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.

If I could give this book more stars I would!

After meeting both Freddy and Ro in the first book Unsteady I was so excited to see they were getting their book next. This exceeded my expectations & I literally stayed up all night to finish.

This was swoony, heartbreaking and honestly had me in tears throughout.

Desperately hoping for Toren Kanes book.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

The moment I got an ARC of this book, I couldn’t put it down—I’m so grateful to have had the chance to read it early. Let’s talk about why I adored it!

I’m an absolute sucker for a slow-burn romance, and this book delivered in every way. Ro and Matty’s journey was everything I could hope for and more. Even though they didn’t officially get together until later in the story (around 80%), their connection was undeniable from the start. Their relationship felt organic and heartfelt, rooted in an existing friendship built on trust and genuine kindness.

The epilogue? Absolute perfection. It left me swooning and was the cherry on top of an already incredible story. I couldn’t help but hope we’ll see more of these two in future books. Ro and Matty’s dynamic was so pure and heartfelt, and the emotional depth in their stories tugged at my heartstrings. The angst was beautifully written—it made me tear up multiple times!

I also need to highlight the found family aspect of this book, which added so much warmth and charm. Ro, Matty, Sadie, Rhys, Liam, Oliver, Bennett, Holden, and the entire Waterfell hockey team created such a special and heartwarming dynamic. They made me smile, laugh, and feel all the fuzzy feelings.

This book had everything: romance, emotion, and the kind of characters that linger in your heart long after you turn the last page. Highly recommend!

While I'm likely not in the intended demographic for this emotional, college hockey romance, I absolutely adored the second installment in Corinne's The Undone series. Ro and Freddy's story was anchored in a deep friendship that made for a gorgeous friends to lovers romance. Unloved tackles some very tough topics with so much care and respect.

Corinne's plot line amongst the series runs concurrent to the first story. It was such a delight to revisit the same events and witnessing them from another perspective. This is a unique brand of storytelling that brings a deeper understanding to the characters. And, ultimately, why I liked this book so much better than book one. (This was ALMOST five stars for me.) I will excitedly waiting book 3 and hoping we get some insight into Bennett!!

I'm sure the third iteration will be even better as we continue to examine these pivotal events surrounding Waterfell's champion hockey team during their senior year. Ro and Freddy will be in my mind for some time.

“I think you’d be really easy to love.”
•
PEYTON CORINNE IS GOING TO RUIN ME WITH THESE SAD BOY MMCS (& im going to let her)😭
Another raw, real, vulnerable, heart wrenching beautiful book by Peyton Corinne. Ro & Freddy’s story is absolutely beautifully written & everything we could have dreamed of for them from the glimpses we got of them in Unsteady. We got to see a different side of Sadie & Rhys from their best friend’s perspectives which made me love them even more than I already did in Unsteady. Freddy’s grief & struggle was portrayed so vulnerably that I want to give you the biggest hug, Peyton🥺 I teared up multiple times feeling like I was inside of Freddy’s head. Ro & Freddy needed each other & it was incredible to read how they both started to realize that. I am so excited that this was my first read of 2025 because it was everything & more.😭

Unloved by Peyton Corrine is an exploration of self-worth, redemption, and unexpected love. The story centres on Freddy, a charming but troubled hockey star with a lot to prove—not only to the world but to himself. Freddy’s world revolves around hockey, but when his academic struggles threaten his future, he must get the help of Ro, a tutor with her own complicated romantic history.

What begins as a professional relationship quickly blossoms into something much deeper. Ro is a relatable and empathetic character, struggling with her own insecurities while trying to help Freddy overcome his academic barriers. As their connection grows, so does the tension between them, largely driven by Freddy’s reluctance to let anyone get too close due to his fear of rejection and self-doubt. Ro, on the other hand, longs to be seen for who she truly is and offers Freddy a chance at acceptance and understanding that he hasn’t experienced before.

The heart of Unloved lies in the push-pull dynamic between Freddy and Ro, and their eventual realization that love isn’t just about perfection or surface-level connections. It’s about embracing one another’s flaws, vulnerabilities, and the parts of ourselves that we often want to hide.

The story delves into themes of self-acceptance, societal pressures, and the importance of finding someone who values you for more than just your achievements or appearance.

Freddy and Ro’s journey is an exploration of how love can heal and help us grow, even in the most unlikely of circumstances.

The slow-burn in this book was absolutely necessary for all the healing that each character had to go through. Each MC was strong to begin with, but damn they just got stronger and stronger with each other and I was here for ever word!!

Ro and Freddy are everything I want in tormented MCs that find their way to themselves with each other.

I really have my fingers crossed for Book 3 to be about Bennett and hopefully a Book 4 about Toren!!

Thank you Peyton Corinne for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book and it was absolutely perfect! I loved Unsteady and was so happy when I heard we were getting a book with Ro and Freddy! This book healed a part of my heart and soul!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❤️‍🩹characters❤️‍🩹
I loved how their characters were so different yet so perfect for one another. The tension, the longing, and the love they shared were just beautiful. Ro is my queen and deserves all the love in the world. I love my adventurous queen and I just really appreciated her character development throughout the story and the same goes with Matt/Freddy. I loved the layers each character unraveled throughout the plot and how they both grew from their pasts.

I went through a rollercoaster of emotions and I cried, giggled, and was smiling throughout the book. I read it in one day and I was engaged the entire time because the characters were so magnetic and just pulled you into the story. I knew the story was going to have some angst and grief but I really enjoyed the growth, love and development that the characters went through.

I will forever wait for a book about my girl Paloma and I know it will destroy me but I hope she's in a future book because I just need to know her story! (I'm hoping it's with Bennett) 🤞🏻.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Atria Books/Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

I loved this book, and it was a great follow up to the first one. I thought it was unique to have both books in the series happening along the same timeline. I loved Ro and related to her in so many ways, and Matt was the book boyfriend we all dream of. I also thought it was insightful how they both had emotional growth over time and showed it as a realistic relationship. It was such a fun book, but it had a depth to it just like Unsteady did. I hope there are more books in the undone series and can’t wait to read more.

Unloved follows Rosalie “Ro” Shariff - a very driven student and peer tutor & Matthew “Freddy” Fredderic, Waterfall’s hockey star and infamous playboy. After sharing a drunken kiss - that Freddy has no memory of - Matt and Ro reacquaint themselves at an early party in their senior year. They share some drunken heartfelt confessions - that Ro goes on to forget - prior to Freddy gaining Ro as his new tutor. Matt must pass his biology class to uphold his NHL contract in Dallas, and with the compiled struggle of his ADHD, dyslexia and dyscalculia, along with tutors and academic aides who’ve gone out of their way to disadvantage him, he and Ro are at an impasse. But Ro is very passionate as Matt’s tutor and friend, and she goes to bat for him, and urges him to his best academically. Book 2 of The Undone series from Peyton gives the reader a slow burn, friends-to-lovers, hockey romance that is for sure to make your heart squeeze. This may be my most anticipated and loved ARC yet — and my favourite read in 2024. Peyton does such a good job with the individual character story’s, and breaking our hearts along the way. From Freddy’s disability struggles, his poor relationship with his father and the loss of his mother; to Ro’s relationship mistreatment, financial stresses and her father’s health — I am unwell. This is one of the most beautifully written friends-to-lovers romance I’ve had the pleasure of reading and I cannot move on! The slow pace brings the reader through the ups and downs of Ro and Freddy’s friendship into their relationship, and just leaves you rooting for them — and against Tyler!

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for this Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) approval.

This story was one I have been looking forward to since finishing Unsteady. I think I saw part of myself in both Ro and Matt at different times in the story.
It is heart wrenching. I do not know how to put into words how good this was.

I did personally have an issue with some of the pacing in the storyline.

”Loving him is the easiest thing I’ve ever done” - Rosalie

This book was a cute, slow burn book that really shows how to be patient. At first, I was really confused because I thought Ro (Rosalie) was an even shorter nickname for Rora (Aurora) who is Sadie’s best friend in the first book Unsteady. Besides that though, the book was easy to follow and it was definitely super cool to see that this book is in the same timeline as Unsteady and we got to see a lot of behind the scenes of Rhys and Sadie’s relationship that we didn’t see in their book.

The relationship development between Matt and Ro is so cute. Matt definitely practiced a lot of patience just because of Ro’s situation with Tyler and I think overall Matt was pretty respectful about it. Tyler is the worst human alongside Matt’s father.

NOTE: Though this book is part of a series, I feel like it can 100% be read as a standalone.

Tropes:
🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Athlete x Tutor
🏒 Friends to Lovers
🏒 Mental Health and Learning Disability Representation
🏒 Slow Burn

Pros:
- Dual POV
- Behind the scenes of Rhys and Sadie’s relationship
- Matt and Ro becoming friends and opening up to each other
- Archer !!! He is so sweet !!

Cons:
- Ro having a similar name to Dora – which was confusing at first
- The pacing was kind of slow, like Ro did not break up with Tyler until more than 50% through the book, but I guess that’s what makes this book a super slow burn.<

Overall, such a good book in the series and amazing characteristics for each character. Looking forward to the rest of the books in this series.

Thank you Peyton Corinne, Atria Books and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

・₊✧ Quotes ・₊✧

“What’s this?”
“Iced dirty chai. That’s what you like, right?” She looks so confused and mildly upset that a bolt of panic shoots through me. “Did I get it wrong? I’m sorry. I’ll buy you something else at–“
She cuts me off. “No, no, no, it’s my favourite. I can’t believe you remembered. Thank you, Matt”
(This scene was so cute like it’s the little things he remembers that make him so sweet).

There’s no way in hell I’m letting her ride an hour back into town alone at 10 p.m. at night in a rideshare. I’ll carry her the entire fifty-something miles back to Waterfall before I let that happen."
(CHIVALRY ISNT DEAD. Matt is so sweet I can’t)

“I think you’d be really easy to love,” - Rosalie
(It’s so funny that she can’t remember she said this to Matt)

“Loving Rosalie Shariff would be the easiest thing I’ve ever done–I know, because I’m already doing it. I think I’ve loved her since the day she stood up for me.” - Matt

I was absolutely captivated by this book the second I started reading. I went into this with so much excitement, having read the first book and seen some things about this one, and it did not disappoint! Peyton Corinne has done it again!

I absolutely fell in love with her characters, and anytime we learned about their pasts and backstories I almost started crying. It was such an unforgettable read and I don’t know if I’ve ever read a book about such relatable characters. Freddy is such a teddy bear and I love him to death. Ro is so much like me, I’m convinced someone’s been following me around (in a good way haha).

I can’t wait to see what Peyton does with the rest of the series, and the little snippets about Bennett and Toren are making me very curious! 100% recommend and I can’t wait for the next one!

Matt Fredderic is perfect. That’s the review.

The boy is so broken yet so open in his ability to love. The effect of both his mother’s death and his relationship with his narcissistic father were so beautifully portrayed. I wanted to hug him through every insecurity. And the way he loved Ro melted my heart.

Ro, my soul sister. There were times when I found myself incredibly angry with her but then I realized it’s because she was me. I was Ro at 20 years old, allowing myself to be a puppet in a toxic relationship, continually returning to someone who only broke me down. And so it was almost like I wanted to shake her and say, you are better than this. But then she had Freddy to help her move past it and find her strength, and this leads us back to my first statement: Matt Fredderic is perfect.

This was a beautiful follow up to Unsteady, and I can’t wait to see what Peyton gives us next.

📚Unloved by Peyton Corrine
📕ARC Review(eCopy gifted by @atria)
🚨While reviewed copy is gifted, opinions are always my own.
Status: Available February 4th, Not KU

🥰Enjoyment: Unsteady (book 1 in this series) was one of the unexpected hits for me last year, it wasn’t even on my radar when I gained access through one of the audio programs I’m in. I grabbed it in spite of my “I don’t really love college romance” stance because I DO really love hockey romance. Any who that book took me by surprise and really hit me in the feels, so I was SO excited to go back to Waterfell and see sweet Ro’s story. And gah it was so good. Freddy is the sweetest man boy and I just want to wrap him up in bubble wrap and protect him (see I’m too old for this college stuff lol), and I loved how Ro was the perfect person to befriend him and advocate for him and eventually love him.

*potential spoilers as I discuss triggers as vaguely as possible*
I will say there are some triggers in this one that felt swept over. Like one off page event that happened in the past was breezed over so fast that one of my buddy read friends didn’t even pick up on the implication. Additionally the more broad trigger that lingers in the corner this entire story did not have what I would call a satisfying conclusion. The book was long and I feel like it was an editorial decision but my moral compass felt like something was missing.

An amazing read! Freddy and Ro are made for each other. Adding them to my list of favorite book couples. This story took me on an emotional rollercoaster. The topics of grief and anxiety were beautifully written. Highly recommend everyone read this book!



Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The name is definitely fitting. I don’t think Ro has had anyone love her in her life. Second thought was, does anyone have any self esteem in this book lol. Freddy either has a major praise kink or needs to speak with a therapist. This book reminded me a lot of “Icebreaker” (hard-working FMC who seems put together but has major self esteem issues and tons of toxic relationships) but with less spice. Overall, I really enjoyed the sweet moments between Freddy and Ro. I admired how they really focused on becoming friends first which helped them heal each other in a way. I loved the ADHD, dyslexia, etc representation and how it made Freddy more vulnerable and relatable to readers. The main thing that kept this from being a 4 or 5 star read for me was how long Ro’s relationship with Tyler dragged out. It took away from the time we could have been spending with Freddy on page and was exhausting to read. I don’t usually like books where the FMC is weak and plagued with self-loathing but I wanted to give this a chance. But I think with Freddy’s “they only want me for my body” thing it was too much for me.

I was excited to read about freddy and ro, especially given what we saw in unloved, but I didn't particularly like a certain plot point which reduced my enjoyment of the novel.