Unloved (e-arc)
Rating: 5⭐️
Spice: 2⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Peyton Corinne’s team for the e-arc!

“I jumped with you, and when we were in the water together, you told me that you thought I’d be really easy to love.”

“I think loving you would be the greatest thing in my life.”

——
Thoughts:
I—I need a moment. This book—it took me on an emotional ride. I’m not even sure how to express how it made me feel. First, Ro and Freddie deserve all the good things in the world and I will protect them from everything. Second, fuck Tyler, fuck Dr. Tinsley and fuck Freddie’s dad. I will fight these three if I ever see them. Okay, now let’s move on from that. When I first picked up this book, I thought to myself that it was going to be a quick and lighthearted read but I was soooo wrong. I mean, I read Unsteady and that one was also a heavy one for me but this one, the amount of times I had to set the book down and take a small break—Ro and Freddie’s story just broke my heart every time. The emotional rollercoaster that I went on was insane. I seriously thought this was an “inexperienced girl x playboy who teaches her things and does things on her bucket list” (and I know it’s my fault for not reading the plot)—oh boy was I wrong. From seeing how Ro navigated through her toxic relationship with Tyler with the help of Freddie; Freddie learning his self worth and rekindling his relationship with Archer and getting rid of his toxic father and how Freddie and Ro relearns how to love themselves—I almost cried (which is something I don’t do when it comes to books lol). I don’t think I have ever truly felt this way about a book (I know I’m not saying much lmao). I think this one might’ve altered my brain and I don’t think I’m going to be able to move on and or forget about it.

Thank you Peyton Corinne for writing this story 🫶 Once again, thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc!

Oh. My. Goodness. I DEVOURED this book. Read it in less than 24 hours.
When I tell you that this book was SO FREAKING PERFECT.
I already loved Rosalie and Matt from Unsteady, but to be able to get to see their phenomenal story and their unlikely meet cute. I love it so much.
Unloved was perfect. It made me laugh, squeal, cry, cry some more but it made me fall in love with those two cuties in so many ways.
I am so honored that I was able to get this book as an
ARC through NetGalley (after having Unsteady become my comfort book) Unloved is beautiful and absolutely a must read for everyone.
READ THIS SERIES. you will definitely not be disappointed.

Unsteady was one of my favorite books from 2023 so I was super excited to read Unloved. Just like Unsteady I was immediately hooked from the first chapter. I loved that it was in the same time frame as the first book. Normally that seems repetitive in a series but this was done so well that you forget about Sadie and Rhys until they were included in the chapter. Both main characters feel like they are not worthy of love for their own reasoning which makes them gravitate towards each other. It is through loving each other that they realize how unfairly they have been treated in life and refuse to ever live like that again. Definitely read this if you like sports romance, slow burn, tutor x student.

I adored this book! Ro and Freddy were beyond sweet. I just loved them so so much. Heads up, this is a slowwww burn which I love, but I know is not for everybody. I always like a good friends to lovers trope so I'm happy they started out as friends (even if they both wanted more). The emotions were really emoting lol. I cried, I laughed, I cried again. I was all over the place and it was fantastic!

I feel like the learning differences and mental health rep was done really well. As someone with ADHD, I understand the difficulties of navigating the education system. It is often only set up for one type of learner, which is quite unfortunate because, as Ro put it, "When offered the correct accommodations, he thrives." That really hit close to home.

There were a lot of breadcrumbs left for future books. I'm expecting the next one to be Bennett's and maybe (hopefully) eventually Kane's.

All in all, if you're a fan of hockey romance you should absolutely give this (and the first one) a try.

5⭐ //romance, adult, sports romance, contemporary, hockey // 💌

“𝘪 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦”

This book follows Ro, a hopeless romantic, and Freddy, a player on and off the ice, who are seniors at Waterfall University. Ro tutors Freddy, helping him navigate his academic struggles and save his NHL dreams. As their sessions turn into late-night conversations, a deep friendship and undeniable attraction develop. Ro wants to show Freddy his true worth beyond his reputation, while Freddy aims to protect Ro from his chaotic world. Together, they learn to love and accept each other, flaws and all.

This book did not disappoint at all. I’m so glad I read Unsteady before this; it gave lots of context even though the timeline is the same. I wasn’t expecting to love these characters this much; they are literally a part of me now. Unloved is definitely going to be a comfort read of mine.

This book was so emotional and raw; I felt deeply connected to Ro and Freddy, even if I didn’t exactly relate to them. They were the sweetest and purest people ever, and I want to hug them so badly. They are so full of love and care for those close to them.


The plot was really interesting, and this was a slow burn, but the wait was completely worth it. The angst in those moments and them defending each other while just being “friends” was literally everything.

The amount of tears shed during this book should be illegal; I was sobbing to the point I could hardly breathe. Thank you, Peyton, for writing the most soul-wrenching books. The characters are all so authentic and real; I could easily imagine them as real people. There weren’t any annoying characters, and all were super lovable.

full review on goodreads <3

Thank you SO much atria and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

♾️⭐️
🌶️.5

"𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚."

I'd like to start off by requesting emotional compensation because yall... THIS HURT ME SO GOOD 🥺🥺

Matty and Ro are everything to me and more. I don't think I have felt this level of relatability in a long time with not one but both main characters like I have with these two.
Both these rays of sunshine are the biggest people pleasers and are willing to sacrifice their own happiness if it means the people around them are happy and ugh my poor heart just wants to pull these two dorks into the biggest hug ever.

Thank you again Atria and NetGalley for the e-arc I enjoyed every second of this book & then some ♡♡

Unloved by Peyton Corinne is a beautifully tender, emotional college sports romance that had me hooked from the first page. It’s a story about two lonely souls, Ro and Matt, who find solace and healing in one another, starting as tutor and student before evolving into close friends and eventually, something much deeper. Their connection is based on trust, understanding, and vulnerability, and truly being seen and known by someone else.

Matt stole my heart completely. His kindness, protectiveness, and quiet strength made him one of my favorite male characters. Ro’s journey was also compelling as she learned to fight for Matt while also discovering her own self-worth and strength. Together, their progression from friendship to romance was perfectly paced, grounded in mutual respect and care.

What sets this book apart is its depth. Peyton Corinne tackles themes like loss, grief, trauma, mental health, and identity with incredible sensitivity. The exploration of ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia was handled thoughtfully, shining a light on the challenges. The focus on open communication, advocacy, and gentle love made this story feel authentic and deeply moving.

The side characters added so much, from the tight-knit hockey team to Ro and Matt’s friends and family. And that epilogue... Tears. So many tears. I’m already counting down the days for the next book in the series, especially if they are about Kane or Bennett!

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves heartfelt romances with deeper themes, strong friendships, and a perfect slow burn.

Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!!

4 ⭐️ Absolute, massive chef's kiss!

Listen, this book was a trip and a half and I was sat for every single f··king second of it! I'm sort of pissed off at myself for delving into this book first and not picking up book #1 to begin from there. Now I've spoiled myself so much! I would definitely recommend you pick up these books in order (Unlike me! Learn from my mistakes while you can!)

Now, what to say about this book that won't spoil anything and still convey how absolutely massively heartbreaking and angsty and awesome this book was... So there's the cutest little sl·t you've ever seen, and then they meet another cute, little sl·t at a party, and then it takes them years to get together... and a lot of sh·t happens in the meantime. Bad, horrible, abusive stuff. THIS IS A HEA THOUGH! I would never recommend this book otherwise. But, yeah, there's so much trauma to wade through here, it got almost overwhelming at times.

My favourite part of this entire book is something that needs to be talked about, and it's a staple in all my favourite romance books: emotionally intelligent and cautious MCs. Both main characters here have lived through some extreme experiences that make them look at themselves and the way they fit into the world in a very askew, distorted way. Unfortunately, that is what abuse and trauma tend to do. These two, however, not only fight for one another, but they fight for themselves and to protect their lives and connections to the people that matter to them. And it was so incredibly beautiful.

There is a lot of OM and OW stuff here since for about half of the book, the MCs are just friends and have a tutor (F)/student (M) relationship, and the FMC is still in a committed romantic relationship with some OM. Still, this book works! I don't know how cause usually I don't really like books with OM/OW stuff in them, but this one was amazing and it only added to the angst and slow burn of it all.

Seriously, 100% recommend!!

🌶🌶.5/ 5- I do have to say that the spice here was not my favourite. The scenes felt rushed almost every time, even though s·x is a very big part of both MCs character arcs.

···Thank you so, so much Net Galley and publisher for the eARC!···

i don't have any words to say that could encompass how beautiful this book really is. but i loved it wholeheartedly. a story about grief and loss and healing and being loved fully...the people pleaser and grief trauma.. it's all so well done. freddy and ro you will forever be loved by me. please read it when it's out. i'm definitely securing a hard copy. also all the sadie & rhys crumbs throughout gave me so much life. and the epilogue... TEARS! Thank you SO much Atria and Netgalley for this ARC!

Another absolute smash for me. Freddy and Ro have my whole heart. The softest babies, who deserve only the best and that’s each other.

This had all the growth & finesse I wanted to see in a sequel! I'm absolutely thrilled.

I have to give props to Peyton Corinne for mastering the concurrent timelines - Book 1 and Book 2 take place during the same Fall semester. But they focus on different couples and are perfectly tied together without feeling repetitive or confusing. I thought I already had Ro and Freddy's dynamic pinned down before I started chapter one. But Peyton cracks out a rich and persuasive romance I couldn't have dreamed up myself. This is incredible. I would definitely compare it to Elle Kennedy's series "The Graham Effect" since its a spicy college romance that also explores darker trauma. This series goes a step further with very realistic but actively dangerous home situations (TW: grooming of 18 year old, narcissistic/gaslighting ex, college drinking, college fights, neglectful parent, academic malpractice, grieving deceased parent after 4 years).

When Ro started college, she wanted to try EVERYTHING to figure out who she wanted to be. But after two years of a tumultuous relationship, she finds herself trapped with an uncommitted narcissist who has way too much control over her academic career. She's a brilliant student and tutors others in hopes of securing a place in the graduate program. And that's how she ends up tutoring Freddy, the notorious hockey playboy that she's been crushing on since freshmen year. Due to copious amounts of alcohol, he doesn't remember the drunken kiss they shared all those years ago, and she doesn't remember how she poured her heart out to him just recently. But the attraction is clearly there for them both, although they try to fight it for the sake of being friends. She helps advocate for his learning accommodations (dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD). He helps her with her toxic ex boyfriend.

They way they treat each other so kindly was beautiful to read. When I wasn't falling in love with them, I was falling for the host of side characters including Bennett (broody hockey goalie who is the natural team dad) and Kane (the transfer student everyone hates but who keep rescuing the FMCs when no one else will). Hell, even the coach with his positive masculinity as he advocates for his very unique players. I'm excited to see what Peyton Corinne does next.

Frankly, you did not need to pop off this hard Peyton. This novel was truly phenomenal and beautifully written. I devoured this in less than 24 hours.

Ro, and even more so Matt, are such beautifully vulnerable characters that I will never move on from. I could go on and on about how much I love Matt and just want to hold that sweet, perfect, wholesome, and broken boy. I can’t think of two fictional people who deserve each other more than Matt and Ro. Am I attached to these characters in an unhealthy way already? Absolutely.

Although I make this book sound like it’s heart wrenching, its essence is genuinely beautiful, heartfelt, and sweet.

This can be read as a standalone like I read it, but after reading one of Peyton‘s books, I imagine that Unsteady is more than worth your while to read before. I highly recommend giving this a read when it comes out.

11/10 if I had to be honest.

Freddy and Ro feel so incredibly human. They both have flaws that they're entirely aware of and yet those flaws are something that they choose to love. It's feel good and sappy and makes me sob and I'm so grateful to have read it. The cameos from the other characters makes the world feel cohesive. I read it all in one day, couldn't get enough.
It's so much a story of healing and being loved despite the things that one person finds unlovable about themselves. It's gentle and sweet and everything you want a slow-burn romance to be. and don't get me started on the tension between the two.

🌶️🌶️ 2/5

I am completely in love with this story!! It was so heartfelt and beautiful. Freddy is know as the schools playboy, someone you call for a good time, but underneath that he is lost and just wants someone to love him and tell him he is enough. Ro has her own struggles with being a perpetual people pleaser and letting her on again off again boyfriends treat her terribly. When these two come together its magic. They start out and friends but once they get to know eachother better love starts to grow. I fell so hard for Freddy and Ro's love story!! Don't tell Rhys but I think Freddy is my new favorite!


💚 Slowburn
💚 She's his tutor
💚 Hockey player MMC
💚 Friends to lovers
💚 Swoonfest
💚 College Romance

I remembered loving the first book in this series, and the second book was no different. While a little slow to get started, once I was in it, I was IN IT. I couldn't put it down! The author handles sensitive topics with such care, I was very impressed. This was a wonderful story, and the characters really were amazing together. My only complaint is that I wanted more! I can't wait for future books from this author.

NetGalley and Peyton, thank you for the ARC. I’m so grateful for this opportunity.

Ro loves dressing up in cute outfits, is a big hopeless romantic, and loves reading. She is dealing with a rocky relationship with her boyfriend.

Freddy is known as the school slut who plays hockey. He is struggling to pass his class. Freddy struggles with ADHD, Dyslexia, and Dyscalculia. Even though this know as a manwhore he’s a big-hearted and caring guy.

Ro and Freddy’s relationship was so wholesome. They are two caring souls meant for each other. Ro becoming Freddy’s tutor was the best thing that could’ve happened for them. The patience, deep connections, and vulnerability they shared were on a deeper level.

I can’t wait to add this book on my bookshelf.

I liked this one better than the first, but it was nice to have the background on some of the scenes that tied into Unsteady as well. Ro is Sadie's roommate and best friend, and she's always been a rock for Sadie. But she's often alone in their dorm, or dealing with her confusing jerk of a boyfriend.

Freddy, or Matt, is one of the hockey players on Rhys' team, and has been looking out for Ro the best he can because he knows how important she is to his friends. What he doesn't expect is that she's now his tutor, and maybe his new support system.

Watching these two fall was great, and them having each other through everything they're going through is such a real experience.

I really loved Peyton Corinne’s debut novel, Unsteady, so when my request to review the ARC for the second book in this series got accepted, I couldn’t be more excited. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this eARC in exchange for an honest review! 3.5⭐️

Starting with the things I loved about this book, I’m a sucker for angst and drama and this book had lots of it. Between the toxic relationship between Ro and Tyler, Matty’s struggle due to his learning disabilities, and other heart-wrenching situations, my poor heart took a beating. I just wanted to jump in and hug Matty and never let go. Not gonna lie, I shed some tears during the last 40% of the book. I loved how Ro and Matty’s relationship progressed (even tho the slow burn killed me) and how they both helped each other grow more confident in their own skin. Overall, I think it’s a beautiful love story between two people who found each other in a moment of need.

Now, on to the things I didn't particularly like: Knowing how toxic Ro and Tyler’s relationship was and the horrible way he treated her, I was expecting a bigger confrontation. Seeing how Tyler slowly destroyed Ro with his words constantly (and Ro continuing to take him back) made me want to throw my Kindle out the window. And yes, I know that demonstrates the reality of many women in toxic and abusive relationships, but I just felt it was dragged along for too long and didn't have a satisfying ending. Another thing I kinda felt was incomplete was Ro’s list of things she wants to try. That list was pointed out so many times I thought Matty was going to help her complete it, but it just got sidetracked. Safe to say, there were some loose ends in this book.

All in all, Ro and Matty have my heart and I can't wait to read the next one!

WOW! I really enjoyed reading Unsteady when it first released, but this book had me hooked from the beginning. Something I love most about Peyton Corinnes books is the emotional depth she adds to her characters and the development the characters go through during the plot.

Ro and Freddy and in their senior year of college, both experiencing the hardships of grief, loss, and the belief that they are unlovable. When Ro is assigned to tutor Freddy they form a beautiful friendship that sets the foundation for the relationship that blossoms. Together, they work through the past that haunts them and learn how valuable they are as people.

This book is truly a SLOW BURN but it was so worth the wait. The patience and tenderness they showed each other was so special, it made me melt. Ro and Freddy had amazing communication and showed such maturity while handling disturbing situations.

I don't want to give too much away but if you love college hockey romances with a good backstory that will make you ball your eyes out and call your therapist, this one is for you!

After reading the first book in this series, "Unsteady" I had high hopes for this book and it did not disappoint. This book is similar in that it deals with some heavy issues but the author deals with them wonderfully and the character progression is great. I love the way Ro supports and stands up for Matt and vice versa. Both of these characters have their own issues and trauma and their support for one another is unwavering. The "unloved" have found their love in one another and its so sweet and heartwarming.

I really enjoyed this one and the steamy scenes were great!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.