Unloved
“I think you’d be really easy to love.”
As a big fan of Peyton Corinne’s BookTok sensation, Unsteady, I couldn't wait to get my hands on its highly anticipated follow-up, Unloved. Centered around two supporting characters from the first novel, this sweet and spicy story serves as a lesson on love in all its forms.
Some context…
On the surface, Matt 'Freddy' Frederic and Ro Shariff are complete opposites: he's a jock and notorious player, while she's a top student and hopeless romantic. They have nothing tying them together—except for the steamy kiss Ro can’t stop thinking about and the tender confession Freddy won’t ever forget. But when Ro becomes his tutor, afternoon sessions turn into late-night run-ins and whispered phone calls. Soon, their relationship teeters on a dangerous line, despite having agreed to be just friends. Still reeling from the careless treatment of past partners, neither Freddy nor Ro believes they deserve love. Thankfully, Freddy sees Ro’s gentle heart and sensitive soul, while she recognizes his fierce loyalty and thoughtful mind. It might just be enough for them to convince each other they are both worth it...and the sparks, well those are just inevitable.
Some thoughts…
There are few things I love in a book more than a good trope, and Corinne has tapped into one that I haven’t seen the likes of since One Tree Hill’s famous couple, Nathan Scott and Haley James. The tutor trope! Underused but undoubtedly beloved, this relationship archetype is a recipe for secret pining, stolen touches, and longing stares.
Corinne’s characters are deeply emotional and complex. She takes a seemingly safe setting, like a university, and builds stories that address serious issues, showing readers that even perfect star athletes or valedictorians can be dealing with a lot behind closed doors. While her books touch on difficult subjects, she makes these conversations accessible by using charming characters and popular tropes as the vehicle.
This sophomore novel seamlessly transitions to follow new protagonists. It’s no easy task for an author, as readers become so connected to a story’s main characters, but this book truly felt like a stand-alone. I was so engrossed in Freddy and Ro’s lives that I had no room to wonder about how Rhys and Sadie’s (the first book’s MCs) stories might have continued.
Unloved, full of vulnerability, is sure to resonate with readers and inspire them to not just want more for themselves, but to demand it.
