4.5 Stars, 2 spice

<i> “I think you’d be really easy to love.”</i>

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the e-arc. Unloved is out 2/4/25, and is book two in the Undone series!

In Unloved we follow best friends of the main characters from the first book, Unsteady. Unsteady was my top contemporary book of 2023 so I highly recommend you read that first - the books have overlapping timelines so we see some of the same scenes from a different perspective!

There is no doubt that Peyton Corinne is one of my favorite authors. She writes such beautifully complex characters. She always gives them growth and development individually as well as a couple.

We follow Ro, school tutor and hopeless romantic, who is stuck in an on and off again relationship with a narcissist, and Freddy, Left winger, who has a reputation of being player, and is struggling to pass his classes (he has some unsupported learning differences - ADHD, Dyscalculia and dyslexia)
Ro ends up being brought in as Freddy’s tutor for this new semester, and they start to kindle a new friendship. Both of them can see how the other has be discounted, and mistreated by others in their lives, and some late night calls and friendship starts to turn into something more.

These are two people who are not only learning how to be authentically themselves, but learning to stand up to people who mistreat them, and are working to accept that they are not only lovable, but ARE loved, even with their flaws.

I want more around the conclusion with antagonists in this story, but I can totally see how it was shown in a way that is most realistic. I will say that I did struggle to read some of the scenes with the narcissists, Peyton clearly did her research or has experienced this kind of behavior, because it was enraging!

But I just loved how she had both of these characters grow, and the way they worked through their own struggles (especially some of Freddy’s toughest moments had me in tears), their relationship and their family issues were handled perfectly. No notes.

THE EPILOGUE was everything. <b>I was in literal tears. </b>Just so beautifully wrapped up, and I am a sucker for an epilogue that is several years out vs an immediate one.

SO excited for Bennett and Toren’s books, seeing small glimpses of them through this book has me dying for more. I also cannot freaking wait for the audio of this book, the first book is amazing on audio!


Tropes:
- Friends to Lovers
- Slow Burn
- High tension
- Secret Pining
- Dual POV
- Hockey Romance
- Tutor/Athlete

Triggers:
- Relationships with Narcissists (Boyfriend, father - abusive behaviors on page)
- Loss of a parent (before book takes place)
- Grief around loss of a parent
- Name calling/bullying around learning differences

Undone Series Ratings:
Unsteady - 5 stars, 3 spice
Unloved - 4.5 stars, 2 spice

I had the pleasure of reading Peyton Corinne's debut novel, UNSTEADY, as an ARC before she indie published and I absolutely loved it. But after reading UNLOVED, dare I say. I have a new favorite?

UNLOVED felt both like a sucker punch to the gut and a warm hug. I'm unsure if I've ever related more to a character than I related to Ro from page one. From her awkwardness and wanting to fit in freshman year to the toxic situationship she found herself in to the people pleasing tendencies and just wanting someone to lover her, I related to her deep in my soul. And I also related to Freddy/Matt in a way.

Peyton handles heavy topics with such care and although I cried several times while reading, I also found myself smiling ear to ear at Matt and Ro's relationship. They're truly the definition of patient love and seeing someone for who they are and loving them despite their flaws. This was a slow burn, but being able to see the friendship grow felt like how a relationship in real life should be.

I can't wait to see what Peyton does next and I'm so honored to have been able to read UNLOVED early.

/⭐️
ARC review
Genuinely one of the best books I’ve read this year. Matty how I love you I don’t even have the words. He rivals every other soft love/ let’s be soft with one another MMCs I’ve ever read. I was hysterical the majority of this book to the point I couldn’t read it in public because I couldn’t control my out loud reactions. I desperately want the chance to be loved the way Matty and Ro love one another. The way they always support one another, give space for the other, always always always treasure each other is so incredibly special.
Rosalie specifically made me have multiple breakdowns because of her relationship with Tyler. It mirrored my first relationship in ways that still makes me embarrassed. To see her find someone who truly loves her for who she is and adore all the different parts of herself was so moving. The way they were able to stand up for each other even when they couldn’t do the same for themselves was so gut wrenching. I think watching Matty who hasn’t had someone stand up for him finally have someone in his corner made something honest to god shatter in my chest.

Emotional damage 10/10 would recommend ♾️/10

Rating: 4/5

I thought this book was overall really light and fun, but also dealt with some tough issues at points and handled them really well. I’ve definitely met people like Freddy’s dad and like Tyler, but have also (thankfully) known people like Ro, Freddy, Archer, and Sadie. I really enjoyed the flow of this book, as well as the ease with which Ro and Freddy’s relationship developed. I especially liked the ending, it made my heart happy to know how their story continued and turned out.

Thank you Altria Books for providing an early copy on Netgalley in exchange for a review!

First of all, I would like to thank Peyton Corinne for writing this book.
Then, I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an arc of this book.

If you would like to read a short review, then I would say that this book was so beautiful and emotional, and it was really everything, and everyone should read it.

This book came to me at the perfect time; after 5 long months of not really reading romance books, I finally had the chance to read it. And the cherry on top: I got to start it on Sadie Gray (Brown)'s birthday, and I got to finish it on the original release day of the first book. So if you don't believe in destiny, can you tell me what this is?

But if you would ask me on a deeper level, I would say this, and prepare yourself because it is basically a love letter to Peyton:
A little less than a year ago, I was watching TikToks, as everyone does, and I came across this video about the hockey golden boy having a panic attack in front of a grumpy figure skater. And I knew back then that that book was for me. It was written for me, and I have to read that, so less than two weeks after its release, I read Unsteady. And as you probably can tell, I was completely obsessed with it. And in that book, I met a girl named Aurora. Do you remember her? Cause I do. I fell in love with her right away, the sweet best friend of our beloved black cat figure skater, who loves reading romance books, just like I do. And Freddy, the boy who makes everyone smile. Now, Rora changed her name to Rosalie (Ro), but we finally got her story. Their story. And just like I said earlier, it was everything and more. Two souls longing to be loved, to be understood, to be seen, drawn to each other like magnets. We got romance, we got love, we got hockey... What else do you want? Go, read it!

3.5 stars
This was such a cute and fun read!
I loved getting to know Freddie and Ro and watching their relationship grow from a strong, solid friendship to more.
They don't get together until 80% of the book which I loved since it shows how much time they spent really getting to know each other first. The slow burn made their connection feel genuine and deep, and it was refreshing to see a romance that wasn't rushed. The slow buildup let their feelings grow naturally, which made it so much more satisfying when they finally got together.
Freddy and Ro really get each other-they share a lot of the same feelings and experiences, which made their bond feel so real and genuine. I absolutely loved their relationship and seeing it develop over the course of the book. I also adored all the other relationships in this book, especially Freddy's relationship with Archer. And that epilogue? It was beautifully written and brought me to tears—it was the perfect way to wrap everything up.
I am excited to see what's next and praying for a Bennett book.

Ro and Freddy are sooo cool together....i love the shy girl/playboy demeanor....cant wait for the newest release!!

I really like the ideas behind the book, and the characters pasts and how they affect relationships. I found points distracting like the mysterious plot lines of secondary characters throughout and the interjection of all the song titles and artists. The Goodreads book summary says Matt is in school due to an inheritance clause but that is not part of the story.

Peyton Corinne does it again! I loved Ro from the moment we met her in Unsteady and this book just made me love her more

This book was written so beautifully. I was sucked in from the beginning and could not put it down!! I fell in love with Ro and Matty and their soft, pure love. 10/10!!!!!!! Peyton Corinne strikes again!!! I cannot wait for the next books!!

Overall this book was wonderful. I resonated more with Sadie but Ro is great and Matt is wonderful!
Initially I was confused because in Unsteady Ro’s name is Aurora. The name change wasn’t bad but for continuity I it should go back to the original name. I also wish it didn’t take so long for Ro to stand up for herself especially to Tyler. As a person that is not so emotional her frequent bouts of crying annoyed me but I love how kind she is.
Matt is so sweet and I actually wanted to fight the teacher and his dad. No notes there.
I wanted the epilogue to go into more of their future together, maybe including a scene where Ro finds out she’s pregnant with Elsie?
Overall a great book, now please for the love of god write one for Kane! I’ve been obsessed with him since Unsteady.

Let me start by saying I really loved the ending of this book! It was my favorite part, I love seeing the characters down the line and seeing them happy and living their dreams
There were things that I loved about this book and things that I didn't but let's start with the positive, I loved getting to see Rhys and Sadie for a different perspective and revisiting things I loved from their book.
I thought it was neat to have both stories along the same timeline but I do with there was a little more detail at time because I couldn't remember everything from the first book so l was a little confused at times. I thought this book also represented mental health/ self image in a great way and I loved seeing the healing and growth of the characters throughout. Also 1 star just for Matt's chain. That's hot.
Some of the things I struggled with, obviously tyler is
#1. I hated him with a passion and I really wish he had disappeared sooner. As a recovering people pleaser myself it was so hard for me to see the way he treated her for so long and have her stay. I wanted to scream at her to get out of there and stand up for herself. So of course I was so happy for her by the end for her character growth. I do feel like at times the scenes moved a little too fast and I wished some conversations had been addressed more in depth for the sake of the characters, especially when it came to side characters.
And I also wish we could have seen Ro at more of his games, it was mentioned that she was always there but I wanted to see it.
Overall I did enjoy this book and I do love the world she has created with the characters!

when i saw this beauty on net galley i KNEW i had to shoot my shot… was i expecting to actually be approved? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! i’m still shocked that i was able to get my hands on this beauty like omg.

freddy and ro caught my attention immediately from the first little snippet we got of them in unsteady. i could tell from then that they’re love story was going to be wholesome and it 100% was!

there’s nothing that makes me more giddy than a sports romance that has a tutor trope. like give me 14 of em rn. freddy and ro were genuinely so sweet and soft with one another you could really tell peyton corinne really wanted to take her time and form a true connection between them.

i see myself a lot in freddy and ro, like ro there’s parts of me that can’t help but want to please everyone i come across which is aggravating to read since you recognize patterns. and like freddy struggling with school has always been kind of something i felt ashamed of at times, not being able to get it as fast as others is a struggle. this book helps you feel seen even when you don’t expect it.

freddy and rk’s relationship was so special and i can’t wait to see who’s next 🦋🤭

i’m so grateful that i was chosen for this arc, thank you net galley & @peytoncorinneauthor 💚✨🏒📚

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

This was a BEAUTIFUL book. I felt such strong connection with both characters and found them unexpectedly relatable in different ways. The way grief and love was displayed in this was so raw and real.

What i loved most about this book was how both characters handled each other with so much gentleness and care. I felt their connection and found myself blushing so hard at their interactions. On top of that, I’m going to eat up a good hockey romance EVERY SINGLE TIME. His nickname for her 🧎🏾‍♀️😩 and my eyes were so watery reading that epilogue, I barely could make the words out. Ugh so so wholesome and beautiful.

I was living for all of Rhys and Sadie crumbs, made me want to reread their book just cause but I can’t wait to yap more about this one. I’ll forever recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Peyton Corinne, and Simon & Schuster for an ARC copy of *Unloved*. This is an easy 5-star read for me! Having absolutely loved *Unsteady*, I was eagerly awaiting *Unloved*, and it did not disappoint. In fact, it quickly became the most exciting ARC I’ve read so far. I’ve already preordered a physical copy, and it will definitely be a cherished addition to my collection.

Unlike *Unsteady*, which touched on heavier topics while maintaining a fair bit of spice, *Unloved* went even deeper, diving into some heavy themes with genuine care and sensitivity. There are still some spicy moments, but this book truly focuses on building emotional depth and exploring complex, often heart-wrenching issues. Peyton Corinne’s approach is both respectful and thought-provoking, balancing difficult themes with moments of warmth and connection.

I absolutely loved the relationship between Freddie and Ro. Watching them establish a solid friendship and deep bond before anything romantic developed was refreshing and felt so authentic. Their connection feels genuine and grounded, making the emotional stakes even more impactful as their story unfolds. The author’s commitment to letting their relationship evolve naturally adds a level of realism that’s both touching and rare.

As for the next book, I’m thrilled to see where Peyton Corinne takes the series. I have my fingers crossed that we’ll get a story focused on Bennett, or maybe even Kane—or, ideally, both! Either way, this is one series I’ll be eagerly following

i was #blessed with getting the ARC of one of my most anticipated reads from netgalley and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT! I read unsteady earlier this year and fell in love with all of the characters and I have been waiting so patiently, but SO excited for Freddy & Ro’s story! I loved Freddy & Ro glimpses in unsteady, so I knew unloved was going to be EVERYTHING to me! What I love specifically about Peyton Corinne’s writing and this series is that while it is a hockey romance, it is so different from all the others on the market. I get so emotionally attached to these characters and want nothing but the best for them. Ro and Freddy were meant for each other and I so enjoyed getting to see their love story play out and see them both grow and heal individually, as well as together as a couple. I am a sucker for an epilogue set in the future and seeing their happy ending play out and this one did not disappoint! I’m sad to say goodbye to this little world for the time being, but I cannot wait to see what is in store for Reiner & hopefully Kane!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review!

*ARC Review* 4.5 ⭐️
I absolutely adored Rosie and Freddy’s journey. Corrine really has a talent for bringing out the realness and raw emotions in the reality of navigating grief and anxiety. Their love story is just so pure and so sweet. The story was well written, although there were some points where it seemed like there were little pieces missing or changed subject suddenly, or some fluff added, but overall she did such an amazing job bringing these characters and their situations to life in such a way that as a reader, I could feel the deep emotions through the pages. That IMO is what makes a book unforgettable. Being able to relate to the characters, their emotions, even the way they think in certain situation-this is what makes it stand out. I cannot wait for the next book!

Check TW as some sensitive topics are discussed.

🌶️

I loved this sequel!!! It is a mix of the Boys of Tommen series and Consider Me series, so if you love sports romances I highly recommend!!

Roe and Matty — I knew they would be great together after the teases of their relationship in the first book but I didn’t expect to feel the complexity and intensity of their feelings of loneliness, desire for being loved, and the intensity of it all.

This book is about love but also about grief and how those we love most never truly leave us. I love seeing and reading more books write about grief and these authors sharing their own vulnerabilities with us. As someone who lost their mom at 25, I appreciate the way Payton Corbin accurately portrayed some of the unexplainable aspects of grief.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the advance copy!!

#unloved #NetGalley #Simonandschuster #netgalleypreview

4.5 ⭐️
I love Matt Fedderic so much. Both Freddy and Ro are characters that have been through it and struggle at being seen for who they are. They are both protective and defensive of the other because they can she past what others have conditioned them to think about themselves. I love the representation of all Freddy's learning disabilities and the challenges he has had in school - including how the school has failed him (then Ro steps in to advocate for him). The amount of emotions in this book is off the scales.
I liked this book more than the first, there were characters I hated and characters that I related to just more than the first book. As I said there's a lot of emotions. I love that this book actually happens at the same time as the first, rather than sequentially. I'm excited to see what book will be next (Beckett and Paloma?) and how that storyline gives even more insight to things that have been mentioned.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this book! All thoughts are my own.

Will happily review on Amazon once published.

Also just highlighted a couple typos to pass along though I'm sure they've been seen!
Prologue: night should be might (4% on book) ...wondering if she night cry
Chapter 4: tow-ard has a hyphen when it doesn't need it (8% on book)
Chapter 25: knees should be kneel (39% on book) ...while she knees at my side.
Chapter 46: the should be they (74% on book) ...to them as the scurry up

~Freddy & Ro~

Tropes
~College setting
~Tutor x athlete
~Friends to lovers
~Slow burn
~Pathological people pleasers

"Loving Rosalie Sheriff would be the easiest thing I've ever done--I know, because I'm already doing it."

"I love her. I do--and it's more than that; I admire her, every piece that makes her my Rosalie."

I quite literally don't even know where to begin with this...it's taken me a few days to even come up with words. I was a little nervous going into this because I loved Unsteady so much; I don't know how this is possible but I loved this one even more. Sweet, sweet Freddy; you deserve the world. I honestly haven't emotionally related to a character in so long--that goes for both Freddy and Ro in different ways. I had to put it down a few times so I could shed a tear.

I don't know how Peyton does it, but all of her characters have so much emotional depth and feel so real. I sometimes struggle with college aged MC's because they can often feel immature but I didn't feel that way for a single second here; if anything I forgot that they were in college at all.