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stephv10's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
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
5.0
library_of_a_trashpanda's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book since it came in a book box I ordered. Holy Sh*t I wish I’d found it sooner.
This books starts you right in it. The prologue gripped me and drug me through the book. This book deals with addiction and the price it costs those around it. It also teaches us love is possible, even when we think we don’t deserve it.
Frankie and Arlo have a tragic start to life and their love. After 4 years apart they are thrown back together and need to figure out if there’s a future for them, and if there is what it looks like.
The way she wrote about addiction and the struggle of sobriety was done very well. It’s believable and you can feel the fears and self doubt. The found family was wonderful to see and how they all connected and affected each other. (Especially seeing future books being set up).
I’m glad I happened upon this book and will absolutely be reading the others in this group.
This books starts you right in it. The prologue gripped me and drug me through the book. This book deals with addiction and the price it costs those around it. It also teaches us love is possible, even when we think we don’t deserve it.
Frankie and Arlo have a tragic start to life and their love. After 4 years apart they are thrown back together and need to figure out if there’s a future for them, and if there is what it looks like.
The way she wrote about addiction and the struggle of sobriety was done very well. It’s believable and you can feel the fears and self doubt. The found family was wonderful to see and how they all connected and affected each other. (Especially seeing future books being set up).
I’m glad I happened upon this book and will absolutely be reading the others in this group.
sarahsbookden's review against another edition
I can officially say that after reading these I am a Marley Valentine fan. I was really intrigued by Frankie in Ache and I knew I had to dive into his book and IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. This book had all the feels for me. I also hit personal notes in my life that don't happen too often. I loved the dynamic of the whole family and the turbulent history between Frankie and Arlo felt so real. I can't wait to dive into more books from this author. She is really hitting my mood reading right in the feels.
sharshell's review against another edition
3.0
**I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.**
3.5 STARS
UNWANTED is the first installment in The Unlucky Ones series. If you've read Ache, you know who Frankie is. You don't have to read it to read this book but I highly recommend because it was a fantastic read.
Frankie and Arlo grow up in foster care being shuffled from one house to the next until they both get sent to a group home. They find a love in each other through that bond. When Arlo chooses drugs Frankie did what best for Arlo and put him into rehab. Frankie then had to do what was best for him and move away from his family and Arlo with no contact. Four years later, Lennox, Frankie's brother, has an accident that land him in the hospital Frankie knows he needs to be there but can he face Arlo and all that was left unsaid between them?
Arlo holds resentment against Frankie for not being there when he came out of rehab. He felt when he needed him the most he wasn't there. Arlo holds on to that anger after all these years and seeing Frankie again at the hospital Arlo fears for his sobriety and falling back to the coping skills he used in the past.
I wanted to love this book. I tried so hard but I just couldn't get there. The ease at which they fell back together with so much baggage between them, without so much as a real conversation. Frankie's voice wasn't ever really heard, which confused me seeing as this was supposed to be his book. I never got to feel the pain and sadness Frankie had over moving to another city and making a life. He loved Arlo but moved for both their sakes and I just never felt that anguish. The connection between Rhys Samuel and Lennox was immediate and confusing. I never felt that deep connection to any of the characters that I normally get with a Marley Valentine read. I'm sad and disappointed I didn't love this one as much I wanted to.
3.5 STARS
UNWANTED is the first installment in The Unlucky Ones series. If you've read Ache, you know who Frankie is. You don't have to read it to read this book but I highly recommend because it was a fantastic read.
Frankie and Arlo grow up in foster care being shuffled from one house to the next until they both get sent to a group home. They find a love in each other through that bond. When Arlo chooses drugs Frankie did what best for Arlo and put him into rehab. Frankie then had to do what was best for him and move away from his family and Arlo with no contact. Four years later, Lennox, Frankie's brother, has an accident that land him in the hospital Frankie knows he needs to be there but can he face Arlo and all that was left unsaid between them?
Arlo holds resentment against Frankie for not being there when he came out of rehab. He felt when he needed him the most he wasn't there. Arlo holds on to that anger after all these years and seeing Frankie again at the hospital Arlo fears for his sobriety and falling back to the coping skills he used in the past.
I wanted to love this book. I tried so hard but I just couldn't get there. The ease at which they fell back together with so much baggage between them, without so much as a real conversation. Frankie's voice wasn't ever really heard, which confused me seeing as this was supposed to be his book. I never got to feel the pain and sadness Frankie had over moving to another city and making a life. He loved Arlo but moved for both their sakes and I just never felt that anguish. The connection between Rhys Samuel and Lennox was immediate and confusing. I never felt that deep connection to any of the characters that I normally get with a Marley Valentine read. I'm sad and disappointed I didn't love this one as much I wanted to.
ltcreads40's review against another edition
4.0
This was a beautiful second chance romance. I loved Arlo and Frankie's story as they connect again after years of being apart. I loved the found family and how they looked out for one another even after they were all considered adults. It would not be a Marley Valentine novel if I didn't shed a tear amongst the angst of the book. I definitely recommend this book however check your trigger warnings.
robinsease's review
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rallyrowlett's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
4.25
javalenciaph's review
4.0
It goes without saying that every upcoming Marley Valentine release becomes a most anticipated read. That's the way it's been ever since I discovered this author's writing in Devilry, which is part of the King University trilogy in 2019. I've yet to read her work prior to that novel, but believe me when I tell you that those books are on my to-be-read list. But what I want to talk about is Valentine's newest one, and it just happens to be the first in her new series, The Unlucky Ones, which also becomes the first series that she's written on her own that I'm actually getting to read as each book is released (as compared to her other solo series which are all backlisted). Suffice it to say that my expectations were high going into Unwanted, and doing that can oftentimes be rather unfair. but this author has proven her worth to me all the times I've read her work, meaning she sets the bar loftily.
The Unlucky Ones is a series of four books focused on a set of five foster siblings--two of whom are actually blood-related--who have become each other's found family: Arlo (27), Frankie (26), Clem (24), Lennox (22 and Frankie's biological brother), and Remy (20). The series kicks off with Unwanted, with Arlo Bishop and Frankie York as the main characters. Theirs is a story of redemption, absolution, and reconciliation inasmuch as it is also about family, love, friendship, and home. Readers are introduced to them just as Frankie is left with no other option but to leave Arlo with a fighting chance to get a handle on his addiction, even if it means breaking both their hearts in the process. Four years later, Frankie returns to LA from Seattle after a distressing phone call. Now, he and Arlo are no longer unwanted foster kids; they are men longing for what--who--they want.
The angst is strong in this one, and you won't hear me complaining one little bit. The angst is warranted, especially given the back story of not just the main characters but that of the entire recurring cast of characters as well. My heart hurt for both Frankie and Arlo, and I empathized with the thoughts and emotions they were struggling with from four years back and the present. I appreciated that Marley Valentine didn't gloss over Arlo's addiction and reiterated that it is a continuing struggle for both the addict and those who love and support them. The coming together of the foster siblings as well as Frankie and Arlo rekindling their romantic relationship were my favorite things about this book. While it did feel like it was missing a bit of oomph, Valentine's way with words and Frankie and Arlo's tale of love and fortitude inspire me to award Unwanted 4.5 stars.
The Unlucky Ones is a series of four books focused on a set of five foster siblings--two of whom are actually blood-related--who have become each other's found family: Arlo (27), Frankie (26), Clem (24), Lennox (22 and Frankie's biological brother), and Remy (20). The series kicks off with Unwanted, with Arlo Bishop and Frankie York as the main characters. Theirs is a story of redemption, absolution, and reconciliation inasmuch as it is also about family, love, friendship, and home. Readers are introduced to them just as Frankie is left with no other option but to leave Arlo with a fighting chance to get a handle on his addiction, even if it means breaking both their hearts in the process. Four years later, Frankie returns to LA from Seattle after a distressing phone call. Now, he and Arlo are no longer unwanted foster kids; they are men longing for what--who--they want.
The angst is strong in this one, and you won't hear me complaining one little bit. The angst is warranted, especially given the back story of not just the main characters but that of the entire recurring cast of characters as well. My heart hurt for both Frankie and Arlo, and I empathized with the thoughts and emotions they were struggling with from four years back and the present. I appreciated that Marley Valentine didn't gloss over Arlo's addiction and reiterated that it is a continuing struggle for both the addict and those who love and support them. The coming together of the foster siblings as well as Frankie and Arlo rekindling their romantic relationship were my favorite things about this book. While it did feel like it was missing a bit of oomph, Valentine's way with words and Frankie and Arlo's tale of love and fortitude inspire me to award Unwanted 4.5 stars.
lauralou_reads_'s review
4.0
Unwanted by Marley Valentine is book one of The Unlucky Ones series that follows a group of foster siblings. This second chance MM romance story is about Frankie and Arlo. They both had been through so much and I was eager to see how they would overcome all the hurt and pain to find love again. This was a very emotional and beautiful story. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
messing_with_book's review
5.0
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review
Ever since [a:Marley Valentine|16022673|Marley Valentine|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1486945630p2/16022673.jpg] broke the news that Frankie's book would be a reality I've been waiting for it and I can say that it exceeded every single expectation I had in this story, Arlo & Frankie have a really beautiful, raw and painful love, but they have the best family they could find, that always supports them in difficult times and love each other unconditionally, and the best of all: this is a series about all of them and I'll be able to read them again, something I can't wait for after the awesomeness that was Unwanted.
I feel like I've been waiting for Frankie forever! and I loved that his character was SO much more than [b:Ache|58886935|Ache|Marley Valentine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630302712l/58886935._SY75_.jpg|88908013] let on in his interactions with Jordan, so I was a little surprised with him, but especially with his story and everything he has had surpasses. Frankie is a man with a huge heart, someone who lives with a lot of guilt and shame for the decisions he has made, but who has also handled difficult times in the best way he could, read his past and how his relationship with Arlo came about, as well as the family by choice he formed with Lennox, Remy & Clem broke my heart a lot, but also made me love immediately all these characters and the bond so pure that they share. In this book Frankie finds himself in one of the most complicated moments of his life: returning to Los Angeles to support Lennox, his younger brother, in a difficult moment, and with it face everything he left behind, including the only love of his life.
Arlo has had a life just as painful as Frankie, but his has become much more complicated due to his addictions, which led him to lose the most important person, several years later and as a recovering addict he is a man who constantly belittles his achievements and is not fully able to understand the great work he does to help others in his situation, and if all that wasn't painful enough already , Arlo believes that he doesn't deserve the love and recognition of people, especially Frankie's, something that definitely broke my heart but that made me perceive much more the growth that his character has and the GREAT path he traveled from the beginning of the book to its last page, besides the fact that I really liked reading about his work in the gym, how his relationship with Rhys began, his doubts about his feelings and his most vulnerable side.
Obviously Frankie & Arlo don't have the simplest love story, upon their reunion everything is full of pain, a great feeling of betrayal, guilt & abandonment, as well as a deep denial on Arlo's part to talk about their past which makes things move slowly between them, and something that I think was perfect for the story, not only between the two of them, but between Frankie and the rest of his family, because throughout the book we realize that the healing process does not only include the main characters. One of my favorite moments was when Arlo & Frankie finally have that important talk where they let their feelings show without barriers, I also loved every time they let out some information about their past together and of course, every time they say, and show how much they love and care about each other.
Also, I think Unwanted was the perfect start for this new series: it does more than introduce us to its characters so none (Clem, Remy & Lennox) feels like secondary, although their stories do begin to take shape, which has me very excited to read them all.
Ever since [a:Marley Valentine|16022673|Marley Valentine|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1486945630p2/16022673.jpg] broke the news that Frankie's book would be a reality I've been waiting for it and I can say that it exceeded every single expectation I had in this story, Arlo & Frankie have a really beautiful, raw and painful love, but they have the best family they could find, that always supports them in difficult times and love each other unconditionally, and the best of all: this is a series about all of them and I'll be able to read them again, something I can't wait for after the awesomeness that was Unwanted.
I feel like I've been waiting for Frankie forever! and I loved that his character was SO much more than [b:Ache|58886935|Ache|Marley Valentine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630302712l/58886935._SY75_.jpg|88908013] let on in his interactions with Jordan, so I was a little surprised with him, but especially with his story and everything he has had surpasses. Frankie is a man with a huge heart, someone who lives with a lot of guilt and shame for the decisions he has made, but who has also handled difficult times in the best way he could, read his past and how his relationship with Arlo came about, as well as the family by choice he formed with Lennox, Remy & Clem broke my heart a lot, but also made me love immediately all these characters and the bond so pure that they share. In this book Frankie finds himself in one of the most complicated moments of his life: returning to Los Angeles to support Lennox, his younger brother, in a difficult moment, and with it face everything he left behind, including the only love of his life.
Arlo has had a life just as painful as Frankie, but his has become much more complicated due to his addictions, which led him to lose the most important person, several years later and as a recovering addict he is a man who constantly belittles his achievements and is not fully able to understand the great work he does to help others in his situation, and if all that wasn't painful enough already , Arlo believes that he doesn't deserve the love and recognition of people, especially Frankie's, something that definitely broke my heart but that made me perceive much more the growth that his character has and the GREAT path he traveled from the beginning of the book to its last page, besides the fact that I really liked reading about his work in the gym, how his relationship with Rhys began, his doubts about his feelings and his most vulnerable side.
Obviously Frankie & Arlo don't have the simplest love story, upon their reunion everything is full of pain, a great feeling of betrayal, guilt & abandonment, as well as a deep denial on Arlo's part to talk about their past which makes things move slowly between them, and something that I think was perfect for the story, not only between the two of them, but between Frankie and the rest of his family, because throughout the book we realize that the healing process does not only include the main characters. One of my favorite moments was when Arlo & Frankie finally have that important talk where they let their feelings show without barriers, I also loved every time they let out some information about their past together and of course, every time they say, and show how much they love and care about each other.
Also, I think Unwanted was the perfect start for this new series: it does more than introduce us to its characters so none (Clem, Remy & Lennox) feels like secondary, although their stories do begin to take shape, which has me very excited to read them all.