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A review by katemc7
Unsteady by Peyton Corinne
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.0
This book has been on my TBR pile for a minute and when I got approved for book 2 I went ahead and jumped in. I REALLY enjoyed this one! It was a legit emotional rollercoaster in the best way. Peyton did such an amazing job with these characters and the backdrop for this story. The way that she addressed some of these heavier topics felt so natural and genuine. I loved the change up in this one where our FMC (Sadie) was more of the "grump" if you will then our MC (Rhys). PS I knew I was going to like this one because of the name Rhys!! Both of these characters are going through so much and somehow they still find each other through it. They lean on each other without meaning to and reading how their feelings and love grew was perfect! I also appreciated the mental health rep and how it was Rhys who was going through heavy anxiety. I don't feel like we read enough about men going through that kind of thing. I loved Rhys being the one that fell first and how HARD Sadie tried to fight her feelings and lean on her old ways. Our Sadie is SOO strong. She had so much riding on her shoulders. She never knew how to rely on someone and that they would stay until Ro (her BF) and now Rhys.
Sadie has to stay focused this year. She can't jeopardize her scholarship like she did last year. She has so much on her plate, but she can do it. She expects this all to be challenging, but what she doesn't expect is the man having an anxiety attack in front of her at the rink day one of her practicing. She actually didn't think anyone would be there. And somehow she is drawn to him. She of course helps him but also knows she can't be sucked in. So she makes sure he is ok and then dips. But he comes back the next and the next. And slowly but surely she gets sucked in. She helps him build his confidence back up while also keeping him at arm's length because did she mention he is attractive. And the star hockey player for their school. She has too much responsibility with her brothers. She has to remember that but he clearly needs her. So over the summer they build a sort of friendship. She can't deny there is a chemistry between her and Rhys. So when she seems him at a party she lets him know the score. She doesn't do relationships but maybe they could dabble in friends with more? She knows she is protecting herself because she knows people leave. Her mom did. Her dad is never there. This is the right thing to do. But the more involved they get the more she realizes how genuine he is. He seems loyal to a fault. He is not afraid of feelings or opening up to her. He isn't afraid of her family and all of her baggage as she calls it. He is going to show up for her. And he is going to make sure she knows that. The question is is she willing to open up to him? She knows hurting him doesn't feel right. She knows she wants more but is she ready to jump?
Rhys has closed himself off. He is in survival mode. He is terrified to do the one thing he has always been confident in- skating...hockey. After his accident last year, he can't get out of his head. He doesn't know how to do it. And then there is a woman in front of him helping through an anxiety attack at the rink. She knows how to pull him out. She plays him music. She is just there. And he finds himself wanting that again. So he shows up to skate more and more in the mornings when he knows she will be there. They start to develop a rhythm without talking about it. He feels good when she is around. She is a little abrasive and seems clear on keeping him at arm's length but there is something about her he can't stop thinking about. So when school starts he tries to keep their connection going. He sees her at parties. Learns about her interactions with other athletes and still finds himself wanting more. So when they can't fight it anymore and she offers him a friendship with more he finds himself saying yes. Even though he is a relationship guy. He will take what she gives him with the hopes that he will get her to change her mind. He is himself around her. He has opened up to his teammates back with his crew. He is playing hockey again. He just has to get her to crack. And then he learns what she has been dealing with ....alone. She is basically parenting her brothers. Her dad is not reliable. She is caring too much. So he decides to show her what taking care of her is like. He shows up. He wants to be her person because he knows she is his. Yes they have had their struggles and she tries to push him away but he knows that he is better when she is around. He just has to get her to see that being alone isn't the only option.
I can't recommend this one enough yall! There are some HEAVY topics but again Peyton handled all of these topics with such tenderness. As hard as it was hearing about what they were going through, watching them find and fall for their person was worth it. When Sadie started letting Rhys in and showing him how she really felt- epic! Rhys being there for her and showing her that she didn't have to do things alone. Rhys' FAMILY being there for her. Oh and also side note seeing that side of Toren (the good side) that he hides so well- I see you Toren and can't WAIT for your story! I really enjoyed meeting all of these characters and can't wait to see all of their stories actually- hope you can't either!
Sadie has to stay focused this year. She can't jeopardize her scholarship like she did last year. She has so much on her plate, but she can do it. She expects this all to be challenging, but what she doesn't expect is the man having an anxiety attack in front of her at the rink day one of her practicing. She actually didn't think anyone would be there. And somehow she is drawn to him. She of course helps him but also knows she can't be sucked in. So she makes sure he is ok and then dips. But he comes back the next and the next. And slowly but surely she gets sucked in. She helps him build his confidence back up while also keeping him at arm's length because did she mention he is attractive. And the star hockey player for their school. She has too much responsibility with her brothers. She has to remember that but he clearly needs her. So over the summer they build a sort of friendship. She can't deny there is a chemistry between her and Rhys. So when she seems him at a party she lets him know the score. She doesn't do relationships but maybe they could dabble in friends with more? She knows she is protecting herself because she knows people leave. Her mom did. Her dad is never there. This is the right thing to do. But the more involved they get the more she realizes how genuine he is. He seems loyal to a fault. He is not afraid of feelings or opening up to her. He isn't afraid of her family and all of her baggage as she calls it. He is going to show up for her. And he is going to make sure she knows that. The question is is she willing to open up to him? She knows hurting him doesn't feel right. She knows she wants more but is she ready to jump?
Rhys has closed himself off. He is in survival mode. He is terrified to do the one thing he has always been confident in- skating...hockey. After his accident last year, he can't get out of his head. He doesn't know how to do it. And then there is a woman in front of him helping through an anxiety attack at the rink. She knows how to pull him out. She plays him music. She is just there. And he finds himself wanting that again. So he shows up to skate more and more in the mornings when he knows she will be there. They start to develop a rhythm without talking about it. He feels good when she is around. She is a little abrasive and seems clear on keeping him at arm's length but there is something about her he can't stop thinking about. So when school starts he tries to keep their connection going. He sees her at parties. Learns about her interactions with other athletes and still finds himself wanting more. So when they can't fight it anymore and she offers him a friendship with more he finds himself saying yes. Even though he is a relationship guy. He will take what she gives him with the hopes that he will get her to change her mind. He is himself around her. He has opened up to his teammates back with his crew. He is playing hockey again. He just has to get her to crack. And then he learns what she has been dealing with ....alone. She is basically parenting her brothers. Her dad is not reliable. She is caring too much. So he decides to show her what taking care of her is like. He shows up. He wants to be her person because he knows she is his. Yes they have had their struggles and she tries to push him away but he knows that he is better when she is around. He just has to get her to see that being alone isn't the only option.
I can't recommend this one enough yall! There are some HEAVY topics but again Peyton handled all of these topics with such tenderness. As hard as it was hearing about what they were going through, watching them find and fall for their person was worth it. When Sadie started letting Rhys in and showing him how she really felt- epic! Rhys being there for her and showing her that she didn't have to do things alone. Rhys' FAMILY being there for her. Oh and also side note seeing that side of Toren (the good side) that he hides so well- I see you Toren and can't WAIT for your story! I really enjoyed meeting all of these characters and can't wait to see all of their stories actually- hope you can't either!