book! I was thrilled to receive an early copy. It features all the slow-burn, friends-to-lovers goodness with emotional depth that some sports romances lack.

I found myself invested in their story. Watching their supportive friendship evolve into romance was heartwarming.

I recommend rereading the first book for better context, as I occasionally struggled to recall events and characters. A simpler approach to their struggles could have enhanced the story, as some themes felt repetitive.

Overall, this book tugged at my heartstrings and is a refreshing take in the sports romance genre. It beautifully reminds us that everyone deserves love. Thanks again to Atria Books and Netgalley!

Peyton will be receiving my therapy bill after enduring this one!!! Girl really does write hot & sad people 😭

Ro/Freddy deserve nothing but love and happiness (that epilogue 🥹!!!). You can’t tell me they’re anything but soulmates. I’m not going to lie, the tutor/student plot usually bothers me but I really enjoyed unloved and how it was done. Honestly tho I will never get over Freddy’s story, justice for the fact that he more or less had no one looking out for him in college and still turned out to be amazing. He was so vulnerable with Ro and I was ready to cry at multiple parts right along with them!!

Special s/o to archer for being the most special father figure. His dynamic with Freddy’s mom was written in such a way that it made everything all that more special.

I am frothing at the mouth for toren kane’s book so pls pls pls Peyton don’t make us wait too long!!

Thank you @atriabooks @netgalley for an arc!!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Unloved was a romantic sweet read. Full of emotion, I loved how Matty and Ro's relationship developed and how Peyton's writing was so beautifully hopeful 💜

What a rawly honest and beautiful, emotional story - when we met Ro and Freddy in Unsteady, knew I was going to love them and I was not disappointed
Unloved is the way friends to lovers should always be done. Matt "Freddy/Matty" Fredderic is the hockey star and Rosalie "Ro" Shariff is the brilliant, shy romantic who has been crushing on Freddy since they met - but both are struggling in their own ways and find real comfort in each other's friendship. Both start out so lonely and lost, both tentative to let others in but become so protective of one another (o my sweet, sunshine babes, I will be thinking of Matty and Ro foreverrrrr (and Matty's thigh tattoo, to be honest)

I also love the way Peyton Corrine writes grief from the loss of a parent - as a fellow Dead Dad Club TM member, I found her portrayal of our main characters grief so honest and true.

Did I just read my favorite book of 2025 as my first book of 2025? It is quite possible.

I didn't know if any book could top the feelings I had while reading Unsteady, but holy moly Unloved did. The way I connected with both Freddy and Ro at different times throughout this story had me sobbing at some parts and kicking my feet giggling at others. I loved this book so much and will not stop thinking about it for a while.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, all thoughts are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an e-ARC! Peyton Corinne had me hooked from the very beginning of Unloved. She writes such a beautiful, joyful, heartbreaking and fantastic story about Ro and Freddy. Unloved follows Freddy and Ro, who is tutor and a student that turns into a friendship and they both start to catch feelings for each other and it blossoms into so much more. Ro and Freddy literally have my heart and absolutely love their book so much. Freddy is literally the best and his story broke my heart into pieces. I wanted to fight his battles for him and literally go off on anyone who hurt that sweet boy. Ro is amazing, sweet and so caring for others around her and how to put up with Tyler for so long is amazing. I loved how her character developed a long the story and how she learned to stick up for herself and finally know what it truly means to be loved by someone. Unloved is such a beautiful love story and everyone should go pre-order this book that comes out Feb. 2nd 2025! You will not regret it!!

This book is everything! I love it so much. Both characters are so relatable and I am in love with their love story. I love the tutor/athlete aspect. I look forward to more from this author!

4/5⭐️
Tropes:
-Hockey Romance
-Athlete x Tutor
-Friends to lovers
-Mental health and learning disability Rep
-Found family
This book gave me all the feelings. I was sad, angry but I also laughed so much. Their friendship was so sweet but them falling in love was so beautiful it made me hopeful.
Freddy is probably one of the sweetest MMC I’ve ever read about, his story was sad, all his academic struggles and the way people treated him were devastating. The way he loved Ro was so soft and beautiful, Freddy and Ro were meant to love each other.

Side note, I NEED a book about Bennett! He seemed so sad but sweet, I NEED to know everything about him.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for an e-ARC in return for an honest review.

Where do I even begin? So much raw emotions and very much relatable. I love that Matty and Ro found the love that they wanted and needed in each other.

Read if you like:
- Forbidden love
- Tortured heroes
- Small-town isolation
- Emotional healing arcs
- Found family dynamics

Unloved is a raw and deeply emotional romance that delves into themes of pain, redemption, and the transformative power of love. The story follows Calla Rivers, a woman searching for answers about her past, and Liam Kane, a brooding and reclusive man living in self-imposed isolation due to the sins of his family.

Their connection is immediate yet fraught with tension, as Liam’s tortured past and belief in his own unworthiness create barriers that Calla is determined to break down. The forbidden love element adds an additional layer of complexity, with the stakes feeling high at every turn.

Set against the backdrop of a hauntingly beautiful small town, the book excels at creating an atmosphere that mirrors the characters’ emotional journeys—both desolate and hopeful. The found family aspect is woven seamlessly into the narrative, offering moments of lightness and a reminder that love and support can come from unexpected places.

The writing is poignant and immersive, pulling readers into a story that is as heart-wrenching as it is hopeful. *Unloved* is a gripping tale of two broken souls finding healing and love in the most unlikely of circumstances. Perfect for fans of angsty, character-driven romances that leave a lasting impression.

Thank you so much to the publisher for my gifted ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity! I have been obsessed with hockey romance for quite some time and this one is definitely going on my top reads. Freddy and Ro were everything and more, the vibes and the love they shared made me believe in true love. The only thing I wish was that it didn’t take them forever to get together, also I hate that she was with her ex for most of the book.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

Ro and Freddy are university seniors who started as friends with Ro tutoring Freddy, which turned into much more. The slow burn was done so well with tension the entire time. Ro was the sweetest FMC and I loved how Freddy treated her so well the entire time.

The emotion I felt between Ro and Freddy was so deep and I had a strong desire for both of them to be happy and loved. The grief and anxiety that both characters shoulder is so heavy and they both handle it with grace. I loved Freddy’s character arc and how you learn more behind his playboy mask as the story goes on.

Overall, I really liked this book. I would recommend reading the first book in the series first which gives you some background into the characters.

Ahh, I literally screamed when I got approved for this Arc! I loved Unsteady, and Peyton is definitely an auto buy author. If she writes it, I will be reading it!
This book was the PERFECT friends to lovers, hockey romance story. I was hooked from the beginning.
“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. “🦋
You get a dual pov and a deeper look into Ro and Matty and their internal and external struggles/battles. Ro finally finding the courage to leave her narcissistic boyfriend while missing her parents and feeling alone. Matty battling his grief, trying to pass his courses with a learning disability, and dealing with a garbage father.
But they find comfort/strength in each other and build the strongest friendship. They defended each other, and never gave up on each other.
Each character has so much depth to them. Ro just wanting to feel good enough, and Matty just wanting to feel loved. Both pathological people pleasers just trying to find their way in the world. 🥺 I just wanted to give them both the biggest hugs! I found myself relating to both of them in different ways. 🎀❤️‍🩹
The emotional intelligence they both had and the chemistry was just so refreshing to read. Their love story flowed so naturally and it was so tender.
This book made me feel all the emotions!

Before I dive into my review, I want to extend a huge thank you to NetGalley and Peyton Corinne for providing me with an advanced copy of Unloved. I read the first book, Unsteady, and loved it, but I was even more excited to experience Freddy and Ro's story. I’m so grateful for the chance to read it early—thank you once again!

Unloved picks up after Unsteady and shifts focus to Sadie and Rhys' best friends, Freddy and Ro. Ro is a romantic at heart, but she's trapped in a toxic relationship with her boyfriend, convinced she’s happy despite how badly he treats her. Freddy, a hockey star known for his smile and his reputation as a playboy, appears to have it all—except he's grappling with grief and the challenges of ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia. Both Freddy and Ro struggle with their sense of self-worth, unable to believe they deserve love.

During their freshman year, they crossed paths at a party, with Freddy being Ro’s first kiss—but, he doesn’t remember it. Fast forward to the present day, and they’re thrown together again when Ro becomes Freddy’s tutor. What begins as a strictly student-tutor dynamic gradually transforms into a deep friendship, and eventually, a romance neither of them expected.

Unloved is much more than a romance. The emotional depth of these characters had me completely invested in their journey. Ro and Freddy are soft, complex, and incredibly real—so much so that you can’t help but root for them. Their struggles with self-worth and their desire for genuine connection felt relatable, and I found that I could see parts of myself in both of them. Ro’s anxiety and tendency to overthink hit especially close to home for me, and I think many readers will be able to relate to her.

One of the most beautiful aspects of this story is how their relationship unfolds slowly. Freddy and Ro become friends first, which allows them to truly understand each other before diving into a romantic relationship. I loved the way their love grew organically and wasn’t rushed. Their emotional connection was so solid that when they finally took that next step, it felt earned and real. My favorite quote was, “I think you’d be really easy to love,” which encapsulates the feeling of the entire novel. The playlist included in the book was also a fantastic touch. It helped me feel more connected to Freddy and Ro, almost like I was living the story alongside them.

Another standout moment for me was the epilogue. Normally, I’m not a huge fan of epilogues—they can sometimes feel overdone—but this one was different. Instead of resorting to the more common wedding day epilogue a year later, it gives more insight into other events in their lives showing what their story looks like further into the future which left me feeling even more connected to their journey.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book. I’m giving Unloved a solid 4.5/5. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, especially Toren Kane’s story. I also love how Peyton Corinne drops little bread crumbs about future books, teasing the journeys of side characters, and I’m definitely looking forward to more. I highly recommend Unloved to readers who enjoy slow-burn romances, friends-to-lovers tropes, sports stories, and narratives that explore more than just the romance—this book offers all of that and so much more.

I loved Unsteady, the first book in this series. Like, I REALLY loved it — I felt like it filled a gap in the romance genre that had been begging to be occupied for some time. It dealt with men's mental health in a way that felt fresh and new and not tired. You could imagine my excitement when I received an advanced copy of Unloved through NetGalley. I sped through this book at breakneck speed, hoping it would scratch the same itch. I kept waiting for it to hit the same as Unsteady, but I think it fell flat. I was not connected to the characters nearly as much as I was with the first book. I'm not sure if it's because my expectations were so high or if I would have experienced it differently had I not read the first book (it is a standalone). This is not to say it was a terrible book — it was fine — and I would still be interested in reading what else this writer has to offer, but this book did not thrill me.

Unloved is a captivating friends-to-lovers romance that beautifully explores the slow-burn relationship between Ro and Freddy. Ro, stuck in a toxic relationship, finds solace in Freddy, who falls for her first while being patient and supportive. Their growing bond is heartwarming, especially as Freddy helps Ro realize her worth, leading her to stand up for herself. Their sweet moments, such as Freddy’s protective nature and Ro’s words of reassurance, make this a memorable love story.

While some might find the plot a bit predictable, the emotional depth of the characters and their tender connection elevate the story. Ro and Freddy’s journey is filled with personal growth, and their epilogue, set five years later, offers a fulfilling and adorable conclusion. Fans of slow-burn romances and heartfelt character development will adore this book.

5 stars!!! ⭐️

Unloved is a beautiful love story about two people learning to accept the right kind of love both in a relationship and to themselves! I adored Ro and Freddy and their dynamic was filled with tender moments, angsty moments, and FUN moments!!! This book handles grief in a way that I think is realistic for adults in their 20's. We see Ro and Freddie each dealing with a different form of grief and how it impacts their college experiences and relationships. I wanted to hug these characters and tell them that it would be okay pretty much the entire book but lucky for me they just hugged each other and showed each other that everyone deserves an unconditional love, a soulmate if you will!

Quotes that made me pause, blush, relate to, or long for more:

💚"I can be whoever I want to be."

💚"I think you’d be really easy to love."

💚“I’m not brave or cool or anything fun, I’m just . . . I’m careful. I’m good, and it’s still not enough. I want to be more.” “You can be whatever you want to be.”

💚"But I’d lived entire lives, thousands of them, in books. And part of me always imagined what falling in love would feel like."

You will enjoy Unloved if you love realistic love stories where the characters have to fight for their love story, which makes this book a slow burn in my opinion! I rooted for Matty and Ro to believe in themselves and that they deserved to be loved!

Unloved is a triumphant love story about two broken souls healing each other despite all the struggles and obstacles they face along the way.

Peyton Corinne has quickly become an auto buy author for me and I can't wait to dive into more of her love stories! (I'm begging for a Toren Kane and whoever his lily tattoo is for, and a Bennet & Paloma book!)

Thank you Atria books and Peyton Corinne for this eARC!
I will share my full review on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble closer to the pub date!!

I SQUEALED when I got accepted for this ARC! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books!

Unsteady is hard to top for me but Unloved was pretty good. And similar in that it's not just a sweet romance.. it deals with some heavy topics. Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions.

Freddy and Ro were both lonely and hurting for different reasons and they both had unhealthy coping mechanisms. Ro has a narcissistic bf/ex who really just had too much page time in this book (along with his friends who all acted like middle school bullies). And there's another woman who had me FUMING but that's all I can say about her. 🤐 Neither of these toxic people had consequences for their actions by the end of the book, which I had wished to see, but Freddy and Ro moved past the hurt with the help of each other.

The pacing from friends to lovers was gradual and perfect, which they needed after both having their trust broken in another relationship. Their relationship felt so natural and really just perfect. They fought to break down walls to be together and had to realize they could truly trust eachother, and they came together beautifully. There was no third act breakup, and I love love loved the dual POV!

Ro and Sadie had a weird dynamic.. Sadie felt like a different person than in Unsteady. Plus, Ro and Sadie were supposedly bffs, but kept literally everything from each other. The two books follow the same timeline so I do wish Unsteady was a little more fresh in my mind because there were some scenes, usually with Rhys and Sadie, I knew I should know what was happening but didn’t remember.

I also wish we knew more of Kane's story by now, so it's a toss up on whether I want the next book to be his or the mysterious Bennett's.

Overall, I loved all the feelings this book made me feel. All the ups and downs led to them together in a beautiful way, and the epilogue including Archer was the cherry on top!

Final thought, why was the butterfly tattoo never explained??

I looooved looooved book 1 in the series, so I was so excited to be approved for this title. I loved getting to know Ro on a deeper level. I found her to be super relatable. and don't even get me started on how much Matt loved and cared for her. Fingers crossed there is a book 3 coming for Bennett.

This is a sports romance done right! I LOVED this story. The relationship between Freddy and Ro was messy, complicated, emotional, fun, and perfect all at the same time.