Review: The Year We Fell Down

Title: The Year We Fell Down
Series: The Ivy Years #1

Author: Sarina Bowen

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

Publication Date: March 20, 2014

Publisher: Rennie Road Books
Purchase Links:

      

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 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.

Truly a great book to end my 2015! Unique book plot + Romance + Great characters? Definitely wonderful!

Corey was such an amazing character and I find myself easily connecting with her. Having a life-changing accident, she is slowly adjusting to the plans she first made. A headstrong, independent and strong character. Although mine wasn't a life-changing one, I had an accident last year that made my parents watch really closely every move I make. Indeed, it was stifling, and exactly how Corey felt. Still, Corey held her head high and it was genuinely one of the things that I love the most. And she was just so honest that I don't think I can be exactly as honest as her - and I envy her for it.

Adam, on the other hand? OMG. SWOON. He's such a kind, nice and charming character that I can't help but fall in love with him as well. NEW BOOK BOYFRIEND, ANYONE???? Corey and Adam were just basically made for each other, I swear! Their dynamics was so good - the way they tease, banter and interact with each other. It just kept me wanting for more! I also love how it wasn't insta-love. The story allowed their relationship to bloom from friendship. While there was a feeling that both of them had a "more-than-friends" relationship, it was still refreshing. The only thing I didn't like was Stacia - the love triangle. Don't get me wrong - I have nothing against love triangles, swear! I felt like clawing at her pretty face for being such a brainless, trophy girl and smacking Adam for being a somehow slow person (Am I such a mean person???) While it gave off the vibes that we all knew Stacia is the wrong girl for Adam, it was great to see how Adam came to this realization that Stacia is indeed wrong for him. Though, Adam's explanation on why he was with Stacia in the first place enlightened me a lot and gave me a better understanding of his character.

In the end, I really love how the book emphasized the message of something how everyone has their own shit to deal with so it isn't really up to us to judge them because we can never compare our shits to others'. I have always made it to a point to really try my very best not to judge others, so I'm glad for this message since it is something that reinforces what I believe in.

      

Sarina Bowen writes steamy, angsty Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction from the wilds of Vermont.

She is the author of The Ivy Years, an award-winning series set amid the hockey team at an elite Connecticut college. Also, the The Gravity series.

Sarina enjoys skiing, espresso drinks and the occasional margarita. She lives with her family, eight chickens and more ski gear and hockey equipment than seems necessary.