Book Review:: When We Grow Up | Angelica Baker

Looking for a book that hits on every hyper-zennial political and culture topic there is without actually giving any substance to any of it?

Man, I hate writing negative reviews, but this one was just.not.it.
I will give the two major trigger warnings for the book here so you don’t have to read through the rest: miscarriage & extra-marital affairs.

When We Grow Up by Angelica Baker Book Cover

The premise of When We Grow Up is a group of friends from childhood go on a vacation together just before turning thirty.

I was expecting it to be an exploration of deep humanity and how we grow and change and how things in our lives that seemed so foundational just don’t make sense anymore. Instead we have a whiny narrator, Clare, who has major self-esteem issues and a group of friends who don’t even like each other all that much (past or present).

Clare is floundering. She doesn’t seem confident in any of the choices she’s made in her life. She also doesn’t seem close to any of these friends. It’s a paradox that they know one another more deeply than anyone because of how much shame and humiliation they witnessed in each other growing up (inevitable in middle school), but they also know hardly anything about each other as an adult. They claim they’re so close, but they almost never talk about anything personal. Everything is so damn surface level. Then when they finally do, it’s like they could be talking about literally anyone.

I only know Clare by the choices she makes in the novel, and how self-critical she is. I don’t really know a damn thing about her character. That’s a problem.

I didn’t like Jessie, the only other girl in the group (why are there so many girls on the cover?), and the boys didn’t have enough personality to even tell who is who until far too late in the novel. There was a black one and a gay one, and I thought they were the same person for most of the book. We knew who Liam was because Clare is having an affair with him, which also irks me because she didn’t seem to even know why, beginning, middle, or end. (I’m not even counting this as a spoiler since it is alluded to in the blurb).

The biggest problem was I didn’t care. There was nothing interesting about the book except the first chapter. Their vacation in Hawai’i happens to coincide with the false missile alert that went out to everyone on-island in 2018. That happens on page one, and kind of explains the whole book. The characters are completely apathetic, even when they’re warned they’re about to die. This absolutely should have been a short story. It actually would have been an excellent short story.

I wanted to like a book like this. As I read I was hoping that things would shift and the insights would start bringing everything together in some profound way. Nope. Never happened. The only insight here is that Clare is unhappy and kind of judgy. In some ways it kind of felt disparaging toward the whole generation, which, for context, I am the same age as these characters. In 2018 I was turning 30.

(spoiler)
Near the end, Jessie kind of confronts Clare by telling her being a boy’s girl is essentially a fucked-up thing to be.

Ahem.

Like I said, this book was not for me.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: When We Grow Up
Author:: Angelica Baker
Genre:: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher:: Flatiron Books
Length:: 288 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 53m
Audiobook Narrator:: Imani Jade Powers
Audiobook Publisher:: Macmillan Audio
Published:: February 25th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 2-Stars



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Book Review:: The Perfect Rom-Com | Melissa Ferguson

I am happy to report another 5-star romance to blissfully indulge in with a title that isn’t shy about what it is: The Perfect Rom Com.

The Perfect Rom Com by Melissa Ferguson Book Cover

Bryony Page is a passionate ESL teacher with a dream of becoming an author and using her earnings to bolster the perpetually under-funded school she works at. She’s written a profound literary masterpiece that is twice the length of a typical debut novel and is frantically trying to find a publisher who will give it a chance. Jack Sterling, literary agent to the stars, is her last chance…but when their short meeting begins to tank, she surprises him with her quick wit and sharp analysis skills, and he realizes she might be the answer he’s been searching for for another project. If she agrees to ghostwrite one of the biggest names in the biz, he’ll work with her to get her passion project greenlit.

And thus begins the most romantic of romances.

Bryony’s character is very well developed. She has dreams and passions and history, and as far as her work is concerned, she knows exactly what she wants, and she’s determined to get it. Jack’s character is maybe not as visible in the story, but he doesn’t feel flat. He’s incredibly good at his high stress job, and though that makes it hard to distinguish his true feelings from Bryony’s perspective, since she’s his client and he’ll do anything to appease his clients, I feel like the integrity of his character is plain as day.

The romance is so deliciously crafted. They can’t really indulge in a usual romance because of their unique situation, but the friendship that develops between them is so genuine and endearing it fuels the craving and yearning for more. Everyone seems to see the potential between them before Bryony, and I was SO on board for every succulent sentence of it.

The story’s development didn’t lack either. There are real, serious conflicts that Bryony and Jack are contending with that don’t have easy answers, but in perfect rom com fashion, everything resolves itself in the end, and the characters are done justice in a way that satisfies the built-up tension.

I was seriously so engrossed in this book the way that only great ones can do. I can’t wait to read more from Melissa Ferguson, and I hope you find the time to add this one to your ever-expanding TBR if you’re a romance lover like me!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: The Perfect Rom Com
Author:: Melissa Ferguson
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Thomas Nelson
Length:: 304 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 10m
Audiobook Narrator:: Karissa Vacker
Published:: February 11th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars



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Book Review:: Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice | Elle Cosimano

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice is the fourth book in a contemporary mystery series starring a romantic suspense writer (and young mother) who has gotten herself into quite a real-life kerfuffle involving crimes she never imagined being wrapped up in. It is a consecutive series, so please click over to my review of book one of the series, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, to avoid any spoilers.
(Links to the other books in this series can be found at the bottom of this post)

So, let’s talk about book four…

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano Book Cover

After seeing Javier abducted by some goons at the garage, Finlay and Vero are off to solve Vero’s financial problems once and for all. The only thing is, they’ve brought the whole kit & caboodle with them. Fin’s mom, her ex-husband Steven, and the kids are all tagging along for the holiday in Atlantic City. Now they just have to find Javier, get Vero’s debtors off her back, and deal with the two dead bodies they stumbled into on their quest. That’s not all – wunderkind-hacker Cam calls for help when he gets himself in way too deep with Feliks, and to top it all off, the usual entourage of police characters show up unexpectedly soon after their arrival. Should be no problem pulling this off without anyone getting suspicious, riiight?

There’s a lot going on in this installment of the Finlay Donovan series! Maybe the most so far in one novel? Though it always seems that way, doesn’t it? There is a lot of overheard intel and one near miss after another as Fin and Vero struggle to solve their problems without being discovered themselves.

I am so impressed with Cosimano’s ability to constantly raise stakes for these characters while keeping everything relevant to so many aspects of what is going on, and still making it somehow plausible that everyone we care about stays out of trouble. It keeps you so far on the edge of your seat thinking again and again – it can’t keep on this way forever, can it!? But somehow it does, and it’s so yummy to read.

In the last book we got some clues into Vero’s relationship with Javier going far deeper than we might have previously expected, and it raises the stakes immediately in this book when he’s in danger and Vero is the one responsible. I’m hoping the best for a happy future between those two.

Finlay and Nick on the other hand…I fear they may be destined to keep a certain distance between them considering the obstacles standing between them. At the beginning of this book he was a superhero – assuring Finlay that she deserves a man who can handle all her imperfects and standing strong there with her to be that man. But Nick has been burned…repeatedly…in this series…and is all the more protective over his heart. I don’t know how the author could pull this off, but I’m hoping somehow Finlay is able to come clean to him before the series is over and he doesn’t have to choose between her and his career.

I’m dying to read the next book in the series, and lucky for me, I got my hands on an arc copy! The review is coming for book 5, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, next week!

Details

Title:: Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (Finlay Donovan #4)
Author:: Elle Cosimano
Genre:: Contemporary Mystery
Publisher:: Minotaur Books
Length:: 320 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 5m
Audiobook Narrator:: Angela Dawe
Audiobook Publisher:: Macmillan Audio
Published:: March 5th, 2024
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars
Spice Rating:: 3

Linky Links!!

Goodreads
Author Website
Amazon Affiliate Links
[Hardcover] [Paperback] [eBook] [Audible]

If you liked this book, check out…

Book One
Book Two
Book Three
Book Five

How to Solve Your Own Murder | Kristen Perrin
I Did Something Bad | Pyae Moe Thet War

Book Review:: Beartown | Fredrik Backman

For most, hockey is just a sport, but for one little town deep in the forests of Sweden, it is everything. For the first time in decades, the Beartown Junior team has the skill and raw talent to really go the distance, giving the failing factory town hope again. But at what cost?

Beartown by Fredrik Backman Book Cover

If you’ve never read a Fredrik Backman book before, this is your sign to run out and grab one. This one, or another, whatever appeals to you most. It won’t matter which one you choose, because whatever it is will be amazing. How do I know this when I’ve personally read only three of his books? Because he’s just that good. I trust in his taste, his ability, his discernment. The man knows how to tell a story; a story that will interest you, surprise you, and ultimately move you in ways many books don’t come close to achieving. I even find myself entranced by his social media captions!

If you are honest, people may deceive you.
Be honest anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfishness.
Be kind anyway.
All the good you do today will be forgotten by others tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

This story is a series of dominoes. They’re not lined up exactly. More like grouped together in this community amongst the trees, each facing their own direction. It starts with the town hockey club deciding to oust its oldest and most accomplished coach in favor of a younger more energetic man whose only objective is to win. The dominoes are already set, and when this one stumbles it sets forth the kinetic energy that propels the rest of them to wobble, tumbling and bumping into one another. Some in ways anyone might see coming, others in ways people refuse to even acknowledge.

“The people who live here are tough, we’ve got the bear in us, but we’ve taken blow after blow for a long time now. This town needs to win at something. We need to feel, just once, that we’re best. I know it’s a game. But that’s not all it is. Not always.”

This is an account of a fictional town in a fictional race for greatness, but it is one of the most realistic books I’ve ever read. The characters, the setting, the words themselves, are so alive. It might actually be the perfect novel.

Details

Title:: Beartown (Beartown #1)
Author:: Fredrik Backman
Genre:: General Fiction
Publisher:: Atria Books
Length:: 415 pages
Audio Length:: 13h 11m
Audiobook Narrator:: Marin Ireland
Audiobook Publisher:: Simon & Schuster Audio
Published:: September 15th, 2016
The Litertarian Rating:: 5 (thousand)-Stars

Linky Links!!

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The Most Fun We Ever Had | Claire Lombardo
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Book Review:: Change of Heart | Falon Ballard

Our lives are made up of one moment to the next – moments that are mostly logical and organic as they happen. If we’re not careful, those moments that make so much sense up close may lead us down a path we never wanted for ourselves. Sometimes we have to zoom out to make sure we’re on the right track. You can do it yourself as part of your planning, goal-setting, or self-care regimens…

*OR*

you might be forced into an alternate dimension by a magic waitress that forces you to examine your life in new ways.

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard Book Cover

That’s what happened to Campbell and the blind date her grandmother set her up with. She was out on another obligatory date, which she had no time for and blatantly blew off, even still at dinner with him, without having had any attempt at conversation with him. Then she wakes up in Heart Springs, a tiny warped town she’s stuck in like a waking dream until she fulfills all the right criteria. She must find work she loves, participate in the community, and experience true love. Oh, and the blind date is there too, with his own mission.

Sigh.

If you’re looking for a straight up Hallmark movie in a novel, you’ve found it. Exaggerated, but fun if you don’t look too closely and syrupy sweet.

We start with a character who is straight up unlikeable, and by the end she learns important lessons ‘the hard way’ before her inevitable happily ever after.

I had a few problems with it.

  1. The love interest didn’t make any sense. He was pretty much only in Hope Springs as an accessory. He was far underdeveloped and a huge wasted opportunity.
  2. Campbell was just too unlikeable. She doesn’t really redeem herself. Her motivation is purely to do whatever she has to to get back home to her shitty New York existence. She changes, but I’m not convinced she’s really learned anything long-term. It ends too quickly for someone so flawed, in my opinion.
  3. I didn’t care enough. Due to the first two problems, I just didn’t really care what happened. There would obviously be a happy ending, and the details didn’t interest me much.

Now, this isn’t Falon Ballard’s first book. In fact, I have two others on my bookshelf right now that I haven’t read yet and have been looking forward to. I’m still going to read them and I’m hoping she’ll blow away my expectations with those, because this one…didn’t.

I can see how this book might appeal to younger romance readers, or ones with a penchant for whimsy. It just didn’t work for me.

Onwards and upwards, my friends.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Change of Heart
Author:: Falon Ballard
Genre:: Romance
Publisher:: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Length:: 336 pages
Audio Length:: 10h
Audiobook Narrator:: Carly Robins
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: February 11th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 2-Stars



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Book Review:: Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun | Elle Cosimano

What have Finlay and Vero gotten themselves into next? Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is the third book in a sometimes-hilarious contemporary mystery series led by a novelist mother of young kids who gets caught up in schemes way over her head.

The series needs to be read in order, so to avoid spoilers for you, please click to my review of the first book, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, if you haven’t read the first two books yet!

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano Book Cover 
Finlay is peeking around a corner, chewing on her nails.

So here we start: the site is down, Steven is safe, but Finlay is on the hook now for discovering the identity of EasyClean, and Feliks is not the most patient of men. Behind bars or not, Feliks’ people are everywhere and she can’t afford to get this wrong, or waste time. Cam says the suspect is a dirty cop and Nick, with his injuries from the finale of the last book, is on desk duty and volunteered to teach at a week-long citizen’s police academy. His squad invites Finlay along so she can do ‘book research’, and Vero won’t let her say no. Ah, what the hell, Steven has the kids for the week anyway.

The usual shenanigans ensue immediately, and don’t let up.

The first time I read this third book it was my least favorite of the series, but reading through it a second time, I think it was an issue with my own comprehension. There is so much going on, and so much to mentally juggle, I think I just didn’t absorb everything going on the first time. My advice is not to rush through it, as tempting as that may be. I think maybe the greatest flaw of this series is that it’s too easily bingeable. At this point in the larger story there are so many lines of complexity running through it’s more difficult to keep everything straight.

Let’s talk about Nick! I’m a great fan of this clever hot cop. The entire premise of whatever relationship he and Finlay may or may not have is so tension-laden. He’s the cop on Feliks’ case, and there’s no way she can ever reveal to him everything that’s happened to her without severe consequences for one or both of them. I was so tickled that he and Finlay got to spend a lot of quality time together in this book in this sleep-away camp situation ๐Ÿ™‚ I also live for the fact Finlay has never outright lied to him. Oh my tender little heart…I fear it is destined to be broken by this…situationship?…sooner or later!

Now Vero: Finlay’s Latina partner in crime who plays waaay too fast and loose for my comfort. I love that she and Finlay can rely on one another – their trust is really the glue sticking everything together in this series. As soon as that starts to fall apart, they’re F*%#ED! I really enjoyed getting to peek behind the crack of her hard-enameled shell to see a little bit of possible-vulnerability in the person of Javier. The two clearly have a history, and that guy seriously caught no breaks in this book.

Though this book is complex as all-heck, it really holds its own in the series overall. I mentioned that it used to be my least favorite in the series the first time through, but this time it changed my mind. So far, I don’t have a least favorite. If one thing is true, it’s that this series is deliciously bingeable.

Details

Title:: Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (Finlay Donovan #3)
Author:: Elle Cosimano
Genre:: Contemporary Mystery
Publisher:: Minotaur Books
Length:: 304 pages
Audio Length:: 8h 47m
Audiobook Narrator:: Angela Dawe
Audiobook Publisher:: Macmillan Audio
Published:: January 31st, 2023
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars
Spice Rating:: 1

Linky Links!!

Goodreads
Author Website
Amazon Affiliate Links
[Hardcover] [Paperback] [eBook] [Audible]

If you liked this book, check out…

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (Book One)
Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead (Book Two)
Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (Book Four)
Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave (Book Five)

How to Solve Your Own Murder | Kirsten Perrin
I Did Something Bad | Pyae Moe Thet War

Book Review:: Exes & O’s | Amy Lea

What if your next great love was one you already had? What a question. Timing is everything, after all. Then again, maybe fixating on your past can leave you blinded to what is right in front of you.

Exes and O's by Amy Lea Book Cover

Tara needs a date for the Valentine’s Day event she’s attending, and her grandmother has convinced her to look to her past to find one. Explore the ghosts of romance past and reconnect with her exes to see if there is any lingering spark there. Her very own second chance romance. She launches a whole project on her bookish social media, typecasting her exes into tropes and reaching out to them to see if there is any lingering potential there. Her new roommate Trevor is as invested in the project as anyone, helping to coach her through the dates, giving her tips to avoid scaring them off too early (given that she’s often called “crazy” or “too much”).

It’s a high concept novel, in a way. The project is a gimmick, exposing all of Tara’s sometimes still-tender wounds and insecurities. This of course is perfect territory for real feelings to catch between her and Trevor, the one who’s always there for support when she’s continually disappointed.

It’s a successful trope for a reason, the trusty forced proximity roommate romance. They’re there to see all the high-highs and low-lows. The vulnerabilities and the celebrations. Real life. If they’re still interested after all that? They’re a keeper for sure.

The concept of a woman being ‘too much’ or ‘crazy’ I think is well placed here. It’s clear that it isn’t a her problem, it’s a them problem, and though she does learn some lessons along the way (confidence in herself being the big one), she is ultimately accepted by those she cares about for being her own dang self.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, lighthearted, Valentine’s-Day-season winner. If you’re looking for something fun to cheer you up this time of year, or to just get you in the mood for good ol’ V-Day, this one is a great choice.

Details

Title:: Exes & O’s (The Influencer #2)
Author:: Amy Lea
Genre:: Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 400 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 37m
Audiobook Narrator:: Natalie Naudus
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: January 10th, 2023
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars
Spice Rating:: 2.5



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Book Review:: Yin Yang Love Song | Lauren Kung Jessen

Love. Why is it so many are in pursuit of a thing that can cause so much pain? Heartache is a real thing, with real, physical, symptoms. Is it ever worth it?

Yin Yang Love Song by Lauren Kung Jessen Book Cover

Chryssy has dedicated her life to healing with an eastern, Chinese medicine, approach. She and her auntie’s run a retreat center to help the lovesick heal their broken hearts. She has plenty of experience with them. Her whole family does, in fact, because the women of her family are cursed. Not a one of them has had a successful long-term relationship because one of their ancestors cursed them. She’s come to accept it. So when a celebrity cellist comes along asking to strike up a deal for a publicity-relationship, she doesn’t see any reason not to. When she starts catching feelings though…she’s convinced they’re doomed for heartache all over again.

This book has a lot of really cozy elements. Chryssy essentially makes people cups of custom tea for a living, after all. She listens well to people, hears between the lines what they may need, and prepares for them something to help. Reading about that process was very calming.

The structure was quite good as well: having Vin’s brother be in need of Chryssy’s family’s services was an organic in for the fake dating element. For me, that trope is over-tired, but for this book it didn’t make me roll my eyes, at least. There was enough meat in the plot to keep things interesting.

That being said, I was hoping for a little more steam in the romance. I liked both Vin and Chryssy, and while there were some sweet moments, I was left wanting a little bit more. I was missing the fireworks. The pop and sizzle of real, deep chemistry.

Luckily there was more to this book than just the romance. I really enjoyed learning about Chryssy’s business and her knowledge of Chinese medicine. Her auntie’s added some layered interest to the story. The B-Plot of the family curse didn’t do a lot for me outside of it being the vehicle for Chryssy to do some soul-searching and self-examination of her own beliefs brought on by the curse-myth upheld by her family. I found this novel to be just as much about personal growth as it was about finding love.

I was granted an early listening copy of the title from netgalley and the publisher, and I really enjoyed the audio narration. I recommend it if you’re able to get your hands on it.

Details

Title:: Yin Yang Love Song
Author:: Lauren Kung Jessen
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Forever
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 11h 3m
Audiobook Narrator:: Eunice Wong & Eric Yang
Audiobook Publisher:: Forever
Published:: January 28th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars



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Book Review:: Finlay Donovan Knocks ’em Dead | Elle Cosimano

Fanning the flames immediately from the bombshell revelation at the conclusion of book one, Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is another whirlwind of accidental shenanigans and intertwining mysteries that is hard to not get swept up in.

If you haven’t read book one yet, start there. You’ll want to read this series in order, and the most basic plot elements of this book might be considered spoiler-y. You’ve been warned! ๐Ÿ™‚

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead Elle Cosimano Book Cover

The online women’s forum post about Steven has a reply, and it wasn’t from Finlay. Someone is out to get him, and though Finlay isn’t his biggest fan after everything they’ve been through, he is the father of her children, and she can’t just sit idly by while someone is out trying to off him. She and Vero are on the case, researching who is behind the post, and who this other assassin is who responded that they’ve accepted the job. Things are complicated as usual as she explores her unsustainable relationship with the law student, and meanwhile Nick the detective reliably turns up to rachet up the stakes every time.

This series is so much fun, and this one continues the raucous, complicated, and somehow never dull party. Any one of the antics Finlay gets herself tied up in would give me an actual heart attack, but somehow she manages everything by the skin of her teeth. (Maybe her eventual tell-all autobiography should be called Somehow I Manage instead of Michael Scott, lol).

Some of my favorite characters of the series start blooming in this book. The kid-hacker, Cam, in all his nerdy-flavored rizz, and especially Nick. That man is wonderful and Finlay doesn’t deserve him, but I’ll keep reading every damn word because I’m convinced the two of them are going to happen for realskies one day.

The little capsule universe Cosimano creates with this series is so endearing. This is my second read through (in preparation for the new release in 2025) and the characters feel so familiar in the best way. It’s like watching a bingeable contemporary crime series on Netflix (Santa Clarita Diet), Hulu (Only Murders in the Building), or Peacock (Based on a True Story) – easy to read, and constantly entertaining. It has all the ingredients for mass appeal, and from the looks of things, it’s absolutely succeeding that way.

Angela Dawe, the narrator of this series on audiobook is phenomenal at capturing the tone of Finlay’s story. I absolutely recommend!

Details

Title:: Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead (Finlay Donovan #2)
Author:: Elle Cosimano
Genre:: Contemporary Murder Mystery
Publisher:: Minotaur Books
Length:: 357 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 20m
Audiobook Narrator:: Angela Dawe
Audiobook Publisher:: Macmillan Audio
Published:: February 1st, 2022
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

Linky Links!!

Goodreads
Author Website
Amazon Affiliate Links
[Hardcover] [Paperback] [eBook] [Audible]

If you liked this book, check out…

Finlay Donovan is Killing It | Elle Cosimano (Book One in Series)
How to Solve Your Own Murder | Kristen Perrin
The Wife Upstairs | Rachel Hawkins

Book Review:: Unloved | Peyton Corinne

If you were a big fan of Icebreaker, Unloved is another college hockey romance with spice, heart, and finding your place you that will scratch that same itch.

Unloved by Peyton Corinne Book Cover

Matt Fedderic is a hockey star with learning disorders that make it difficult for him to stay eligible for the team. Ro is his new tutor. She has a toxic ex who builds himself up by bringing her down, and though he doesn’t want to date her, he doesn’t want to be rid of her either, since she’s an easy punching bag. Matt has a reputation for getting around, fueled by the gaping hole left by his piece of crap father and his mother’s passing. As Matt and Ro spend more time together, a friendship forms between them, and maybe even something deeper.

For me, this was an enjoyable read, but there were some problems. The fact that most of their early tension and attraction was caused by two different nights they had together that the other couldn’t remember and was formative to the other…that just seemed problematic to me. Especially the prologue – since there is another scene based on that plot device a little later on, I kind of wish it hadn’t been included.

There is some pretty dark stuff insinuated in this book. Matt’s sexual past is…not great. It mentions some action with a high school teacher at one point. …um, what? And then his most recent ex is nothing but bad news as well. And Ro’s ex had zero redeeming qualities or background to back up his actions toward her.

I don’t know. A lot of it was a little too much for me. If there were a volume dial on the drama scale I might have turned it down like two notches.

The relationship between Ro & Matt was sweet though. Having them prioritize friendship between them for so long was absolutely necessary for these two and absolutely refreshing. It was clear they weren’t just horny for one another, but that they really cared about the other in much deeper ways. They are both going through some rough stuff, and they show up for each other every time it counts. That’s the kind of stuff I love in a romance.

Unloved is really what I’m finding to be a ‘typical’ college sports romance novel. It’s long, there are lots of plotlines, family traumas, lessons to be learned, steamy scenes, and a nice happy ending at the end. For me, it felt like I’d read it before honestly. There wasn’t enough there to stand out, but I read A LOT of romance. But this is exactly what you might be looking for if you were a big fan of Icebreaker by Hannah Grace.

Details

Title:: Unloved (The Undone #2)
Author:: Peyton Corinne
Genre:: Sports Romance
Publisher:: Atria Books
Length:: 464 pages
Audio Length:: 14h
Audiobook Narrator:: TBA
Audiobook Publisher:: Simon & Schuster Audio
Published:: February 4th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars
Spice Rating:: 3

Linky Links!!

Goodreads
Author Website
Amazon Affiliate Links
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