Peyton Corinne's "Unloved" delivers a potent blend of angst, tenderness, and raw emotion, making it a compelling read for fans of contemporary romance. The story skillfully navigates the complexities of self-worth, healing, and finding love in unexpected places.

The book centers on Ro and Freddy, two characters grappling with their own emotional baggage. Ro, a hopeless romantic, and Freddy, a star hockey player, forge an unexpected bond that evolves into a deeply moving connection. Corinne excels at creating characters with depth and vulnerability, allowing readers to truly empathize with their struggles.

Here are some of the key strengths of the book:

Emotional Depth: The novel delves into themes of feeling "unloved," exploring the impact of past traumas and toxic relationships. This creates a powerful emotional resonance.
Character Development: Both Ro and Freddy undergo significant personal growth, making their journey to love feel authentic and earned.
Slow-Burn Romance: The gradual development of their relationship adds to the tension and emotional payoff.
Relatable Themes: The book touches on relatable issues such as self-doubt, the pressure of expectations, and the search for genuine connection.
Strong supporting characters: The supporting cast of characters, add depth to the story.
Overall, "Unloved" is a heartfelt and satisfying romance that explores the power of love to heal and transform. Peyton Corinne's writing is both evocative and engaging, making this a book that will stay with readers long after they turn the final page.

In essence, "Unloved" is a story that emphasizes that everyone is worthy of love, regardless of their past.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for a gifted copy of Unloved.

I loved getting back to Waterfell and these characters. And I liked how the timeline was the same as Unsteady. It gave you a different perspective for that story.

Freddie and Ro are perfection for characters. They both had pasts they needed to come to terms with. And I loved how they each found themselves with the help of the others.


You might like Unloved if you like:
🏒 Hockey
🏒 College Romance
🏒 Tutor and student
🏒 Mental Health and Learning Disability Rep

The first book of the series wasn’t my favorite, but I wanted to see how the other characters progressed. I’m glad I gave it a shot, as I enjoyed this book much more! These characters were so easy to empathize with, which made the book a breeze to finish.

I honestly adored this. The unloved feelings hit so close to home for me that I certainly cried my way through. But it was a beautiful story with so much love woven in to the fabric of it. Every character deemed themselves unlovable in a way that spoke to being a confused, college student coming from a rough home life. This story followed Matt Frederic, star hockey player, and Ro Shariff, the brilliant tutor. Their dynamic is palpable from the moment they meet, and it just moved through in such a relatable way. The conflict felt real and was handled without unnecessary fighting. There was connection, communication, and consistency. I loved this!!!

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:

This one was definitely a harder read. It has a lot of past relationship toxicity (parent & exs) the characters are working through and it was hard to see them in those situations. But if you’re in the mood for a bit heavier read this is a good book, with good message of finding the one who accepts you for who you are.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

Ro is a hopeless romantic STEM girlie. Her freshman year in college at a party she had a magical kiss with a stranger. Then she met a toad who was a narcissistic and treated her poorly but because she is a people pleaser she’s had a hard time ending the relationship. She is a TA and tutor for BIO this semester she’s been asked to help the school’s star hockey player pass his classes. But he’s not just the hockey celebrity of campus, he’s the boy she shared the best kiss of her life with a few years ago… and he has no idea who she is.

Matt aka Freddy lost his mom in HS and has a very toxic relationship with his father. He is a star hockey player and has a contract with the NHL upon college graduation. But he’s struggling and his grades have dropped and his future is in jeopardy. Throw in his dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD and he needs all the help Ro can give him this year. To make things more complicated at a party Ro can’t remember she told him, “He’d be easy to love.” Since then he can’t get it out of his head.

Follow Ro and Matt on a journey this year. It won’t be pretty as working through trauma never is but their relationship with each other will be the light they both need to make it to the other side.

𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:

“To be loved is to be seen.”

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Friend to Lovers
* College Hockey Player - Contract w/ NHL
* She’s a College Tutor - Stem Girlie
* She’s Crushed on Him for Years
* He’s Struggling Due to Dyslexia
* She has a Toxic EX & He has a Toxic Parent
* Past Inappropriate Teacher/Student Relationship - Abuse of Power
* Mental Health Rep
* MCs are People Pleasers
* Forced Proximity- Waterfell University
* Dual POV

This book was so good it had me from the beginning to end end posted my review on Goodreads but didn’t know I had to over here thank you so much for the opportunity

I couldn't put the book down!! I read it primarily in one day and got up early to finish! I like Matty and Rosalie's relationship, and while it was very steamy, important themes were discussed. I don't think I've ever loathed a character as much as Tyler and Matt's father. THE WORST! But it was a hallmark of strong writing that I disliked them so much while simultaneously rooting for Matty and Ro.

Did I just read a hockey romance?
Yes, I did — and I loved it! Unloved is the heartfelt love story of Rosalie Sharift and Matt Frederic, two people-pleasers who have long been the objects of abuse in different facets of their lives. They're both a little messed up, a little vulnerable, and feel a little unlovable.
So, basically, they're perfect for each other.
Peyton Corinne shines at crafting angsty and beautifully complex characters. It's impossible not to fall in love with her characters and their stories.
Ro and Freddy are simply precious. Their love feels raw, genuine, and most importantly, healing. The way they understand each other and help one another heal - just by showing up with love and support — is deeply emotional. It's more than just a romance; it's a story about healing and finding hope in one another. Seeing what both characters have endured and knowing they finally get their well-deserved happily ever after is so worth it.
I would categorize this novel as a slow burn romance with a friends-to-lovers trope, sprinkled with a tutor x athlete dynamic. Beyond the romance, it offers thoughtful representation of mental health and learning differences, adding even more depth to the narrative.
Despite their age, both Ro and Freddy show remarkable emotional maturity and development. Their journey is tender, moving, and unforgettable.
Unloved was a fabulous romance read with some added depth and mental health representation! It's a story about love, healing, and the power of showing up for someone - and yourself.

I haven’t been able to talk or write about Unloved by Peyton Corinne since I finished reading it in February -not because it was bad ,it was the opposite.  I was very moved and couldn’t explain why which was frustrating. I still don’t, but this review is all I’ve got right now.

Like Freddy and Ro, I too am a lonely, insecure university student who feels incapable of forming genuine connections. I feel hard to love, okay? It's melodramatic and embarrassing, but whatever. I cried with and for the characters until my head ached. Corinne was a pastor delivering an impassioned sermon to the church, and I, an obedient congregant, ululated in response and let the spirit manifest like the Lord herself possessed me.

All that is to say: it hurt really bad. Would do again. One of my favorite books of the year.

After reading Unsteady, I was excited but unsure of what to expect from Unloved. The reception to Corinne’s debut was mixed, but for once, I was in the positive-leaning camp! Even though I agreed some of the criticisms : like some character features (eg. height) being overstated , the relationship progression feeling out of pace with how much the characters knew of each other at the start as well as some beats requiring some fine-tuning, I still enjoyed the core of the story. I don’t know what it says about me, but I love books that aren’t afraid to linger in melancholy without being exploitative.

As the title suggests , book discussed how past and present circumstances and people can devalue and distort your sense of self. Ro and Freddy are in close proximity to their respective abusers (who regularly interject their parasitic selves into the story 🙄) while trying to balance an academic and social life.

Like Unsteady, Unloved explored the raw inecurities of her characters which was heartbreaking but Corinne’s writing thrives in placing those feelings under a harsh spotlight, center stage. On paper, it seemed tonally lighter than Unsteady (friends to lovers, tutor x athlete),when in reality, this felt wayyyy heavier.

After skimming reviews, I do agree with some critiques about the length and pacing but it wasn’t a dealbreaker . However, I strongly disagree with how some reviewers called Ro a doormat instead of a victim of emotional abuse (abuse that would've escalated to physical). Frankly, it’s insulting to imply  that her percievd lack of trauma -having a stable, loving two-parent household- and timid demeanour (while being berated mind you)  makes her  weak . It's stupid  . Boooo tomato , tomato throwing tomatoes.

Anyway *Clears throat*

I can see why this book  may not work everyone but it certainly did for me. I admire Freddy and Ro for their strength and adore their beautifully gentle love. This was a great addition to the Undone series and my personal favourite so far. They are near and dear to my heart.

Big, big thanks to Atria for the ARC!

Can I just first off I loved this book! I love it in an entirely different way than I love Unsteady. The amount of real issues people face when they do not feel worthy or quote “unloved” is highly depicted between Ro and Freddy. I was frustrated, sad, and happy throughout the book. The pages kept turning and you no idea what was going to happen. She did seem to leave Easter eggs for book 3 but I am not sure about the title. Looking forward to what she writes next!

Such a beautiful and incredible slow-burn of a read; it was beautiful with heartwarming love and kindness. The strength that Ro showed was next level - and Matty? He was so amazing. I really loved this love and their story together.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

What a beautiful and refreshing read full of love and laughter and healing. Once I started this book I could not put it down. Peyton Corrine has a beautiful ability to create complex characters that you cannot help falling in love with, and even more impressively, characters that you can't help but absolutely hate such as Tyler.

I'm always really grateful for authors who are able to take such dark and fragile topics and treat them with the respect and kindness they deserve while also giving the readers, and the characters, much needed hope.

I absolutely recommend this book for fans of hockey romances, friends to lovers, and anyone who wants a great story about love, hope, and healing.

i really liked this one! really refreshing story. good plot. extremely likeable characters! i love this author's writing and this one was no different. would recommend.

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!