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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
I lowkey hated this book. Maybe hate is too strong but it was so boring and way too long. I got so impatient at the end and just skimmed. I liked it for the first few chapters but idk Tyler in this book PISSED ME OFF. Wow he made me mad. I liked Freddy. It kinda of annoys me that Sadie and Ro’s friendship wasn’t mentioned a lot. Just because you get a boyfriend doesn’t mean you stop being friends and they didn’t but she was barely mentioned and that made me annoyed. The relationship with the teacher was not needed and idk there were just a lot of things I did not like about this book.
thank you so much to netgalley and peyton corinne for this arc!
Unloved is EASILY one of my top 5 romance books of all time, and by far my favorite hockey romance. The way the romance between Ro and Freddy was woven so beautifully within the themes of grief, self confidence, and friendship was so beautiful and captivating. I absolutely adore the way Ro and Freddy learn how to be there for each other, and they are the perfect example of an incredible friendship turned relationship. The pacing was perfect, and the conflicts sprinkled in built the story so perfectly - i was giggling and kicking my feet the entire time.
I will without a doubt be recommending this book to everyone I know, and I'm so so excited for the world to get to see this book!
Unloved is EASILY one of my top 5 romance books of all time, and by far my favorite hockey romance. The way the romance between Ro and Freddy was woven so beautifully within the themes of grief, self confidence, and friendship was so beautiful and captivating. I absolutely adore the way Ro and Freddy learn how to be there for each other, and they are the perfect example of an incredible friendship turned relationship. The pacing was perfect, and the conflicts sprinkled in built the story so perfectly - i was giggling and kicking my feet the entire time.
I will without a doubt be recommending this book to everyone I know, and I'm so so excited for the world to get to see this book!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this all in nearly 1 sitting. I had to go to sleep 😭 I LOVED this -- even more than Unsteady. I think Corinne's writing quality got so much better. I never felt confused while reading it, like I did at times in the first book due to too much ambiguity. I also think the pacing was pretty good overall; in Unsteady I got a little bored at times. This also felt like a much less copy-and-paste story. While hockey romances aren't new, Unsteady so closely resembled Binding 13 and the Off-Campus series. This book definitely falls more in line with the latter, but also just feels more original. I think the fact that Corinne poured so much of herself into the story and characters helped a ton. Every person's story is unique, and the fact that Corinne sorta told her own through these characters made it feel special.
I love Ro and Freddy! They are both so sweet, both individually and together. Ro is a lover, not a fighter. Watching her get abused and bullied by nearly everyone in her life was so gut-wrenching. I wanted to slap Tyler so many times in this book. Corinne did such a good job at depicting an emotionally abusive relationship. I couldn't believe he stands her up and deserts her at the hockey game. To top that off, he accuses her of "raking him over the coals" for standing up to him. In Unsteady, I don't think we truly knew just how abusive Tyler was. Sadie didn't like him, but she's just generally prickly. I felt so sad that Ro was so desperate for love and affection that she settled for him. She confused abuse and love bombing for true care and a healthy relationship; I even think at one time she says since she didn't know any better, she thought his behavior was normal. I'm SO SO SO glad Freddy disassembles her beliefs that Tyler's behavior is acceptable. When Ro finally stands up to him at the end, with Freddy backing her, it feels so vindicating. The frustrating thing is Tyler would talk over her when she tried to stand up for herself; if that had been me, I would've cut him off or just walked away. Of course, that would've escalated the issue, and I sympathize with the fact that Tyler imposed total control over Ro so she would feel powerless. It's hard to stand up for yourself when you're constantly gaslit and torn down. Tyler also uses physical intimidation and menacing to scare Ro; while he never escalates to extreme physical violence, the emotional abuse is almost worse. It's hard to prove abuse when there aren't any concrete marks/scars. Freddy figures out that Tyler will do everything he can to walk all over Ro to control her and facing off with him, using his own bigger physical build is the only way Tyler will back down. Tyler thinks he's smarter than Freddy, so trying to spar with him verbally won't work. But pure physical strength is something on which Tyler can't insist he has the upper hand. The two even come to blows and Tyler gets his ass kicked.
I wish Freddy and Ro had been more confrontational with Carmen Tinley over her own predatory behavior. Her actions and abuse of power disgusted me. And the fact that she NEVER once stands up for Ro when she sees Tyler and the others bully her right in front of her! She always sides with Tyler, believing Ro isn't being a team player instead of acknowledging that Tyler is manipulating the situation. I wish Carmen had been reported for her abuse of power.
I love that we got to know Bennett Reiner even more! He was so quiet in Rhys and Sadie's book that it was hard to really get a feel for him. I got the sense he's neurodivergent, and this book confirmed it for me. At one point, I think Rhys explains to Freddy that Bennett has a hard time with sarcasm and humor. He also likes routine, and hardly strays from it; when he does, it stresses him out. I have a feeling he'll be getting a book soon, if not next. And it'll be between him and...Paloma? Oh, also he has a service dog named Seven 🥹 I'm also curious about why Bennett has such a strained relationship with his dad, Adam. Adam seems totally great, but also, we know that things can look very different behind closed doors.
John Fredderic reminded me a lot of Garrett Graham's father in The Deal, except John wasn't successful as a pro hockey player. When their coach stands up for Freddy when John drags scouts in to watch Freddy play, it felt good for Freddy to finally have someone on his side, aside from Ro. Similarly, when Ro stands up for Freddy at the meeting discussing his academic standing and chances of graduating. To hear that his accommodations were never implemented made me extremely angry on his behalf. Ro and Freddy are both people who are much better at standing up for the people they love than themselves. I had no idea what dyscalculia was until this book; I just thought dyslexia also included numbers. I can't imagine having so many learning differences. I got diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, and looking back to my learning experiences as a child, it makes so much sense. Unfortunately, I was never formally diagnosed as a child, though I was given extra time on tests because I got tested for learning differences and it was flagged that there was something different. ADHD was historically never studied often in girls, and symptoms manifest differently. The fact that I was an active child also probably masked the hyperactivity well.
While I have nothing against spicy books, this was less spicy than Unsteady, and I think it suited Freddy and Ro's relationship really well! While they both have healthy sexual appetites, Ro's inexperience made going slow seem realistic. Ro's shame over her sexual preferences and expression broke my heart. I wanted to strangle Tyler for making her feel ashamed and guilty for wanting to explore her sexual preferences. Like in Unsteady, though for different reasons, Corinne did a great job at depicting shame and guilt. Sadie felt guilty and ashamed of her family life situation, and Ro feels ashamed of being inexperienced, but then also being curious about experiencing more, and probably also for staying in the relationship with Tyler for as long as she did, despite how he treats her.
This book felt much less like a "hockey romance", which I appreciated. Freddy is part of the Waterfell team, and later goes on to play in the NHL, but it seemed like the focus was much more on the academics and tutoring aspect with hockey more in the background. The interpersonal dynamics off the ice felt more emphasized, while the dynamics on the ice were more emphasized in Unsteady. It makes me curious to see what Corinne does with the next book(s).
I love Ro and Freddy! They are both so sweet, both individually and together. Ro is a lover, not a fighter. Watching her get abused and bullied by nearly everyone in her life was so gut-wrenching. I wanted to slap Tyler so many times in this book. Corinne did such a good job at depicting an emotionally abusive relationship. I couldn't believe he stands her up and deserts her at the hockey game. To top that off, he accuses her of "raking him over the coals" for standing up to him. In Unsteady, I don't think we truly knew just how abusive Tyler was. Sadie didn't like him, but she's just generally prickly. I felt so sad that Ro was so desperate for love and affection that she settled for him. She confused abuse and love bombing for true care and a healthy relationship; I even think at one time she says since she didn't know any better, she thought his behavior was normal. I'm SO SO SO glad Freddy disassembles her beliefs that Tyler's behavior is acceptable. When Ro finally stands up to him at the end, with Freddy backing her, it feels so vindicating. The frustrating thing is Tyler would talk over her when she tried to stand up for herself; if that had been me, I would've cut him off or just walked away. Of course, that would've escalated the issue, and I sympathize with the fact that Tyler imposed total control over Ro so she would feel powerless. It's hard to stand up for yourself when you're constantly gaslit and torn down. Tyler also uses physical intimidation and menacing to scare Ro; while he never escalates to extreme physical violence, the emotional abuse is almost worse. It's hard to prove abuse when there aren't any concrete marks/scars. Freddy figures out that Tyler will do everything he can to walk all over Ro to control her and facing off with him, using his own bigger physical build is the only way Tyler will back down. Tyler thinks he's smarter than Freddy, so trying to spar with him verbally won't work. But pure physical strength is something on which Tyler can't insist he has the upper hand. The two even come to blows and Tyler gets his ass kicked.
I wish Freddy and Ro had been more confrontational with Carmen Tinley over her own predatory behavior. Her actions and abuse of power disgusted me. And the fact that she NEVER once stands up for Ro when she sees Tyler and the others bully her right in front of her! She always sides with Tyler, believing Ro isn't being a team player instead of acknowledging that Tyler is manipulating the situation. I wish Carmen had been reported for her abuse of power.
I love that we got to know Bennett Reiner even more! He was so quiet in Rhys and Sadie's book that it was hard to really get a feel for him. I got the sense he's neurodivergent, and this book confirmed it for me. At one point, I think Rhys explains to Freddy that Bennett has a hard time with sarcasm and humor. He also likes routine, and hardly strays from it; when he does, it stresses him out. I have a feeling he'll be getting a book soon, if not next. And it'll be between him and...Paloma? Oh, also he has a service dog named Seven 🥹 I'm also curious about why Bennett has such a strained relationship with his dad, Adam. Adam seems totally great, but also, we know that things can look very different behind closed doors.
John Fredderic reminded me a lot of Garrett Graham's father in The Deal, except John wasn't successful as a pro hockey player. When their coach stands up for Freddy when John drags scouts in to watch Freddy play, it felt good for Freddy to finally have someone on his side, aside from Ro. Similarly, when Ro stands up for Freddy at the meeting discussing his academic standing and chances of graduating. To hear that his accommodations were never implemented made me extremely angry on his behalf. Ro and Freddy are both people who are much better at standing up for the people they love than themselves. I had no idea what dyscalculia was until this book; I just thought dyslexia also included numbers. I can't imagine having so many learning differences. I got diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, and looking back to my learning experiences as a child, it makes so much sense. Unfortunately, I was never formally diagnosed as a child, though I was given extra time on tests because I got tested for learning differences and it was flagged that there was something different. ADHD was historically never studied often in girls, and symptoms manifest differently. The fact that I was an active child also probably masked the hyperactivity well.
While I have nothing against spicy books, this was less spicy than Unsteady, and I think it suited Freddy and Ro's relationship really well! While they both have healthy sexual appetites, Ro's inexperience made going slow seem realistic. Ro's shame over her sexual preferences and expression broke my heart. I wanted to strangle Tyler for making her feel ashamed and guilty for wanting to explore her sexual preferences. Like in Unsteady, though for different reasons, Corinne did a great job at depicting shame and guilt. Sadie felt guilty and ashamed of her family life situation, and Ro feels ashamed of being inexperienced, but then also being curious about experiencing more, and probably also for staying in the relationship with Tyler for as long as she did, despite how he treats her.
This book felt much less like a "hockey romance", which I appreciated. Freddy is part of the Waterfell team, and later goes on to play in the NHL, but it seemed like the focus was much more on the academics and tutoring aspect with hockey more in the background. The interpersonal dynamics off the ice felt more emphasized, while the dynamics on the ice were more emphasized in Unsteady. It makes me curious to see what Corinne does with the next book(s).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Someone inject Freddy straight into my veins, he was everything and more !!!
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes