Member Reviews
I love Freddy and Rosalie, this was a lovely story. I’m not big on the “people pleaser” aspect of the main characters, it was a bit of a turn off for me. Everything else was wonderful.
i loved them both as individual people, and seeing as this follows the same timeline of unsteady instead of being a continuation, i loved how it felt more behind-the-scenes from the tidbits we saw in unsteady
I loved this book and while the light angst always makes me stress over the characters, it’s a story that I will continue to read over and over, a story that I’ll recommend in a more informal setting. For most curriculums and courses there is a strict set of guidelines that everyone must follow but what many don’t realize is that it can be draining to read those types of texts constantly. Reading something like Unloved not only makes me feel less stressed but also happy that I can move away from the rigid and monotonous. Thank you so much for this beautiful story.
If you could turn TTPD into a book, you would have Unloved.
Never. In my 30+ years of living would have thought a HOCKEY romance would have me crying as much as this book did.
First off, Tyler, count your days. It’s a good thing you’re fictional because he might give Matty Healy a run for his money.
Secondly, Matt ‘Freddie’ Shariff (nee Fredderic) is the exact opposite of every hockey player you could ever imagine. I mean he is great on the ice but he’s so tortured and in need of someone to understand him. And Ro is the perfect person for that. I laughed. I cried. Their story might have broke me a little.
Now I need to know more about Kane and the other players on the team. I need a full catalogue of these boys. Stat.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC. I will impatiently wait for the rest of the books.
I received this book as an Advance Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for this book.
"I think loving you would be the greatest thing in my life."
Ro has been told that she is too much for years.
Freddy has been told he will never be enough for just as long.
When Ro ends up tutoring Freddy through a difficult class, a friendship forms that has both of them relearning what it means to be worthy of receiving love. Unlearning the pain of the past isn't easy, but Ro and Freddy have each other and life seems to be so much easier when they are together.
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I am going to start this review by saying that Peyton Corinne can do no wrong in my eyes. Unsteady was one of my favorite books in 2023 and the fact that I was given this ARC makes my reader heart sooo happy. Corinne creates characters that are so relatable in their hurts and healing and the process of falling in love as a flawed human being. I adore her. And it is unreal that I got to read Unloved as an ARC.
Moving on to the book, I have nothing but wonderful things to say about this.
In the prologue, Peyton Corinne says this book is about how intertwined grief and love are and I don't think there is a better way to describe it. She has created such a beautiful balance of heartbreaking grief and healing love in Unloved that it is hard to see one aspect of the characters without the other aspect following close behind.
A huge reason I adore Corinne's writing is because finding yourself in her characters is almost effortless.
Ro is striving for the approval of someone who finds fulfillment in being better than her and belittling her. Freddy craves love when he has been reduced to an image that he would willingly shed the second he is given a chance. Their lives have not been easy and certainly weren't easy together, but both Ro and Freddy find that being together makes the hard things easier.
This book is follows two people who have experiences harsh and conditional love discovering that love can be kind and gentle and accepting and unconditional. It is the process of people willing to rebuild the parts of someone they never broke because that's what love does.
I would be lying if I said I didn't cry through most of this book.
It is sweet and hopeful and inspiring and has a happily ever after that had me giggling and wiping away tears.
My only complaint is that I finished it so fast.
I hope we get to spend more time in The Undone universe that Peyton Corinne has so beautifully created!
If I could give this book 100 out of 5 stars, I would.
Corinne Peyton became an auto-buy author for me about halfway through *Unsteady*—actually, it might have been even earlier! So I was absolutely thrilled to receive an ARC of *Unloved*. (Thank you NetGalley)
I loved the writing style and pacing of this book; Freddy and Ro’s story truly delivered! I appreciated the inclusion of tiny hockey bits, especially since some hockey romance novels leave me wanting more of that aspect (I’m looking at you, Hannah Grace, even though I loved the Maple Hills series). Both characters experience significant growth throughout the story, and I particularly appreciated how Ro gradually becomes empowered.
This book reminded me a lot of *The Score* by Elle Kennedy, so if you enjoyed that, you'll likely find this one just as good.
And can we talk about the tantalizing hints Peyton is dropping about Reiner and Kane? I need their stories ASAP!
Peyton & music in the Undone series are the new Jessa Hastings x clothing in the Magnolia Parks series.
There was nothing to unlove about this book!! Ro and Matty (can't not call him this now) are a pure and tender love that anyone can relate to. I enjoyed how Peyton weaved memories into the story, especially for Matty.
4.5 ⭐️
This book was so good. It was a roller coaster of emotions.
Freddy and Ro. I love them. They deserve the whole world.
The friendship between the two and the transition to romance was so perfect.
The epilogue was so sweet. It was the perfect ending.
This book made me emotional, which doesn’t happen so often.
I enjoyed reading the story of Ro and Freddy. They had to go through a lot of inner workings and development in order to be together and it was really interesting to learn and be a part of their journey.
What I liked:
* Vulnerable mmc (thanks for showing us that man can be vulnerable and that’s ok!)
* friends to lovers trope (this trope gives you the opportunity to see how their feelings for each other develop, it’s always precious)
* grieving (i cried reading some scenes, made me super emotional)
* healing love
I don’t want to spoil everything, so I’ll say there were a lot of good things, and overall I enjoyed the book. The only thing that i didn’t like was the lack of consistency between the scenes. Sometimes i felt like we were jumping from one scene to another and I was a little lost. Anyway, I’m waiting for the next book!
The book may have been mid but the butterfly tattoo on the thigh??? ♾️⭐️
I thought I would love this book a lot more but maybe that was exactly the problem. The beginning was promising and like most romances it hooked me from the beginning. Looking back, I feel like the biggest problem with this book was ✨ Tyler ✨ this mf showed up waaaay more than he should’ve and I KNOW it was a story focused on the characters healing but now I think I’m the one who needs a little bit healing 😔😔
What I liked most was probably the found family, I really loved seeing characters from book one (especially Liam & Oliver <3). I wasn’t expecting the book to take place in the same timeline, so it was fun to feel like I was putting together a puzzle and matching scenes I’d already read from another pov. The romance was okay too, I really liked how their relationship developed and how they helped each other heal from their past.
I think I wanted more justice in the end, maybe? To me what Tyler and the professor did to both of them was really serious and just leaving the program felt like too little. I wish I’d seen them really facing the consequences of what they did (especially the professor). In the end, 3 stars was a solid rating bc I ended up wanting more of everything (except Tyler, thank you very much). Even though I like the author’s writing and the universe she created, it felt a bit too much like more of the same.
4.5 stars!
This was honestly better than the first book in the series. I absolutely loved all the characters in this book and their development. My heart felt so many emotions- I even shed some tears.
This makes me hopeful to see what comes next and makes me want to read another by this author in the future!
I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy this but I really did love it.
Was it cheesy at times? Yes. BUT was it still an entertaining great time? YUP. It also mentioned disabilities that I don’t see often in books. I really appreciated that aspect. It was handled beautifully as well.
I recommend checking this out! It was all sorts of fun. From getting you to laugh, kick your feet, to blending your heart with an aching pain. It was so well done!
Unloved was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025 & I’m so glad I was able to get my hands on it early! Freddy & Ro both deserve the world & more. I would definitely recommend & will still be buying when it comes out in February!
(Also, I must say the playlist for this book is TOP TIER!)
Thank you NetGalley & Atria for the arc!
~⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book made me feel a ton of things.
It highlights our vulnerability and our need for love—whether from our parents, friends, or a partner. Much of this begins with our parents' love, which should be unconditional. Sadly, not everyone has that privilege. I felt for Matt, who experienced such loneliness despite being surrounded by others. It was heartbreaking to see that no one reached out to help him. That was very sad for me. I teared up multiple times for him and Ro.
Speaking of Ro, she is a fantastic tutor and so very adorable. However, I hated how Tyler treated her, and it was so annoying; I wanted to jump into the story and punch him so hard that he wouldn't disrespect anyone to fill the void of his insecure ties. He was very childish and rude.
I enjoyed how the story progressed, and I eagerly anticipated the moment Matt and Ro would remember the incredible night they shared—and they did! That made me squeal with absolute delight :D
And Matt, your mom is proud of you :) And you both-- deserve the whole world, just as everyone else. Do not settle for mediocrity :D
~I can be whoever I want to be~
PS—This is a light read with a hockey element. I've always enjoyed sports romance, and this one did not disappoint. Thank you for this story. I am thankful to be part of ARC. Thank you, NetGalley and author Peyton!
Hockey romance + texts on page + slow burn!
Freddy is a star on the ice, but barely scraping by in the classroom.
Ro is a hopeless romantic but has had nothing but bad luck with relationships. She's also Freddy's new tutor.
Tutoring sessions lead to friendship which lead to feelings they both try to deny.
Read if you love...
- hockey romance
- athlete + tutor
- open door
- texts on page
- forced proximity
- college aged MCs
- dual perspective
- slow burn
- he falls first
This was my most anticipated release of 2025 and it did not for a second disappoint!
Ro & Freddy are just absolutely everything.
The tropes are 100/10!
The Rhys & Sadie cameos were life giving.
The disability rep was wonderful!
The slow burn is a slowwwww burn.
The character growth is chef's kiss!
First of all, I loved that this has some overlap with Unsteady. It was fun to see Rhys & Sadie from an outsider's perspective!
But more than that, I'm just obsessed with Freddy & Ro! I love these two so much!
I really thought I would be annoyed that Ro's on/off again relationship lasted as long as it did. But I think it lended so much to the depth and character growth. It also really allowed Freddy & Ro to really build a solid friendship, which is just huge to the foundation of their relationship!
Absolutely recommend you read Unsteady first, as you'll understand more!
Thank you to Atria Books & NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
PUB day: February 4, 2025!
Location: Massachusetts
Representation: dyslexia; dyscalculia; ADHD
Content warnings: death of a parent, past; toxic relationship with parent; toxic relationship; emotional abuse; gaslighting
I have hit the jackpot with most of my ARCs this year. this was incredible. it made me laugh, cry, smile, and think. it gave me the emotional payoff that I was expecting from unsteady but didn't quite get. Freddy and ro have my whole heart. they are so relatable and so good together. my favorite moments were them just having fun together despite all their hardships. this was also spicier than unsteady, but I thought it was done well.
I loved this book! Ro is well fleshed out and is so relatable, and Freddy is the boy we all want to love and love us back in return. I am usually pretty wary of hockey romances because 99% of the time there’s barely any plot and wildly head scratching smut (which don’t get me wrong smut is good!), but Unloved has an actual story line and not just a “oh I’m a weird/sad hot girl but no one knows I’m hot” . I was invested in this story from start to finish!
For spice it gets 3.5/5. There are spicy scenes and they are well written. But they are realistic spicy scenes which is a breath of fresh air for me.
5 stars! Where do I begin with this one? It immediately had me interested. I mean angel baby (who is deeply relatable to me) Ro and flirty but sweet Freddy?? I didn't stand a chance. From the first scene, I seriously knew this was made for me. I mean Peyton Corinne came out of the gate SWINGING with just enough steam and banter that I giggling nonstop. Oh naive me was not ready for the gut punch that was to come... These two have been through so much yet have the courage to care for each other and to continue to try and the way they show up for each other is so special. Freddy just validate Ro from the start in a moment where she needed it most. Ro is in Freddy's corner being his supporter when he is just about to give up. I really rooted for them and felt the chemistry and the connection in their initial friendship and feelings. So many special moments throughout the book and I 100% recommended listening to the songs while reading because there is multiple scenes where it fully added to my reading experience and I was so touched.
3.75 ⭐️
My expectations were kinda high for this one and it fell a bit flat for me in the middle and towards the end. This is a fun & classic tutor girl / hockey romance, but it was also a lot deeper than I expected (definitely look up CW for this!). I loved that this story was friends to lovers rather than enemies to lovers — it definitely worked. I recommend this if you’re looking for a wintery hockey romance!!
Thank you to Atria for the advanced copy!
Unloved by Peyton Corinne is a love letter to every person who has been made to feel like they must put others before themselves. For Freddy, who is handling the grief of losing a parent and all of the after effects that entails along with the truth of his college identity; and for Ro, who has built her life loving others while feeling like she is not having her needs met in return.
Throughout college, they cross paths twice; Ro meeting Freddy at the beginning of freshman year when he doesn't remember, and Freddy at a party senior year where Ro reveals facts about herself that have him immediately drawn to her, a night which she can't recall. But it's in their senior year, when Freddy is in need of a tutor for biology and Ro is in need of a true friend, that they cross paths. Sparks fly, and they both realize that there is more to one another than meets the eye, and they may be exactly what the other needs.
This novel is and will always be special to me for so many reasons, but the main one is that the author made me feel seen. To see where these two began, feeling so lost and alone in the world, and how the characters honed on the importance of loving oneself in spite of their trauma and flaws. Two broken people, seeing one another and being each other's rock in the time of need by showing each other that they are loved fully as themselves, even when delving into moments they are not proud of is truly embracing the reality of the human experience. Feeling like you must be a certain way, even if it goes agains what your intuition is telling you, and realizing the importance of surrounding yourself with people who support your true self, rather than a facade. It was a truly beautiful story about love, grief, friendship and family that went so much deeper than just romance, and I encourage everyone to read this novel as it literally altered my brain chemistry.
Ro and Freddy will stick with me forever, and for two characters who believe they're unlovable, they are truly some of the most loved characters of all.
Did I finish this in one day. Yes! I’ve been anxiously anticipating this release since I read Unsteady in the spring. Omg I’m obsessed with Peyton & this universe (THANK U NetGalley, Atria, and Peyton for this early copy!!) I love Rhys & Sadie but Ro & Freddy are definitely my favorite in the series so far😭. Here are some thoughts while reading:
1) Umm insane playlist??? Like perfect playlist 👏🏼👏🏼 could not have created a better one myself - Mirrorball IS Freddy and Ro.
2) Ro is soo innocent and sweet someone needs to take her to Disney I just feel like she would really love Disney
3) Tyler is absolutely diabolical 👎🏻 (so is carmen but they did NOT ruin this for me🙏)
4) The 😭 tie 😭😭😭😭. Ya I cried.
5) “I’ll take care of him I promise” ?!? Yep also cried.