This book was really cute. We follow Freddy, the hockey team’s playboy, and Ro, his school-assigned tutor, as they develop a friendship that slowly turns into something more. I loved the character growth in this book for both MCs. At the start, Ro is stuck in a toxic, on-again-off-again relationship, while Freddy grapples with his sense of self-worth. Watching them heal, discover themselves, and grow both individually and together was deeply satisfying. I especially appreciated the tenderness and patience they showed each other, which made their romance so easy to root for.

However, the pacing of the story felt a bit off. We were jumping around, and the progression of the romance had a lot of back-and-forth that seemed too much. Having just reread Unsteady, which runs concurrently to this book, I found myself wondering if the patchy pacing came from knowing the events of Unsteady too well or if it was an issue in the storytelling itself.

After reading Unsteady earlier this year, I was SO excited to get my hands on the ARC of Unloved and boy did it not disappoint!! While we do get snippets of Sadie and Rhys from the first book, this story follows Ro and Freddy who are two people pleasers at their core going through some emotional trauma. Freddy is your star athlete hockey player who is barely hanging by a thread in his classes and Ro happens to be his hopeless romantic tutor. Between Ro’s non affectionate boyfriend pushing her away and her homesickness, we see her affection for Freddy start to strengthen especially when he starts to actually see her for who she truly is. It was so beautiful to see how protective the characters were of each other and building their friendship before any sort of romantic relationship. And can we talk about the SLOW BURN?! It was SO good and the tension was so worth the wait!! Overall, this story was so amazing, it had some of my favorite tropes and the characters were so well written!

The narrative centers around Matt "Freddy" Fredderic and Rosalie "Ro" Shariff, the close friends of the protagonists in Unsteady.
Freddy is a renowned hockey player, a charismatic playboy, yet he also struggles academically.
Ro is a brilliant, introverted romantic who has been infatuated with Freddy since they met at a party during their freshman year. Now in their senior year, Freddy is known as a campus heartthrob, while
Ro is dating her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Tyler. They are assigned as tutor and student to help Freddy pass his biology and math classes, allowing him to maintain his academic standing and stay on the hockey team until graduation in the spring.
Despite their outwardly happy appearances, both Freddy and Ro are deeply lonely and crave affection. As they spend more time together, their friendship deepens, and they find solace in each other.
They also experience an increasing amount of heat and tension that is building between them, which they are trying to ignore.
And as they navigate these emerging emotions, external circumstances present obstacles and disturbances that they must overcome.

God do I love me a great hockey romance mixed in with real life mental health issues.

Book one is all about PTSD, anxiety, and depression. This book is all about grief, anxiety, imposter syndrome, narcissism, emotional abuse, slut shaming, and academic disabilities. These things are all expertly written, and my heart is full of empathy for Ro & Matt. To watch them grow into themselves and into each other was beautiful and inspiring. I love their found family, & will keep reading this series as long as she keeps writing 🤭

Peyton Corinne has done it again! Unloved is a heartfelt masterpiece that captures the magic of vulnerability, growth, and unconditional love. This book had me hooked from start to finish, and dare I say; I may have loved it even more than Unsteady.

The representation of learning disabilities was beautifully and thoughtfully handled. Freddy’s struggles with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD felt authentic, and his journey to self-acceptance was deeply moving. Watching him shed his mask of confidence and allow Ro to see the real him was a testament to the healing power of love and understanding.

This isn’t just a romance; it’s a story of healing, resilience, and proving that even the most flawed parts of us are worthy of love. Corinne’s writing brought out so many emotions, and I found myself rooting for Freddy and Ro every step of the way. If you’re a fan of slow burns, heartfelt character growth, and romances that leave you grinning through tears, Unloved is a must-read.

Tropes You’ll Love:
-Friends to Lovers
-Slow Burn
-Tutor & Athlete
-Healing Love
-Learning Disability Representation

Peyton Corinne has solidified her place as a go-to author for stories that are as inspiring as they are romantic. Don’t miss out on this one!

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Peyton Corinne for the opportunity to receive the ARC.

One of my most anticipated ARCs. I was so curious about Ro and Freddy after getting bits of them in Unsteady and they were so worth the wait. These two have the most tender and soft love. Both of their hearts are so big and they deserve each other in the best way. The slow burn allowed time for the foundation of their friendship to be built and I appreciated that so much. I loved watching them find each other and feel loved and seen. All Ro wants to do is show Freddy he’s more than his reputation and be his support when he’s never had that, and Freddy takes every opportunity to appreciate the shit out of Ro and give her the most special small moments. The overlapping timeline was a fun twist that I’m thinking might happen throughout the rest of the series and I’m here for it. Such a unique POV to get the same night not only from both of the MCs but from multiple couples. Also- the Archer moment in the epilogue CUE THE TEARS.

This was a sweet and easy read. I enjoyed both characters and I loved how they developed a real friendship before anything romantic happened between them. It made their connection feel a lot more real. I enjoyed Freddy’s character and his development by the end of the story. However, I did feel like a lot of the story dragged on and I wish there was a more specific plot going on. It did feel unnecessarily long for what the story was and I found the Tyler plot line to be too much to the point where it took away enjoyment from the book. I just think he was in it way more than he should have been. I did enjoy the found family happening on the side. These types of books are a bit cliche and it’s not one I’ll think about, but it was an easy and cute read with likeable characters.

3.5 stars. There was so much I really loved about this book, and while I realize Ro was meant to portray an emotionally abused person, her inaction was horrendous. She let life happen to her even though she would stick up for others which felt unrealistic. Even Matt’s reaction to his relationship with the teacher seemed unrealistic as well.
However, I loved the slow relationship building and love that was portrayed.

This is simply a story of two people finding themselves and the kind of love they have always wanted to experience. Both Ro and Freddy have difficult histories that have changed the ways they view relationships, other people, and themselves. They only start to understand where they are and what they need when they start to learn from each other.

I’m honestly unsure if I can put into words how beautiful this story is. It had me crying, laughing, screaming, and kicking my feet. There is so much to learn and so many relatable aspects to these characters. Ro and Freddy are both so lost at the beginning, having had different experiences that have lead them in similar directions. The grief and loneliness that they both face, the shame and self loathing they both fight against is so powerful. And the love they find for each other is ultimately how they learn to love themselves.
All the sensitive topics that are approached in this book are done so well, with a gentleness that makes it feel safe. As a reader both Ro and Freddy are so easy to understand and relate to. I cannot express how much I loved reading this book.

This book was very cute. I loved Ro’s character and her chapters were very enjoyable. I had a good time reading it

This book was very cute and definitely satisfied my need for more hockey romance. I absolutely loved the first book by this author because it had more depth to it than just being a cute hockey romance. Although I did not like this one as much as the first, it was still a great read, and had the same kind of depth to the story and the characters.

Thank you to Atria Books via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.8 stars!!!!! Omg I feel like I just had my heart shredded into pieces but also healed and injected with love and joy. Peyton is incredible at describing the raw, vulnerable, real emotions and thoughts that consume Matt and Ro. My heart astronomically hurt for both of them. But they are the definition of soulmates and complement each other so perfectly. 🥹 I’m so glad she also brought to light toxic masculinity, power imbalances, and learning disabilities

Freddy and Ro's relationship instantly captures your heart and their relationship and the way they grow in each other's company is simply unmatched. Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I really enjoyed this sequel to Unsteady, it portrays grief and healing really beautifully. Both Ro and Freddy have dealt with incredibly hard things and are able to be there for each other during the hard times, and then finally becoming more than just friends. Unloved also shows the struggles of someone navigating learning difficulties (dyslexia, dyscalculia, & adhd) while in college and I think that was really well done. The only thing I struggled with is that this book takes place during the same time frame as Unsteady, so there were parts that felt repetitive, but just getting a different persons perspective. Definitely worth the read though if you want an angsty, emotional book to shed a few tears while reading!

Unloved by Peyton Corinne, the second book in The Undone series, is a standalone, dual-POV romance set alongside the events of Unsteady.

It follows Ro, an academically driven girl stuck in an unhealthy relationship, and Freddy, a star hockey player hiding his grief and struggles with a learning disability behind a charming, carefree exterior. When Ro becomes Freddy’s tutor, she begins to see beyond his façade, discovering the tender, self-doubting boy beneath.

This book was absolutely adorable—it definitely had me feeling giddy and kicking my feet at times! It’s a crush-from-afar to friends-to-lovers story with impactful themes like grief, emotionally abusive parental relationships, toxic romance, mental health, learning disabilities, and navigating college while wrestling with self-perception and societal labels.

Peyton skillfully combines all the elements I adore in a story: emotional depth, relatable insecurities, cute romance, and hockey. Fans of Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers vibes will find so much to love here. I also loved the clever easter eggs connecting this book to the first—Freddy’s shoelace detail might just be the cutest nod ever. I can’t wait to see how the storylines hinted at here unfold in the next book!

Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

4⭐️
⤷Ro⋆. 𐙚 ˚
Ro is one of the sweetest and most selfless characters I’ve come across in a long time. She’s genuinely kind without expecting anything in return, which made her so endearing. She’s my empathetic girl through and through—emotional, yes, but I love her for it. Her obsession with ribbons? Adorable. I’m completely obsessed with her.

⤷Matt🏒
Matt is the first truly vulnerable male character I’ve read, and I loved every bit of him. He’s so nice, relatable, and just plain cute. The way he was consistently present for Ro throughout the entire book melted my heart.

જ⁀➴Ro and Matt⋆. 𐙚 ˚🏒
Their progression from friends to lovers was beautifully done. The development felt natural and so healing to read. I loved how both main characters were written with such vulnerability—it added so much depth to their story.

However, I didn’t love their first meeting. It felt insignificant in the larger context of the book and didn’t really add much to their journey.

Honorable mention to <b>Archer</b>
What a man. He deserves every bit of goodness life can offer, and I hope he gets it!

A beautiful journey

I started this novel thinking it would be just another hockey romance, don’t get me wrong I love my hockey romances. Cute and fun and they leave me warm and happy. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Unloved is so much more. It is truly a beautiful journey of love and healing and finding yourself and your own self worth.

The story’s main characters are real and deep and so relatable. Matt and Ro are both all too familiar with unhealthy relationships, whether with family or on a romantic level. Peyton does an amazing job showing just how much unhealthy relationships can twist a persons own internal voice and how damaging they can be to a persons self worth. At the same time she is showing that she highlights how much a healthy relationship can begin to heal the trauma of the unhealthy relationships.

I highly recommend this book. It is emotional and beautiful and fulfilling. It’s real and relatable.

Reviewed here: https://www.tiktok.com/@stardustandstorybooks/photo/7441756648273693998

A New Adult title, Unloved follows Ro and Matt (aka Freddy) through a dual point-of-view hockey romance. Ro, sheltered and sweet, meets Matt at a party when she’s 18 and shares a first kiss with him, then he vanishes from her sight. Years later, she is assigned tutoring duties over a troublesome and legendarily local Casanova, who turns out to be her former crush. She and Matt keep it friends only and help each other through similar traumas.

This slow burn novel is not what I expected! I really wasn’t expecting to identify with a New Adult novel about two kids in college, but the story was so well written and the characters so dynamic that I was sucked in from the beginning. Ro is a studious, family-first girl who is trapped in a terribly narcissistic relationship, and Matt is an all-star dyslexic hockey player sleeping his way through college. When the two come together, we get to experience first-hand how the right person can help you change and grow. It’s beautiful - the way Corinne writes a hockey romance laced with grief and trauma - she showcases honestly how one can get caught up in an abusive relationship and not know how to get out of it. Nothing about this book felt cheesy, or trope-y, it just felt like a well-told hockey romance/women’s lit book. 5 stars!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I loved this book; I could not put it down!!!!! This gives rom-com vibes in the best way; I'm talking about the heyday of romantic comedies (13 going on 30 being one of the best!). The chemistry, the banter, the writing!!! I will be reading everything Peyton Corinne writes from here on out, and you should, too!

Thank you Net Galley and Peyton Corrine for this ARC!!
I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!! I relate so hard to Ro (Mirrorball girlies rise), being a people pleaser and having such high expectations for yourself is a challenge I share on the daily. Seeing Freddy fall head over heels for Ro was so so sweet, nothings better than a golden retriever boyfriend, but seeing his character development was even sweeter.
Freddy is viewed as a stereotypical playboy but what people DONT know is that he’s actually a lover boy😌 He’s never experienced being loved exactly for who he is, no strings attached or masks on. Ro, a certified lover girl, shares the feeling of never truly being seen and accepted. When they’re together, they both experience being truly SEEN, accepted, and loved. Ro and Freddy bring out the best in each other and it is so lovely to watch it all unfold. Not to mention, the playlist is absolutely fire.