I couldn't put this book down!! I read it mostly in one day, and woke up early to finish it! I loved the relationship between Matty and Rosalie and though it was definitely spicy, there were also serious topics that were addressed. I'm not sure I've ever hated characters more than I hated Tyler and Matt's father. THE WORST! But a sign of compelling writing that I hated them so much, and was also rooting hard for Matty and Ro.

Unloved by Peyton Corinne is, quite simply, one of the best books I've read in a very long time. I rarely give a five star rating, but give this book an enthusiastic five stars without hesitation. To categorize it as simply another hockey romance would be to overlook the deeply emotional components of this novel. Rarely have I read a book in any genre that captured the inner lives of two different characters so viscerally. Rosalie ("Ro") Sharrif is a homesick college senior who tutors on campus and is an emotionally abusive relationship. The gaslighting and manipulation she has experienced for the past several years finally comes to a head and she decides to break up with her on-again, off-again boyfriend for good.

Matt "Freddy" Fredderic is the campus playboy and hockey star who is barely passing his classes due to multiple learning differences (ADHD, dyscalculia, and dyslexia). He has been informed he will be getting yet another new tutor, and dreads meeting them, until he discovers it is the sweet, lanky girl he met at a party and quite literally jumped into the deep end with. There is chemistry between them right from the start, but both Ro and Freddy have their own deep insecurities and vow to be just friends to each other. As their tutoring relationship turns into a true friendship, each of them has to decide whether to take a chance and trust someone with not only their darkest secrets, but their fragile heart as well.

Content warnings: this book deals explicitly with verbal and emotional abuse by a romantic partner as well as by a parent; with grief from the loss of a parent; with highly unethical sexual power imbalances; feelings of shame; and feelings of very low self-worth. There is some very heavy content here, including substance use/abuse, but it is handled very realistically and sensitively. The Happily Ever After is totally worth the difficult journey, so long as none of the above are too much of a trigger for the reader.

This is the second in Peyton Corinne's The Undone series, and I will be going back to read the first book, Unsteady, as soon as possible. There are so many wonderfully written characters in this book that I can't wait to revisit! I hope there will be more books to come by this amazing writer!

Many thanks to the author, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this unforgettable book.

I enjoyed this book and found it to be a refreshing read. I will be rereading once i secure a copy of the first book.

This book was insanely good! I loved every minute of it! Peyton has a raw talent of being able to write a balance of spicy romance and difficult topics. I highly recommend checking this one out!

Absolutely loved this. The characters were well developed and felt fully fleshed out. I appreciated that the romantic build was slow. There was attraction from the start, without feeling like "insta-love." The author really took the time to develop the friendship and respect between the characters before moving into the romantic aspect. This would be a wonderful pick for a reader who likes a somewhat slower burn.

I loved Ro and Freddy so much!! This book was tough to read because both characters were dealing with hard stuff and I just wanted to hug them. They were both lonely and their friendship was beautiful to watch develop. Ro was the first person at his university to really give him a chance and understand how smart he is. Freddy showed Ro how she deserved to be treated (she was so surprised when he remembered her favourite drink!!) I also love how much Freddy loved when Ro called him Matty. These two were just perfect together and I was rooting for him so hard. This book happens at the same time as Unsteady so I recommend reading that one first because there’s a lot of overlapping plot. This was so great and I cannot wait to see whose story is next! (Reiner?? Also hoping for Kane to get a book!)


TWs: grief (loss of a parent), emotional abuse, abuse of power in a sexual relationship

4⭐, 2🌶️

I really enjoyed this book! It was a slow burn, friends to lovers romance but Matty and Ro won me over so fast. I loved how their friendship led to the both of them standing up for themselves (what I would give to punch Ro's ex and Matty's dad in the throat).

I wish we got more of them actually together (probably my standard qualm with slow burns - I want more love and romance!)

💚College Romance
💛Tutor / STEM FMC
🏒Hockey MMC
💛Friends to Lovers
💚Slow Burn Romance

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This book had me crying so much it's actually crazy. Like the emotional turmoil this book puts you through is like nothing else. The connection these characters share. The love they have for each other. The support they give to one another. Literally perfection. Yes you'll be squealing and kicking your feet and blushing like crazy, but this book hits every motion without a doubt.
The way these two fall in love with each other and show up time and time again is heart melting. It wasn't just tutoring and small communication, it's the love and attraction they have. The way they trust each other and share pieces of themselves. It's the way they know they're right for each other and fight for it.
I wasn't expecting this book to hit every one of emotions and leave me in hot devastating tears running down my cheeks. But to be real, I wouldn't have it any other way.

OKAYYYYYYY I can’t believe I waited so long to read this one. I know exactly what my hesitation was. I was a bit underwhelmed by Unsteady when I read it at the beginning of the year and after hearing tons of praise for it, I was so hesitant to jump into book 2.

Friends to lovers is 100% one of my top favorite tropes and Peyton Corinne did such a wonderful job at bringing that trope to life through Matty and Ro. I loved their friendship and how it slowly morphed into something more (but while also featuring lots of pining at the same time????) This is a very character-driven story, which is my bread and butter. I’m fine if a book has a lackluster plot as long as we have complex characters who make me want to care about them.

Peyton Corinne truly excels in creating these horrible, nasty, insecure men. Both main characters must face a man of this caliber during their journey. I loved seeing them both overcome these men and grow into themselves with the help of each other.

I loved everything about this book and I wasn’t expecting to. The only thing I didn’t like was the other stories going on at the same time. It wasn’t so distracting that I wanted to deduct a star, but I do with these stories were going on at different times. I didn’t realize these different stories were going on at the same time during Unsteady, but during Unloved and I didn’t really like it. I’m assuming there will be a third book since Bennett obviously had a storyline of his own going on.

Other than that small bit, I absolutely loved Ro and Matty. I can’t wait to read book 3 from Peyton Corinne.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

absolutely and painfully beautiful! for Peyton's second book, it is SO so SO incredibly perfect! this book breaks your heart and puts it back together in such a perfect way. truly addicted with Peyton's writing!

I really enjoyed this book! There was so much tension between the characters. I loved how complex and well built each character was. I can't wait to read more of Peyton Corinne.

MY HEART. ❤️💔 I am UNWELL. 😭 Pretty sure I’ll have a massive book hangover for a while. 📚💀

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for an ARC of Unloved in exchange for an honest review.

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

Some stories don’t just pull you in—they wrap around your heart and refuse to let go. Unloved does exactly that. It aches in the best way.

Ro has spent her life chasing a love that always feels just out of reach—the kind she reads about in books. 📖 Between classes, tutoring, and tiptoeing around a relationship that drains her, she barely has time to breathe, let alone get distracted. But then there’s Matt (or Freddy?)—the hockey player with a cocky grin and a reputation for never getting attached. 🏒 To the world, he’s all effortless charm and easy confidence. But beneath that? A boy who’s spent years hiding his struggles with ADHD, convinced he’s only as good as what he can do for others.

Their connection starts in the quiet moments—stolen glances over textbooks, teasing remarks that linger a little too long. What begins as a simple tutor-student arrangement slowly shifts into something unspoken, undeniable. A friendship that turns into a lifeline. A slow burn that simmers until it explodes. 🔥

But what makes this story unforgettable isn’t just the tension or the stolen kisses—it’s the way they see each other when no one else does. Ro, terrified she’s unlovable. Matt, convinced he’s never been enough. Their thoughts—raw, unfiltered—bleed onto the page. It’s messy, emotional, and achingly real.

And when the walls come crashing down? When the words they’ve been too afraid to say finally spill out? It’s everything.

This isn’t just another hockey romance. It’s more. It’s the perfect balance of angst, laughter, and chemistry so intense it burns. It’s a love story for the ones who’ve ever felt out of place, too much, or never enough. A story that reminds you—love, the real kind, doesn’t demand perfection. It simply is. ❤️

Tropes & Vibes:
💚 College romance
💚 Tutor x athlete
💚 Friends to lovers
💚 Fake dating-ish
💚 Slow burn
💚 Protective MMC
💚 ADHD & learning differences rep

This one stays with you. ✨💖😭

Such a cute story. I loved the emotional aspect of these characters and their depth. Their friendship, and honestly the whole friend group was done so so well. I don’t mind slow burns but I didn’t love that so much of the book focused on a previous relationship causing the main characters relationship to not even begin until 70% in. Otherwise I would highly recommend this book!

I cried an embarrassing amount of times while reading this. I loved Matty and Ro so much and just want to give these characters a hug 🫂💗 I’m not a friends to lovers fan, but the build up of their relationship was so beautiful and I cannot wait to see what else Peyton Corinne has in store (Pls give me a Thoren Kane book 🙏🏻)

dnf @ 76%. I tried so hard with this one to push through but this book is never ending and I can't take it anymore. I really liked Unsteady and was super excited about this book so not even being able to finish it is such a let down.

The storyline felt so repetitive and slow and what kept repeating was so icky that I had to take pauses every few chapters. Yes Ro's ex-boyfriend and the duchey boys in the tutoring group treat her terribly- I got that picture and did not need a million more examples of it. And the "build-up" of the reveal of Freddie's backstory just made me super uncomfortable since it was pretty clear early on where it was going and I just wanted it over with. And with how much talk there is of Sadie and her brothers you'd think their book is next, not that it already happened.

Ro and Matty forever!! 💚
I wasn't sure if I would love this book as much as I loved Unsteady, but I DID! Ro and Matty have the sweetest slow-burn, friends-to-lovers arc. They both have been hurt by others and both have fears about being accepted and loved. And through their sweet and genuine friendship they find love too! I also loved seeing some of the scenes from Unsteady from different POVs. I am really excited to see what else is coming from this series because I feel like some easter eggs were dropped in this one and I am READY! Loved loved loved this one!

ˋ°•*⁀➷ ♾️ ✰

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



Emotional, raw, relatable, spectacular, show stopping, sweet, heartwarming.

I am a firm believer that some books find you at exactly the right moment—whispering to your heart, speaking to the parts of you that need to be seen. This one was that book for me. It was everything I long for when I open a story, every emotion I hope to feel when I turn the pages. I’m going to cherish this book forever. An all time favorite💚

If I die, bury me with this book. I want every word etched into my soul, every sentence tattooed in my mind so I never forget it, at this point inject this book into my veins. I don’t think I’ve ever given an infinite rating before, but this story left me with no choice—I have no complaints, only pure love. I never expected it to be this emotional, to wreck me and piece me back together. It tugged at my heartstrings so tightly, I don’t think I’ll ever recover, and I wouldn’t want to.

I have to be honest, I don’t give authors second chances… if I didn’t liked my introduction to them, then I don’t try with any of her other books but right now I’m patting myself on the back for giving Peyton a second chance,, when I read the tropes for the book I actually request the book because I have no self control in net galley lol but also because I had a feeling that this was going to be more on my league than unsteady.

the slow burn in this? Chef kiss!!! The best slow burn I have read lately. I was giggling over the light touches of hands, kicking my feet over them hugging or just starting at each other. Slow burn = emotional connection. we love emotional connection

Vulnerability? check ✔️
Character growth? check ✔️
Yearning? check ✔️
no third act breakup? check ✔️

The writingwas beautiful, safe to say that Peyton now has a new fan. This book doesn’t just tell a story—it immerses you in the emotions of loss, the frustration of being misunderstood, and the small, hard-won victories that come with embracing who you are.Peyton’s writing makes even the heaviest moments feel like they’re wrapped in something soft and understanding. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page, not just because of its message but because of the way it makes you feel seen.

the characters were everything and more, I found myself relating to both of them. You can’t hate them, I accept no criticism over them. While reading I was thinking that they could actually be real people.. that realistic they felt to me.

If you've ever felt the need to shrink yourself to fit into someone else’s world, if you long for love but fear it after being let down too many times, if trusting someone feels like the scariest thing in the world, if you’ve experience the loss of a parent, then this book is for you. Or maybe you simply want to fall in love with two characters who deserve all the happiness life has to offer. Either way, this story will wrap around your heart and remind you that love, in all its messy and beautiful forms, is always worth the risk.

I need to express my love for the epilogue of this book. It is set 5 years later!!!🤭 it was so sweet.


➳ characters:


ೃ࿐ rosalie ꒰ princess🎀 ꒱


⭑.ᐟ“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.”

she is me, I’m her. I love her so much, my favorite hopeless romantic who loves to wear ribbons.

She is in a very toxic relationship at the begging of the book, her boyfriend at that time, Tyler, is the worst character that can ever exist. He treats her so bad, made her feel that she wasn’t enough. Because of the asshole actions she thinks that no one is going to like her the way she is, having low self esteem.

She just wanted to be loved, to feel cherished in a relationship, to have someone choose her wholeheartedly. While I often found myself frustrated when she allowed Tyler to talk down to her, I also understood why. She didn’t know any better. He was her first boyfriend, and to her, this was just how relationships worked. No one had ever shown her that love should be kind, that respect should never be optional. It was heartbreaking to watch her settle for less than she deserved, mistaking indifference for affection, simply because she had never been taught to expect more.


I absolutely loved how supportive she was of Freddy. She didn’t just help him study, she went out of her way to research tools and techniques tailored to his dyslexia and dyscalculia, determined to make his learning process easier in a world that had never bothered to accommodate him. When no one else seemed to care about his struggles, she did.
She defended him without hesitation, standing by his side whenever he needed someone in his corner. More than that, she made sure he knew his worth, reminding him again and again that his ADHD and dyslexia didn’t make him any less intelligent, any less capable, or any less deserving. Even when he doubted himself, when years of being overlooked had made him believe otherwise, she refused to let him forget just how brilliant he truly was.


ೃ࿐ freddy ꒰ matty🏒 ꒱

⭑.ᐟ “Sex is easy to me; I’ve been a quick study since I was far too young. Hockey is even easier, and I’m better than most because I work hard beyond how much comes naturally to me. But outside of that? I’m . . . nothing. I’m a fucking failure at using my brain—anything beyond the physical is pointless for me to even attempt because I’m nothing when I’m not using my body.”


My favorite blond lover boy, just thinking about him brings tears to my eyes. His chapters were heartbreaking, each one laced with the quiet pain of someone who never felt like he was enough beyond what he could offer physically. The way he carried that weight, convincing himself that he had nothing more to give, shattered me.
I can never resist a character with layers, the kind of boy who is so achingly broken but hides it behind laughter, parties, and “a good time”. He masks his pain with charm, never letting anyone see the cracks beneath the surface. But beneath it all, he just wants to be seen, to be loved for more than what the world has reduced him to. And that makes me love him even more😔

Everyone failed Matty. No one took the time to truly see him, to understand the way his mind worked, to accommodate his learning disabilities in a way that made him feel capable instead of broken. He was overlooked, dismissed, misunderstood at every turn. My precious boy is still carrying the weight of losing his mother, the only person who ever truly understood him. That grief lingers, shaping him in ways he doesn’t even realize, leaving an ache in his heart that no one else has ever tried to soothe. He is like a lost puppy, searching for direction, for something, someone to anchor him. And then he finds Ro. And for the first time, someone sees him, not just the hockey star, not just the guy with a reputation, but him.

He cares for Ro in the sweetest, most thoughtful ways, the kind of love that feels effortless but means everything. He remembers the little things, like her favorite drink and the way she put butterfly clips in her hair, absentmindedly playing with them just to be close to her. He never lets her forget how beautiful she is, always reminding her, always making sure she knows. He watches her favorite movies, keeps them downloaded on his phone like a comfort he wants to carry with him. And he calls her princess!!!!😩 Where is my Matty???


As someone who lives with ADHD, his representation felt like a warm hug, comforting, validating, and so deeply understood. I saw myself in him, in the restless fidgeting, in the frustration of giving your all and still struggling in classes, in the endless battle with organization. The way he wanted so badly to focus, to succeed, but found it almost impossible at times, it was all so real🥺

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥˚✿ °. rosalie + matty:
⤷ mirrors of each otherᡣ𐭩

MATTY AND RO GET BEHIND ME, I WILL ALWAYS PROTECT BOTH OF YOU💝

They healed something in me.
They were created for me.
They belong to me now.

If I had to describe their relationship in 2 words it would be: gentle love. I absolutely adore how they started a friendship before anything. The best friends to lovers, I love these characters and this book so much, no one is ever going to understand.

Ro and matty are so strong, they have been through so much and they still are willing to take care of the other, they are willing to open their heart one more time. I want to put both of them in my pocket and keep them safe from the world. Both of them just wanted to be loved for who they are. Their story is one of healing, of learning that love doesn’t mean changing yourself to fit someone else’s expectations, but rather being seen, accepted, and cherished exactly as you are. It’s about finding the bravery to let someone in, even when the past has given you every reason to stay guarded.

The way they care so deeply for each other gave me hope that one day someone is going to care about me in that way. Knowing how much their past relationship left them with insecurities they decide to be kind and careful with the other. They bring life to each other. They are soulmates in the truest sense, two hearts mirroring each other, carrying the same wounds, the same loneliness. Both of them spent so long believing they were a burden, bending over backward to please others, yet never truly feeling seen. In my eyes, they never even had close friends. They were alone. Both of them miss their families. They battle insecurities that whisper they are not enough. They fear rejection so deeply it keeps them from reaching out, from asking for what they need. And yet, in each other, they find a love that soothes, a love that says, I see you, and you are not too much. I could talk about them for hours,

To be loved is to be seen, one of my favorite things about them is how they let each other feel, no judgment, no hesitation, just quiet, unwavering support. If one of them needed to cry, the other was there, offering a steady shoulder to lean on, a safe place to fall apart. They cared for each other so effortlessly, tending to each other’s wounds, soothing insecurities in ways that felt almost instinctual, as if loving and protecting one another was second nature. Long before they were even together, they were already theirs. Already looking out for each other, already guarding each other’s hearts like something precious. I’m already crying thinking about them again.

Be still my beating heart!! Omg this book is everything and perfect for the Valentines Day story!!

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

Ro, a hopeless romantic searching for that spark she only reads about in books, she’s in a very toxic relationship with lots of emotional abuse and she keeps forgiving his horrible behaviors. When she’s tasked with tutoring a hockey player, none other than Freddy the guy she shared her first kiss with at party, and then he just left her and never acknowledged her again, she’s a bit nervous. Freddy is known to be bit of a playboy. Ro is shocked because what starts as tutoring sessions turns into an unexpected friendship, with growing feelings they’re both scared to act on. Late -night phone calls, soon an undeniable heat begins to simmer between them. Although they are too protective of their newfound friendship to cross that line, Freddy is determined to protect Ro from his reputation at all costs. Meanwhile, Ro wants to prove to him that despite what others have led him to believe, he’s worth more than his body. But maybe, just maybe, together they can learn how easily the right person can love every part of you, even your flaws. This book was perfect the levels of each character I found myself caring for them! Their story will stay with me and I will be adding this to my favorites list!! I loved it so much!! Also it had some steamy parts!

I read Unstead and Unloved the same week, and they were great! Unloved was my favorite with Freddy and Ro. I appreciate how they grew together as characters. I recommend reading both of them because they are truly special books.

Read Unloved if you enjoy:
-College hockey romance
-Tutor & athlete
-Friends-to-lovers
-Slow burn
-Found family
-Mental health & learning disability rep
-Protective MMC

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

Matt “Freddy” Fredderic has spent his life hiding behind easy smiles and a reputation that barely scratches the surface of who he really is. Ro Shariff is a hopeless romantic who’s been let down too many times to believe in love the way she wants to. Both of them have scars—ones left by people in power who should have protected them instead of hurting them. And yet, together, they’re perfect.

This book made me feel everything and wrecked me in the best way. Peyton Corinne, I will never recover.