The Year We Fell Down

The Ivy Years #1

by Sarina Bowen

Alternate cover for this ASIN can be found here

The sport she loves is out of reach. The boy she loves has someone else. What now?
 
She expected to start Harkness College as a varsity ice hockey player. But a serious accident means that Corey Callahan will start school in a wheelchair instead.
 
Across the hall, in the other handicapped-accessible dorm room, lives the too-delicious-to-be real Adam Hartley, another would-be hockey star with his leg broken in two places. He's way out of Corey's league.
 
Also, he's taken.
 
Nevertheless, an unlikely alliance blooms between Corey and Hartley in McHerrin Hall. Over tequila, perilously balanced dining hall trays, and video games, the two cope with disappointments that nobody else understands.
 
They're just friends, of course, until one night when things fall apart. Or fall together. All Corey knows is that she's falling. Hard.
 
But will Hartley set aside his trophy girl to love someone as broken as Corey? If he won't, she will need to find the courage to make a life for herself at Harkness -- one which does not revolve around the sport she can no longer play, or the brown-eyed boy who's afraid to love her back.

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Sports, Contemporary, College, Sports Romance, Friends To Lovers

274 pages, ebook

First published March 20, 2014

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Colleen Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was so good, I thought about plagiarizing it, but then I thought, "Nah. Better not."

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

The sport she loves is out of reach. The boy she loves has someone else.

What now?

The Year We Fell Down is the first book in Sarina Bowen’s The Ivy Years series. It’s also the first Sarina Bowen book I’ve read. After reading, I can say for certain I’m a fan! I absolutely adored this friends to lovers college romance. Corey and Hartley were fantastic characters and their story touched me.

Corey Callahan’s entire life changed after a hockey accident left her in a wheelchair. This is not how she expected to start her freshman year of college. She expected to be playing hockey, but now, that is an impossibility. Adam Hartley happens to be in the same dorm as Corey. He’s not a freshman, but he had an injury that left him on crutches and unable to handle a lot of stairs. Corey and Hartley bond over their injuries.

Hartley and Corey were both extremely likable characters. Watching their friendship turn into a romance was beautiful. There were frustrating moments I had with Hartley, but later in the book, I understood him a little better and why he did some of the things he did.

I loved the romance between Hartley and Corey. I loved their friendship, too. I also loved Hartley’s best friend, Bridger. I’m so excited his book is next. I’m diving in right away! I listened to this book on audible and I have to say, the narration is wonderful. I’m looking forward to listening to all of them

If you love New Adult romance, friends to lovers stories, and books about overcoming obstacles, this is one I highly recommend! 4.5 stars!

[Navessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I WOULD LOVE TO REVIEW THIS BOOK. BUT ALL I CAN COME UP WITH IS THIS:

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update May 2016
This was the start of my love affair with Sarina Bowen's writing and series. As you will see, it had a major impact on me with how our gal handled life and growth through adversity. We read so much and some books are for pleasure, for introspection, for things we don't even know why...
This is a book to read for all of those things... Do it and I promise you won't be sorry.
May 15, 2015
4.5 NA Gold, Pause to Make You Think Stars
* * * * 1/2
Every day we have moments... it is up to us to pay attention. We may have a perfect exchange with a friend... laughing and giggling about some little thing and after it happens... we just feel really good. Like all the air used during the process cleaned us out and made us fresh. We could be on the treadmill at the gym, jogging along, and decide to up the speed a tad... go a little faster than you may have before... and after... you feel you did a personal best. Or it could be as mundane as parallel parking your car and doing it right without a thought.

These moments happen all the time... but what if they were taken away from you...what if you lost your ability to hear... or to use your legs or arms... in a moment all of what you knew how to do would be gone. You would have to adjust; develop new skills and hopefully be able to find yourself. Become the new you...accept things were never going to be the same and somehow deal with it. Because if you didn't adjust... adapt... you would miss out on living your life.

Corey Callahan had one of those moments...she was a talented ice hockey star ready to take advantage of her college scholarship at a Prestigious Ivy League college when she is hit and thrown during a game. She is now coming to school in a wheelchair...so not only will she need to adjust to college life, new friendships, and dealing with the freshman 15... she has to do it in the chair.

She went through all of the phases... as best she could.... handled the physical therapy, learned the tricks she needed to dress, etc... but her parents have been hovering and making things hard..Dad was her hockey coach, her brother played for the college she is going to...and mom worries... all the time.

Corey does luck out... she has an amazing roommate, a very cool housing suite, and the added bonus of Hartley. He is an out of commission Hockey player... he messed up his leg and ankle so he needed the same type of housing accommodations. Only problem is, he is cute, friendly, and has a snob princess for a girlfriend. The saving grace is she will be away for a semester... leaving Hartley out there having to manage his crutches and no ice, alone. Corey and Hartley are thrown together...become the Gimp Squad going to classes and lunchtime together.

What happens in this book is actually magical in many ways... because although the major focus of Corey's situation is always there... as a reader... you sort of forget and experience all that happens when you are of that age... the wanting to fit in; the figuring out your place and who to make friends with. Yes, there is the disability and it is never gone... yet Corey's personality is so strong and clear... it is easy to want to be friends with her.

We love Hartley. He is every crush waiting to happen. He is saddled with a girlfriend from hell and although there are some sparks between Corey and Hartley... we don't feel as if Hartley ever was connected to his girlfriend.... she isn't on campus... and she seems to be having "friends" in Italy while she is there...We learn in the story much about Hartley and how he is wired... we learn of the emotional weight he carries and understand what motivated him.

This book is such a winner from so many aspects... it clearly gives us the college experience... warts and all. It educates us about Hockey and spinal cord injuries. It made me think about moments in life and how we should be paying attention all the time... and live as if things are fleeting... because they are. There is just so much there... it is a delight to know there is another part of the series coming soon.

What I love most is something which was a moment for me... I reviewed a book that was hockey based... Ms. Bowen commented on it...opening the door to a conversation. Because she took that moment, I was able to have this experience of reading this book... proving... everything can happen in a moment... and we just need to pay attention. Thank you, Ms. Bowen.


The Year We Fell Down
https://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 1-3
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Ivy Years Part Two, Book 4-5
A gifted copy was provided by the author for an honest review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Whitney Atkinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because Tammara Webber (author of one of my favorite healthy romances) recommended it. And the sex scenes in this book were definitely good--a lot of consent and communication--but everything around it and the entire rest of the book was messy.

Firstly, this book is ableist. I haven't been able to locate a review from an ownvoices reviewer, but I was bothered by the language of this book a lot. It's as if it's written by an able-bodied person for other able-bodied people. In other words, Corey's disability felt like a plot device rather than a character trait. I understand that Corey became disabled at age 18 so there's a lot of anger and emotion to work through as she processes the change, but the author didn't spare any descriptions of Corey being angry about her condition, calling herself a “gimp” literally every page, and sometimes in variations such as calling herself and Adam “the gimp parade.” She made fun of disability services such as having a van drive you to class (which she calls the gimp-mobile), saying it’s for losers. She talked about herself and her disability all the time as if she were a burden, which is something she learns to shed by the end of the book, but it still went unchallenged.

This book did bring up a great discussion about public accessibility, though. If anything, I like how this book showed that Corey wasn't limited by being in a wheelchair and she wouldn't tolerate anyone treating her lesser than someone who could walk.

The second major downfall of this book is that there’s cheating. Adam's girlfriend is off in Europe for the entire first semester, so everything that happens between the MC and LI is cheating for half of the book. And a lot happens. At first it’s just uncomfy things like Adam calling her beautiful and babe, but then it progresses to touching and forehead kissing, and then for Corey’s birthday, Adam bought her a VIBRATOR. Like, come on. That’s so disgusting for a person with a girlfriend to gift someone else.

The girlfriend finally coming back into the book wasn’t even helpful, because her presence only solidified the fact that this book made a clear divide between athletic girls versus popular girls. Several times, Corey considers herself to be competing with Adam’s girlfriend for his attention, which is gross in general because it enforces the “not like other girls” trope, but doubly so because she considers herself less desirable since she's in a wheelchair. There was so much shade thrown at girls who like to wear makeup and girls who like shopping, and Adam was always praising other girls who like sports and going to games rather than being interested in any of that, as if girls aren’t capable of liking both, or girls who like makeup are dumb. One of the lines that stuck out to me in this book was when Adam described his girlfriend and said “She was tall and yet somehow still curvy,” as if tall girls can’t be curvy? Because God forbid tall girls fail to satisfy the male gaze!!!! Additionally, Adam would call his girlfriend "hottie," but he would call Corey "beautiful," which was gross because 1) he was flirting with another girl while he had a girlfriend and 2) it perpetuated the idea that "hot" girls are bitchy, materialistic, obsessed with their looks, and deserve to be cheater on because they're lesser than.

The one redeeming quality in this is that the sex scenes are actually really nicely done. There is a lot of discussion of consent and a big focus on her pleasure, which was sweet. I just couldn’t get over the fact that it was all cheating, and it happened while they were drunk. It just ruined that scene for me.

Beyond that, the dialogue and writing was just completely cliché and you could read better in different books. There was nothing special about the characters or story other than the actual sex scenes were better written than a lot of other books because it was actually realistic. But that in itself isn't enough to recommend this because I think negative attitude toward this girl's disability being thrown around literally every page was harmful and distasteful.

[Tami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Na toll, die ersten 2/3 vom Buch haben mich richtig euphorisch gemacht, weil ich es so unglaublich toll fand, und das letzte Drittel war so abgebrüht und einfach nur MÄH. Total ernüchternd, musste ganze zweite Sterne abziehen, schade!

[Pearl Angeli · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

My problem with The Year We Fell Down is, I couldn't connect with the romantic aspect. The characters are actually likeable and I have no problem with that, but the way the romance was delivered, it was kinda off. I love friends-to-lovers tropes, unfortunately this one didn't get me. Perhaps it's just me but I feel no chemistry between the two.

The story centers around Corey Callahan, a college girl who became handicapped after an ice hockey accident. She met the gorgeous ice hockey player Adam Hartley in a dorm room and instantly became friends with him since the guy also had a minor accident and at that time, had an injury. They shared a platonic relationship, even though deep down inside Corey slowly fell for him. But because Hartley already has a girlfriend, this attraction is clearly a complication.

What I loved about this book was Corey's character development and strength. I loved how she eventually accepted her condition and delved into a different sport when she realized that ice hockey is not for her. Despite her condition, she was able to live normally and I think that's really awe-inspiring.

There was also no insta-love involved so it was good. However, I wish it didn't took Hartley a while to realize that he's wasting his time on his bratty girlfriend.

I would still love to read the rest of the books of this series since a lot of reviews say that they're much, much better, so let's see. :)

[Maida (Medley of Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read January 2020

RATING: 4.5 Updated to 5 'Sweet' HEARTS!! <3 :D

Every time I re-read this story, I fall in love with the characters, the world, the romance, and feel all the emotions all over again.



The Year We Fell Down is a delightful friends to lovers romance, taking all of us on a journey full of laughter and heat without weighing us down with unnecessary drama and conflict.

"The thing is, we're all fragile. It's just that most of our friends are lucky enough not to know it yet."

Corey is a young woman who continually inspires throughout with her ability to handle herself both emotionally and physically despite being paralyzed from the knees down. Though she has moments of self-doubt, she never turns maudlin, instead she acknowledges her situation while never allowing her physical difference to rob her of her witty, outgoing personality. Given that, what makes this new adult romance so unique is the emphasis Ms. Bowen gives to the struggles that people with disabilities face, brilliantly detailed for us through Corey’s every impaired step.

Adam is the good guy with the heart of gold and comic relief of this read despite carrying his past with him in the form of his self-centered girlfriend (although for way too long IMO). The romance between him and Corey is gorgeously slow, sweet companionship that gradually builds in trust and respect until it turns to love and has us swooning left and right.

“Hartley? I...I can’t just be a hookup. Maybe some girls can pull that off, but...”
He put two fingers over my lips. “You have me, Callahan.” His hand slid to cup my cheek, and I leaned into its warmth. “You’re the first person I want to talk to in the morning, and the last thing I want to see at night.”

Overall, The Year We Fell Down is the perfect combination of sweet and sexy, with just a kiss of angst to ensure we’re emotionally invested in our couple’s happiness, leaving us smiling, content and warm.



Posted: July 12, 2016

[Anniebananie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 Sterne

Ein fast perfekter NA-Roman in meinen Augen! Musste dieses Buch einfach direkt in einem Rutsch lesen 🤷🏼‍♀️ diese Sog-Wirkung spricht in der Regel ja meist für das Buch. Es war so erfrischend dass beide Protagonisten sympathisch waren und sich nicht wie die totalem Dummbrote verhalten haben, sondern ihrem Alter und Bildungsgrad entsprechend 😅
Die Story fand ich auch total gut und mir kamen echt mehrmals die Tränen, da ich vor allem Corey's Geschichte sehr bewegend fand und gleichzeitig ihre Stärke bewundert habe, wie sie mit der ganzen Sache umgeht. Aber gleichzeitig musste ich an einigen Stellen auch echt lachen, weil die beiden einen echt coolen Humor haben.
Das einzige was mir etwas missfallen hat, war dass Adam zu Beginn der Geschichte noch in einer Beziehung gesteckt hat... allerdings wurde das ganze finde ich dennoch gut von der Autorin gelöst auch wenn mir am Ende alles etwas zu Holter-die-Polter passiert ist. Ein paar Seiten mehr hätten der Geschichte nicht geschadet, denn ich hab jede Seite dieses Buches genossen 👌🏻😊

[Sarina Bowen]

ZOMG did you see the new covers? 😍 I'm in love!

[Rachel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars!

“Everybody has their shit to shovel, Callahan. Everybody. Now, yours is right up front where everybody can see it. I don't envy you that. But everybody has some, whether you can see it or not.”



After losing mobility in her legs after a tragic hockey accident college freshman Corey starts college in a wheel chair. While she isn't completely paralyzed, she uses a wheel chair and has been taking physical therapy to slowly start walking again. Corey and her roommate are placed across the hall from junior and all around hottie Adam Hartley. Hartley broke his leg over the summer and has to sit out on the hockey season. Both relegated to a handicap dorm, Hartley and Corey form a fast friendship over video games and hockey.

Pretty quickly Corey develops what appears to be a one sided crush on Hartley, who has a girlfriend who is studying abroad that semester. But as time goes by, the lines of friendship become blurred and Corey must make a choice, to keep Hartley in her life as a friend or to let him go.

“Why would you complicate our friendship?"
"Like it's so simple now?"

I really enjoyed this book. When Geri told me it was full of angst and unrequited love I was totally on board. Plus this had been sitting on my kindle forever, so it was like I was being productive by reading this.
This book was filled with the kind of angst I love! Oh my gosh I ate it up. But, it was not overly angsty. I think it had just the right amount of angst for all of you angst avoiders out there.

I loved the amount of research and reality that went into the book about handicap access. I've read other New Adult books that gloss over those parts, but it does an injustice to do so because many people don't consider how hard it is just to go and get food when there are three little steps you cannot climb. The author was obviously very conscious of this issue and it really helped develop her book and her characters.

The friends to lovers romance was great, I loved seeing the development between Corey and Hartley, but I struggled with a few things near the end. I get why Hartley dated his horrid girlfriend, I do. But when he began to pursue Corey, he didn't actually pursue her. He just basically said "I want you" and she went to him. That sort of ticked me off, I wanted her to make him work for it. But I was also just happy they weren't pussyfooting around anymore so I'll pick my battles elsewhere.

This is what a college NA romance is supposed to be like, enjoyable with angst, a little bit of steam and a nice guy. I wish I had discovered Ms. Bowen much sooner.

“I was perfect," I said. "And I didn't even know."

"No," he whispered into my ear. "No, no. Perfect isn't real." I took a deep shaky breath and the feel of his strong arms around me began to feel steadying. "There's no more perfect, Callahan. Now there's only really damned good.”

[NMmomof4 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

Overall Opinion: I've had this in my tbr pile for a long time, and thought why not? I'm glad I read it, but I'm also not going to be putting on my favorites shelf. I understood many readers frustration with how long it took for them to get together, but all-in-all that really didn't bother me that much this time. I think my biggest frustration was the lack of significant time with them as an official couple! We waited a long time to get to this little bit that was mainly focused on family drama instead of their relationship! An HEA would be greatly appreciated and even more appreciation with an extended epilogue to see them farther in the future 😉

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Corey and Hartley's story. They meet when they move in across the hall from each other in handicapped accessible dorm rooms. They form an instant friendship, but it can't be more because Hartley has a girlfriend. While his girlfriend is in Paris, they spend more and more time together and some stronger feelings develop. There are some personal struggles they have to get past, some family and girlfriend drama, a few sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.

POV: This alternated between Corey and Hartley's POV.

Overall Pace of Story: Good until the abrupt ending (see closure section below). I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.

Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.

H rating: 3 stars. Hartley/Adam. I liked him alright when he was with Corey, but I did get frustrated with him staying with his girlfriend. The reasoning behind his choice was understandable in a way, but also made me want to shake him some ;)

h rating: 4.5 stars. Corey. I really enjoyed her character! I felt bad for her circumstances, but also appreciated how she fought to get over it all.

Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed

Push/Pull: Yes The H has a personal reason to stay with his girlfriend, so he pushes the h away in a sense. The h pushes away to protect herself. I'd say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship.

Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

Safe sex: No I don't remember any mention of condom use, birth control (other than the h needing to get on it), std statuses, or previous practices.

OW/OM drama: Yes The H is with OW for most of the story.

Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes There is a descriptive scene where the H gets a bj from his girlfriend (while thinking about the h...ewww)

Cheating: Yes The H is with OW when he hooks up with the h for the first time and started to develop feeling for her. The H also continues to have sexual relations with the OW when she gets back after feelings had developed between the h and H.

Separation: Not really.

Possible Triggers: Yes The h had a spinal injury and has lost the function of parts of both her legs (on page after accident), the H has a girlfriend for most of the book (on page), and the H has an absentee father (on and off page).

Closure: This had what felt like an abrupt ending with what I would call a HFN ending. I wanted much more time with them as an official couple!! I would've really appreciated a glimpse into their future too...

How I got it: I got it on loan through my public library.

Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers.

- Does have cheating
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with the H and OW
- Does have both the h and H pushing away
- Does Not have a separation between the h and H
- Does Not have abuse
- Does Not have OTT sad parts
- Does Not have a HEA ending

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5--Uplifting--Stars!!!

"The sport she loves is out of reach. The boy she loves has someone else.

What now?"

This was a very sweet friends to lovers read! Very uplifting, very inspiring.

Callahan (Corey) is a hockey player. It's in her blood. It's her life, it's her love. Until one day, it's not. A tragic accident on the ice leaves her unable to feel her legs.

Corey is starting her freshman year of college, moving in to the wheelchair accessible dorms when she meets her neighbor Hartley (Adam). Corey and Adam bond over their love of hockey and eventually become friends.



Adam has a girlfriend though. A very vile girlfriend. I did not like Stacia. And I never really understood why Adam was with her to begin with. She spends the first semester of school abroad and that is when Adam and Corey's relationship develops.

Yes, there is cheating, sort of...but I wasn't bothered by it.



Corey was a fantastic heroine that didn't let her disability get in the way of living her life, despite what she'd been through. Her strength was admirable and I couldn't help but root for her to get a well deserved HEA!



It might have taken Adam a little longer to figure out how great Corey is.....but in the end he recognizes what's in front of him and goes after the girl.

The Year We Fell Down was Corey's journey. Of moving on after her imjury. Making new friends. Falling in love. Believing in herself and seeing the good.

"I just wish I could give you the original me. Not the broken one."

This was a really enjoyable read for me....it wasn't too steamy--just a few scenes--but well worth the read! I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series!

[Aestas Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

**** FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED ****

I love New Adult romance but I also love books that have really unique storylines so when I first heard about this one and saw that it fell into both those categories, I knew I had to read it.

"I never dreamed I'd show up for college in a wheelchair."

The heroine of this story, Corey, expected to start college as a varsity hockey player but an unfortunate, life-changing accident had her starting school in a wheelchair instead. Determined not to let anything pull her down though, she was going to make the most of her situation and take back control of her life.

Across the hall in her dorm lived Adam Hartley, a "too-delicious-to-be-real" college hockey player with his leg broken in two places. Unfortunately, not only was he gorgeous, fun, and kindhearted, but he was also taken. I use the term "taken" loosely here though since his girlfriend was a ditzy airhead, but I digress.

As Corey and Adam both were coping with disappointments that none of their other friends could relate to, the two of them quickly became friends. Until that friendship grew into something more....


Ok, you know that amazingly wonderful, heart fluttering feeling you get when you start a book and you just love the set up, and the characters, and everything about it? That was totally the feeling I got here!

Corey was such an awesome heroine. Really, truly. This girl was adjusting to a life so different from the one she'd planned out. Her hopes and dreams were literally obliterated but she was tough, independent, and resilient and not about to let even the loss of her legs slow her down from living as much of her dream as she could. She had her head on straight and I just really genuinely liked her.

Now, Adam was total swoon material. Hot, athletic, friendly, charming, kind, outgoing, you name a good quality, he probably had it. He just brought a smile to my face over and over again. His only downside was that he was sadly infatuated with the wrong girl. At first, at least. He did have his reasons though...

So, is this a love triangle? Ummmm, hmmm... ish? Ok, let's put it this way. Me, the girl who really doesn't like triangles, really liked this book. Here's why... his "girlfriend" was basically a brainless, trophy girl (who spent most of the story out of the country in a different school) and the whole situation was just explained in such a way that you always knew that the other girl was wrong for him. He just needed to come to that realization too (which he of course did eventually). It was all just part of his character growth and the explanation that was given for why he was with her in the first place actually really made sense to me for his character at that point in his life so I found it easy to understand him even though there were moments when I wanted to smack him upside the head. And also, once he figured out his priorities and got all of his ducks in a row, there was no back-and-forth so *shrug*, I wasn't bothered by the "triangle".

Now, back to the awesomeness of Corey and Adam. They were totally perfect for each other. They joked, bantered, sparred, teased each other... they just felt right, y'know? Like, there was no question they were meant to be.

I fished a white paper bag out of my pack.
"What did you bring me?"
"An Italian sub and a bag of chips. And Gatorade."
"Have I ever told you have you're beautiful?"
"Anytime I offer you food."

This book captured that intensity of the feeling of first love, and the "forbidden" aspect just heightened that. You know that feeling where you're totally falling for the other person but aren't sure they feel the same way and just every little interaction is super charged? It was kind of like that here and I loved that!

That being said, there was no insta-love which I really appreciated. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with insta-love per se, but I appreciated that in this story, they became close friends before anything officially romantic happened between them. That pacing really "fit" their story well and I mean, sure there were "more-than-just-friends" feelings but nothing was acted on right away. It was nice!

Apart from the romance side of things, I really liked the message it had of how everyone has demons they're fighting and their own "shit to shovel". Some people show that on the outside in plain sight, while others have it hidden deep inside but everyone has something and what you see when you look at someone is only a fraction of their true selves. Kind of the whole "don't judge a book by it's cover" thing.

"I just wish I could give you the original me. Not the broken one."

All in all, this was a very sweet New Adult college romance and "coming of age" story. If you're looking for something a little outside-the-box, with no insta-love, and more of a "friends-to-lovers while overcoming hardship" type story, definitely check this one out! I'm so glad I read it! :)

Rating: 4 -- 4.5 stars. Standalone New Adult romance.

PS: There will be more books in the series but each book will be about a different couple.

****************************


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[♡ Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5 Sterne
Corey hatte einen Sportunfall und lebt seitdem mit Rollstuhl. Adam hat sich das Bein gebrochen. Die beiden werden im behindertengerechten Trakt des Collage untergebracht und lernen sich so kennen - und lieben. Aber Adam hat bereits eine Freundin.
💕 Es war okay, aber stellenweise für mich zu langatmig. Dieses Genre ist für mich immer etwas schwierig, weil mir meist zu wenig Handlung vorkommt und zu viel Emotion und "Gedankenkreisen".

[Geri Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Why oh why did it take me so long to read this one? The blurb alone has my name written on it. I loved the heroine, loved the hero, loved their friendship, the banter, Harkness...so many things about this book worked for me.

After a devastating accident, Corey is starting her freshman year at Harkness in a wheelchair. She was a varsity hockey player in high school but an accident during one of her games left her paraplegic. During her first day at Harkness, she meets Adam Hartley, star player of the Harkness hockey team, who suffers from a broken leg. They meet and Corey immediately harbors a crush on Hartley. Unfortunately, Hartley has a girlfriend so he is emotionally unavailable.

Still they became friends and the more they spend time with each other, the more they care about each other. Corey is especially struggling to adjust with the loss of the use of her legs. She had to undergo extensive therapy, learn to use her chair, not to mention, adjust to college life. Her struggles were heartbreaking. Adam, for all his flaws, truly cared for Corey. I loved how he took care and encouraged her.

I know a lot of readers would balk at the idea of a hero being involved with someone other than the heroine but it didn't bother me here because while they weren't romantically linked in that sense, their relationship as friends was wonderful to read. The build up of the sexual tension between Corey and Hartley was exquisite.

Another thing that I loved about this book was the way Sarina Bowen gave these characters personalities. They have hopes and dreams and struggles. It isn't just about when are Corey and Hartley going to be a couple. It's about them as individuals. As a reader, I really appreciate reading about that because it makes me root harder for them.

There is quite a bit of angst in this book but the pay off is worth it. Definitely a new series to watch out for.

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 5 out of 5]

***4,5 "Hell and damn" stars from me***



This was a very beautiful and tender story...
It touched something deeply inside me and many times i thought that something get caught in my eyes!!!

This was a story about fighting and courage and bravery...
Because you have to be brave to succeed to have this kind of life that had our heroes and especially, Corey!!!

Well, Corey Callahan several months ago had an accident on ice that stucked her in a wheelchair. She used to be a hockey player and now, she is about to start a new life in college as a person who can't walk anymore. Because of this reason, she had to live in a dorm with easy access for her condition.

In the opposite room from hers, Adam Hartley is settling down for this year. He had to be separated from the rest of his friends and teammates since the accident where he broke his leg in two places. So he had to live somewhere with easy access too.

And so, a unique friendship is starting between Corey and Hartley...

“-Have I ever told you that you're beautiful?"
"Any time I offer you food."
"Exactly. Gimme that.”

But Corey started to develop feelings toward Hartley from the first moment that she laid eyes on him, but he is taken. And beyond this fact, eventually he would be cured and he could live his life as he trully wants and not as hers, sitting on a wheelchair for the rest of her life.


"Hartley was hot. But it wasn’t just his body that I wanted. We had fun together — lots of it. We sparred and we joked. I knew he enjoyed my company. There wasn’t any doubt in my mind.
But obviously it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t enough. And I couldn’t help blaming my disability. A whole Corey Callahan — with two working legs, and none of the baggage that comes with being broken — might have been enough to shift me from the kind of girl that he wanted for a friend, into the sort of girl he wanted in his bed.
But I was stuck this way. He was with her, and I was alone. Very, very alone."

So, Adam and Corey are starting to pass many hours together while they were playing hockey on the TV.

(Did i mention that Adam was a hockey player too??? Yep, that's right!!!)
Since Adam's girlfriend was away in Europe for this semester and since they were having similar problems, they bond together, but it wasn't forced. They liked each other's company and they were real and honest when they were together.
And that honesty, one day led them to experiment...

I won't say more than the things got very complicated for both of them and they were having too many shits to shovel, especially Adam....
So what will happened for now on????

“Why would you complicate our friendship?" I whispered.
"Like it's so simple now?" He countered.”

I will confess that i loved the characters of Adam and Corey. They were having too many problems, too serious problems, but they were fighting it...


I think that i adore and admire Corey too much!!
Her reality changed so deeply, but she was strong enough to deal with it.
Yep, many time she was a pessimist, but who wasn't in her place???
One day she was walking and the next day, she found herself on a wheelchair.
But she was trying to continue her life...

She choose to fly away from under her parents wings and to live by herself on campus only few months after her accident. Isn't it brave???
And yep, she felt cozy and nice staying in her room with Hartley, but after the "experiment" i admired her even more when she decided to live a little and make some new friends!!!!
She was the most courageous person that i have ever read!!!

As for Adam??? He was sweet and carefree, even though that his leg was killing him with pain. But he knew that one day, he will be healed again... But he had other shits to deal with.
I also think that he was in a great denial. About his love life especially.

He had stuck so badly to his girlfriend that made me furious and he was trying to ignore his feelings about Corey. Even though that she was the only one that making him feel real and honest...

"That’s the thing about Corey — she’d speak up if it wasn’t right. Even now, the look on her face — one part wonder, one part bravery, with a dash of oh my God — it cut me in half. Corey was one hundred percent genuine all the time — there was no artifice, no faking. And when I was with her, I could be just the same. There was no need to hide from her. She wanted all of me, no matter what."

Finally, i want to say that i really liked Dana and Bridger. They were great friends!!! And i liked very much Hartley's mother. She was so sweet and kind. Those three were the only ones that they were seeing the truth about Correy and Hartley. A truth that they saw much later!!!

[Bri · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Year We Fell Down was a unique story about two college students trying to navigate college life with their injuries. For Adam his injury is just a temporary thing, but for Corey it's now her life and she has been trying to come to terms with the fact her life will always be different now.

I did enjoy this book but I honestly liked Adam and Corey way better as just friends. I didn't see any connection between them other than one of friendship and there wasn't enough of them together in a relationship way for me to actually believe it. And I couldn't get past the fact that Adam had a girlfriend for the majority of this book, whose relationship with I definitely did not understand. By the end it was just pissing me off that he was still with his girlfriend when it was clear he and Corey were going to get together.

Overall I did really enjoy the friendship that Corey and Adam formed and I loved seeing them help each other. For that I will give it three stars, but the relationship between them killed the book for me and I didn't enjoy that part at all.

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ~ 4.5 Stars

"The sport she loves is out of reach. The boy she loves has someone else.

What now?"

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Corey Callahan is embarking on her first year of college after an accident leaves this former girl hockey player in a wheel chair.



Corey not only is gifted with a terrific dorm room but a wonderful roommate and across the hall is the guy’s hockey team player Adam Hartley…Corey is in lust!

Hartley has had surgery which has left him out for the season as well as maneuvering the campus on crutches he makes a friend in Corey and their friendship was well paced and believable.

”More than anything, I wanted to know that she was one hundred percent sexy. I thought I could prove it to her, and then I did. The trouble was, I proved it to both of us.”



Hartley has a high maitenance girl friend who continually cheats on him but it doesn’t seem to bother him and he may or may not have a reason why he is with the bitchy barbie doll. Also, Hartley's injury has begun to heal...

”The reversal stung. He was going back to normal, and I wasn’t.”

Sarina Bowen provided angst, laughs and tears in this first book of this series. Corey was such a likable lead character. I only wish Hartley would have shoveled his shit a bit earlier in the story. Still this was well done and a good read.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Grow A Pair Stars ------> 8===D (that's a symbol penis fyi)

Hartley, Hartley, Hartley, how would I describe you? Oh yeah.


Let me digress for a bit. So this story is set in college. Corey had a horrible accident leaving her partially paralyzed, and we start off by her moving to her wheelchair accessible dorm. There, across the hall, she meets Hartley, a hockey hottie who injured his leg. She is immediately enamoured with Hartley, but he is taken. Taken by a rachety ass beotch that is named Stacia.

Stacia is off in Paris enjoying the sights, and apparently Italian dick, while Hartley and Corey embark on a very sweet, honest friendship.

I absolutely freaking loved this book until about the half way mark, because our hero, you see, lost his schlong and growed a vajayjay. Which is such a damn shame because Corey was an AMAZING heroine. She had complete shit circumstances and she was so strong throughout it all. She said she whined, but I never thought she did. She never cried either. Even when the hero was being a douche canoe, mad props to you chica. Dana, her roommate is also kick ass. Supports her, and never looks at her as someone with a disability.

Now right before the halfway mark, the lines get blurry with Corey and Hartley. There is cheating, but you won't feel icky about it about because his girlfriend sux big donkey. No sex, 3rd base. Now where it goes downhill is when the "Rachet Beotch" comes home. Does Corey get his head out of his ass to see what an amazing girl in Corey he has???


Nope, head stays in ass till about 72%?!?! And I am supposed to be all forgiving and shit??


Rant continues here After Corey/Hartley's 3rd base action, not 14 hours later, his tongue is back in the mouth of his girlfriend who he takes back with open arms. He flaunts his little trophy around Corey FOR MONTHS!! It's only when Corey says she can't be his friend right now that he figures he can't have his cake and eat it too. NOT GOOD ENUF. He finally dumps the bitch and then Corey is just like all cool with it the next day. YEAH THAT'S RIGHT, THE NEXT DAY. Dumps girlfriend on a Friday, taking Corey's V-card on a Saturday. That simple. .

After all that, I wasn't really loving Hartley anymore. I wish Corey would have kept him in the friend zone and got a man that really appreciated her. I am an unforgiving book bitch, that is true, maybe I have been reading too many true alpha books, but the hero really needs to fall on his sword, so to speak, in order for me to forgive behavior like that. His whole reasoning behind it didn't even make sense to me either. he enjoyed flaunting his hot, rich trophy girlfriend, the whole deal about his dad living near her, really? . Ultimately, it didn't happen here which is a shame, because this would have been an amazing, heart warming story otherwise.

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Love Sarina Bowen Reads Stars

I love Sarina Bowen. I will admit, I am late to reading her books, but I’m slowly making my way through them and the Ivy Years series is slowly becoming one of my favorite NA college series. I’m reading the books out of order, but I’m making my way through them.

The Year we Fell Down has mixed reviews and because of that I didn’t want to read it. I think the reviews are valid and truthful, but it didn’t affect me like the way I thought it would. I thought I would be frustrated and irritated with the plot, but honestly the writing style is so great the book flowed for me.

I connected to the characters, the storyline and I enjoyed each chapter. I read the book in one sitting. I think if you read the summary and you find that it doesn’t seem right for you, don’t rule it out. You may be surprised like me.

The book is about the two main characters. The Hero has a broken leg and the Heroine is in a wheel chair. Because of their situation they live in a special part of the campus and that is how they live right across from each other.

Like I said, I really enjoyed the storyline. The heroine being in a wheel chair kind of melts my heart, can we say some what a damsel in distress? I say somewhat because she’s a really strong character with a sense of worth and independence. The Hero is suave, sweet and basically someone you want to date, the only catch? He has a girlfriend.

I know! I cringed too. Who wants to read about two people getting to know each other, when one of them has a girlfriend, who I may add is really horrible? Well, me. I don’t deal well with this sort of storyline, but I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters. I love the slow build-up of friendship and into something more. Also the girlfriend kind of added a nice tension and angst to the read.

Overall, the book worked for me and I’m moving on to the next read in the series.

The Year We Fell Down #1 AMAZON
The Year We Hid Away #2 REVIEW | AMAZON
Blonde Date #2.5 REVIEW |AMAZON
The Understatement of the Year #3 REVIEW | AMAZON
The Shameless Hour #4 AMAZON
The Fifteenth Minute #5 AMAZON

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The thing is, we're all fragile. It's just that most of our friends are lucky enough not to know it yet."

The Year We Fell Down is a unique friends to lovers new adult romance.

Corey Callahan, had planned on starting college as a part of the hockey team, but things don't go as planned. An accident during her senior year of high school changes everything.

Some people say that after a life-threatening event, they learn to enjoy life more. That they stop taking everything for granted.
Sometimes I felt like punching those people.

But, Corey is determined to live her life, and not let her disability stop her from moving forward. Moving into her dorm, she meets Adam Hartley, also a hockey player who has broken his leg. He is sweet, gorgeous, and fun, but he has a girlfriend. (she isn't a very likable character)

Corey and Hartley bond over their current situations, and a friendship blossoms. This friendship continues to grow into something more..

"I just wish I could give you the original me. Not the broken one."

I really enjoyed this one. Corey and Hartley were both extremely likable. I loved how strong Corey was, never feeling sorry for herself, she was an inspiration. Overall, this was a cute, out of the ordinary, well written, coming of age read. I am looking forward to continuing this series.

"That's the weirdest, most romantic story I've ever heard."

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one, but I've read better from Sarina Bowen. I'm hopeful that the series continues to improve. It was a little bland for me, but I saw potential there.

The narrators were good, especially the male narrator, but I thought the female narrator sounded a little old for new adult. I still think that they did a very nice job, especially with the voices for other genders.

All in all, worth the money.

[Erth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so nice. Like I really enjoyed reading every bit of the story. The characters were well developed and the plot was nicely laid out.

The main characters were awesome. I like how Corey dealt with her issues, it was very 'real'. I also found it refreshing that the heroine was disabled and though she had to deal with some of the stigma that comes with it she didn't let that stop her. That is what I found so truly amazing about this book and it is also the thing I look for in my heroines. I like that she had her issues but she didn't allow them to make her stupid! I applaud the author for that.

Adam. He was as sweet as a hero could be. I loved him. I loved how he loved her and I also loved how he didn't let her disability hamper their relationship.

This book was a great read all around

[justmiaslife · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wenn ich den ersten Teil von Sarina Bowen's neuer New Adult Reihe in einem Satz zusammenfassen müsste, dann wäre das "Don't judge a book by it's cover". Ich habe mir mega viel von diesem Roman erwartet, hatte auf eine süße Liebesgeschichte am College gehofft, die auf eine tiefgründige Art und Weise die körperliche Behinderung aufgreift. Die Aufmachung des Buches hat meine Vorfreude auf den Frühling ebenfalls bestärkt, das Cover hat zwar nicht viel über den Inhalt verraten, aber das Blumendesign hat mir noch mehr das Gefühl einer Geschichte á la Colleen Hoover oder Mona Kasten gegeben.

Ich wollte die Geschichte rund um Corey & Adam wirklich mögen, das wollte ich so sehr, allerdings wurde mir beim Lesen immer bewusster, dass meine Erwartungen an die Handlung überhaupt nicht eingehalten und meine gewünschte Tiefe auch gar nicht behandelt wurde. Ehrlich gesagt muss ich zugeben, dass ich auch schon mit der True North Reihe so meine Probleme hatte, aber ich wollte Sarina Bowen auf jeden Fall eine zweite Chance geben. Und wahrscheinlich wird darauf noch eine dritte folgen, da ich einfach glaube, dass irgendwo noch meine Geschichte folgen wird.

Ihren Schreibstil liebe ich total, allerdings habe ich schon ausgeschmücktere und einzigartigere in diesem Genre gelesen, wie z.B. von Laura Kneidl oder Brittainy C. Cherry. Die Kapitel waren einfach zu lesen, allerdings haben mich persönlich die Perspektivwechsel von Corey & Adam verwirrt. Mein Hauptproblem war, dass sich die Erzählweisen von den Protagonisten so stark geähnelt haben, dass ich manchmal ein paar Seiten zurückblättern musste, um mir wieder ins Gedächtnis zu rufen, ob ich gerade aus der Sicht einer Frau oder eines Mannes lese. Und ich bin schnell davon genervt, wenn weibliche Autoren ihre Männer so feminin klingen lassen, da dies mich total aus der Story rauswirft und die Echtheit verzerrt.

Einen positiven Aspekt, den ich jedoch unbedingt hervorheben möchte, war die Thematik von "The Ivy Years: Bevor wir fallen". Corey leidet an einer körperlichen Behinderung, womit sie mein Aufsehen voll und ganz erregt hatte, denn sowas gibt echt Abwechslung in ein sonst doch so mit Klischees überlastetes Genre. Adam war auch alles andere als ein klassischer Bad Boy, man hat wirklich gesehen, dass er Corey trotz ihres tragischen Schicksals weiterhin unterstützt hat. Wie sich die Freundschaft der beiden langsam zu mehr entwickelt hat, war schön anzusehen. Allerdings haben mir Szenen gefehlt, in denen es auch mal einen Rückschlag gibt. Ich bin alles andere als ein Fan von Büchern mit viel aufgesetzten Drama - aber das Leben mit einer körperlichen Einschränkung ist dennoch nicht so rosig, wie es in "The Ivy Years : Bevor wir fallen" dargestellt wurde.

Leider konnte ich mich obwohl ich es mir sehr gewünscht habe, nur selten in Corey hineinversetzen aber auch in die anderen Figuren reinversetzten, da allesamt total flach dargestellt wurden. Zusätzlich hat es mich auch tierisch gestört, dass ich die Hintergründe zu Coreys Unfall erst ziemlich am Schluss erfahren habe und man damit das ganze Buch über im Dunkeln tappt. Auch ein Grund, weshalb Coreys Schicksal kaum Emotionen in mir ausgelöst hat. Des Weiteren erschien mir der Unfall auch nicht schlüssig und realistisch, deswegen wünsche ich mir für den nächsten Band wirklich, dass Sarina Bowen das Potenzial ihrer Geschichten auch wirklich nutzt und andersartige New Adult Romane konzipiert, bei denen uns allen der Atem stockt!

[Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle/iBooks/Kobo/B&N/Google freebie, y'all! 3/30/18

Amazon: http://geni.us/amazonfree

iBooks: http://geni.us/fdireach

Kobo: http://geni.us/fdkreach

B&N: http://geni.us/fdbreach

Google: http://geni.us/fdgreach

3.5

The writing in this one isn't as polished as some of the others I've read by Bowen and I admit the hope fairy bit was a little too reminiscent of a certain dancing goddess or whatever the fuck it was.

But I really love the way she develops a character. They all seem so real to me. Just down to Earth people that are relatable and not crazy trains.

But what I liked the mostest was how affected Hartley was by Callahan almost from the get go it's clear how much he cares about her. It's clear it's not pity that she's disabled but a closeness. They are kindred spirits and I love when a book can make me believe that. Sarina Bowen seems to be making a habit of doing that to me though.

[Corina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how much I loved it!!!

The entire storyline was beautiful!!

Him on crutches, her in a wheelchair and a HEA. The h was such a strong and tough character. She holds her head high and surges ahead. She was funny and strong, others might have succumbed to depression, not her. And the H was perfectly matched.

Well done!!!!

It's one of those feel-good novels. College coeds falling in love without angst and drama. Beautifully written, great dialogs, wonderful characters, superb story!!

[chan ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

helloooooooooo disability rep

this was very sweet. typical NA college romance blossoms between coeds but there was shared issue! Corey had a spinal cord injury and Hartley had a broken leg. both also love hockey.

there’s bonding, personal growth, and really sweet understanding. no slut shaming, nothing problematic at all imo. only complaint is that it wasn’t a real WOW for me. and the sex was ehhhhhhh. it was more love making and I prefer fucking whoops.

I would actually recommend this one ✌️

[bookspumpkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endlich eine Geschichte aus diesem Genre, bei der kein unnötiges gezwungenes Drama erzeugt wurde, um es spannender zu machen.
Das Buch kam auch gut ohne dieses Drama aus und die Autorin hat es verstanden wie man zwei Menschen so sympathisch für den Leser rüberbringen kann <3
Ich liebe unsere zwei Protagonisten wirklich sehr und fand die Geschichte großartig 💞

[preoccupiedbybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm I wasn’t sure what to rate this for a while, as there were some aspects which were good, but also others that I hated?!

Things I liked:
⭐️ The disability rep. This is rare in romance books, and I thought it seemed like it had been well researched. It raised issues such as handicap access, which most of us able bodied people just wouldn’t think about! I was in a wheelchair for a week and then on crutches for 5 weeks after an operation once, and it astonished me! Access has got a lot better since then, but I really struggled to get around, especially in shops, and if there wasn’t a lift/elevator.
Corey’s story was hard to read, her life had been turned upside down, but it felt realistic to me.
⭐️That leads me to Corey. She was a good narrator and I liked her a lot. It hasn’t even been a year since her accident when we first started the book and she was still adjusting to being unable to walk, and with how others saw/treated her. I enjoyed seeing her growth and character development throughout the book! Corey had a lot of strength and I admired her. I loved it when she tried a different sport, which she could do as it used upper body strength. She had been a very sporty, active girl, and she still wanted to be that, so found a way 👍
⭐️I liked the family drama, on both sides-Hartley’s mum, his dad, and how Corey’s relationship had changed with her own parents.
⭐️I thought that the sex scenes were realistic and sweetly done.

What annoyed me:
⭐️ I didn’t like the way which Corey and Hartley referred to themselves-they called each other ‘gimps’ and called the mobility bus the ‘gimp mobil.’ I know this was the author’s way of bonding them, and I know that Corey was still getting her head around her injury, but I felt it wasn’t addressed or corrected at the end?
⭐️I detested the cheating! I didn’t care if Hartley’s gf was shallow, or that he said she cheats on him, I don’t like reading about cheating partners. He cheated on Staci from the start of the book imo-calling another girl beautiful etc and then giving her a vibrator for her birthday! I know in the book it was explained as he wanted her to explore if she could have sex and feel things, but it was so inappropriate, and I would have liked it if Corey had explored that issue on her own! Then he physically cheated on Staci with Corey, after he was stood up by her in his birthday! They were also drunk for this!! Also that scene where he was thinking about Corey whilst getting a BJ from Staci was so disgusting!!! 😡🤢
⭐️Urghh this book like many others portrayed girls who wear make up as shallow and materialistic, and implied that athletic girls don’t wear make up. This comparison is incorrect and it bores me. HERE IS A THOUGHT, SPORTY GIRLS CAN LIKE MAKE-UP AND CLOTHES! ANYONE CAN! IT DOESN’T MAKE US SHALLOW OR LESS INTELLIGENT SIGH
⭐️I felt that the friends to lovers switch was too quick, and that Hartley’s POV was rushed. One second he was shallow, using Staci as a trophy gf to boost his ego and to get into his father’s world, then he would be all deep! Tbh I didn’t think the romance was great, there was a lack of chemistry and the I love yous came too quickly for me. I felt quite detached from it.

So yeah... some really great elements and some pretty bad ones... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯