12 January 2015

The Year We Fell Down Review

The Year We Fell Down - The Ivy Years #1
by Sarina Bowen





What they say: 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.




What I say: After reading so many mixed reviews about The Year We Fell Down I wasn't sure what to expect from this friends to lovers NA story, but was pleasantly surprised.


Corey had big plans of becoming a women's ice hockey star by playing for the Uni team, but a horrible accident in her last year of high school ruined her plans and she found herself starting Uni in a wheelchair. For the most part, I really liked Corey and her dry sense of humour. I did want to shake some sense into her at times where (Adam) Hartley was concerned, but most of my shaking impulses were firmly centred on him.

Corey's neighbour at Uni is hockey player Hartley who is recovering from a broken leg. He comes armed with smouldering looks, hilarious banter, and unfortunately a bitchy girlfriend (why he puts up with her is beyond me). I really liked their friendship and the slow burn of their relationship, but I did worry they were going to go the entire book being struck by the stupid stick (or the ignoring the obvious stick).

Both Corey and Hartley are likeable and they both made me smile. I loved the hockey chat and how they managed to bring out the best in each other. My favourite scene was when Hartley gave Corey an extra special gift - I was in hysterics imagining the look on her face!!

Although the book is funny and sweet, there are some really poignant moments, where Corey in particular is going through some extremely traumatic events. Bowen manages to never loose sight of these issues but manages to make sure the story isn't all doom and gloom, sending out a message of real positivity to her readers. 



4 Stars in my Sky!





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