Book Review: Unsteady
Book details
About the story
MF romance: A figure skater drowning in family responsibilities and a hockey captain battling anxiety after an injury find unexpected comfort in each other.
Mood
Emotional & Angsty
World setting
Genres
Plot pacing
Medium-paced plot
Relationship tropes
Story tropes
Hurt/comfort
Ending type
HEA (Happily Ever After)
Content warnings
Abuse, Alcohol abuse, Injury, Panic attacks
Kinks
Semi public play
About the series
Unsteady is book #1 of the The Undone series
Yes, this is a standalone book, no prior reading is required.
Book Blurb
Rhys is desperate to feel anything.
Sadie wants to stop feeling so much.
Rhys Koteskiy is back—at least, he’s supposed to be. During last year’s Frozen Four, the Waterfell University hockey captain and NHL legacy took a brutal hit that left him with a concussion and a new discomfort on the ice. Plagued by nightmares and panic attacks every time he attempts to skate, Rhys wonders if he’ll ever play again—or if he’ll ever want to.
Sadie Brown is staying focused this semester—no matter what. Currently drowning in debt, custody hearings for her younger brothers, and skating practices, she’s just trying to make it to the next day. A spitfire figure skater known for her bad attitude and frequent disappearing acts, Sadie has a reputation on campus. And it’s not a pretty one.
When she accidentally witnesses one of the golden boy hockey captain’s panic attacks and attempts to help him, a strange sort of understanding strikes up between them. No questions asked. Just comfort. But Rhys finds himself drawn to Sadie. Where he feels empty, a shell of the man and player he was before, Sadie is so full of everything, it bursts from her; every emotion she feels seems like it’s blasted at max volume. Rhys is desperate to feel anything. Sadie wants to stop feeling so much. But healing doesn’t mix with secrets, and they’re both skating on thin ice.Rhys is desperate to feel anything.
Sadie wants to stop feeling so much.Rhys Koteskiy is back—at least, he’s supposed to be. During last year’s Frozen Four, the Waterfell University hockey captain and NHL legacy took a brutal hit that left him with a concussion and a new discomfort on the ice. Plagued by nightmares and panic attacks every time he attempts to skate, Rhys wonders if he’ll ever play again—or if he’ll ever want to.
Sadie Brown is staying focused this semester—no matter what. Currently drowning in debt, custody hearings for her younger brothers, and skating practices, she’s just trying to make it to the next day. A spitfire figure skater known for her bad attitude and frequent disappearing acts, Sadie has a reputation on campus. And it’s not a pretty one.
When she accidentally witnesses one of the golden boy hockey captain’s panic attacks and attempts to help him, a strange sort of understanding strikes up between them. No questions asked. Just comfort. But Rhys finds himself drawn to Sadie. Where he feels empty, a shell of the man and player he was before, Sadie is so full of everything, it bursts from her; every emotion she feels seems like it’s blasted at max volume. Rhys is desperate to feel anything. Sadie wants to stop feeling so much. But healing doesn’t mix with secrets, and they’re both skating on thin ice.
Rating & review
My review
Here’s a fun fact about me: I looooove figure skating. So when I saw this cover at a book fair, I said yes before I even finished reading the blurb. I picked it up blind, without a single review or spoiler, just the blurb and some hope, and honestly, that might be my favorite way to read. There’s something so relaxing about choosing a book that way, no reviews, no expectations, just wanting to discover a good story.
I went in expecting a three-star book and walked away with a solid four. If I hadn’t been reading it during one of my most stressful work stretches, it might have even touched five, but being fair, four is the right rating.
The story
Rhys plays hockey and Sadie does figure skating, which, now that I think about it, seems like a pairing that should be way more common in this genre. I’ve read plenty of hockey romances, but this is the first time I can remember where she’s also an athlete. I really loved that.
There are found family elements here too. Sadie is basically raising her younger brothers with little to no support from her father, and Rhys is coming back from an accident that left him with real mental health challenges. Mental health is a recurring theme in this book, and an important one. If that’s a sensitive topic for you, just know it’s front and center.
The pacing was a little slow for me in the first half, but I was entertained throughout. One thing that didn’t land quite right: Sadie is a figure skater, but the book barely explores that side of her. Most of the athletic focus goes to Rhys. I would have loved to see more of her on the ice.
The characters
Rhys is not a bad boy, which is a nice break from the usual hockey romance stereotype. He’s incredibly sweet with Sadie.
Sadie, on the other hand, is the one with the playboy past, and honestly, that flip made the whole dynamic more interesting.
I loved how their relationship developed, and I really loved how the story handled everything with Sadie’s brothers. The POV alternating between Rhys and Sadie was a nice touch.
Sadie is guarded, stubborn, fiercely independent, and the kind of person who carries everything alone and refuses help. A big part of this book is about her struggles.
Final thoughts
This is a solid, entertaining romance with two athletic leads, a sweet and non-stereotypical hero, and real emotional depth around mental health. It surprised me in the best way. Recommend.
Here’s a fun fact about me: I looooove figure skating. So when I saw this cover at a book fair, I said yes before I even finished reading the blurb. I picked it up blind, without a single review or spoiler, just the blurb and some hope, and honestly, that might be my favorite way to read. There’s something so relaxing about choosing a book that way, no reviews, no expectations, just wanting to discover a good story.
I went in expecting a three-star book and walked away with a solid four. If I hadn’t been reading it during one of my most stressful work stretches, it might have even touched five, but being fair, four is the right rating.
The story
Rhys plays hockey and Sadie does figure skating, which, now that I think about it, seems like a pairing that should be way more common in this genre. I’ve read plenty of hockey romances, but this is the first time I can remember where she’s also an athlete. I really loved that.
There are found family elements here too. Sadie is basically raising her younger brothers with little to no support from her father, and Rhys is coming back from an accident that left him with real mental health challenges. Mental health is a recurring theme in this book, and an important one. If that’s a sensitive topic for you, just know it’s front and center.
The pacing was a little slow for me in the first half, but I was entertained throughout. One thing that didn’t land quite right: Sadie is a figure skater, but the book barely explores that side of her. Most of the athletic focus goes to Rhys. I would have loved to see more of her on the ice.
The characters
Rhys is not a bad boy, which is a nice break from the usual hockey romance stereotype. He’s incredibly sweet with Sadie.
Sadie, on the other hand, is the one with the playboy past, and honestly, that flip made the whole dynamic more interesting.
I loved how their relationship developed, and I really loved how the story handled everything with Sadie’s brothers. The POV alternating between Rhys and Sadie was a nice touch.
Sadie is guarded, stubborn, fiercely independent, and the kind of person who carries everything alone and refuses help. A big part of this book is about her struggles.
Final thoughts
This is a solid, entertaining romance with two athletic leads, a sweet and non-stereotypical hero, and real emotional depth around mental health. It surprised me in the best way. Recommend.
Character & romance details
About the romance
4
Medium burn
MF
Story tropes
Hurt/comfort
Relationship tropes
Kinks
Semi public play
About the female lead
Ocupation
Athlete / Sports Star, Student
Virgin protagonist?
No
About the love interest
Ocupation
Athlete / Sports Star, Student
Virgin love interest?
No
Personality
Protective
Who will love this book
Unsteady is perfect for readers who enjoy:
• the gender-flipped playboy trope, where she’s the one with the complicated romantic history
• heroines who are guarded and fiercely independent, and love watching them slowly let someone in
• found family dynamics where a character is holding everything together for the people she loves
• romances with a strong mental health thread, especially around asking for and accepting help
• dual POV, so you get inside both characters’ heads
• athlete romance, with hockey and figure skating in the same story
Books similar to Unsteady
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Oh hey! I’m Becky, book hugger and the one-woman team behind RBM. I hope my reviews help you find a story you’ll love.