3.5 stars.

This was so close to a 4 star read for me. The story was adorable and I loved both the main characters. Both Ro and Matt were both so sweet and dealing with so much that I constantly just want to give them both hugs.

The reason I had to drop this down to 3.5 was for two reasons. First, the middle felt like itvwas really dragging. I felt like there were a few chapters that could have been removed to streamline the story a bit. And second, I kept getting frustrated at Ro for letting Tyler treat her like he did. He was horrendous from the get go and he hanging on was painful.

But, beyond those two things, this was a sweet contemporary romance that's definitely worth the read.

Wow, this has completely consumed me. I devoured this book in like 48 hours and honestly, I’m still thinking about Ro and Freddy. Their story is everything I love in a romance—slow burn, swoony, real, and packed with emotional depth. The way they go from strangers to friends to soulmates had me hooked from the start. The chemistry between them is just chef’s kiss perfect.

I relate to Ro more than Sadie, and that made this story hit even harder. Ro is this sweet, crafty, hopeless romantic who’s been through a lot, and I just wanted to hug her the whole time. Her journey of healing and learning to trust love again is so beautifully written. Freddy (or Matty) had me weak in the knees. He’s the reformed player of my dreams but with layers and vulnerability that I wasn’t expecting. Watching him grow and open up was everything!!

One of my favorite parts was seeing Ro’s patience while tutoring Freddy. My brother has dyslexia just like Freddy, so seeing how Ro adjusted her teaching style to work with his needs really hit home for me. The way she took the time to understand him, made him feel seen, and created a safe space for him to learn was just so touching. It made their bond even stronger and showed the depth of Ro’s character.

Their romance is slow-burn perfection—it’s sweet, it’s intense, and it’s HOT. Their emotional connection was so raw and real, and I loved every moment of their journey. That epilogue? I was absolutely melting.

If you’re looking for a book with heartfelt moments, swoon-worthy chemistry, and a love story that will stick with you long after you finish, Unloved is a must-read. I’m so attached to Ro and Freddy now and highly recommend this to anyone who loves a slow-burn romance with all the feels. 💚

Thank you NetGalley and Peyton Corinne for the arc!

PS: PLEASEEEE write Bennett's story next im DYINNGGGGG hehe! hope I get an arc of that too! I can't wait!!

Unloved by Peyton Corinne is an achingly tender romance that balances lighthearted banter with poignant emotional depth. It’s a story of second chances, self-worth, and two people discovering that love isn’t about perfection—it’s about acceptance. With relatable characters, slow-burn chemistry, and heart-melting moments of vulnerability, Corinne delivers a read that will stick with you long after you’ve finished.

Matt "Freddy" Fredderic is the kind of character who sneaks up on you. On the surface, he’s a stereotypical jock: a star player with a big grin and a bigger reputation. But Corinne peels back those layers to reveal a young man wrestling with learning disabilities and self-doubt. Freddy’s struggles with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD are handled with nuance and care. His academic challenges and fear of failure feel real and raw, and his journey to believe that he’s more than his GPA—or his reputation—is deeply moving. You can’t help but root for him, not just to pass biology but to see himself the way Ro does: as worthy of success and love.

Ro Shariff is equally compelling. She’s a hopeless romantic with a sweet but often messy heart, and her inner monologue is refreshingly relatable. Her "on again/off again" relationship with her boyfriend feels more like a placeholder for something real, and the tension between what Ro thinks she deserves versus what she actually needs drives much of her emotional arc. She’s someone who has spent a lot of time settling, unsure if she’ll ever find the deep, honest connection she dreams of. Her dynamic with Freddy is where she finally starts to question whether she’s been asking the wrong questions about love all along.

The tutoring sessions between Freddy and Ro are the emotional heartbeat of the novel. What starts as late-night study guides and playful quips quickly deepens into something more intimate: sharing vulnerabilities, discussing their insecurities, and leaning on one another when the rest of the world feels too harsh. Corinne captures the magic of emotional intimacy—the way understanding someone’s pain and joys can create a bond even stronger than physical attraction. And speaking of attraction: the slow-burn romantic tension is delicious. You can feel the magnetic pull between them, their stolen glances and unspoken confessions building to a crescendo of longing.

The "missed memory" trope—Ro remembering their first kiss, while Freddy holds onto a night she doesn’t recall—adds a bittersweet, wistful element. Their mutual pining feels deeply authentic rather than contrived, with neither of them realizing how significant they’ve always been to each other. Instead of feeling like miscommunication, it reads as two people who’ve been quietly carrying their own burdens for too long, afraid to believe they’re worth loving in their entirety.

One of the standout aspects of Unloved is how it addresses reputations and stereotypes. Freddy’s struggle to be seen as more than his "bad boy athlete" persona is mirrored in Ro’s desire to be more than "the dependable nice girl." Their love story isn’t just about romance—it’s about rewriting the narratives they’ve been boxed into by others and themselves.

If there’s a slight critique, it’s that the pacing slows in the middle, with some tutoring scenes and internal musings feeling repetitive. While these moments build intimacy, they could’ve been trimmed to keep the story moving without sacrificing emotional weight. Additionally, the side characters—particularly Ro’s ex—could’ve been given a bit more complexity, as some moments feel a little too convenient for plot progression.

At 4 stars, Unloved is an emotionally rich, heartfelt story about learning to love yourself so you can fully love someone else. Peyton Corinne writes with empathy, humor, and a keen understanding of how love often finds you when you’re too busy doubting yourself to believe it’s possible. Freddy and Ro’s romance is proof that even the most seemingly mismatched people can fit together perfectly—and that sometimes, the person you’ve been quietly longing for has been standing beside you all along.

This book utterly altered my brain chemistry and it was just absolute perfection. I will forever hold every word, scene, and character in my heart forever. I cried so much it should be criminal maybe because I related so much to this story. This novel while a love story explores beautiful themes of grief, heartbreak, and a search for self-love. I felt this story so deeply and i believe others will hold these words close to their heart because there is always a part of us that may feel unlovable or like we do not deserve good in life.

My matty!! i love him so so much and i just want to protect him at all costs. i want to give him the biggest hug and tell him that i adore his soul and he is so deserving of everything pure in this world. The visibility we get from his struggles with adhd, dislexia, and dyscalculia as a student was so important and i felt like it also added to his hardships with love since he felt undeserving of it, but he found it with my girl RO 🥹 i was tearing up so much like no two people have ever been more perfect for each other.

My rosalie, she is the most selfless, kindest girl ever. She is just so deserving of happiness and it made me so sad to see her struggle with her worth and grief heartbreak. She experienced the most beautiful form of growth and she is just so smart and bright!!! I want to be her friend SO BAD and I just loved how she was so caring towards others while loving to read, being a hopeless romantic and feeling so deeply🥹

The way that this relationship (matty + ro) felt so delicate and vulnerable, honestly just raised my standards and makes me want to search for the one who makes me feel like “loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done”, I thought of dress by taylor swift “even in my worst times you saw the best in me” because truly they loved each other amidst mistakes and the “imperfections” they believed shaped them as individuals.

i felt chapter 59 on a soul level— yes i cried...and I can't wait to buy a physical copy of this novel and reread it all over again!

thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for the eARC so lucky to have read this beautiful story out feb. 4💚!!!

#unloved

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Peyton Corinne's book, Unloved, shares the touching tale of two characters, Ro and Freddy. They meet at a wild college party when they are freshmen, and although they share a quick kiss and some moments together, Freddy doesn’t remember anything about it later. Life moves on, and three years later, Freddy is having a tough time with his studies. That’s when Ro steps back into his life as his tutor.

What makes their story special is the little things. Every look they share, every gentle touch, and how they slowly learn to trust each other really pulled me in. Their connection grows in such a sweet way; it’s almost like magic. They help each other heal from past hurts and become more than just friends—it's as if they create a safe space for one another. Watching them grow together was so interesting that I wished the story would go on forever. Their relationship is not just about romance; it changes them for the better.

I felt a strong connection with Ro right away. She’s a strong and caring woman, a bit shy but very kind. She’s been through some tough times with someone she trusted before, but Freddy shows her what true love looks like. He is patient and helps her heal from her past. I also liked how Ro relates to her family—she is strong but still shows her affection. As for Freddy, he might seem like just another guy with problems at first. However, as you learn more about him, you see there’s a lot more going on. His journey of discovering himself and being open made him one of my favorite characters of the year.

Unloved is definitely a book to read in 2025. It's the kind of story that you will want to come back to again and again. The author really knows how to draw you in and make you feel for the characters.

4.25 Stars!

-Tropes-
Friends to lovers
tutor x athlete
slow burn
inexperience fmc x playboy mmc

-Trigger warning -
mental health
leaning disabilities
loss of a parent
narcissistic parent
emotional abuse


This book was such an emotional ride, you truly felt for both of them and fully understood their reasoning for their behavior and actions. I really enjoyed the book but at times I was crying my eyes out since I could relate to them so much, and fully understood them as people and as a couple. loved their chemistry.

I was NOT prepared for the feelings this book would pull out of me.

Ro and Matty’s story is absolutely beautiful. A story of finding young love, friendship, trust, and FAMILY. Ro and Matty have (dare I say) one of the sweetest meet cutes, but it’s cut short and they don’t speak until years later when Ro is assigned to be Matty’s tutor.

Matty, a hockey player who suffers from dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD isn’t passing his college courses & he isn’t offered the proper accommodations to help him thrive by the shady school, but Ro is assigned as Matty’s tutor & does everything she can to help Matty flourish, because she sees how smart and capable Matty is, unlike the other tutors who have taunted him relentlessly and given up so easily.

Ro & Matty are two people who have been through so much at such young ages, and the more they have tutor sessions the more they get to know one another and realize just how much they need each other and one another’s friendship. Although, for Ro, she has been crushing on Matty ever since their meet cute that was cut abruptly short freshman year.

When Ro & Matty finally give into the shared tension the spice is a 10/10 🔥 (Matty loves to praise) 🥵👏🏻

I wish I could read this beautiful story for the first time again. A story of loss, growth, friendship, firsts, love, and acceptance.

I loved everything about this book. Ro and Freddy were both characters I related to in different ways, and I loved the depth Peyton added to both of them. It was interesting seeing certain events that happened during book one through the eyes of these two—I really liked getting that different perspective. The way that these two acted as a pillar in each others lives, Ro for Freddy with his learning disabilities, and Freddy for Ro with her abusive relationship, was really lovely. The other thing I really appreciated about their relationship was how it developed first into a really strong friendship, and then eventually morphed into a romantic relationship after both had grown personally and dealt with issues. I'm glad Peyton wrote it in such a way that their romantic relationship didn't act as a band-aid for their problems. I cannot wait to read the other love stories in this series, this book has cemented Peyton as an auto-buy author for me.

I absolutely adored this story! The characters felt so genuine and relatable, written in a way that resonated with real life rather than veering into melodrama. The challenges they faced were refreshingly authentic, making their experiences all the more impactful. Unlike many other narratives tackling mental health, I found myself surprised less often here, which really allowed the focus to remain on the characters’ journeys.

The romance was simply delightful! It's a common pitfall for college-aged characters to come across as overly immature in fiction, but this story sidestepped that cliché beautifully. Sure, college can be a wild ride, and immaturity is part of the experience, but the portrayal here felt refreshingly true to life. Matty was such a stand-up guy, and Ro? What a sweetheart! They’ve definitely earned a coveted spot on my list of favorite couples.

I haven’t yet read Sadie and Rhys’s story, but witnessing their romance through Ro's perspective was a treat. Overall, this book was a delightful mix of fun and heartfelt moments, expertly touching on themes of self-worth and finding those who truly deserve you. It was a wonderful journey that left me feeling inspired!

thank you to netgalley and atria books for this arc in exchange for an honest review :)

3.5 ⭐

this was a cute read.

i really enjoyed reading about ro and freddy's friendship, how they started to trust each other and found themselves developing feelings for each other.

i liked reading about how freddy dealt with his grief, because it made him feel real and i saw myself reflected in a lot of thoughts that he had.

ro was one of the sweetest characters that i've read, i just wanted to give her a hug and tell her everything was going to be okay.

SPOILER: i liked seeing how she ended up doing the things that she wanted to accomplish since the beginning.

what i didn't like was that we didn't get to see much of their relationship as a couple, and we saw too much of tyler and ro's previous relationship.

there where a lot of things that were lacking of information that maybe some people may not care but i do and i think that's why i ended up giving this book 3.5 stars.

Could not put this one down!! Freddy and Ro were the most beautiful friends to lovers story!! These two were both going through so much and had so much turmoil from past relationships to work through to see themselves the way the other did. But they were always there for each other along the way. Peyton also ties in the characters from the series so well. I am literally foaming at the mouth to read Bennet and Toren’s stories 😭😭 when this series is over I’m gonna need a good cry

Tropes:
Tutor x student
Friends to lovers
Slow burn
Hockey college romance

2.5 rounded up to 3 ⭐️

I loved the first book but I personally don’t think this book was for me.

It was about 100 pages too long and I felt that so much plot of the book was wasted on a conflict with another character that didn’t need to take up half of the book.

as someone who genuinely enjoyed 'unsteady,' i was really looking forward to this book and the chance to revisit rhys and sadie. but wow, i didn't expect to love this book even more. matt and ro are such interesting complex characters, and i love the way corinne explores themes of self love, self worth, and romantic love through them. 'unloved' as a title fits this book so well. both ro and matty have had complicated relationships that destroyed their sense of what love is, and in many ways quite similarly feel they are difficult to love as a result of it. meeting each other, being vulnerable with each other, allow them to see through each other and help unpack the false narratives they've been fed and realize those people hurt and took advantage of them. they work together to help each other see this truth, and only then do they begin to heal. i also love that the journey isn't linear. it's an uphill struggle to constantly unlearn toxic thoughts, especially when they've been part of your lives for years, but both characters are so patient with each other and it's inspiring and heartwarming to see. the realistic portrayal of the struggles associated with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and adhd, and how some schools and tutors don't properly accommodate students who suffer from those disorders and also use their diagnoses to berate and mock them was also one of my favorite things about this book. i haven't read many novels that explore these topics, especially in a sports romance, so this was very cool to see and so incredibly well done.

this book was gripping with emotion, and matty and rosalie's happy ending was hard earned. both character arcs so well done and intwine easily, and though i could guess the secrets matt was hiding long before they were revealed, i thought the build was excellently done. one of my issues with unsteady was it didn't fully feel whole, but this book does (not just for matty and ro, but also rhys and sadie) and the conclusion is beyond satisfying. peyton corinne only seems to get better. i'm excited to see whatever she writes next.

a major spoiler:
my one real issue with 'unloved' is there is a professor who essentially gets away with taking advantage of her students and carrying on inappropriate relationships with them. i know it wouldn't make sense for the character involved to be caught in trying to expose this professor (it would be a long and public drawn out battle that would take over their lives and make them relive some of the worst moments), but i still hate the fact that she received no consequences and essentially got to continue manipulating students vulnerable to her advances. would have loved to see even the slightest hint of justice even though i can't see the character in question wanting to pursue it. there was a moment where ro was writing an email to the dean at the end that i thought hinted at her maybe exposing this professor but that email could have also been about her dropping out of her program, and we never really find out what it actually was about, even if i can make an educated guess.

this aside, i genuinely enjoyed this book and am honored for the opportunity to read it early.

Compliments to the chef!!! This book is a beautiful story about love and grief. I laughed and cried and hugged my kindle afterwards because what a story. This is my first Peyton Corinne book and it won’t be my last. I will definitely go back and read Unsteady. This has then tutor trope Rosalie is a tutoring Freddy a hockey player she had her first kissed with. I love her journey of becoming more confident and standing up for herself and with Freddy his journey is incredible learning that he is loveable and has a family. These two are so perfect for each other.

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for this arc

I was not prepared for the emotional turmoil. My heart hurts for Matt but seeing him to his full potential warms me. I loved this story. I love Matt and Rosalie together. I love how protective they are together.

3.75-4 star Friends to Lovers
Dual POV
Student & Tutor
College/Sports/Hockey romance
Interconnected standalone

Matt Fredderic (Freddy) is a playboy with learning disabilities. Rosalie (Ro) is his last chance tutor. They became friends as she was in a terrible relationship. Tyler was the worst!
I enjoyed Ro and Freddy’s relationship. Loved that there was no 3rd act breakup!

Unloved by Peyton Corine 💚🏒 arc review 🏒💚

I've never felt so connected with a book or its characters. I very rarely give out five stars to a book. However, the book EARNED EVERY STAR!!

This book explores grief, self-loathing, heartbreak, self-doubt, insecurity, healing, understanding, and acceptance while allowing readers to fully understand the characters, which makes them extremely easy to relate to.

The relationship between Ro and Freddy is nothing short of beautiful and all-consuming. Their contrasting/similar feelings about themselves, along with their struggles, are honestly eye-opening to read. Peyton Corine highlights the mental health of both characters (yes, both Ro *the FMC* and Freddy *the MMC*), which is why I love this book.

For Ro, it's re-learning herself in every way after her emotionally/mentally abusive relationship. For Freddy, it's a journey of understanding self-worth, which is brought on by a lifetime of emotional and mental abuse. This story highlights the highs while building on the lows. The author doesn't shy away from the hard topics, allowing readers to know and understand the characters.

My favorite scene in this whole book was Ro advocating for Freddy when it comes to his accommodations in school due to his ADHD, Dyslexia, and Dyscalculia. *I'm sorry for the sappy part in this review* It hit me personally reading that scene in this book; though I don't have any neurodivergence, I do have two siblings, both with autism (one high functioning and the other low-functioning) they also both have ADHD, and OCD. I've lived in this community my entire life due to my siblings and witnessed different injustices within the school systems for disregarding accommodations and how individuals are talked to. I've watched, fought, and advocated for so many of my sibling's friends and my sibling to be properly accommodated due to their disability. So watching Ro not only fight but also reassure Freddy that he is, in fact, not an idiot and thrives when properly accommodated, which is what the school was legally required to do, just hit me so close to home that it practically brought me tears. I am so overjoyed that this scene in this book shines a light on the struggles many go through with this very same thing.

I loved how their relationship started from the ground up. They learned from each other; they found ways to prove that they were worthy of each other's trust and love. Throughout most of the story, it wasn't even about a romantic relationship. They put such a high value on their original FRIENDSHIP; it was a factor highlighted so much in this book, which I adored. It wasn't an instant love story. It was a story that happened organically, step by step, trial and error which overall was so magical to read. (definitely pulls the heartstrings in all the best ways)

I've never been more honored to receive this arc copy, and I'm so excited and ready to have this book on my shelf next month!

The relationship between the characters was beautiful and so gentle, which is something I loved in the first book as well, although the pace and development of their feelings and affection sometimes was a bit too unrealistic it is not something that affect the rating since it is fiction, and frankly, it’s sad that it requieres so much suspension of disbelief; I wish people were like Matt and Ro in real life. Their softness was touching and I just wanted them to express themselves without fear and without letting their insecurities get in the way. My issues are also similar with those I had with the first book. The “bad guys” like the ex-boyfriend and his friends are cartoonishly evil, and in the end there was no justice for the way they treated Matt for his learning differences, or for their professor’s actions. At least reporting her officially would have been the right move in my opinion. The way this “villains” so to speak, are dealt with was anticlimactic, including his dad, they are this big issue throughout the whole book and then things get solved almost too easily. Something that frustrated me at times was that it seemed sometimes like they couldn’t catch a break, but it wasn’t as convoluted as with Unsteady where everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong. The issues between Matt and his friends were introduced in maybe his first chapter and then barely discussed again until the third act, and again, ended up being a nonissue. Although it served as another way to show Matt’s feelings of inadequacy, some things should have either been fleshed out more or simply left out of the story altogether, like the single mention of his high school teacher is something problematic and serious that was never discussed. The same thing occurred with Ro and Sadie’s friendship, where we know how Ro insecure sometimes feels in regards to their relationship and it seems like an additional conflict but then it’s hardly addressed. Some characters that were introduced seemed either irrelevant or redundant, like Mark, Mitch, Brandon, Walker… although maybe they will be part of the larger narrative of the series. The epilogue was not bad but a bit cliché, would have love to see something more distinctive or unique to the couple, and maybe seeing their college graduation, which was so significant to Matt, and seeing both his and Ro’s careers flourishing, especially her research after graduation that was also an important part of her character arc.

Ro being a very sweet and smart girl, has a bad track with her current (ex) boyfriend. As a tutor she gets paired with Matt (aka Freddie) a super star hockey player. Not only with his past involving betrayal from the current biology professor he has, he may be battling feelings as well. Ro however doesn't want to ruin their friendship and cross any lines, as she is navigating her relationship and maybe a kiss shared between her and Freddie freshman year.

This was an adorable romance read, the plot felt natural and not rushed, entertaining keeping me flipping the pages as fast as I could. I loved reading about characters who were dealing with way less than idea personal issues. This book felt like real life. I was living in with these characters and was able to understand the trauma and grief as if it were happening right in-front of me. Ro had some phenomenal character building, really showcasing her ability to overcome a lot of these issues. I loved the amount of communication between the two main characters. (even if there was miscommunication it was realistic and natural). This book felt extremely natural and I loved that.

I will touch on the spice because I LOVED IT. Sometimes it can feel forced or like too much. This story had the perfect balance. I am going to say it again but it flowed and... Felt natural. I do not know how else to describe it, but the realistic feel made this book so much better than I would have ever guessed. My only critique on this story would be the flashbacks. I had a hard time deciphering when we were in a flashback or when I was reading a current event.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️.5
Quote: "I make a vow then to protect her, the pretty girl with butterflies in her messy curls, even if she'll never really be mine"

Thank you to Peyton Corinne, NetGalley and Atria books for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this beautiful story! I am glad I was able to love Ro and Matt's story!

I identify a lot with Ro: her desire for new experiences in university but not knowing how to achieve that goal and her feeling of loneliness because of busy friends. It makes her a realistic character. Her loyalty is admirable and it’s clear that she loves with her whole heart. Freddy is an instant green card for me. I mean he has such a playboy reputation, but the fact that he is instantly a better person towards Ro than Tyler is a win in my book. He doesn’t let his reputation turn him into a jerk and he allows himself to feel raw and genuine emotions with Ro. It was also nice to see dyslexia representation because I have it too and I connected with him in that way. I loved that we got moments with Liam and Oliver because they are so adorable. I didn’t know if I would like this book to take place at the same time as Unsteady, but I don’t mind it. I think it’s because Unsteady doesn’t really go in too deep in the overlapping parts and Unloved doesn’t repeat what was already shown in Unsteady.