The Year We Fell Down (Ivy Years, #1)

by Sarina Bowen

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.

• ISBN10: 0991068009
• ISBN13: 9780991068005
• Publish Date: 21 March 2014 (first published 1 March 2014)
• Publish Status: Unknown
• Imprint: Tuxbury Publishing LLC
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 272
• Language: English

Reviews

[stacey_is_sassy]

I was scared to fall down…

I was scared to read The Year We Fell Down…because I don't normally like New Adult. I was scared to write this review…because I have opinions. I was scared to offend, misconstrue and write politically incorrect feelings and thoughts…because mine may not be the same as others. I was scared to point the finger at a character and identify her as diverse for having a wheelchair…because I don’t like to be pointed at.

I have a scar on my forehead, and I’ve had a blood clot removed from my brain. If someone wrote a story about me, would I be considered DIVERSE because of my struggles? I’m not a fan of the term Diverse Read. I think all stories should have a hint of diversity because we are not all the same. We all have faults, different personalities, skin colours, opinions and thoughts. Life would be terribly boring if we were all the same.

Corey’s wheelchair doesn’t define her. She doesn’t want to be seen as different or treated “special” by her peers. Her legs might not work properly anymore, but her mind, determination and strength of character are still the same.

But, people see the wheels…and then her.

I may have been scared to start The Year We Fell Down but I’m so glad that I finally did. I’m a bit of an over-thinker when it comes to my reads. Am I the *Smile at a person in a wheelchair, just because they’re in a wheelchair* or the *Look straight through them and try to not make eye contact* or maybe the *Apologising to them when they bump me* kind of person? To be honest, I think I’ve been all of them. I’m going to be more aware in my future to treat a wheelchair-bound person exactly as I would a non-wheelchair bound person. I’ll ignore them all.

[readingwithwrin]

“There’s no more perfect, Callahan. Now there’s only really damned good.”


We all know I struggle to like new adult books, and were probably getting to the point now where you're all wondering why I keep trying them? That would be because I'm extremely stubborn and I am determined to find a good new adult. This one is getting there everyone.


The Year We Fell Down follows two different characters Corey Callahan and Adam Hartley we get to see things from both of there perspectives throughout the year. Corey has recently become paralyzed due to an accident that happened 6 months before college started. Because of this accident, she is now in a wheelchair and is learning to navigate life in a wheelchair and the struggles that come with that physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Adam is injured currently and because of that is using crutches and massively struggling with getting around.



Overall I did find myself enjoying this book. I know let's all take a minute because who knows when I'll be able to say that about a new adult book again. Okay now, why did I enjoy this book? I'm a person who uses a wheelchair and always has, and seeing someone in a wheelchair in books isn't that common especially in romance type of books.

I loved how hardheaded and determined Corey was to find things that would work and modify things to still be able to have a college experience that was similar to her peers. I liked how supportive the people she was meeting with and dealing with on a regular basis. Yes everyone had that moment of hesitation but that's real life for those of us in wheelchairs because no one really knows how to act or say at first. I also liked how it was shown Corey always having to think ahead about every little thing and how exhausting it truly was, and yes people offered to help, but that's not something you can always rely on especially when partying is involved.



“Everybody has their shit to shovel, Callahan. Everybody.” He gave my hand a squeeze, and then took his back. “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.”



Hartley was a character that I did like for the most part as well. He was always there for Corey which was nice in a way especially as he healed up and was able to be mobile again on his own without any assistance. I really appreciated the little things he did for Corey and how he didn't treat her any differently than his other friends when it came to certain things.



Now those were the things I liked about this book. I did have a few issues with this book though as well. I didn't like how pushy Adam was about certain things when it came to sex and Corey becoming comfortable with her sexuality. He was pushy about it and instead of just letting Corey figure certain things out on her he almost in a way pushed for things to happen that night. I also didn't like how he was cheating with Corey on his girlfriend (yes it was a terrible relationship but that's not an excuse for cheating).



While I'm not sure if I'll continue on with this series or not as it doesn't follow Corey and Hartley I did really enjoy it.





"Suddenly, living my new life seemed more important than mourning my old one."



If you have any other recommendations for books that have a protagonist in a wheelchair or with a disability of any kind please let me know about them.

[Linda]

The Year We Fell Down was kind of perfect, really! There were SO many feels!

[nitzan_schwarz]

April 2018 re-read - I really enjoyed this one the second time around too!! I've got, like, 4 more books by Bowen so I've decided I wanna read them all and before that, I needed to refresh my memory on this one.

A few things - first, I remember a TON of what happened. Which is a great thing because it means it was a memorable book. I read it two years ago and yet I kept going "oh, yeah, and next x y z is going to happen" and looking forward to parts that haven't happened yet.

I still love this couple both as a couple and individuals. They're real and complicated and strong. And I ADORE the fact Corey is in a wheelchair. I know that's a weird thing to say, but reading romanctinc books with disable characters is SO rare. Especially ones they don't heal from.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND THIS REVIEW AND MORE ON MY BLOG

To be completely honest, I didn't really expect much of this novel. I had actually gotten it as a freebie some time back, but I didn't really know much about it and for some reason the cover screamed "typical romance story", and though I love those, I simply have too much of them on my kindle for this one to stand out to me.

Then, by some weird twist of fate, I reached a blog post by the author and found out the main character was in a wheelchair. This changed the whole picture for me, because I had been looking for some different romance to read, and a heroine struggling with disability was just what the doctor ordered.

This book took me by complete surprise.

First of all, the writing is great. Yes, this should be a given, but I've been burned by so many freebies that at this point I'm kind of cynical and disillusioned about the whole thing. So I was keeping my expectations low, and it far surpassed them. There was this easy, flowing quality to the story and dialogues that made it feel very effortless. I almost forgot that I was reading.

Then there was the story itself. I kind of expected an avalanche of drama like a lot of those college romances throw at you. FYI - I hate over the top drama in novels. It makes me roll my eyes and feel exasperated.

But once again, this novel surprised me. Instead of drama, we got real, believable conflicts that didn't relay on some miscommunication between two people. Conflicts that were resolved naturally, even if it took time. What could have been a tedious and aggravating journey for our mains to finally end together was handled with such care and maturity that it was simply delightful to read.

These people, Corey and Hartley, felt like real people, their romance flawed and yet wonderful and the progression and build of it natural and captivating (btw, slow burn!). You will 100% root for these two to get together. You will want them to get their happily ever after because they just fit so perfectly with their banter and humor.

I never expected to like this so much, and yet I am so thrilled I did.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr


Original Thoughts
Wow. I never thought I'd love this so much. To be honest, this book has been on my kindle for over a year, but it never really caught my attention because the cover makes me thinks "typical romance story". I'm not against those at all but I have so many of them on my kindle that it just didn't stand out.
Then, I accidentally saw a post by the author and found out the main character was on a wheelchair. This made this story very, very interesting to me. I don't think I ever read a romance with a disabled heroine to this level. So I picked it up, and was pleasantly surprised by the level of writing and plot. The writing is smooth and flowing, and the plot didn't go to the over-the-top drama I know and hate, it was well paced and felt like it dealt with real people. I loved that!!!
Truly a very beautiful yet fun story and I recommend it!

[Rowena]

Finished my re-read and this book was just as enjoyable this time around as it was the other times that I've read it. Adam and Corey's story warmed my heart even when I wanted to strangle them both for different things. Bowen really shines in the NA genre. Love her stuff and I really love this one.

[Angie]

Disabled jocks in love! The Year We Fell Down was so sweet! Just eight months ago, Corey had an accident and is now mostly in a wheelchair. She doesn't let that stop her from moving across the country and starting college, even if her mother won't stop fretting. But Corey is going to do this thing! She may not have hockey anymore, but she does have hockey video games and her sexy neighbor, Hartley, who is currently in a cast after his own accident. The two start up an immediate friendship, but obviously things grow from there.

I absolute adored the friendships in The Year We Fell Down. Corey becomes fast friends with her roommate, Dana, and of course with Hartley. She also eventually puts herself out there more and meets some other people when she realizes that pining after her taken neighbor is not the best use of her time and emotions. But their friendship was sooo great! Hartley is so open with Corey and they actually discuss things that she's too embarrassed to talk about with anyone. His birthday gift for her was the absolute best! I cannot believe he did that for her!

The Year We Fell Down is a feel good read that's low on drama. There is a little bit, as Corey tries to get over Hartley because he has a girlfriend. But nothing ever gets melodramatic or over-the-top. There's no stupid fight at the end that rips them apart for a few pages either. This is a very sweet friends to lovers romance, and I just adored Corey and Hartley and how they help each other out and care about each other.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 4.5 Stars (but I rounded up)

I really loved this book. Started it this morning and finished it this afternoon.

What's to love?
1. Corey - Here's a girl, who lost everything she loved: her sport, her freedom, her mobility, and sometimes, her dignity. But she bounced back, she returned from a crippling injury in less than a year, moved across the country from her family and started college. She had strength, courage, and fortitude that you had to admire.

2. Adam - He forged an unlikely friendship with Corey, and was able to really see her, not the girl in the chair, but the woman she was. He was loyal to his friends, his mother, and Corey. He also knew he had "sh*t to shovel". I appreciated his flaws and how he knew he had them.

3. The Harkness crew - Daniel, Bridger, Dana. Corey and Hartley had great friends and they enhanced the story.

I found myself smiling and sighing and crossing my fingers many times during this book, and I loved watching Adam and Corey's friendship grow and evolve over the course of this book.

[Cocktails and Books]

4.5 Stars

I'm still mopping up after this one. Bridger was the best kind of man. Absolutely the best. Full review to come.