Unbound

The rocky third installment of Corinne’s Undone series (after Unloved) creates tension by toggling between past and present. As a freshman at Waterfell University, autistic athlete Bennett Reiner aims to fulfill his father’s dreams as the star of the hockey team while managing his OCD. When Bennett meets Paloma, the team’s equipment manager with whom he shares a poetry class, she becomes his poetic muse. As their relationship deepens, Paloma, a survivor of childhood abuse, finds comfort in Bennett even as she convinces herself she must carry her trauma alone. Three years after breaking each other’s hearts, the pair are unexpectedly reunited and their love rekindles. But when a monster from Paloma’s past resurfaces, she must decide if she’s willing to finally let Bennett in. Corrine takes on some heavy topics, including parental neglect and both physical and sexual abuse, using them as fodder for the soapy drama. All the darkness somewhat overwhelms the love story, especially as the characters struggle to discuss their issues with one another. Still, series fans looking for another angsty romance will find plenty to hold their interest. (Apr.)