Name: Lover of Romance 's review of The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen
Item: The Year We Fell Down
Rating: 4
Author: Lover of Romance

Sarina Bowen

The sport she loves is out of reach. The boy she loves wants 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 the “gimp ghetto” of 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. . "I absolutely loved it, and I can't wait to read the rest of her books." Colleen Hoover, bestselling author of Hopeless. "I bought - and read - this entire series in a week. It is OMG-awesome-NA-at-its-finest." Tammara Webber, bestselling author of Easy. "Sarina Bowen's Ivy Years is my favorite New Adult series of all-time!" Elle Kennedy, New York Times bestselling author of The Deal "This page-turner will have readers eagerly awaiting Bowen's next book." Publisher's Weekly __________________________________ Keywords: new adult, college, strong heroine, bad boy, Ivy League, hockey, disability, sports romance, athletes, friends to lovers, slow burn romance, college romance, Ivy Years, spinal cord injury, free romance, free ebook, first in series free, free series starter, love triangle. Hockey romance, college hockey, hockey players, new adult, NA romance. For fans of: Sawyer Bennett, Melanie Harlow, Corinne Michaels, Meghan March, Lauren Blakely, Julia Kent, Elle Kennedy, Tijan, CD Reiss, Kendall Ryan, Vi Keeland, Penelope Ward, Jana Aston, K Bromberg, Katy Evans, Jessica Hawkins, Kristen Proby, Penny Reid, Helena Hunting, Sally Thorne, Kristen Ashley, Helen Hoang, Kylie Scott, Christina Lauren, Jana Aston, Sawyer Bennett, Lexi Ryan, Karina Halle, Skye Warren, Kennedy Ryan, Jodi Ellen Mapas, Zoe York, Kristan Higgins, Jill Shalvis, Colleen Hoover, Sara Ney, Toni Aleo, Cambria Herbert, Tammara Webber, Colleen Hoover, Sabrina Bowen, The Chase, The Deal, Game On, Briar U, Off Campus, The Hookup, Lexi Ryan, Jennifer Ryan, Dirty Reckless Love, Melissa Foster, Helen Hoang, The Goal, The Score, The Mistake, Going Under, Falling Hard, Pucked, Ruin, Rule, Jami Davenport, Lorelei James.

A Hockey Romance

The Year We Fell Down

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️

Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️

Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂

The Year We Fell Down is the first book in the "Ivy Years" and this has been a series I have been wanting to read for many years now. Its probably been on my TBR for the longest time. And its about time I buckled down and read this book and I definitely had a fun time with this one. Now is it a book that is worthy of being on the top book lists, and it's debatable to be honest. While I had a fun time with this book, it didn't exactly blow me out of the water as I expected it to.

"This Looks Promising," my mother said, eyeing the dormitory's ivy-covered facade.

Corey has come for her first year at college, she is handicapped from a hockey injury that damaged her spine. Her neighbor across the hall is the dreamboat hockey player who is injured with a broken leg. Corey and Hartley find common ground in their injuries and develop a quick deep friendship with each other. They both have a quick connection to each other. The issue....Hartley is already in a relationship with someone else. Corey feels torn being attracted to a man who is not available to her, but as their friendship draws closer together, Hartley will have to make a decision on what woman truly matters most and he can see being with long term...

There are many elements to this book that I really loved. I was immediately drawn into this book so its definitely an easy quick read. Very quickly I became invested with Corey and Hartley. I really adored these two together. The story builds quickly with a solid friendship being the foundation to their relationship. We see their bond with hockey and both suffering injuries that have caused them being handicapped in different ways but they relate well with each other and how they are both limited in some ways to what they can do. We see how well they get along with each other. There is such a easy relationship that they have together and its quite charming to see. We also see how there is a building chemistry that is growing between them. This is definitely more of a slow burn. So keep that in mind, don't expect a super spicy read here as due to the circumstances of their relationship. There is plenty of humor, endearing characters and atmospheric college setting.

There is one aspect to this story I had an issue with and that is the cheating aspect. The hero does cheat on his girlfriend and I didn't understand why he took so long ending things with her. And we also don't see this scene, its only referred to so I would have liked to have seen the scene. So I was a bit disappointed as I wasn't expecting this author to go this route.

The Year We Fell Down is a solid new adult romance that really delivers on many fronts. Its a story of strong friendship, connecting through adversity and finding love in the most vulnerable moments of life.

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

Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult

Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Forbidden Love, Love Triangle

Lover of Romance 

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨


First Impressions
The Year We Fell Down is the first book in the "Ivy Years" and this has been a series I have been wanting to read for many years now. Its probably been on my TBR for the longest time. And its about time I buckled down and read this book and I definitely had a fun time with this one. Now is it a book that is worthy of being on the top book lists, and it's debatable to be honest. While I had a fun time with this book, it didn't exactly blow me out of the water as I expected it to.

First Line
"This Looks Promising," my mother said, eyeing the dormitory's ivy-covered facade.

Summary
Corey has come for her first year at college, she is handicapped from a hockey injury that damaged her spine. Her neighbor across the hall is the dreamboat hockey player who is injured with a broken leg. Corey and Hartley find common ground in their injuries and develop a quick deep friendship with each other. They both have a quick connection to each other. The issue....Hartley is already in a relationship with someone else. Corey feels torn being attracted to a man who is not available to her, but as their friendship draws closer together, Hartley will have to make a decision on what woman truly matters most and he can see being with long term...

What I Loved
There are many elements to this book that I really loved. I was immediately drawn into this book so its definitely an easy quick read. Very quickly I became invested with Corey and Hartley. I really adored these two together. The story builds quickly with a solid friendship being the foundation to their relationship. We see their bond with hockey and both suffering injuries that have caused them being handicapped in different ways but they relate well with each other and how they are both limited in some ways to what they can do. We see how well they get along with each other. There is such a easy relationship that they have together and its quite charming to see. We also see how there is a building chemistry that is growing between them. This is definitely more of a slow burn. So keep that in mind, don't expect a super spicy read here as due to the circumstances of their relationship. There is plenty of humor, endearing characters and atmospheric college setting.

What I Struggled With
There is one aspect to this story I had an issue with and that is the cheating aspect. The hero does cheat on his girlfriend and I didn't understand why he took so long ending things with her. And we also don't see this scene, its only referred to so I would have liked to have seen the scene. So I was a bit disappointed as I wasn't expecting this author to go this route.

Overall View
The Year We Fell Down is a solid new adult romance that really delivers on many fronts. Its a story of strong friendship, connecting through adversity and finding love in the most vulnerable moments of life.

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

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Character Types: Athlete, Disability
Themes: Slow Burn, Hockey, Cheating
Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Forbidden Love, Love Triangle

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Relationship Conflict

Song This Book Inspires
Young Hearts by Embody

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

Steam/Spice Explanations

Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.

Frederikke nørholm

Annabella

3.5  
Whew. This book was a lot, but there were things I wouls've loved to get a better look at, being a wheelchair gal myself. But what I did see was spot on

Megan Lowe

I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to read this book! I’m a massive fan of Serena’s and this is a great book!
I’m not usually a fan of female athlete stories, but this one was great and I genuinely felt for Cory.
Hartley is awesome at all, but I do wish I had slightly more insight into this feelings and motivation for being with Stacia, especially at the start.
Bridger and Dana are awesome as well.
Definitely give this book a try!

This wasn't the best written book of hers. Honestly this felt like it was thrown together and last minute. I didn't appreciate Adam's ending and most of the characters were extremely flat. I LOVED her other series, but this felt like a newbie.

Sophia Lin

laura

My second NA but it was good. i LOVE the characters and the devlopement of there relationship. I loved the injury for both characters. it was not super sex heavy but sometimes a tad to much info. I need to read the next book in this series. Strong book. Fast read.

Ruby Ferehawk

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads
.

I'm so fortunate I came across this book on another reader's Goodreads feed. There are so many books out there that it's easy to miss some real gems. I'm glad I didn't miss this one. It was beautiful, heartwarming and a little sexy, with characters I won't soon forget. 

Corey was my favorite type of heroine. She was tough – a hockey player until an accident left her paralyzed from the waist down – and determined. She didn't whine or feel sorry for herself. She accepted her new circumstances, unbelievable as they were, and went about living her life. Sure, she got a little down every now and then, but can you blame her? Navigating her first year at college would be hard enough, but doing it in a wheelchair after her life-altering accident would be that much worse. But all's not lost. She has a great roommate and the hot guy on crutches across the hall has caught her eye. It really could be worse. 

The hot guy across the hall is Adam Hartley. They find common ground in their situations, even if his isn't permanent. They build a fast friendship and there are some serious sparks flying between them. The only problem? He has a girlfriend who is a completely heinous human being. While she's abroad, Corey and Hartley's friendship starts flirting the lines of something more, but what will happen when Stacia returns? 

Yes, there's a love triangle in this book. It didn't bother me one single bit. I mean, I felt bad for Corey when Stacia was around and stealing Hartley's attention. I could feel Corey's heart breaking and my own cracked a little in sympathy. I hoped it was only a matter of time before the heinous trophy girlfriend was out of the picture and Corey and Hartley could move forward with something true. 

I loved these characters and this story. I felt the feels and shed a couple tears. Sarina Bowen has a wonderfully fresh voice and I applaud the diversity she brought to new adult lit with a paralyzed character. I'm very excited to read her upcoming book, The Year We Hid Away.

Dearna Mulvaney

Farah Khaled 

The Year We Fell Down was completely EPIC!

Once I started I couldn’t stop, this book had me in a trance. I needed to know what was going to happen next, it was thrilling and had me on an emotional roller coaster ride. You couldn’t help but fall for the characters, especially Adam. Once you hear their stories and know what they’ve been through, you’re just automatically connected to them.

I really recommend this book!♡

L &
The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen

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