This book had some cute moments that I enjoyed, but overall, I couldn’t connect with it. I feel like the story focused on Tyler for far too long, and I was honestly so upset with how he treated Ro. Protect Ro at all costs, please! I wanted to love this book so much, but it just didn’t happen for me.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for the ARC

Thank you Atria Books & netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book reminds me of one of my all time favourite books, "the deal" with the whole tutor/hockey player vibe. It's what intrigued me the most and it did not disappoint!!! I really love Matt & Ro together 🥺 their relationship is so special. I love that they're always there for one another and they're able to open up and speak freely to one another, a total judgement free zone!! However, what stopped me from giving this book 5 stars are all the damn crying!!! I swear, there was crying in every chapter of this book. I understand that the characters were dealing with heavier topics, but the constant crying took away from the story because it was so repetitive!!! I also thought that the Tyler stuff took way too long to resolve! I was FED UP!!

I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a hockey romance! It was cute!

* this book deals with topics of grief and abuse - please check trigger warnings +

Unloved: ★★★★☆ (4)

Pub date: Feb 4, 2025!

Tropes:
- hockey romance
- tutor x student
- slow burn
- school playboy

When I finished Unsteady I ran to Netgalley to request the ARC for unloved, Which I then immediately devoured. hockey romances are definitely the most popular romance books out there but the difference between this series and other series I’ve read is the amount of emotion baggage that is explored. All of the Corine’s characters carry such traumatic backgrounds and she does a great job of mining those relationships. Matt and Ro go to characters who are struggling in their own lives together. They’re perfect match. The other is missing. Theirs is a romance based friendship and personal growth. I totally recommend this romance series, and hopefully there are more books down the road!

Thank you #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you ask me about friends to lovers, I’m just gonna simply mention the title of this book and let you in for a good read

This story was about Rosalie becoming Matt’s tutor because other students who also does tutoring gave up on him.

Little did Matt know that they’ve already met years ago, and he ended up as Ro’s first kiss. Their lives went by for years without interacting. Rosalie was stuck in a toxic relationship for YEARS, and Matty playing hockey and trying to pass his classes.

As their tutoring started, they’ve also developed a meaningful friendship wherein they can lean towards each other if they need a shoulder to cry on.

Ro. She’s one of the sweetest character out there, and it really pissed me off that her ex kept on saying mean things to her. She’s such a strong character, and she doesn’t have to change a thing about her in order to be accepted.

Matty. His character showed representations of dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD. He’s been through so much and it’s actually really sad, and it makes me so happy that he managed to process everything in the right way instead of bottling it all up.

One thing that I loved about this story is the representation for people who has dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD. It’s not often I get to read books who had that as well, and it’s about time that more people become aware of it. Ro researching about how he could help Matty was one of the purest moments I read in this book. Finding someone who understands and tries to help you without making you feel that you’re a burden is truly everything.

I wished that there were more reactions when they found out about things including the night Ro doesn’t remember, and the freshmen year. It felt as if it was just inserted just so they’d know and that’s it.

Overall, this book was so much better compared to the first one! I love how their relationship progressed from being friends then slowly realizing that they don’t want to just be simply friends. Another thing is that it wasn’t insta lust! This was indeed a type of slow burn and who doesn’t love a good slow burn?!

I had Unsteady on my radar because of BookTok, but wasn’t really interested in reading it. When I got approved for the ARC of Unloved, I knew the time had come.

I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Unsteady. The unexpected emotional storylines, addictive romance, tasteful spice, banter, pacing… all of it sucked me in and made me not want to put it down.

I went into Unloved hoping for all of that again, and it exceeded my expectations. I fell in love with Matt in the way Ro did, and adored how much their friendship/love blossomed over the course of the book. One hell of a slow burn with a huge payoff! Sometimes it was frustrating because I wanted them to be officially together before the 75% mark, but their relationship and respective characters were so complex that it needed to be fleshed out in the way it was. There are so many beautifully tragic layers to Matt and Ro that needed to be exposed before they could love each other fully. The detail was wonderful and not too dense. I want to protect Matt and Ro and make sure nothing ever hurts them ever again.

I can only hope to one day find the love that Matt and Ro have.

Oh, and it took too long for Tyler to get what was coming to him!

Thank you Simon & Schuster for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.


Unloved? More like LOVED this book.

Interconnected standalone hockey romance novels are my jam. I’ve read them all. When I had the opportunity to start a new hockey romance series, I was expecting the same quick and light reads. This? This one got me emotional.

Although this is a hockey romance, I enjoyed that the plot found itself focusing more on the growth of the characters, rather than the sport. There is some content that might be sensitive to some readers, but I personally really appreciated the representation of hyper-sexuality as a reaction to abuse. Also, the way it showed power dynamic abuse as a legit form of harm was so important—it’s something that doesn’t get enough attention.

Based off of dialogue from other characters, I can guess whose story is going to be next and I can’t wait!

Ro Shariff isn’t prepared for her on again/ off again boyfriend Tyler to volunteer her to tutor campus hockey star and playboy Matt “Freddy” Fredderic. She has always had a crush on him and they shared an instant connection at a party their freshman year. Ro isn’t sure Freddy remembers it, yet she is a professional. Ro will do anything to help him pass biology and graduate. Freddy is grateful to have Ro because the other tutors have always been disrespectful towards his struggles with dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD. As their partnership only grows, the happy go lucky duo start to notice how unloved they truly feel. They both might break, yet will Ro and Freddy be ready to help each other pick up the pieces?

I read this book in 24 hours. Ro & Freddy are two of the kindest souls that wear their hearts on their sleeves. I NEEDED to know if they would be ok! Too many people have taken advantage of them and the reader witnesses the deep emotions and secrets that they carry. You will cry, laugh, and seriously want to punch a couple of characters in this novel. Pick up your copy of Unloved on February 4, 2025.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC.

I really enjoyed this book — it was definitely the most *serious* hockey romance I've read so far. While I absolutely love Icebreaker by Hannah Grace and Collide by Bal Khabra, this one just read differently. Unlike those more lighthearted, humorous stories, this book takes a much deeper, more emotional approach. It doesn’t rely on humor to carry the narrative; instead, it delves into heavy themes like grief and trauma, exploring what it looks like to fall in love while navigating some of life’s toughest seasons. The author really succeeded in portraying this journey with depth and emotional authenticity.

The story itself is slow-paced and character-driven, which made it a bit of a challenge to get into at first, but it was definitely worth the time. The growth of the characters and the gradual development of the romance were so well done. It wasn’t a quick, dramatic buildup — it felt real and earned, which made the payoff at the end even more satisfying.

That said, my only issue with the book was how awful Matt’s dad and Ro’s ex, Tyler, are. They were almost comically bad — like, over-the-top awful — and it became frustrating to see them get away with so much for so long. The narrative really dragged its feet in dealing with them, and it would’ve been more satisfying if they were confronted or handled earlier in the story. The way they were allowed to remain in the characters' lives for as long as they did made it feel like the story was almost stalling at times.

Overall, this was a moving and beautifully written romance that tackles heavier, more complex themes. Once it hits the shelves, I definitely recommend checking it out — especially for readers looking for a more serious, slow-burn romance that digs deep into emotional growth.

This book follows Ro & Freddy; Freddy is an NHL-bound hockey player & Ro is his tutor. As they spend more time together, they realize the attraction they have for each other.

This was so cute! All of the characters were so lovable (except Tyler he can go away) & I loved the buildup between the two main characters. It is a slow burn as they don’t actually get together until about 70% through, & this is an example of a slow burn where I actually really enjoyed the buildup.

I do think this book was a little long for a romance but everything that was included added to the story. I will have to go back & read Sadie & Rhys’s story too since I enjoyed this one so much. I really hope we get books about Bennett & Holden too!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC.

So, I realize this says #2 in a series, but it can totally be read as a standalone novel. It takes nothing away from Freddy and Ro's story at all. Hockey romance is a huge thing right now; this one is well done. It also has some added components with ADHD/anxiety and oldest daughter/only child vibes as Ro copes with all the expectations put on her! She is to be Freddy's tutor, but she has had a long-time crush on him. Her boyfriend is a complete tool. TW: verbal and emotional abuse from him towards Ro. Freddy is her knight in shining armor, and Ro helps Freddy realize there is so much more to him than what people perceive. Spicy but sweet romance with a happily ever after ending.

8% in I was already hooked (I was hooked at the first page)

11% I was crying

This book is just CHEFS KISS! So beautiful and moving. As much as I wanted to scream at them both. I was so awed to see them find each other. Exactly what they needed.

The people pleasing tendencies of Ro

The self-doubt of Freddy

As a teacher every time I see a character with a learning disability and the education system being held accountable (reminds me it’s fiction) my heart sings.

The angst in the book literally caused my chest to hurt.

It’s the tutor and athlete story you need, with friends to lover, and hurt and comfort all combined into a beautiful story about being enough through grief, the past, and our inner demons.

I have to start this by saying these books mean the world to me. I never thought I’d feel the og off campus vibes again but this series has blown that out of the water so far.
Peyton makes you fall hard for each character she introduces you to. I’ve loved Rhys and Sadie obviously but it’s something about Ro and Matty that just melt me.
They both have a past of deep hurt and self consciousness. That I relate to like no other. They come together and help each other time and time again without even realizing it.
💚💚
This is the most perfect friends to lovers I’ve read in a while. Such a pure start to such a beautiful relationship😭🥹
🦋🦋
Matthew Frederic is this goofy hockey star who’s known to be a ladies’ man. But behind that wall he’s built up, he’s a deeply hurt and confused boy. But when he meets Rosalie, his whole world changes. She doesn’t pick apart his flaws, she helps him through them.
Rosalie Shariff is an incredibly smart girl known to make her way through school with a breeze. Shes placed as Freddy’s tutor to help him pass classes to graduate. What she never saw coming was how deep the sessions would go. And how much healing would happen.🫶🏼🥹
-
The epilogues??!?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME😭🥹
-
Thank you for this ARC, truly. I’ve been excited for this ever since the title was announced.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I thank NetGalley for offering me the e-ARC of this title.

At first, I was caught off guard because this book takes place WHILE unsteady does, rather than continuing from where it left off but with a different couple like most interconnected stand-alones do. But this book ate! I read it nearly in one sitting and was thoroughly entertained. I really loved the dynamic between them. I read this a couple days ago and already forgot details but I enjoyed it. 3.5 stars!

What else can I say other than Peyton has done it again!! Unsteady was one of my top books of 2023 and I have been patiently counting down the days until I could get my hands on the next book in the Undone series. And Unloved did NOT disappoint, I am so incredibly in love with Freddy's character, he is my golden boy, and now one of my favorite book boyfriends.

Unloved is Freddy and Ro's story. Ro is a hopeless romantic, someone struggling to find peaceful and gentle love. Freddy is a hockey star and golden boy on campus, who is struggling with his learning difficulties and having trouble doing well in his classes. Ro gets assigned to tutor Freddy and the two instantly form a connection (that maybe they previously had)? It is so clear from the beginning of the book how obsessed Freddy is with Ro, but both of them have their own baggage to unpack and are tentative about starting any sort of relationship,

This book is a SLOWWW burn (just how I like it) and I ate up every second of it. My favorite part of the story was seeing Freddy really become more confident in himself with help from Ro. Freddy really struggled with self esteem issues, feeling abandoned, not loved, and not enough to be with anyone. I LOVED the representation of his learning difficulties, especially with how he struggled with dyslexia, it was great to see that rep with a male character. I also adored Ro's character, she was such a quirky, fierce, wonderful human being who really came into herself and became more confident as Freddy gave her the attention and love she deserved. Above all I loved the friendship that Freddy and Ro built, always showing up for each other and pushing each other to improve and grow themselves. I just wanted to tuck Freddy in a protective hug forever.

Peyton, thank you for being such a talented writer and always make me cry/tugging on my heartstrings with every book you write. Thank you to Atria for the free book!!

I loved the glimpses we got of Freddy and Ro in the first book and was excited to dive into their story. From she fell hard to strangers to friends to even more it was so fun to watch their relationship develop and how well they had each other's backs fighting the skeletons in each of their closest. Ro, the hopeless romantic and Freddy, the stereotypical playboy (or is he?), are so protective of their friendship and it truly was the sweetest. This story runs parallel to the first so they definitely need to be read together/in order.

One thing you note, and I'll keep this vague for the sake of spoilers, but similar to the first book, there was a lot of heavy stuff that I felt was left a bit unresolved. I think with some of the plot lines in this book (his father, her ex, their teacher) there should have been a lot more closure and maybe even some consequences but the characters moved on way too quickly. While there was enough outside conflict that a 3rd act break wasn't needed and the HEA was beyond perfect for them, I needed things a bit more buttoned up at the end.

All that to say, I did really enjoy this, it was a fairly well paced almost one sitting read and I really hope we see the series continue!!!! I'm quite invested in seeing Bennet get an HEA (and also, with the glimpsed of another sidd of him in both books so far, maybe even toren???)

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my review!

I really enjoyed Unloved. This is the second book in the series and felt similar in depth and storytelling like Unsteady. I enjoyed the characters and their own individual storylines. The transformation Ro and Freddy went through was believable and hasn’t rooting for them. The relationship was for sure slow burn but had me along for the ride.

"I think I'm in love with her—not even romantically, but on some soul level. I feel devoted to her."

Rating: 4.25/5

- college romance
- hockey romance
- she's his tutor
- neurodiverse mmc
- slow burn
- 🌶️🌶️/5
- dual pov

Freddy (or Matt 🥹) needs a tutor to graduate; enter Ro. She understands his needs (he has dyslexia, ADHD, and dyscalculia) and stands up for him. The pair form an unexpected bond and start as friends (Ro is in a relationship initially) before slowly becoming more.

Matt has been THROUGH it. He has a lot of baggage for a college kid and believes his self-worth is attached to his body. That no one wants him for him and not just s-x. But Ro shows him he's worth so much more, and vice versa, as Ro's only boyfriend makes her feel guilty for her feelings and desires.

Their romance is beautiful: soft, tender, and heartfelt. They show each other how easy the other is to love, flaws and all. "I think falling in love with you is the easiest thing I've ever done."

Their relationship is built on honest communication and vulnerability. While it's a slow burn, there's heightened tension and chemistry before the perfect amount of spice.

Fans of Unsteady will love that this follows the same timeline, so you see a lot of Rhys and Sadie.

The main reason this isn't a full five stars for me is because Ro's ex is a part of the story for too long. I understand that college romances have drama, but his constant disrespect grated on me personally.

Nevertheless, I'd still highly recommend reading Unloved.

Thank you, Atria Books, for the early copy.

Review also posted on IG

UNLOVED 🦋🤍✨ by @peytoncorinneauthor was so cute guys!
This is the second book in the Undone series that is releasing on February 4th
• Thank you to @netgalley &
@atriabooks for approving me to read this e-arc!

When I say I needed to read this book, I mean idk how I could have went so long without it in my life. I know it’s just coming out (February 4th) but the way that Peyton Connie plays with words and gives a relatable story. I absolutely loved it from the very beginning. I couldn’t put it down. Not to mention very giddy and kicking my feet every so often 💛😌.

Ro x Freddy (Matty)

I’ve never wanted two people to fall in love so much before in my life 😩. It’s interesting how people could get so lost in their own intrusive thoughts and perceive them as true.. that they can’t recognize that the other person could be doing the same thing and neither of them are correct. I feel like Peyton displayed this and mental health so beautifully. Not to mention the POC representation A++++. The issue is that when you are dealing with complex issues the simple answer isn’t always the easiest. So instead of characters just talking it out, it’s impossible for them to. Which is a little frustrating.

Tyler, I have never strongly disliked a fictional character so very much. There is a cold place for him.. I wanted to punch him more than once and I’m not a violent person 🥲 but the way Matty handled you, I am very pleased. Overall, a very good read.


Mental Health
POC representation
Learning Disabilities
Grief
Manipulation and emotional abuse (not by MCs)
Slow Burn Romance
Hockey Romance
Woman in STEM representation
Reformed Rake Story

Rating: 5⭐️ 2 🌶️

✨ARC REVIEW✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

🏒hockey player x tutor
🏒friends to lovers
🏒slow burn
🏒mental health rep
🏒learning disability rep

Ughhh this book wrecked me in the best of ways. I was not prepared for the emotional rollercoaster ride but I loved every minute of Matty and Ro’s story.

It’s a true friends to lovers so it’s a S L O W burn. I think it’s necessary though. We really get to dive deep into Matty’s learning disability and how he compensates for all he’s been through by being labeled the “school slut” and fun time. And about Ro and her family history, feelings of not being enough in school and relationships and the constant emotional abuse from her ex. It’s a lot of trauma between the two main characters but it’s handled well.

I don’t think I’ve rooted for a couple as much as I did Matty and Ro. I loved getting to see the true absolute love form between them as they let their friendship blossom and opened up more.

arc for honest review!

peyton corinne will probably be one of my favorite author’s because she’s has gotten 2 four stars with the two books she’s written and i’m kinda of a harsh rater! i loved ro and matty so much! the start of their friendship to slowly falling in love was everything especially with the slowburn 😭😭 i loved it! it was such a good book and i recommend! i missed reading hockey romances it just takes back to 2020 for some reason 😭