4.50 🌟
Spice: open door

The way I instantly felt so protective of both of these characters! I would go to battle for them. This one is a slowwww burn, y'all, so buckle up. It's worth it for their character growth alone. I got a little frustrated with them dancing around each other with the 'we're just friends' routine, but they needed to work through things in their own way. There are 3 side characters I would like to throat punch 👊 😤 Loveddd the epilogues! Writing was just as fantastic as the first book. Hopefully, we return for maybe Bennett & Toren's stories 🤞

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I ultimately did not finish this book. I read book one in the series and LOVEDDDDDD it but something about book two was not clicking for me. I am still excited about these characters and returning to this world so it might be one that I revisit in the future.

sad to report: this wasn’t for me. i had no connection with “Unloved” - the plot, the characters, nothing. and i love found family, especially in sports romance novels, but this felt like a family that's never heard of communication. all matty’s teammates are holing up their emotions and the going-ons of their lives when they are following near identical paths, having girl problems on the same timeline! i very much disliked that and the secrets felt endless. now, was that intentional because each pairing will get their own screen time eventually? 110%, and i can deduce that from what is transpiring in this book. but it was still difficult to connect with them in any capacity.

what i did endlessly love was how their relationship developed; that was the only saving grace. it's sweet and true, and their coupling felt realistic. the tutoring into tentative friendship into more was the highlight. additionally, matty was easy to understand. you learn his background and you just want to hug him.

even so, their other idiosyncrasies drove me up a wall. the way ro constantly let tyler (her boyfriend, but not really, since they DID breakup) walk all over her into realizing her worth and then proceeding to let him mistreat her more was rage-inducing. the way matty gets no help or intervention with the professor situation and how unsettling that feels when there's no real closure and he stays in her class had me close to dnfing. their story was overall unfulfilling and i was hoping for more.

regardless, i’m crossing my fingers that book 3 will be with bennett or even toren and it’ll end up being worthwhile.

thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Peyton Corinne for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Unloved by Peyton Corrine

Well this is the sweetest friends to lovers romance. The emotional connection between Freddy and Ro is so beautiful. Peyton does such a phenomenal job setting a strong foundation between the two characters. Their friendship is truly what the two of them need at this time in their life.

Freddy and Ro both have their own struggles and insecurities but together they are able to open up with one another and be each other’s constant. Truly this book is so dang sweet. I loved watching their relationship grow and develop and eventually turn in to unconditional love.

Read if you enjoy:
College hockey romance
Friends to lovers
Slow burn
Athlete x tutor
Mental health
Learn disabilities rep

Thank you so much Peyton, NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC for my honest opinion and review!

Unloved by Peyton Corinne is a tender and emotionally resonant romance about second chances, self-worth, and the beauty of loving and being loved for who you truly are. With its relatable characters, slow-burn chemistry, and heartfelt moments, this story lingers long after the final page.

Matt "Freddy" Fredderic is more than the charming athlete he appears to be. Corinne explores his struggles with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD with sensitivity, creating a deeply moving portrayal of a young man trying to see himself beyond his learning challenges and reputation. Freddy’s journey of self-acceptance is both inspiring and endearing. Opposite him, Ro Shariff is a hopeless romantic who feels stuck in a life of settling for less than she deserves. Her evolution from doubt to confidence in love is just as compelling, making her a perfect counterpart to Freddy.

Their relationship blooms in late-night tutoring sessions, where playful banter gives way to shared vulnerabilities and emotional intimacy. The "missed memory" trope adds a layer of wistfulness, making their connection feel genuine and heartfelt. The novel also thoughtfully tackles themes of stereotypes and self-imposed labels, showing how love can empower individuals to redefine their own stories.

While some moments could benefit from tighter pacing and more complex side characters, Unloved remains a beautifully crafted story. Peyton Corinne skillfully balances humor, poignancy, and romance to deliver a book that celebrates imperfect people finding perfect love. Freddy and Ro’s journey is a testament to the idea that sometimes the love you’ve been searching for is already right beside you.

I received a copy of this book not having read the first book in the series. I definitely think you should read these books in order as I felt like I was missing A LOT of what was going on with the side characters. However, I’ll focus solely on our main couple and they were a delight! The writing wasn’t perfect and it did seem to drag at times. But it definitely had its strong points! The story was a romance with depth, personal growth and plenty of communication. I was sick for our leading lady the entire time and the horrible things she was enduring. I’m hoping that her happy ending included some therapy (for both of them, truly). This story had plenty of toxic moments with side characters, but luckily our main couple was strong and balanced. This was a quick, easy read that kept me interested. Steamy at times, definitely not perfect but enjoyable enough.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

I absolutely loved this book. I say this often, but I think hockey romance is a genre where it can sometimes seem oversaturated with very similar characters and contexts, but this book and its predecessor really stand out to me. I felt very connected with the characters and it felt like a unique dynamic rather than something super trope-y and easy to hashtag, which I like a lot. My only critique is that I think the covers don’t really do the content of Unsteady and Unloved justice, just because they appear at first glance a little juvenile but tackle really important adult themes.

4 stars ✨
Spices 🌶️🌶️
______

I can’t believe I got an arc of this book. You don’t understand how happy I was. I finished it in one day. Peyton Corinne can write a good romance. I usually am not a fan of friends to lovers, but god this one changed my perspective of this trope.

“𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦. 𝘐𝘵 𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘱, 𝘵𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳-𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥.”

🏒 Sport romance
❤️‍🩹 Healing each other
❤️‍🔥 Friends to lovers
📓 Tutor/player

The book is not the continuation of the first one, it follow the same timeline so we see glimpse of how Sadie and Rhys are falling in love. I was I bit lost at first, but I loved seeing them in parallel.

“𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮.”

Ro and Matty 💗
Both want to be seen & loved.

Matty is the definition of a people pleaser. He needs to make sure that everyone is okay, but what about him?
Matty is an act of service man. He needs to show is love by doing’s things. Ohh and he’s also a touchyy guy 🤭
His POVS were sad & when we see flashbacks of his past I was heartbroken for him. Grieving is never pretty & Matty had it hard.

“𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘩𝘰𝘵. 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭.”

Ro my sweet sweet girl. Her toxic boyfriend kind of destroyed her ; low self esteem and low sex esteem. He treated her like sh*t & she feels like she’s not worth it; never good enough, just never enough. BUT we have Matty who is there to show her how she deserves to be treated. AND he treats her like a queen, like she is so precious.

They both are really lonely and finding each other was the best thing that could happen to them. They built a solid foundation of friendship and helped each other heal before even getting together. The attraction is there, but Ro has a boyfriend and Matty is respecting that. Even tho the boyfriend is an a*hole. Don’t get me started on Tyler. 🔪🔪

“𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘺, 𝘵𝘰𝘰: 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦. 𝘕𝘰 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴.”

The EPILOGUE! I couldn’t stop smiling, i was swoon. I wouldn’t mind getting more of them when they are older.

Things I wish was more developed :
-Matty and Archer relationship. I wanted to see more of them.
-Matty stealing the butterfly pins. Why we never see Ro discovering that?!

💚🍀🏒🩷✨🤍

*i am very grateful to have received an ARC of “unloved” prior to its release date for review purposes. thank you to Atria Books & NetGalley for the opportunity!*

SPOILER FREE:)

QUICK REVIEW:

in short, i devoured this book in 2 days! i loved unsteady, and was extremely impressed with it as a breakout novel, but i loved unloved 10x more! it’s so much more than a typical romance. unloved is not “just” a romance; it’s much more than that. additionally, Peyton Corrine’s writing style is fast paced and keeps me interested. something about the way her witty tone is combined with sensitive, real topics make her books real page-turners.

THE DETAILS:

this book felt so close to my heart. i loved all the tropes, but especially the way both the FMC and MMC had grown up feeling unsupported and, for lack of a different word, unloved, in different ways, but also very similar ways (can’t say any more so I don’t spoil it lol). i truly felt like Matt & Ro saved eachother and were on the same wavelength from their first interaction. Matt is the perfect book boyfriend. there are so many layers to him and his backstory, and I liked how they were all explored individually & not mentioned once and forgotten about. Ro is a dynamic character who I found myself relating to easily. both their backgrounds contribute to different varieties of shame & insecurities, and they help heal eachother so much throughout the story. also, I appreciated how Ro’s Turkish culture was integrated into the book, and Matt’s willingness to learn as much about her and her family as he could. and I loved the extensive rhys & Sadie content as well! it was nice to see into their relationship through the lens of Matt’s and ro’s eyes. the themes of grief, found family, reconnecting with family, and compassion and patience shone through beautifully. overall, i loved it!

While I did not really love the first book in this series, I knew immediately that I was going to love Matty and Ro through the little glimpses we got, and I am happy to say I was right! These two were PERFECT to the point it made my stomach hurt!!!

Matthew Fredderic is so beautiful and misunderstood and I love that we really got into his mental health issues and him learning how to handle them. And my sweet little angel baby Ro Shariff! I feel so connected to her and her need to be liked and take care of the people around her before she worries about herself. They really were such a perfect match for each other.

I really appreciated how much more developed these characters were and how mental health issues were approached and addressed, which were things I didn't feel like I really got from the first book. And, it was honestly just such a treat to feel these two fall in love!

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Peyton Corinne for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

*Note: Review will be published on Instagram page linked below closer to book's release date. Once review is published, link will be updated.

First off I would like to thank Netgally for this ARC of Unloved by Peyton Corrine!

I am absolutely floored by how much I adored this book! I unfortunately was not a fan of the first book in this series so I was incredibly hesitant when I started reading, but in just a couple chapters my worries dissolved and I knew this book was going to be incredible!

This is a Tutor X Jock romance and it is the first book of this trope to rival the classic Tutor X Jock book “The Deal” by Elle Kennedy for my favorite book of that trope!

All of the characters were so easy to love from the start! Ro is an amazing book loving character that any reader can easily picture themselves as and Freddy is a classic golden retriever boyfriend!

The depth that this book had also was incredible to read about. From Ro’s homesickness and struggles with her father’s health to Freddy’s issues with his father and his mother’s passing not to mentioned struggles with learning disabilities this book blew me away with the perfect way it handled deep and emotional topics.

Overall I could not recommend this book enough! Even if you, like me, were not the first books biggest fan PLEASE still try this book! It was beyond enjoyable and I feel it will stick with me for a long time!

4.5 🌟

These books are not for me hahaah this will be my last of the series but I have friends who enjoy them! If you love the KU romances, you’ll prob enjoy

listen to me, i know this was not the point of the book, but im already in love with toren kane, and i am begging for his book. anyway, onto unloved.

I think Ro encapsulated this book perfectly when she first met Matt - "I think you'd be really easy to love". This book was easy to love, Matt and Ro loved each other unconditionally in such a soft, no expectations type of way. Corinne thrives with her sad and soft MMC which is so refreshing in the hockey romance book world ngl. also. tyler - it's on sight.


thanks to netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Unloved by Peyton Corinne is a lovely addition to the college sports romance genre. While a little long at times, there was a lot of emotional growth for the characters and you get really invested in their lives and romance. There are many characters in this that I would love to read future books about!

Unloved by Peyton Corinne is the second book in the Unsteady series and is available everywhere books are sold on February 4, 2025. This could be read as a standalone but is best enjoyed in series order. The timeline for the novel overlaps with the first book, Unsteady.

Ro Shariff is a college student and tutor with high hopes of furthering her education in STEM. She’s far from home and missing her parents more than she’d like to admit. Ro is trapped in an on again/off again relationship with her boyfriend Tyler, a fellow student and tutor. Ro’s life takes a drastic turn when she starts tutoring her biggest crush, Matt “Freddy” Frederic. Freddy is known for being a good time with the megawatt smile to prove it. Despite being a superstar on the ice, he’s struggling academically. Freddy has dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD. He’s determined to graduate college before heading off to the NHL but passing the required biology and math courses are proving to be difficult. Freddy is not a stranger to the tutoring department but he is rattled when his new tutor is not only beautiful but also actually helping him find new strategies to learn the material. Freddy and Ro form a friendship that quickly feels like more. They show up for one another in ways they haven’t experienced before. This was truly a pleasure to read.
I loved Corrine’s debut, Unsteady, and I’m happy to report I loved Unloved just as much if not more! I cannot begin to describe how lovely I found this story. Freddy/Matty and Ro are perfect for each other. They give one another room to be themselves while also paying attention to the other’s emotional and physical needs. Unloved touches of topics of grief, love, toxic relationships, power dynamics, friends, found family, and so much more. This story and its tenderhearted characters captivated my attention and I won’t soon forget them. The epilogue had me in tears, it was perfect! I most certainly will continue to read what Peyton Corinne writes.
Read this if you like:
-FMC in STEM
-MMC plays college hockey
-found family
-friends to lovers
-student athlete & student tutor
-slow burn
-communication!!!!

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

A huge thank you to NetGalley, author Peyton Corrine, and Atria Books for a digital copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It’s only January, and I’ve already found the book that set the bar for 2025. I can’t stop singing praises for this gem, and I need everyone to read it when it drops on February 4th!

Peyton has such a way with storytelling—it’s like they’ve mastered the art of weaving sweet romance with just the right touch of heart-wrenching angst. This book is about two broken souls trying to piece themselves back together. Ro is battling the emotional scars left by her ex-boyfriend, struggling to rediscover who she is. Freddy, on the other hand, uses humor and brushes off taunts to mask his deeper feelings of not belonging. He’s the guy who laughs at his own jokes but secretly wonders if anyone truly sees him.
When these two meet, their connection is magnetic. It’s not just a love story; it’s a healing journey. Peyton captures their relationship so beautifully—how they become each other’s safe havens, mending wounds they didn’t think could ever heal. Freddy checking off items from Ro’s list? Adorable doesn’t even begin to cover it. I was rooting for them so hard because their story felt personal, like watching two friends find their happiness.

But what truly makes this book stand out for me is how it handles grief. Freddy’s reflections on his late mom were both sweet and utterly heartbreaking. Their bond had me tearing up because it was so genuine, so raw. And then there’s Freddy’s relationship with Archer—that hit me like a freight train. Peyton perfectly portrayed the complex layers of grief. When you lose someone you both deeply love, it can shake the foundation of your connection with each other. That’s exactly what happened with Freddy and Archer. Watching Freddy come to terms with his mom’s love for Archer, and realizing he could form his own bond with him, left me emotionally wrecked in the best way.

And let’s talk about the epilogue. I live for epilogues, and this one delivered everything I hoped for and more. It’s the sweet, satisfying ending you dream about, but it also packed a punch that left me teary-eyed. Peyton gave every character the ending they deserved, and it felt like a warm hug after an emotional rollercoaster.

For fans of Peyton’s universe, you’ll be thrilled to see appearances from Sadie, Rhys, and Bennett--who can cook?! I'm melting already! (as always, they shine). And then there’s Toren Kane, who has officially piqued my curiosity. His knight in shining armor moments for both girls were subtle but intriguing, and I can’t wait to see more of him in future stories.

This book isn’t just a story—it’s an experience. It’s about love, loss, healing, and finding joy even in the midst of pain. It’s the kind of book you finish and immediately want to reread because you’re not ready to let go of the characters. What it did to me? Let’s just say my tear-stained pillow and I want to go through it again.

If you’re looking for a book that will break your heart, stitch it back together, and leave you smiling through tears, mark your calendars for February 4th. You won’t regret it.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Unloved is such a sweet romance, following the story of Freddy and Ro. When Ro finds out she has a new student to tutor, she never imagined it would be the superstar hockey player Matt Fredderic (aka Freddy). Despite it being burned into her memory, he doesn't remember their first encounter together. As they work together to improve Freddy's grades, things begin to change. Each of them having experienced their own traumas, they both have a lot of healing to do. But just maybe, they can heal...together.

I cannot say enough amazing things about this book!
Freddy and Ro are the perfectly balanced pair. Their emotional depth and respect for one another was such a breath of fresh air! I absolutely love a fast-forward epilogue and getting to see their HEA! The author handled the difficult subject matter for Tyler and Cameron really well. My heart broke for Ro and Freddy so many times when they were living through their experiences.

Thank you with my entire heart Atria Books for gifting me an ARC of Unloved by Peyton Corinne | #AtriaPartner

To be loved is to be seen, to be cherished.

Unloved is a love letter full of passion, resilience, courage and such soft adoration. I don’t think I have ever read a book that has burrowed its way to the very core of my psyche.

I want to be with Ro and Matty forever. I want to spend my days in awe of their love that burns bright and beautiful. It was so wonderful to start the new year reading about Ro and Matty because it was like writing a scroll full of well wishes and joys. The journey for these characters to heal and be able to fully allow themselves the chance to be happy and in love is one that truly has shifted the way I take in the world and all of those small moments.

This book is wonderful, incredible and all of the lovely amazing verbs that are out there. It left me speechless, heartbroken and in love.

I really loved this book! When I read the prologue I just immediately knew I was gonna love this story. I absolutely loved Matt and Ro and the way they helped each other with their issues. The friends to lovers always gets me. Perfect sports romance!

Thank you Atria Books for the arc of this book.

I don’t think I’ll ever rate Corinne’s books anything below 5 stars. I also didn’t think I could love “Unloved” more than “Unsteady”, but I was wrong. @peytoncorinneauthor, you have outdone yourself with this one!!! Ro and Freddy (although I like when people call him Matty much better) are two amazing characters that everyone will immediately fall in love with. I can particular relate to Ro’s character, and anyone who doesn’t understand why she stayed with her ex in the beginning is lucky enough to never have been in her shoes. I won’t stand for any hatred towards Ro (or Sadie!!).

From now on, I’ll always think of them every time I listen to any song off the “Unloved” Spotify playlist. Corinne is such a talented writer, and I can’t believe I got approved for her arc. I desperately want a physical copy, and I can’t wait to have one on my shelf alongside my other favorite, “Unsteady” 🫶🏻 Rhys, Sadie, Ro, and Matty will always hold a special place on my bookshelf.