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The Ivy Years #1-3
The Ivy Years Collection
Life at the elite Harkness College is brought to you in four tales, each one sexier and more heartbreaking than the last. Contains: hockey hotties, snarky T-shirts, a slow-burn love affair, a liar (with reasons,) a virgin (with reasons,) and one adorkable basketball player.
Book 2: The Year We Hid Away
She's hiding something big. He's hiding someone small.
Book 1: The Year We Fell Down
The sport she loves is out of reach. The boy she loves has someone else.
Corey was supposed to start college as a member of the women's ice hockey team. Instead, she'll spend it in a wheelchair. The only upside? Her too-delicious-to-be-real neighbor across the hall.
The sport she loves is out of reach. The boy she loves has someone else.
Corey was supposed to start college as a member of the women's ice hockey team. Instead, she'll spend it in a wheelchair. The only upside? Her too-delicious-to-be-real neighbor across the hall.
Book 2: The Year We Hid Away
She's hiding something big. He's hiding someone small.
Dorm rooms are supposed to be for sleeping, studying, and partying. Not for hiding your eight-year-old sister.
Novella: Blonde Date
A blind date. A nervous sorority girl. A mean-spirited fraternity prank. What could go wrong?
Book 3: The Understatement of the Year
What happened in high school stayed in high school. Until now.
Novella: Blonde Date
A blind date. A nervous sorority girl. A mean-spirited fraternity prank. What could go wrong?
Book 3: The Understatement of the Year
What happened in high school stayed in high school. Until now.
Michael Graham will never tell anyone the truth about himself. Too bad his past walks right into the locker room on the first day of hockey practice.
852 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2014
116 people are currently reading
433 people want to read
About the author
Sarina Bowen
105 books18.9k followers
Sarina Bowen is the 24-time USA Today bestselling and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary fiction, including: The Five Year Lie, the True North series, and the Brooklyn Hockey series. She's the co-author of Him/Us and the WAGs series with Elle Kennedy. And more!
You can find a complete reading order list of Sarina's books on her website. Or see what's coming next from Sarina, and sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss a new book or a deal.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 15, 2019
I enjoyed all three books; I'm not usually a fan of Ms. Bowen writing on her own, but I do love her NA novels. Him and Us are two of my favorite m/m contemporaries - and I can see how Understatement of the Year lays the groundwork for that duology. Understatement was enjoyable but the HEA was a bit too neat and tidy & abrupt. It's flaws are fully resolved in Him.
March 18, 2020
This series is so much more than I was expecting. Its powerful and poignant and the build up is always so worth it... I love it all.
January 14, 2015
I've read all 4 of these books individually and throughly enjoyed them. In fact I now consider Sarina one of my favourite authors.
These books all center around a different couple but we get to check in with the couple(s) from the previous book in next as they all play for the same hockey team!
Sarina has created really beautiful characters with amazing strength that over come a number of different adversities.
All 4 books together is a real treat because once you've read the first you'll definetly need to keep reading.
There are no cliff hangers and these books can be read in any order if you choose!
These books all center around a different couple but we get to check in with the couple(s) from the previous book in next as they all play for the same hockey team!
Sarina has created really beautiful characters with amazing strength that over come a number of different adversities.
All 4 books together is a real treat because once you've read the first you'll definetly need to keep reading.
There are no cliff hangers and these books can be read in any order if you choose!
Want to read
June 26, 2020
The Year We Fell Downhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Falling from the Sky (Gravity, #2)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Blonde Date (The Ivy Years, #2.5)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Understatement of the Year (The Ivy Years #3) 
The Shameless Hour (The Ivy Years, #4)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Fifteenth Minute (The Ivy Years, #5)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Ivy Years Collection, Book 1-3https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Ivy Years Part Two, Book 4-5A gifted copy was provided by the author for an honest review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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April 19, 2019
Incredible YA stories
I don't usually read stoeies set in college as it was a long time ago foe me. But these stories are incredibly poignant and filled with coming of age among significant challenges.
Ms Bowen brings you into the situation full force and you cankot turn away. Strong characters with flaws, weaknesses but filled with so much love.
They all end with a Happily For Now (lots of "life" left for them to live) and hope. Hope that everyone going through challenges can see their way through like these characters do.
I don't usually read stoeies set in college as it was a long time ago foe me. But these stories are incredibly poignant and filled with coming of age among significant challenges.
Ms Bowen brings you into the situation full force and you cankot turn away. Strong characters with flaws, weaknesses but filled with so much love.
They all end with a Happily For Now (lots of "life" left for them to live) and hope. Hope that everyone going through challenges can see their way through like these characters do.
June 8, 2018
Stop fantastic
Such a fantastic read!! I loved all this stories. They draw you in from beginning to end and they don't leave at the end. I want more of them. These characters have so much depth and are dealing with hard issues. We get to see them grow and how they make it through. Can't wait to read the next one.
Such a fantastic read!! I loved all this stories. They draw you in from beginning to end and they don't leave at the end. I want more of them. These characters have so much depth and are dealing with hard issues. We get to see them grow and how they make it through. Can't wait to read the next one.
May 18, 2019
Three amazing books in one collection!
I can’t say enough how much I love all the Ivy Years books!! Each story is phenomenal and each couple will make you love them! I especially love Understatement of the Year in this set...the struggles Rikker and Graham experience are so well written and you get ALL the feels with them!
I can’t say enough how much I love all the Ivy Years books!! Each story is phenomenal and each couple will make you love them! I especially love Understatement of the Year in this set...the struggles Rikker and Graham experience are so well written and you get ALL the feels with them!
June 20, 2019
This was the first book/series I have read from Sarina Bowen and I was not disappointed. She has a great writing style, doesn’t overuse words and each story (even though most of them are connected) is completely different. I loved that Sarina was not afraid to take situations that are uncomfortable and weave them into her books seamlessly!
May 23, 2019
Love
Love, love, love, this series each book just builds on the other and they keep getting better and better. Can’t wait to read book 4
Love, love, love, this series each book just builds on the other and they keep getting better and better. Can’t wait to read book 4
June 4, 2019
Awesome
Such great stories. All three stories were really good. They are a fast paced easy read. I loved them all.
Such great stories. All three stories were really good. They are a fast paced easy read. I loved them all.
February 18, 2018
Loved it. I have reviewed each book separately, but if you love new adult college sports romances then this is up there with Elle Kennedy. Loved it. It's the kind of series that leaves you bereft afterwards as you feel like you have lost a window into a set of friends.
August 24, 2018
Great read!
Read in one sitting couldn’t put down.
Each story was amazing and beautifully told.
The subject matter, all different but equally moving. It was real and emotional at times.
Read in one sitting couldn’t put down.
Each story was amazing and beautifully told.
The subject matter, all different but equally moving. It was real and emotional at times.
May 14, 2015
Book 1.
I absolutely loved this story and the authors style of writing. Corey and Adams story just flowed so beautifully. I was engaged and needed to keep reading to the end.
Book2
I feel as though I need to say that Bridger and Scarlet had more 'shit to shovel' than Adam and Corey. I loved this story equally. Bridger showed there was much more to him than the man whore he was portrayed to be in book 1. A softer, caring , loving side especially when it came to his sister, Lucy and then he met Scarlet and all bets were off for everyone else.
They both had their own battles to fight and fought them so much better as a team and Bridger had more people there for him than he realised.
Book 3
See good guys don't always finish last! I'd say Andy was in the right place at the right time and a good word from a friend sealed his fate with Katie, the woman of his dreams.
Katie had kissed one too many frogs and the last one was a doozy and the last straw. So when a friend sets her up with another friend she has nothing to loose and everything to gain. It was the best decision of her life.
Loved it
Book 4
Wow what a roller coaster. Mike Graham has wondered through life for the last five years living in denial and guilt. The re appearance in his life for the reason of these emotions, John Rikker, turns his life upside down because the effort it takes to deny the one thing he wants the most - Rikker.
A beautiful story of two men total opposites in terms of their acceptance of their own sexuality and the journey Mike takes at accepting who he is totally.
Favourite quote
“You are all the son I’ve ever wanted,” she said in a shaking voice. “Please don’t think you could disappoint me with this.”
Excerpt From: Bowen, Sarina. “The Ivy Years Collection.” Rennie Road Books, 2014. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.
Check out this book on the iBooks Store: https://itun.es/au/KkrO4.l
I absolutely loved this story and the authors style of writing. Corey and Adams story just flowed so beautifully. I was engaged and needed to keep reading to the end.
Book2
I feel as though I need to say that Bridger and Scarlet had more 'shit to shovel' than Adam and Corey. I loved this story equally. Bridger showed there was much more to him than the man whore he was portrayed to be in book 1. A softer, caring , loving side especially when it came to his sister, Lucy and then he met Scarlet and all bets were off for everyone else.
They both had their own battles to fight and fought them so much better as a team and Bridger had more people there for him than he realised.
Book 3
See good guys don't always finish last! I'd say Andy was in the right place at the right time and a good word from a friend sealed his fate with Katie, the woman of his dreams.
Katie had kissed one too many frogs and the last one was a doozy and the last straw. So when a friend sets her up with another friend she has nothing to loose and everything to gain. It was the best decision of her life.
Loved it
Book 4
Wow what a roller coaster. Mike Graham has wondered through life for the last five years living in denial and guilt. The re appearance in his life for the reason of these emotions, John Rikker, turns his life upside down because the effort it takes to deny the one thing he wants the most - Rikker.
A beautiful story of two men total opposites in terms of their acceptance of their own sexuality and the journey Mike takes at accepting who he is totally.
Favourite quote
“You are all the son I’ve ever wanted,” she said in a shaking voice. “Please don’t think you could disappoint me with this.”
Excerpt From: Bowen, Sarina. “The Ivy Years Collection.” Rennie Road Books, 2014. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.
Check out this book on the iBooks Store: https://itun.es/au/KkrO4.l
April 27, 2016
I loved each of these books. I read all 4 of them in a little over 24 hours; yes, some sleep was lost. The writing is well-done - good storylines and wonderful wonderful characters. The author is able to get into the head of a woman adjusting to college life after being partially paralyzed in an accident and later to get into the minds of two gay men and make you see the world from their perspectives. I enjoyed each story and could not stop reading, but I have to say I was absolute riveted by the final story of Rikker and Graham. So totally heartbreaking to see one man struggle with being out of the closet and all the challenges that entails and another man be eaten up inside because he doesn't want to accept that he is gay. I was totally undone by their story. Tissues required.
ETA: I've gone back and re-read Graham and Rikker's book a couple of times now and I've also re-read Blonde Date which is a lovely and relatively short comfort read for when you just need to feel good.
ETA: I've gone back and re-read Graham and Rikker's book a couple of times now and I've also re-read Blonde Date which is a lovely and relatively short comfort read for when you just need to feel good.
October 4, 2016
Overall, Books 1, 2, 2.5 & 3 were a fun and good read. The characters are all relatable (well, besides the fact that every male MC -but one- are total hunks, but that's why we read romance, right?). I enjoyed each of the storylines and how you get to meet the characters from the previous books in the other ones. Sarina's writing is great, a lot of tensions and not an anatomy class as far as the sex scenes went, and I liked that... Trust me, there is steam, but it's just not overly graphic. I can't decide whose male MC I prefer. I do have a soft spot for Bridger, being a hot ginger and genuinely nice in Book 2. However, Book 3 (M/M) has two awesome characters and I couldn't put the book down, they are flawed in not a good way at times... relatable, I'm telling you! I'll go grab Books 4 & 5 and if you haven't read those yet, go right ahead.
March 5, 2015
Do yourself a favor and just get the whole collection - you will want to read all of these! I read the whole thing in a weekend and will reread them. The characters are well-developed, interesting, and likable. They each have challenges to face, but the writing is so good that it never feels like you are reading an "issue" book. I've read a ton of NA lately and these are at the top of my list. Highly recommended :)
Read
August 9, 2015Read 3 out of 4 of these books.. Good/fast reads. Didn't like the storyline in book four..
August 23, 2015
Overall these were 4.5 stars!!
Really glad I picked these up <3
Really glad I picked these up <3
October 16, 2015
Love books about hockey and the twists in this set make it even more special! Couldn't put it down from the first to last word.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews